Exhibit 12.1
SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
(In thousands) | | 2012 | | | 2011 | | | 2011 | | | 2010 | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2007 | |
Fixed charges: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense, excluding floor plan interest | | $ | 48,699 | | | $ | 54,117 | | | $ | 71,255 | | | $ | 79,032 | | | $ | 92,897 | | | $ | 72,417 | | | $ | 47,330 | |
Capitalized interest | | | 513 | | | | 2,052 | | | | 2,290 | | | | 2,330 | | | | 702 | | | | 1,543 | | | | 2,463 | |
Rent expense (interest factor) | | | 19,511 | | | | 21,533 | | | | 29,771 | | | | 30,738 | | | | 31,290 | | | | 31,380 | | | | 31,753 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total fixed charges | | | 68,723 | | | | 77,702 | | | | 103,316 | | | | 112,100 | | | | 124,889 | | | | 105,340 | | | | 81,546 | |
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle | | | 94,134 | | | | 97,756 | | | | 125,101 | | | | 78,042 | | | | 27,655 | | | | (756,917 | ) | | | 169,404 | |
Add: Fixed charges | | | 68,723 | | | | 77,702 | | | | 103,316 | | | | 112,100 | | | | 124,889 | | | | 105,340 | | | | 81,546 | |
Less: Capitalized interest | | | (513 | ) | | | (2,052 | ) | | | (2,290 | ) | | | (2,330 | ) | | | (702 | ) | | | (1,543 | ) | | | (2,463 | ) |
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle & fixed charges | | $ | 162,344 | | | $ | 173,406 | | | $ | 226,127 | | | $ | 187,812 | | | $ | 151,842 | | | $ | (653,120 | ) | | $ | 248,487 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1) | | | 2.4x | | | | 2.2 x | | | | 2.2 x | | | | 1.7 x | | | | 1.2 x | | | $ | (758,460 | ) | | | 3.0 x | |
(1) | Reflects deficiency of earnings available to cover fixed charges for the year ended December 31, 2008. Because of this deficiency, ratio information is not provided. |