8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date Of Report (Date Of Earliest Event Reported) December 14, 2018

AutoNation, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	1-13107	73-1105145
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission      File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

200 SW 1st Ave

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (954) 769-6000

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On December 14, 2018, Michael Larson provided notice that he would step down from the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of AutoNation, Inc. (the “Company”), effective as of December 17, 2018, the date of this year’s last scheduled meeting of the Board.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On December 17, 2018, the Board elected Rick L. Burdick as its Lead Independent Director.

The Company issued a press release on December 17, 2018, announcing Mr. Burdick’s election as Lead Independent Director and Mr. Larson’s departure from the Board. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The information furnished pursuant to this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that Section and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

99.1    Press Release of AutoNation, Inc. dated December 17, 2018.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		AUTONATION, INC.
Date:	December 17, 2018	By:	/s/ C. Coleman Edmunds
			C. Coleman Edmunds
			Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Contact: Marc Cannon (954) 769-3146 cannonm@autonation.com

AutoNation Board Elects Rick L. Burdick as Lead Independent Director

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., (December 17, 2018) - AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE: AN), America’s largest automotive retailer, today announced that its Board of Directors elected Rick L. Burdick as its Lead Independent Director effective December 17, 2018. Mr. Burdick is a long-standing director of the Company and a partner in Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P., a global full service law firm.

AutoNation also announced that Michael Larson informed the Company that he is stepping down from the Company’s Board of Directors, effective as of December 17, 2018, the date of this year’s last scheduled meeting of the Board.

“We thank him for his many years of service on the Board and his contributions to the Company and our shareholders and wish him the best,” said Mike Jackson, AutoNation’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President.

“After nearly nine years of serving on AutoNation’s Board, I believe now is the right time for me to transition off and focus on managing other positions within our fund’s portfolios,” said Mr. Larson. “As a long-time AutoNation investor and Board member, I am proud of the leadership team’s many accomplishments and wish them only the best for a bright and strong future.”

About AutoNation, Inc.

AutoNation, America’s largest automotive retailer, is transforming the automotive industry through its bold leadership, innovation, and comprehensive brand extensions. As of September 30, 2018, AutoNation owned and operated 325 new vehicle franchises from coast to coast. AutoNation has sold nearly 12 million vehicles, the first automotive retailer to reach this milestone. AutoNation’s success is driven by a commitment to delivering a peerless experience through customer-focused sales and service processes. Through its Drive Pink initiative, AutoNation is committed to drive out cancer, create awareness and support critical research. AutoNation continues to be a proud supporter of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and other cancer-related charities.

Please visit investors.autonation.com, www.autonation.com, www.autonationdrive.com, www.twitter.com/autonation, www.twitter.com/CEOMikeJackson, www.facebook.com/autonation, and www.facebook.com/CEOMikeJackson, where AutoNation discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations.