Exhibit 10.3

May 19, 2010

AutoNation, Inc.

200 SW 1st Ave, Suite 1600

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

 

  RE: AutoNation, Inc. Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plans

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This letter agreement is being delivered to you in light of the possibility that
ESL (as defined below) could become a beneficial owner of 50% or more of the
outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common
Stock”), of AutoNation, Inc. (the “Company”).

For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is
hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees with the Company as follows:

Notwithstanding the terms of the AutoNation, Inc. 2007 Non-Employee Director
Stock Option Plan, the AutoNation, Inc. Amended and Restated 1995 Non-Employee
Director Stock Option Plan, or any other Company plan and so long as the terms
and conditions set forth in the Consents (as defined below) are applicable (or
such terms and conditions have been waived, modified or eliminated with the
approval of the Board), neither (A) the acquisition by ESL of direct or indirect
beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the Common Stock nor (B) ESL having the
power (whether as a result of stock ownership, revocable or irrevocable proxies,
contract or otherwise) or ability to elect or cause the election of directors
consisting at the time of such election of a majority of the Company’s Board of
Directors, shall constitute a “Change of Control” with respect to any stock
option or restricted shares of common stock of the Company held by the
undersigned as of the date hereof or granted to the undersigned in the future
under any Company plan; provided, however, that the following events shall
constitute a “Change of Control” with respect to any stock option or restricted
shares of common stock of the Company held by the undersigned as of the date
hereof or granted to the undersigned in the future under any Company plan: (i) a
transaction in which the Company is acquired by or merges, consolidates or
combines with, or is merged, consolidated or combined with, ESL or any entity
controlled by ESL; or (ii) a “Rule 13e-3 transaction” with ESL, as such term is
defined in Rule 13e-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

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AutoNation, Inc.

Page 2

 

As used in this letter, the term “Consents” means that certain letter agreement,
dated as of January 28, 2009, by and among American Honda Motor Co., Inc., the
Company and ESL, and that certain letter agreement, dated as of January 28,
2009, by and among Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., the Company and ESL, in
each case as amended by the parties thereto. The term “ESL” means ESL
Investments, Inc. and any person, entity or group that directly, or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under
common control with, ESL Investments, Inc. (for the avoidance of doubt, other
than the Company and its subsidiaries).

 

 

Name:

 

Accepted and Agreed:

AUTONATION, INC. By:  

/s/ Jonathan P. Ferrando

  Name: Jonathan P. Ferrando  
Title: Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary