Genuine Parts Company (Form: 8-K)

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY
REPORTS RESULTS FOR 2008
SALES INCREASED 2%, EPS DECREASED 2%

Atlanta, Georgia, February 17, 2009 — Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) reports sales and earnings for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2008.

Tom Gallagher, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, announced today that sales in 2008 were $11.0 billion, up 2% compared to 2007. Net income for the year was $475.4 million, a decrease of 6% compared to $506.3 million in 2007. Earnings per share on a diluted basis were $2.92, down 2% compared to $2.98 in 2007.

Mr. Gallagher stated, “In line with our announcement on January 23, 2009, 2008 proved to be an interesting, as well as challenging, year for Genuine Parts Company. We are, however, pleased to report that 2008 represents another record level of revenues for us. Again for 2008, the Company’s strongest sales improvements came from our two business segments serving the manufacturing sector of the economy. Motion Industries, our Industrial Group, reported a 5% increase for the year and EIS, our Electrical/Electronics Group, reported a 7% increase. The Automotive Group and S.P. Richards, our Office Products Group, continued to experience slower industry demand, with Automotive reporting just a slight sales increase in 2008 and our Office Group reporting a 2% decrease for the year.”

Mr. Gallagher added, “We are disappointed that earnings did not improve over the prior year, with all of the shortfall coming in the final quarter. Fortunately, we were able to maintain a strong balance sheet and generate solid cash flows, which we returned to our shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases.”

Sales decreased 4% to $2.5 billion in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2008, compared to $2.6 billion for the same period in 2007. Diluted earnings per share in the fourth quarter were 55 cents, down 27% compared to 75 cents per share for the fourth quarter of 2007.

Mr. Gallagher commented, “After reporting steady and consistent results through the first three quarters of the year, we experienced a weakening in demand across all of our business segments during the final quarter, reflecting the effects of reduced consumer spending, declining industrial production and higher unemployment. In the fourth quarter of 2008, our Automotive sales were down 6%, our Industrial Group sales were unchanged, our Electrical/Electronics Group was down 4% and our Office Products Group was down 5%.”

Mr. Gallagher concluded, “Due to all of the current economic uncertainties, our outlook for the near term is a bit more cautious than it might be in more normal times. However, we continue to be quite optimistic about the longer-term prospects for GPC and for each of our businesses. We believe the underlying fundamentals and demographics in all four business segments remain long term positive and each industry should return to historical growth levels as we work our way through the current economic downturn.”

Genuine Parts Company will hold a conference call today at 11:00 a.m. EST to discuss the results of the quarter, the year and the future outlook. Interested parties may listen to the call on the Company’s website, www.genpt.com, by clicking “Investor Services”, or by dialing 877-422-4780, conference ID 23660. A replay will also be available on the Company’s website or at 800-642-1687, conference ID 23660, two hours after the completion of the call until 12:00 a.m. EST on March 4, 2009.

Some statements in this release, 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 our 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 include, but are not limited to, the ability to maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relationships, changes in general economic conditions, the growth rate of the market for the Company’s products and services, competitive product and pricing pressures, including internet related initiatives, the effectiveness of the Company’s promotional, marketing and advertising programs, changes in financial markets, including particularly the capital and credit markets, changes in laws and regulations, including changes in accounting and taxation guidance, the uncertainties of litigation, as well as other risks and uncertainties discussed from time to time in the Company’s 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 Form 10-Q, 10-K, 8-K and other reports to the SEC.

Genuine Parts Company is a distributor of automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The Company also distributes industrial replacement parts in the U.S. and Canada through its Motion Industries subsidiary. S.P. Richards Company, the Office Products Group, distributes business products nationwide in the U.S. and Canada. The Electrical/Electronic Group, EIS, Inc., distributes electrical and electronic components throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME


	Three Months Ended Dec. 31,				Year Ended Dec. 31,
	2008		2007		2008		2007
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands, except per share data)
Net sales	$	2,520,190	$	2,627,269	$	11,015,263	$	10,843,195
Cost of goods sold		1,768,401		1,849,063		7,742,773		7,625,972

		751,789		778,206		3,272,490		3,217,223
Selling, administrative & other expenses		601,555		574,774		2,504,022		2,400,478

Income before income taxes		150,234		203,432		768,468		816,745
Income taxes		62,450		77,347		293,051		310,406

