Genuine Parts Company Reports Sales and Earnings for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2018

ATLANTA, Oct. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) announced today sales and earnings for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

Sales for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 were $4.7 billion, a 15.3% increase compared to $4.1 billion for the same period in 2017.  Net income for the third quarter was $220.2 million and earnings per share on a diluted basis were $1.49.  Before the net impact of certain transaction and other costs incurred related to the Company's fourth quarter 2017 acquisition of Alliance Automotive Group (AAG) in Europe and the attempted transaction to spin-off the Company's Business Products Group, S.P. Richards, and the favorable impact of a $12 million termination fee, adjusted net income was $217.6 million, or $1.48 per diluted share.  Total sales for the third quarter included 4.3% comparable growth, approximately 12% from acquisitions, including AAG, and an approximate 1% negative impact from foreign currency translation.

Third quarter sales for the Automotive Group were up 23.3%, including an approximate 3% comparable sales increase and the benefit of acquisitions, partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency translation of approximately 2%.  Sales for the Industrial Group were up 8.3%, including an approximate 7% comparable sales increase, and sales for the Business Products Group were up 1.3% consisting primarily of comparable sales growth.

Paul Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased to report the further strengthening of our sales, driven by positive sales comps across all our business segments and the favorable impact of strategic acquisitions.  In addition, our teams made progress in driving operating improvement, resulting in an improved operating margin for the automotive and industrial segments and the Company overall.  We also did an excellent job of managing our working capital, which contributed to the strong cash flows for the quarter."

Sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 were $14.1 billion, a 16.8% increase compared to $12.1 billion for the same period in 2017.  Net income for the nine months was $623.8 million and earnings per share on a diluted basis were $4.23.  Before the transaction and other costs discussed above, adjusted net income was $637.6 million, or $4.33 per diluted share, for the nine months.

Mr. Donahue concluded, "We enter the fourth quarter of 2018 with positive momentum and plans for continued sales and earnings growth.  We remain focused on the further strengthening of our core sales growth, maximizing the benefits of our acquisitions and improving our operating results to further enhance our long-term sales and profit outlook.  As always, we will support these initiatives with a strong balance sheet and continued strong cash flows."

2018 Outlook

The Company is raising its sales guidance to be up 14% to 15%, an increase from the prior guidance of up 13% to 14%. The Company expects diluted earnings per share to range from $5.50 to $5.60 and is updating its guidance for adjusted diluted earnings per share, which excludes any transaction-related costs, to $5.60 to $5.70 from $5.60 to $5.75. The Company continues to expect a full-year tax rate of approximately 25.0%.

Non-GAAP Information

This release contains certain financial information not derived in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). These items include adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share. The Company does not, nor does it suggest investors should, consider such non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, GAAP financial information. The Company believes that the presentation of adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share provides meaningful supplemental information to both management and investors that is indicative of the Company's core operations. The Company has included a reconciliation of this additional information to the most comparable GAAP measure following the financial statements below.

Conference Call

Genuine Parts Company will hold a conference call today at 11:00 a.m. EDT to discuss the results of the quarter and the future outlook. Interested parties may listen to the call on the Company's website, www.genpt.com, by clicking "Investors", or by dialing 877-407-0789, conference ID 13683506. A replay will also be available on the Company's website or at 844-512-2921, conference ID 13683506, two hours after the completion of the call until 12:00 a.m. EDT on November 2, 2018.

Forward Looking Statements

Some statements in this report, as well as in other materials we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or otherwise release to the public and in materials that we make available on our website, constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Senior officers may also make verbal statements to analysts, investors, the media and others that are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may relate, for example, to the impact of Essendant Inc.'s ("Essendant") election to terminate the proposed business combination transaction between the Company and Essendant in which the Company would have spun off its Business Products Group and combined it with Essendant or the acquisition of AAG and the anticipated strategic benefits, synergies and other attributes resulting from this and other acquisitions, as well as future operations, prospects, strategies, financial condition, economic performance (including growth and earnings), industry conditions and demand for our products and services. The Company cautions that its forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and while we believe that our expectations for the future are reasonable in view of currently available information, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events may differ materially from those indicated as a result of various important factors. Such factors may include, among other things, the Company's ability to successfully integrate AAG into the Company and to realize the anticipated synergies and benefits; changes in the European aftermarket; the Company's ability to successfully implement its business initiatives in each of its three business segments; slowing demand for the Company's products; changes in national and international legislation or government regulations or policies, including new import tariffs and data security policies and requirements; changes in general economic conditions, including unemployment, inflation (including the impact of potential tariffs) or deflation; changes in tax policies; volatile exchange rates; significant cost increases, such as rising fuel and freight expenses; labor shortages; uncertain credit markets and other macroeconomic conditions; competitive product, service and pricing pressures; the ability to maintain favorable vendor arrangements and relationships; disruptions in our vendors' operations, including the impact of tariffs and trade considerations on their operations and output, as required to meet product demand; the Company's ability to successfully integrate its other acquired businesses; the uncertainties and costs of litigation; disruptions caused by a failure or breach of the Company's information systems, as well as other risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2017 and from time to time in the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC.

Forward-looking statements are only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no duty to update its forward-looking statements except as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our subsequent Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and other reports to the SEC.

About Genuine Parts Company

Genuine Parts Company is a distributor of automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australasia, France, the U.K., Germany and Poland. The Company also distributes industrial replacement parts and electrical and electronic materials in the U.S., Canada and Mexico through its Industrial Products Group, comprised of Motion Industries and EIS, Inc. S.P. Richards Company, the Business Products Group, distributes a variety of business products in the U.S. and Canada.

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