UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 13D

 

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 6)*

 

 

(Name of Issuer)

 

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

(CUSIP Number)

 

Laurie Smiley, Esq. Arian Colachis, Esq. 2365 Carillon Point Kirkland, WA 98033 (425) 889-7900

(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box.o

 

Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

 

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

 

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

 

CUSIP No.  05329W102
		1.			Names of Reporting Persons Cascade Investment, L.L.C.
		2.			Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
					(a)				o
					(b)				x
		3.			SEC Use Only
		4.			Source of Funds (See Instructions) WC
		5.			Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or (e)  o
		6.			Citizenship or Place of Organization State of Washington
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With										7.	Sole Voting Power  13,753,872(1)
										8.	Shared Voting Power -0-
										9.	Sole Dispositive Power 13,753,872(1)
										10.	Shared Dispositive Power -0-
			11.			Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person  13,753,872(1)
			12.			Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)  o
			13.			Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 9.8%
			14.			Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) OO

 

(1) All shares of Common Stock held by Cascade Investment, L.L.C. (“Cascade”) may be deemed to be beneficially owned by William H. Gates III as the sole member of Cascade.

 

2

 

CUSIP No. 05329W102
	1.		Names of Reporting Persons Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust
	2.		Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
			(a)			o
			(b)			x
	3.		SEC Use Only
	4.		Source of Funds (See Instructions) WC
	5.		Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or (e)  o
	6.		Citizenship or Place of Organization State of Washington
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With						7.	Sole Voting Power -0-
						8.	Shared Voting Power  9,881,524(1)
						9.	Sole Dispositive Power -0-
						10.	Shared Dispositive Power  9,881,524(1)
	11.	Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person  9,881,524(1)
	12.	Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)  o
	13.	Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 7.1%
	14.	Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) OO

 

(1)For purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust (the “Trust”) may be deemed to be beneficially owned by William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates as Co-Trustees of the Trust.

 

3

 

CUSIP No. 05329W102
	1.		Names of Reporting Persons Melinda French Gates
	2.		Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
			(a)			o
			(b)			x
	3.		SEC Use Only
	4.		Source of Funds (See Instructions) WC
	5.		Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or (e)  o
	6.		Citizenship or Place of Organization United States of America
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With						7.	Sole Voting Power -0-
						8.	Shared Voting Power  9,881,524(1)
						9.	Sole Dispositive Power -0-
						10.	Shared Dispositive Power 9,881,524(1)
	11.	Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 9,881,524(1)
	12.	Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)  o
	13.	Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 7.1%
	14.	Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) IN

 

(1)For purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust (the “Trust”) may be deemed to be beneficially owned by William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates as Co-Trustees of the Trust.

 

4

 

CUSIP No. 05329W102
	1.		Names of Reporting Persons William H. Gates III
	2.		Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
			(a)				o
			(b)				x
	3.		SEC Use Only
	4.		Source of Funds (See Instructions) WC
	5.		Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or (e)  o
	6.		Citizenship or Place of Organization United States of America
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With						7.		Sole Voting Power 13,753,872(1)
						8.		Shared Voting Power  9,881,524(2)
						9.		Sole Dispositive Power  13,753,872(1)
						10.		Shared Dispositive Power  9,881,524(2)
		11.	Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 23,635,396(1)(2)
		12.	Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)  o
		13.	Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 16.9%
		14.	Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) IN

 

(1)All shares of Common Stock held by Cascade Investment, L.L.C. (“Cascade”) may be deemed to be beneficially owned by William H. Gates III as the sole member of Cascade.

 

(2)For purposes of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust (the “Trust”) may be deemed to be beneficially owned by William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates as Co-Trustees of the Trust.

 

5

 

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

 

This Amendment No. 6 to Schedule 13D (“Amendment”) relates to the Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”) of AutoNation, Inc. (the “Issuer”).  This Amendment is being jointly filed by Cascade Investment, L.L.C. (“Cascade”), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust (the “Trust”), William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”), to amend and supplement the Items set forth below of the Reporting Persons’ Schedule 13D previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 5, 2009, as amended on February 6, 2009, February 24, 2010, July 23, 2010, August 17, 2010 and February 9, 2011.  Neither the present filing nor anything contained herein shall be construed as an admission that the Reporting Persons constitute a “group” for any purpose and the Reporting Persons expressly disclaim membership in a group.

