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Advance Auto Parts Names GNB Technologies Vendor of the Year

23 April 1999

Advance Auto Parts Names GNB Technologies Vendor of the Year

    ATLANTA, April 22 -- GNB Technologies has been named Vendor
of the Year by Advance Auto Parts.  GNB, a leading manufacturer and recycler
of lead acid batteries, was recognized for its outstanding product and service
quality in 1998, along with a continuous demonstration of a true
vendor-partner relationship.  The award was presented at the Advance Auto
Parts Managers' Conference and Vendor Expo, held March 16, 1999 in
Orlando, FL.
    "GNB is honored to have our efforts recognized by a growing company like
Advance Auto Parts," said Thomas O. Minner, CEO, GNB Technologies.  "We're
proud of the solid relationship that we've formed over the years and look
forward to growing along with them in the future."
    For more than 15 years, GNB has supplied Advance Auto Parts' stores with
automotive, marine, heavy duty, garden tractor and motorcycle batteries.  In
1998, Advance added GNB's Champion(R) branded automotive battery types to
their existing private label line.  The addition was an immediate success and
helped drive battery sales to an all time high in 1998.
    "GNB received this award because they constantly go above and beyond their
duty as a supplier to Advance.  Due to their outstanding commitment and
efforts, our battery business exceeded our aggressive target last year," said
Ken Wirth, Advance Auto Parts Senior Vice President, Sales.  "GNB has been a
dedicated vendor partner for many years, and we value that relationship."
    Advance Auto Parts experienced huge growth in 1998 with the acquisition of
the Western Auto/Parts America chain from Sears.  With almost 1,600 stores,
Advance is the second largest parts retailer in the country.  GNB, the
exclusive battery supplier to all stores, provides Advance with a
comprehensive line of Champion and Autocraft(R) automotive and Stowaway(R)
marine brands.

    Note:
    GNB Technologies is an integrated provider of power technology products.
It manufactures and recycles lead-acid batteries for the automotive,
recreational, boating, farm, heavy duty truck, electric utility, electric
vehicle, photovoltaic, railroad, telecommunications and uninterruptible power
supply markets in more than 50 countries.  GNB can be found on the Internet at
http://www.gnb.com.

    Champion is a registered trademark of Federal-Mogul Corporation.
    Autocraft is a registered trademark of Advance Stores Company.
    Stowaway is a registered trademark of GNB Technologies Inc.