Net income	$	87,784	$	126,085	$	475,417	$	506,339

Basic net income per common share	$	.55	$	.76	$	2.93	$	2.99
Diluted net income per common share	$	.55	$	.75	$	2.92	$	2.98
Weighted average common shares outstanding		159,452		166,955		162,351		169,129
Dilutive effect of stock options and
non-vested restricted stock awards		457		976		635		1,006

Weighted average common shares outstanding –
assuming dilution		159,909		167,931		162,986		170,135

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT INFORMATION AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS


	Three Months Ended Dec. 31,						Year Ended Dec. 31,
	2008			2007			2008			2007
	(Unaudited)
	(in thousands)
Net sales:
Automotive	$	1,194,018		$	1,274,305		$	5,321,536		$	5,311,873
Industrial		828,364			828,279			3,514,661			3,350,954
Office Products		400,347			422,123			1,732,514			1,765,055
Electrical/Electronic Materials		102,177			106,902			465,889			436,318
Other (1)		(4,716	)		(4,340	)		(19,337	)		(21,005	)

Total net sales	$	2,520,190		$	2,627,269		$	11,015,263		$	10,843,195

Operating profit:
Automotive	$	67,468		$	87,490		$	385,356		$	413,180
Industrial		71,871			77,432			294,652			281,762
Office Products		29,406			37,729			144,127			156,781
Electrical/Electronic Materials		7,546			7,211			36,721			30,435

Total operating profit		176,291			209,862			860,856			882,158
Interest expense, net		(7,970	)		(4,506	)		(29,847	)		(21,056	)
Other, net		(18,087	)		(1,924	)		(62,541	)		(44,357	)

Income before income taxes	$	150,234		$	203,432		$	768,468		$	816,745

Capital expenditures	$	44,935		$	31,867		$	105,026		$	115,648

Depreciation and amortization	$	22,229		$	23,688		$	88,698		$	87,702

(1) Represents the net effect of discounts, incentives and freight billed reported as a component of net sales.

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


	Dec. 31,		Dec. 31,
	2008		2007
	(in thousands)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	67,777	$	231,837
Trade accounts receivable, net		1,224,525		1,216,220
Merchandise inventories, net		2,316,880		2,335,716
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		262,238		269,239

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS		3,871,420		4,053,012
Goodwill and other intangible assets, less accumulated amortization		158,825		82,453
Deferred tax asset		218,503		35,778
Other assets		114,337		176,837
Net property, plant and equipment		423,265		425,989

TOTAL ASSETS	$	4,786,350	$	4,774,069


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Trade accounts payable	$	1,009,423	$	989,816
Current portion of debt		-0-		250,000
Income taxes payable		24,685		45,578
Dividends payable		62,148		60,789
Other current liabilities		190,847		201,793

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES		1,287,103		1,547,976
Long-term debt		500,000		250,000
Other long-term liabilities		103,264		101,988
Retirement benefits liabilities		502,605		91,159
Minority interests in subsidiaries		69,046		66,230
Common stock		159,443		166,065
Retained earnings and other		2,164,889		2,550,651

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY		2,324,332		2,716,716

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	4,786,350	$	4,774,069

NOTE: Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

GENUINE PARTS COMPANY and SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


	Year Ended Dec. 31,
	2008			2007
	(in thousands)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	475,417		$	506,339
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		88,698			87,702
Other		(23,985	)		4,521
Changes in operating assets and liabilities		(9,821	)		42,909

NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES		530,309			641,471
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(105,026	)		(115,648	)
Acquisitions and other		(109,308	)		28,050

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES		(214,334	)		(87,598	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net payments on debt		-0-			-0-
Stock options exercised		821			10,530
Excess tax (expense) benefits from share-based compensation		(586	)		4,438
Dividends paid		(251,808	)		(243,244	)
Purchase of stock		(273,000	)		(241,220	)
Other		52,000			-0-

NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES		(472,573	)		(469,496	)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH		(7,462	)		11,487
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		(164,060	)		95,864
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR		231,837			135,973

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR	$	67,777		$	231,837


Georgia	001-05690	58-0254510
_____________________ (State or other jurisdiction	_____________ (Commission	______________ (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)

2999 Circle 75 Pkwy, Atlanta, Georgia		30339
_________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices)		___________ (Zip Code)


	Genuine Parts Company

February 17, 2009	By:	Jerry W. Nix

		Name: Jerry W. Nix
		Title: Vice Chairman and CFO


Exhibit No.		Description

99.1		Press Release dated February 17, 2009


Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):		February 16, 2009


Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:		770.953.1700