 

Item 4.  Purpose of Transaction

 

During the past sixty days the Trust sold 910,576 shares of the Issuer’s Common Stock in open market transactions.  See 5(c) below.  Federal excise tax rules limit the ownership of operating companies by private foundations like the Trust and their disqualified persons.  To ensure compliance with these rules, the Trust intends to reduce its ownership to below 2% of the Issuer’s Common Stock, subject to market conditions, through sales in the open market.  Cascade will continue to evaluate its investment in the Issuer.  As previously disclosed, Cascade may from time to time, subject to market conditions and its evaluation of the Issuer, acquire additional shares of the Issuer’s Common Stock in open market transactions or otherwise.  It is possible that the purchase of shares by Cascade will occur in the same time periods during which the Trust is disposing of shares.

 

Except as set forth herein, the Reporting Persons have no current intention, plan or proposal with respect to items (a) through (j) of Schedule 13D.

 

Item 5.  Interest in Securities of the Issuer

 

(a)     See items 11 and 13 of the cover pages to this Schedule 13D for the aggregate number and percentage of Common Stock beneficially owned by each of the Reporting Persons.

 

(b)     See items 7 through 10 of the cover pages to this Schedule 13D for the number and percentage of Common Stock beneficially owned by each of the Reporting Persons as to which there is sole power to vote or to direct the vote, shared power to vote or to direct the vote, and sole or shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition.

 

(c)     During the past sixty days, the Trust sold 910,576 shares of Common Stock for cash in open market transactions on the dates and at the weighted-average sale price per share set forth in Exhibit 99.1, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

(d)     None.

 

(e)     Not applicable.

 

Item 7.  Material to be Filed as Exhibits

 

Exhibit 99.1   Transactions by the Trust during the past sixty days

 

6

 

SIGNATURE

 

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

Date:  November 4, 2011	CASCADE INVESTMENT, L.L.C.(1)
	By	*
		Name:	Alan Heuberger(2)
		Title:	Attorney-in-fact for Michael Larson, Business Manager
	BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION TRUST(1)
	By	*
		Name:	Alan Heuberger (3)
		Title:	Attorney-in-fact for each of the Co- Trustees, William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates
	WILLIAM H. GATES III(1)
	By	*
		Name:	Alan Heuberger(3)(4)
		Title:	Attorney-in-fact
	MELINDA FRENCH GATES(1)
	By	*
		Name:	Alan Heuberger (3)
		Title:	Attorney-in-fact

 

	*By:	/s/Alan Heuberger
		Alan Heuberger

 

(1)This Amendment is being filed jointly by the Reporting Persons pursuant to the Joint Filing Agreement dated February 5, 2009 and included with the signature page to the Reporting Persons’ Schedule 13D filed with respect to the Issuer on February 5, 2009, SEC File No. 005-40342 and incorporated by reference herein.

 

(2)Duly authorized under Special Limited Power of Attorney appointing Alan Heuberger attorney-in-fact, dated August 12, 2008, by and on behalf of Michael Larson, filed as Exhibit 99.1 to Amendment No. 1 to Cascade’s Schedule 13D with respect to Otter Tail Corporation on April 15, 2009, SEC File No. 005-06638 and incorporated by reference herein.

 

(3)Duly authorized under Special Limited Power of Attorney appointing Alan Heuberger attorney-in-fact, dated August 12, 2008, by and on behalf of William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates as Co Trustees, filed as Exhibit 99.5 to Cascade’s Schedule 13D with respect to Grupo Televisa, S.A.B. on May 7, 2009, SEC File No. 005-60431 and incorporated by reference herein.

 

(4)Duly authorized under Special Limited Power of Attorney appointing Alan Heuberger attorney-in-fact, dated August 12, 2008, by and on behalf of William H. Gates III, filed as Exhibit 99.2 to Amendment No. 1 to Cascade’s Schedule 13D with respect to Otter Tail Corporation on April 15, 2009, SEC File No. 005-06638 and incorporated by reference herein.

 

7

Exhibit 99.1

 

The table below specifies the date, amount and weighted average price per share sold by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust (the “Trust”) during the past sixty days.  The Trust undertakes to provide upon request by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.  All transactions were effected in the open market on the New York Stock Exchange or through Electronic Communication Networks.

 

Date of Transaction		Number of Shares of Common Stock		Weighted Average Price per Share		Range of Price per Share
11/2/2011		316,180		$37.9696		$37.75 - $38.49
11/3/2011		587,895		$37.2978		$37.13 - $38.02
11/3/2011		6,501		$38.3022		$38.17 - $38.55