Advance Auto Parts And Exide Technologies Agree To Settlement Of Lawsuit

    PRINCETON, N.J., March 23 Advance Auto Parts and Exide
Technologies today jointly announced that they have reached a
settlement of the lawsuit filed by Advance against Exide in the United States
District Court of the Western District of Virginia, involving a battery supply
contract between the two companies.

    The case, which involved the enforceability of a battery supply agreement
entered into between Advance and GNB Technologies, now merged into Exide, was
scheduled for trial on Monday, March 26, 2001.  The terms of the settlement
were not disclosed.

    "We are pleased with the outcome," said Jim Wade, Advance's President.
"Batteries are a significant part of our business, and they will continue to
be.  We will continue to build on our relationships with suppliers, employees
and customers as we continue as one of the most respected auto parts retailers
in America."

    Tom Minner, President of Exide's Global Transportation Business Group,
said, "Exide is also pleased with the outcome.  This resolution allows us to
continue to focus on our mission to become the global leader of stored
electrical energy solutions, and the preferred supplier of automotive, heavy
duty, marine and other batteries and technologies."