SEC 1745 (3-98)
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 11)*
Sonic Corporation
COMMON
835451105
12-31-2003
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. 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).
CUSIP No. 835451105
1.Names of Reporting Persons.
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)
Delaware Management Holdings 23-2693133
...................................................................
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
State of Delaware
....................................................................
Number of 5. Sole Voting Power 1,803,767
Shares 6. Shared Voting Power 158
Beneficially 7. Sole Dispositive Power 1,810,320
Owned by 8. Shared Dispositive Power 0
Each Reporting
Person With
9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 1,810,320
10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See
Instructions)
11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) 4.60%
12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
HC
CUSIP No. 835451105
1.Names of Reporting Persons.
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)
Delaware Management Business Trust 23-2859589
...................................................................
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
State of Delaware
....................................................................
Number of 5. Sole Voting Power 1,803,767
Shares 6. Shared Voting Power 158
Beneficially 7. Sole Dispositive Power 1,810,320
Owned by 8. Shared Dispositive Power 0
Each Reporting
Person With
9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 1,810,320
10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See
Instructions)
11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11) 4.60%
12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
IA
Item 1.
(a) Sonic Corporation
(b) 101 Park Avenue
Oklahoma City
OK
73102
Item 2.
(a) Delaware Management Holdings
(b) 2005 Market Street
Philadelphia
PA
19103
(c) State of Delaware
(d) COMMON
(e) 835451105
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 (15 U.S.C. 78c).
(d) [ ] Investment company registered under section 8 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a-8).
(e) [ ] 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) [ ] Group, in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
Item 4.
Ownership.
Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and
percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 1,810,320
(b) Percent of class: 4.60
(c) Number of shares as to which the person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote 1,803,767
(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote 158
(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of 1,810,320
(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of 0
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 five percent of the class of
securities, check the following [X].
Item 6.
Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to
direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of,
such securities, a statement to that effect should be included in
response to this item and, if such interest relates to more than five
percent of the class, such person should be identified. A listing of the
shareholders of an investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940 or the beneficiaries of employee benefit plan, pension
fund or endowment fund is not required.
Item 7.
Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired
the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company.
If a parent holding company has filed this schedule, pursuant to
Rule 13d-1(b)(ii)(G), so indicate under Item 3(g) and attach an exhibit
stating the identity and the Item 3 classification of the relevant
subsidiary. If a parent holding company has filed this schedule pursuant
to Rule 13d-1(c) or Rule 13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating the
identification of the relevant subsidiary.
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORP IS THE ULTIMATE PARENT OF DELAWARE MANAGEMENT
BUSINESS TRUST, AND DELAWARE INTERNATIONAL ADVISORS LTD.
Item 8.
Identification and Classification of Members of the Group
If a group has filed this schedule pursuant to 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), so
indicate under Item 3(j) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and
Item 3 classification of each member of the group. If a group has
filed this schedule pursuant to 240.13d-1(c) or 240.13d-1(d), attach an
exhibit stating the identity of each member of the group.
See Agreement to File Joint Acquisition Statements attached
Item 9.
Notice of Dissolution of Group
N/A
Notice of dissolution of a group may be furnished as an exhibit stating
the date of the dissolution and that all further filings with respect to
transactions in the security reportedon will be filed, if required, by
members of the group, in their individual capacity. See Item 5.
Item 10.
Certification
(a) The following certification shall be included if the
statement is filed pursuant to 240.13d-1(b):
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my
knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were
acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business
and 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.
(b) The following certification shall be included if the statement
is filed pursuant to 240.13d-1(c):
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.
Date 02-04-2004
Signature /s/ Lisa O. Brinkley
Name/Title Lisa O. Brinkley/Senior Vice President
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. The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose
behalf the statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the
statement is signed on behalf of a person by his authorized representative
other than an executive officer or general partner of the filing person,
evidence of the representative's authority to sign on behalf of such person
shall be filed with the statement, provided, however, that a power of
attorney for this purpose which is already on file with the Commission may
be incorporated by reference.The name and any title of each person who
signs the statement shall be typed or printed beneath his signature.