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Republic Industries To Acquire Florida Dealerships

29 August 1997

Republic Industries To Acquire Florida Dealerships

 Quinlan Dealerships in Tampa/Clearwater; Fronrath Chevrolet in Delray Beach

    FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 28 -- Republic Industries, Inc.
announced today that it has signed definitive agreements to
acquire Jim Quinlan Motors of Clearwater, Florida, and Dennis Fronrath
Chevrolet of Delray Beach, Florida in separate transactions valued at a total
of more than $47 million.  The transactions include all related real estate,
and are subject to certain conditions, including manufacturer and government
approval.
    Jim Quinlan Motors includes Chevrolet Geo, Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, and
Nissan dealerships.  The company is owned primarily by Jim Quinlan, Sr., Jim
Quinlan, Jr. and Jerry Quinlan.  Dennis Fronrath Chevrolet is a single
dealership, owned by Roger Dean, Dennis Fronrath and Gary Fronrath.  As part
of the transactions, Jim Quinlan, Jr. will enter into a long-term employment
agreement with Republic Industries and will retain his current
responsibilities at the dealership.  The Fronrath dealership will be
operated by Steve Moore of Steve Moore Chevrolet, whose dealership merged with
Republic in May, 1997.
    In the Tampa/Clearwater market, Republic operates or has signed definitive
agreements to acquire Carlisle Motors, Lexus of Tampa, Lexus of Clearwater,
and Kenyon Dodge.  The company also is building two AutoNation USA used car
megastores in the area.  In Palm Beach County, Florida, Republic operates the
Wallace Automotive Group and Steve Moore Chevrolet, and will open an
AutoNation USA used car megastore in 1998.
    Commenting on the proposed acquisitions, Steven R. Berrard, President and
Co-Chief Executive Officer of Republic Industries said, "The Quinlan and
Fronrath acquisitions are important parts of our strategy of clustering new
car dealerships, AutoNation used car megastores and automotive rental
businesses in the Tampa/Clearwater and Palm Beach County markets.  By working
more effectively in these clusters, our objective is to eliminate
inefficiencies in today's automotive retailing and rental marketplace and, in
so doing, improve the car buying, renting, and ownership experience for the
consumer.  We're very pleased to welcome Quinlan and Fronrath to the growing
family of Republic new car dealerships."
    Republic Industries, Inc. operates subsidiaries in the automotive
retailing, automotive rental, automotive financial services, solid waste
services, and electronic security services industries.  The company owns the
world's largest chain of new car dealerships and is building a chain of used
car megastores which it operates under the AutoNation USA brand name.
Republic also owns the National, Alamo, Value, Snappy, and Spirit car rental
companies.

SOURCE  Republic Industries, Inc.