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EXHIBIT 2.J
CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
This CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT dated as of this __ day of May 1997
by and between The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation (the
"Custodian"), and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx III, Xxxxx X. X'Xxxxx and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
(collectively, the "Trustees"), not in their individual capacities but solely
as Trustees of Automatic Common Exchange Security Trust II (the "Trust"), a
trust organized under the laws of the State of New York, under and by virtue of
an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of May __, 1997 (the "Trust
Agreement").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Trust is a non-diversified, closed-end
management investment company, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940
(the "Investment Company Act"), formed to purchase and hold certain U.S.
treasury securities (the "Treasury Securities"), to enter into and hold forward
purchase contracts (the "Contracts") with one or more existing shareholders of
Republic Industries, Inc. (the "Company"), and to issue Trust Automatic Common
Exchange Securities (the "Securities") in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Trust Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Trustees desire to engage the services of the
Custodian to perform certain custodial duties for the Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Custodian is qualified and willing to assume
such duties, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual covenants herein contained, the parties agree as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined
herein shall have the respective meanings specified in the Trust Agreement.
2. Appointment of Custodian; Transfer of Assets. The Trustees
hereby constitute and appoint the Custodian, and the Custodian accepts such
appointment, as custodian of all of the property, including but not limited to,
the Contracts, the Treasury Securities, the Temporary Investments, any cash and
any other property at any time owned or held by the Trust (collectively, the
"Assets"). The
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Trustees hereby deposit the Assets with the Custodian and the Custodian hereby
accepts such into its custody and the Trustees shall deliver to the Custodian
all of the Assets, including all monies, securities and other property received
by the Trust at any time during the period of this Agreement, subject to the
following terms and conditions. The Custodian hereby agrees that it shall hold
the Assets in a segregated custody account, separate and distinct from all
other accounts, in accordance with Section 17(f) of, and in such manner as
shall constitute the segregation and holding in trust within the meaning of,
the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. The
Trustees authorize the Custodian, for any Assets held hereunder, to use the
services of any United States securities depository permitted to perform such
services for registered investment companies and their custodians under Rule
17f-4 under the Investment Company Act and which have been approved by the
Trustees, including but not limited to, the Depository Trust Company and the
Federal Reserve Book Entry System. The Custodian shall invest monies on deposit
in such custody account in the Temporary Investments in accordance with Section
3.5 of the Trust Agreement. Except as otherwise specifically provided in the
Trust Agreement, the Custodian shall not have the power to sell, transfer or
otherwise dispose of any Temporary Investments prior to the maturity thereof,
or to acquire additional Temporary Investments. The Custodian shall hold any
Temporary Investments to maturity and shall apply (or cause to be applied) the
proceeds thereof paid upon maturity to the payment of the next succeeding
Quarterly Distribution. All such Temporary Investments shall be selected by the
Trustee from time to time or pursuant to standing instructions from the
Trustees, and the Custodian shall have no liability to the Trust or any Holder
or any other Person with respect to any such Temporary Investments.
3. Asset Disposition; Examinations. The Custodian shall have
no power or authority to assign, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise dispose of
the Assets, except pursuant to a written direction in accordance with paragraph
4 below and then only for the account of the Trust. The Assets shall be subject
to no lien or charge of any kind in favor of the Custodian for itself or for
any other Person claiming through the Custodian. The Custodian shall permit
actual examination of the Assets by the Trust's independent public accountant
at the end of each annual and semi-annual fiscal period of the Trust and at
least one other time during the fiscal year of the Trust chosen by such
independent public accountant and shall permit the inspection of the Assets by
the Commission through its employees or agents during the
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normal business hours of the Custodian upon reasonable request.
4. Authorized Actions. The Custodian shall take such actions
with respect to the Assets as directed in writing by the Trustees or by any
officer of the Administrator as may be received by the Custodian from time to
time.
