UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
  
 

SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.   )*

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
(Title of Class of Securities)

 
 
043436104
 
  
(CUSIP Number)

December 31, 2017
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:
 [x]            Rule 13d-1(b)
 [  ]            Rule 13d-1(c)
 [  ]            Rule 13d-1(d)
*            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 the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.  Beneficial ownership information contained herein is given as of the date listed above.
The information required in 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).
Except as otherwise provided herein, beneficial ownership information contained herein is given as of the date listed above.


 
1
 
Names of Reporting Persons.
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC
Abrams Capital Management, L.P.
David Abrams
 
 
2
 
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
 
 
(a)            [ ]
 
 
(b)            [ ]
 
3
 
SEC Use Only
 
4
 
Citizenship or Place of Organization.
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC – Delaware
Abrams Capital Management, L.P. – Delaware
David Abrams – United States
 

 
Number
of Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each
Reporting
Person With
   
 
 
 
 
5  Sole Voting Power
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC – 0 shares
Abrams Capital Management, L.P. – 0 shares
David Abrams – 0 shares
 
6  Shared Voting Power
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC – 1,085,091 shares
Abrams Capital Management, L.P. – 1,085,091 shares
David Abrams – 1,085,091 shares
 
 
7  Sole Dispositive Power
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC – 0 shares
Abrams Capital Management, L.P. – 0 shares
David Abrams – 0 shares
 
 
8  Shared Dispositive Power
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC – 1,085,091 shares
Abrams Capital Management, L.P. – 1,085,091 shares
David Abrams – 1,085,091 shares
 
 
 
9
 
Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC – 1,085,091 shares
Abrams Capital Management, L.P. – 1,085,091 shares
David Abrams – 1,085,091 shares
 
 
 
10
 
Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)     [ ]
 
11
 
Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC – 5.21%
Abrams Capital Management, L.P. – 5.21%
David Abrams – 5.21%
 
 
12
 
Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC  – HC/OO (Limited Liability Company)
Abrams Capital Management, L.P.  – IA/OO (Limited Partnership)
David Abrams – HC/IN
 
SCHEDULE 13G
Item 1
 
  

(a)
 
Name of Issuer
 
 
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.
 
(b)
 
Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices
 
 
2905 Premiere Parkway NW, Suite 300, Duluth, Georgia 30097

Item 2
 
  

(a)
 
Name of Person Filing
 
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC
Abrams Capital Management, L.P.
David Abrams
 
(b)
 
Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence
 
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC
Abrams Capital Management, L.P.
David Abrams
c/o Abrams Capital Management, L.P.
222 Berkeley Street, 21st Floor
Boston, MA 02116
 
(c)
 
Citizenship
 
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC - Delaware
Abrams Capital Management, L.P. - Delaware
David Abrams  - United States
 
(d)
 
Title of Class of Securities
 
 
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
 
(e)
 
CUSIP Number
 
 
043436104
 

Item 3
 
If this statement is filed pursuant to §§240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
 

(a)
 
[ ]
 
Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o);
 
(b)
 
[ ]
 
Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c);
 
(c)
 
[ ]
 
Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act;
 
(d)
 
[ ]
 
Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a-8);
 
(e)
 
[X]
 
An investment adviser in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
 
(f)
 
[ ]
 
An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
 
(g)
 
[X]
 
A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
 
(h)
 
[ ]
 
A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
 
(i)
 
[ ]
 
A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
 
(j)
 
[ ]
 
A non-U.S. institution in accordance with §240.13d–1(b)(1)(ii)(J);
 
(k)
 
[ ]
 
Group, in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).
 
If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution:
Item 4
 
Ownership
 
The percentages reported herein are calculated based upon the statement in the Issuer's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 25, 2017, that there were 20,817,702 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer outstanding as of October 24, 2017.

Item 4(a)
 
Amount Beneficially Owned**
 
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC – 1,085,091 shares
Abrams Capital Management, L.P. – 1,085,091 shares
David Abrams – 1,085,091 shares

Item 4(b)
 
Percent of Class
 
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC – 5.21%
Abrams Capital Management, L.P. – 5.21%
David Abrams – 5.21%
 
Item 4(c)
 
Number of shares as to which each such person has voting and dispositive power:
 
(i)
 
sole power to vote or to direct the vote
 
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC – 0 shares
Abrams Capital Management, L.P. – 0 shares
David Abrams – 0 shares
 

(ii)
 
shared power to vote or to direct the vote
 
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC – 1,085,091 shares
Abrams Capital Management, L.P. – 1,085,091 shares
David Abrams – 1,085,091 shares
 
(iii)
 
sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
 
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC – 0 shares
Abrams Capital Management, L.P. – 0 shares
David Abrams – 0 shares
 
(iv)
 
shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
 
 
Abrams Capital Management, LLC – 1,085,091 shares
Abrams Capital Management, L.P. – 1,085,091 shares
David Abrams – 1,085,091 shares
 
** Shares reported herein represent shares beneficially owned by private investment funds for which Abrams Capital Management, L.P. ("Abrams CM LP") serves as investment manager. Abrams Capital Management, LLC ("Abrams CM LLC") is the general partner of Abrams CM LP. Mr. Abrams is the managing member of Abrams CM LLC. Each of the Reporting Persons disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares reported herein except to the extent of its or his pecuniary interest therein.

Item 5
 
Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class
 
 
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of the class of securities, check the following [   ].
 
Item 6
 
Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person
 
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 7
 
Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company
 
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 8
 
Identification and Classification of Members of the Group
 
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 9
 
Notice of Dissolution of Group
 
 
Not applicable.
 

Item 10
 
Certification
 

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.
Exhibits
 
Exhibit
 
99.1
 
Joint Filing Agreement by and among the Reporting Persons.
 

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: February 14, 2018

   
 
ABRAMS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
   
 
By: /s/ David Abrams
 
David Abrams, Managing Member
   
   
 
ABRAMS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.
   
 
By: Abrams Capital Management, LLC,
 
its General Partner
   
 
By: /s/ David Abrams
 
David Abrams, Managing Member
   
   
 
DAVID ABRAMS
   
 
By: /s/ David Abrams
 
David Abrams, individually