SEC Form 4
FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
PARHAM JOSEPH G JR

(Last) (First) (Middle)
C/O ASBURY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
2905 PREMIERE PKWY NW, SUITE 300

(Street)
DULUTH GA 30097

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ASBURY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP INC [ ABG ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
Director 10% Owner
X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
VP, Chief HR Officer
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/13/2012
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X Form filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common stock, par value $.01 per share 03/13/2012 A 2,900(1) A $0 36,534 D
Common stock, par value $.01 per share 03/13/2012 F 942 D $0 35,592 D
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Performance Share (2) 03/13/2012 A 5,800 (2) (2) Common stock, par value $.01 per share 5,800 $0 14,734 D
Explanation of Responses:
1. These shares of the Issuer's common stock were awarded by the Issuer to the Reporting Person as settlement of certain performance shares that were granted for the performance period of fiscal year 2011 (the "2011 Period"). Each performance share converts into one share of the Issuer's common stock and the vesting of such performance shares are contingent upon the Issuer meeting certain performance objectives over the 2011 Period. The Issuer achieved 100% of its targeted performance goals for the 2011 Period and thus awarded the Reported Person 8,700 shares of its common stock, representing 100% of the targeted amount. One-third of these performance shares vested as of the grant date, with the remaining two-thirds of the shares vesting on the second and third anniversaries of the grant date.
2. Each performance share represents a contingent right to receive a share of the Issuer's common stock based on the Issuer's performance during the 2011 Period and the award granted to the Reporting Person as a result of such performance. In order for the Reporting Person to receive these performance shares on the second and third anniversaries of the grant date, the Reporting Person must be an employee of the Issuer on such dates.
Remarks:
Darlene Quashie, Attorney-in-Fact 03/15/2012
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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