agreed to buy new car dealership groups in Miami and Houston for about $75 million in stock, the latest expansion in Chairman Wayne Huizenga's chain of auto dealerships.

Kendall Toyota owns Toyota, Lexus and Kia dealerships in Miami, while Joe Myers Automotive Group owns Ford, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Mazda and Kia dealerships in Houston.

The acquisitions will bring to 12 the number of dealer groups Republic, whose single largest shareholder is Bermuda resident Michael DeGroote, has bought since it entered the new-car business in December.

The new-car dealerships are expected to complement Republic's AutoNation USA chain of used-car dealerships, started in mid-1995. Republic has AutoNation outlets in Florida, Arizona, Michigan, Texas and California, and plans to have 90 used-car dealerships by 2000.

Republic also owns and operates solid-waste landfills and has an electronic-security business.

Shares of Republic rose $1.88 to $33.88 in trading of 4.77 million on Friday, more than the three-month daily average of 2.15 million.