5. Custodian's Actions Taken In Good Faith. In connection
with the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Custodian shall be
under no liability to the Trust or any Holder for any action taken in good
faith in reliance on any paper, order, certification, list, demand, request,
consent, affidavit, notice, opinion, direction, endorsement, assignment,
resolution, draft or other document, prima facie properly executed, or for the
disposition of the Assets pursuant to the Trust Agreement or in respect of any
action taken or suffered under the Trust Agreement in good faith, in accordance
with an opinion of counsel or at the direction of the Trustees pursuant hereto;
provided that this provision shall not protect the Custodian against any
liability to which it would otherwise be subject by reason of its reckless
disregard of its obligations and duties hereunder. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, the Custodian shall under no circumstances be
liable for any indirect or consequential damages.
6. Trust Agreement Validity. The Custodian shall not be
responsible for the validity or sufficiency of the Trust Agreement or the due
execution thereof, or for the form, character, genuineness, sufficiency, value
or validity of any of the Assets and the Custodian shall in no event assume or
incur any liability, duty or obligation to any Holder or to the Trustees, other
than as expressly provided for herein. The Custodian shall not be responsible
for or in respect of the validity of any signature by or on behalf of the
Trustees.
7. Litigation Obligations, Costs and Indemnity. The Custodian
shall not be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action
which in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless it shall be
furnished with such reasonable security and indemnity against such expense or
liability as it may require, and any pecuniary costs of the Custodian from such
actions shall be expenses which are reimbursable pursuant to paragraph 13
hereof.
8. Taxes; Trust Expenses. In no event shall the Custodian be
personally liable for any taxes or other
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governmental charges imposed upon or in respect of the Assets or upon the
monies, securities or other properties included therein. The Custodian shall be
reimbursed and indemnified by the Trustees for all such taxes and charges, for
any tax or charge imposed against the Trust and for any expenses, including
counsel fees, interest, penalties and additions to tax which the Custodian may
sustain or incur with respect to such taxes or charges.
9. Custodian Resignation, Succession. (a) The Custodian may
resign by executing an instrument in writing resigning as Custodian and
delivering the same to the Trustees, not less than 60 days before the date
specified in such instrument when, subject to clause (b) of this paragraph 9,
such resignation is to take effect. Upon receiving such notice of resignation,
the Trustees shall use their reasonable efforts promptly to appoint a successor
Custodian in the manner and meeting the qualifications provided in the Trust
Agreement, by written instrument or instruments delivered to the resigning
Custodian and the successor Custodian.
(b) In case no successor Custodian shall have been appointed
within 30 days after notice of resignation has been received by the Trustees,
the resigning Custodian may forthwith apply to a court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Custodian. Such court may
thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribed,
appoint a successor Custodian.
10. Custodian Removal. The Trustees may remove the Custodian
upon 60 days' prior written notice to the Custodian and appoint a successor
Custodian. In case at any time the Custodian shall not meet the requirements
set forth in the Trust Agreement or shall become incapable of acting or if a
court having jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect
of the Custodian in an involuntary case, or the Custodian shall commence a
voluntary case, under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar
law now or hereafter in effect, or any receiver, liquidator, assignee,
custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) for the Custodian or for
any substantial part of its property shall be appointed, or the Custodian shall
make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall generally
fail to pay its debts as they become due, the Trustees may remove the Custodian
immediately and appoint a successor Custodian. The termination of the
Administration Agreement or the Paying Agent Agreement shall cause the removal
of the Custodian simultaneously therewith.
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11. Transfers to Successor Custodian. Upon the request of any
successor Custodian, the Custodian hereunder shall, upon payment of all amounts
due it, execute and deliver an instrument acknowledged by it transferring to
such successor Custodian all the rights and powers of the resigning Custodian;
and the resigning Custodian shall transfer, deliver and pay over to the
successor Custodian the Assets at the time held by it hereunder, if any,
together with all necessary instruments of transfer and assignment or other
documents properly executed necessary to effect such transfer and such of the
records or copies thereof maintained by the resigning Custodian in the
administration hereof as may be requested by the successor Custodian, and shall
thereupon be discharged from all duties and responsibilities hereunder. Any
resignation or removal of the Custodian shall become effective upon such
acceptance of appointment by the successor Custodian. The indemnification of
the resigning Custodian provided for hereunder shall survive any resignation,
discharge or removal of the Custodian hereunder.
12. Custodian Merger, Consolidation. Any corporation into
which the Custodian may be merged or converted or with which it may be
consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or
consolidation to which the Custodian shall be a party, shall be the successor
Custodian hereunder and under the Trust Agreement without the execution or
filing of any paper, instrument or further act to be done on the part of the
parties hereto, provided that such corporation meets the requirements set forth
in the Trust Agreement and provided further that the Trust has given its prior
written consent to the Custodian with respect to any such merger, conversion or
consolidation.
13. Compensation; Expenses. The Custodian shall receive
compensation for performing the usual, ordinary, normal and recurring services
under this Custodian Agreement and, with the prior written approval of the
Trustees, reimbursement for any and all expenses and disbursements incurred
hereunder, as provided in Section 3.1 of the Administration Agreement.
14. Section 17(f) Qualification. The Custodian hereby
represents that it is qualified to act as a custodian under Section 17(f) of
the Investment Company Act.
15. Custodian's Limited Liability. The Trustees shall
indemnify and hold the Custodian harmless from and against any loss, damages,
cost or expense (including the costs of investigation, preparation for and
defense of legal
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and/or administrative proceedings related to a claim against it and reasonable
attorneys' fees and disbursements), liability or claim incurred by reason of
any inaccuracy in information furnished to the Custodian by the Trustees, or
any act or omission in the course of, connected with or arising out of any
services to be rendered hereunder, provided that the Custodian shall not be
indemnified and held harmless from and against any such loss, damages, cost,
expense, liability or claim arising from its willful misfeasance, bad faith or
gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or its reckless disregard of
its duties and obligations hereunder. Neither the Federal Reserve Book Entry
System nor the Depository Trust Company shall be deemed to be agents of the
Custodian.
16. Rights of Set-Off; Banker's Lien. The Custodian hereby
waives all rights of set-off or banker's lien it may have with respect to the
Assets held by it as Custodian hereunder.
17. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the
earlier of the termination of the Trust or the appointment of a successor
Custodian.
18. Choice of Law. This Agreement is executed and delivered
in the State of New York, and all laws or rules of construction of the State of
New York shall govern the right of the parties hereto and the interpretation of
the provisions hereof.
19. Notices. Any notice to be given to the Trust hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be duly given if mailed or delivered to Republic
Industries Automatic Common Exchange Security Trust, c/o Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
Managing Trustee, Xxxxxxx & Associates, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000, and to the Custodian if mailed or delivered to The Bank of New
York, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx or
at such other address as shall be specified by the addressee to the other party
hereto in writing.
20. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing herein, express or
implied, shall give to any Person, other than the Trustees, the Custodian and
their respective successors and assigns, any benefit of any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim hereunder.
21. Amendments; Trust Agreement Changes; Waiver. This
Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be modified, amended, rescinded,
cancelled or waived, in whole or in part, except by a written instrument signed
by a duly
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authorized representative of the party to be charged. The Trustees shall notify
the Custodian of any change in the Trust Agreement prior to the effective date
of any such change. Failure of either party hereto to exercise any right or
remedy hereunder in the event of a breach hereof by the other party shall not
constitute a waiver of any such right or remedy with respect to any subsequent
breach.
22. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in
counterparts with all counterparts constituting one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Custodian Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above
written.
TRUSTEES
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Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx III,
as Trustee
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Xxxxx X. X'Xxxxx,
as Trustee
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
as Trustee
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By
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Name:
Title:
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