Genuine Parts Company and Snap-on Form E-commerce-based Alliance

11 January 2000

Genuine Parts Company and Snap-on Form E-commerce-based Alliance     KENOSHA, Wis.--Jan. 11, 2000--

Genuine Parts Also Acquires Partial Interest in Mitchell Repair from
    Snap-on; Expands Product Line and Sales Opportunities

    In a joint announcement released today, Genuine Parts Company , a leading distributor of automotive and industrial replacement parts and products and Snap-on Incorporated , a global leader in tools, diagnostics and equipment, said they have formed a strategic alliance that will enhance and expand the e-business efforts of both companies. The combined effort unites the electronic, online replacement parts ordering capability of Genuine Parts Automotive Parts Group, with the online repair information capabilities of Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC (MRIC), a subsidiary of Snap-on. In support of the alliance, Snap-on has sold a 15 percent interest in its Mitchell Repair Information business to Genuine Parts. Additional terms were not disclosed.
    "Snap-on and Genuine Parts represent two of the premier companies at the forefront of the automotive industry. The arrangement combines the strengths of Snap-on in information and shop management systems with the strength of Genuine Parts in replacement parts and distribution," said Robert A. Cornog, Snap-on chairman, president and chief executive officer. "The alliance is the next step in enhancing and delivering Snap-on's total solutions capability through our `Store Without Walls' e-business strategy."
    Larry L. Prince, chairman of the board of Genuine Parts Company said: "Working together, we believe we can offer a total, integrated solution to our approximately 10,000 NAPA AutoCare Centers. The alliance provides the capability to integrate certain repair information and parts ordering and deliver the enhanced value of this combination through electronic- and Internet-based technologies."
    The alliance of these two premier companies brings together all the elements needed to deploy a successful e-business model, including a full replacement parts catalog, online order interface and procurement, repair information, "voice and view" diagnostics help, shop management, labor rates, local delivery and service capability, tools and equipment.
    The two companies are developing mutually beneficial commercial arrangements in North America designed to provide for:

-    licensing of certain elements of the MRIC database to enhance
     NAPA's consumer-directed Internet activities;

-    integration of selected repair information with the NAPA parts
     catalog to facilitate the identification, ordering and delivery
     of replacement parts to the professional installer;

-    convergence of repair information and business management systems
     in NAPA AutoCare Centers;

-    the possibility for Snap-on to leverage its total solutions
     capabilities to the Genuine Parts distribution channel of more
     than 6,000 NAPA AUTO PARTS stores through the offering of tools
     and equipment (outside of the Snap-on(R) brand of heritage tools
     and equipment).