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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K

(Mark One)
x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013
OR
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ________ to ________.

Commission file number 001-16797
________________________


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
________________________

  Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
    54-2049910
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
  5008 Airport Road
Roanoke, VA
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
    24012
(Zip Code)


(540) 362-4911
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act
Title of each class
Common Stock
($0.0001 par value)
Name of each exchange on which registered
New York
Stock Exchange

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Registration S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Registration S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to the Form 10-K. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. 

Large accelerated filer x
Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o No x

As of July 12, 2013 , the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the 72,442,669 shares of Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $5,984,488,886 , based on the last sales price of the Common Stock on July 12, 2013 , as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.

As of February 20, 2014 , the registrant had outstanding 72,926,574 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the only class of common stock of the registrant outstanding).

Documents Incorporated by Reference:

Portions of the definitive proxy statement of the registrant to be filed within 120 days of December 28, 2013 , pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 14, 2014 , are incorporated by reference into Part III.
 



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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this report are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements are usually identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “plan,” “position,” “possible,” “potential,” “probable,” “project,” “projection,” “should,” “strategy,” “will,” or similar expressions. We intend for any forward-looking statements to be covered by, and we claim the protection under, the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

These forward-looking statements are based upon assessments and assumptions of management in light of historical results and trends, current conditions and potential future developments that often involve judgment, estimates, assumptions and projections. Forward-looking statements reflect current views about our plans, strategies and prospects, which are based on information currently available.

Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations as reflected in or suggested by any forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not guarantee or give assurance that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved.  Actual results may differ materially from our anticipated results described or implied in our forward-looking statements, and such differences may be due to a variety of factors. Our business could also be affected by additional factors that are presently unknown to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial to our business.

Listed below and discussed elsewhere in further detail in this report are some important risks, uncertainties and contingencies which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any forward-looking statements made or implied in this report. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

a decrease in demand for our products;
competitive pricing and other competitive pressures;
the risk that the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of General Parts International, Inc. (“GPI”), including synergies, may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, that we may experience difficulty integrating GPI’s operations into our operations, or that management's attention may be diverted from our other businesses in association with the acquisition of GPI;
the possibility that the acquisition of GPI may not advance our business strategy or prove to be an accretive investment or may impact third-party relationships, including customers, wholesalers, independently-owned and jobber stores and suppliers;
the risk that the additional indebtedness from the new financing agreements in association with the acquisition of GPI may limit our operating flexibility or otherwise strain our liquidity and financial condition;
the risk that we may experience difficulty retaining key GPI employees;
our ability to implement our business strategy;
our ability to expand our business, including the location of available and suitable real estate for new store locations, the integration of any acquired businesses and the continued increase in supply chain capacity and efficiency;
our dependence on our suppliers to provide us with products that comply with safety and quality standards;
our ability to attract and retain qualified employees, or Team Members;
the potential for fluctuations in the market price of our common stock and the resulting exposure to securities class action litigation;
deterioration in general macro-economic conditions, including unemployment, inflation or deflation, consumer debt levels, high fuel and energy costs, higher tax rates or uncertain credit markets;
regulatory and legal risks, including being named as a defendant in administrative investigations or litigation, and the incurrence of legal fees and costs, the payment of fines or the payment of sums to settle litigation cases or administrative investigations or proceedings;
a security breach or other cyber security incident;
business interruptions due to the occurrence of natural disasters, extended periods of unfavorable weather, computer system malfunction, wars or acts of terrorism;
the impact of global climate change or legal and regulatory responses to such change; and
other statements that are not of historical fact made throughout this report, including the sections entitled “Business,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors.”





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We assume no obligations to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In evaluating forward-looking statements, you should consider these risks and uncertainties, together with the other risks described from time to time in our other reports and documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and you should not place undue reliance on those statements.


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PART I

Item 1.      Business.

Unless the context otherwise requires, “Advance,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and similar terms refer to Advance Auto Parts, Inc., its predecessor, its subsidiaries and their respective operations. Our fiscal year consists of 52 or 53 weeks ending on the Saturday closest to December 31 st of each year. All fiscal years presented include 52 weeks of operations (the next 53 week fiscal year is 2014).

References to the acquisition of GPI refer to our January 2, 2014 acquisition of General Parts International, Inc. The discussion in this report relates to a period prior to our acquisition of GPI and, except as otherwise noted, does not give effect to the GPI acquisition.

Overview

We are a leading specialty retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, batteries and maintenance items primarily operating within the United States. Our stores carry an extensive product line for cars, vans, sport utility vehicles and light trucks. We serve both “do-it-yourself,” or DIY, and “do-it-for-me,” or Commercial, customers. Our Commercial customers consist primarily of delivery customers for whom we deliver product from our store locations to our Commercial customers’ places of business, including independent garages, service stations and auto dealers.

We were founded in 1929 as Advance Stores Company, Incorporated and operated as a retailer of general merchandise until the 1980s. During the 1980s, we sharpened our focus to target sales of automotive parts and accessories to DIY customers. From the 1980s to the present, we have grown significantly as a result of comparable store sales growth, new store openings and strategic acquisitions. We began our Commercial delivery program in 1996 and have significantly increased our sales to Commercial customers since 2000. Our parent company, Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in 2001 in conjunction with the acquisition of Discount Auto Parts, Inc. As of December 28, 2013 , the end of our 2013 fiscal year, or Fiscal 2013 , we operated 4,049 total stores.

Subsequent to the end of Fiscal 2013, we acquired GPI on January 2, 2014 . GPI, formerly a privately held company, is a leading distributor and supplier of original equipment and aftermarket automotive replacement products for commercial markets operating under the Carquest and Worldpac brands. As of the acquisition date, GPI operated 1,248 Carquest stores and 105 Worldpac branches located in 45 states and Canada and serviced approximately 1,400 independently owned Carquest stores. We believe the acquisition will allow us to expand our geographic presence, Commercial capabilities and overall scale to better serve our customers.

Our Internet address is www.AdvanceAutoParts.com. We make available free of charge through our Internet website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish them to, the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. These materials may be obtained electronically by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Operating Segments

As of December 28, 2013, we operated in two reportable segments: Advance Auto Parts, or AAP, and Autopart International, or AI. The AAP segment is comprised of our store operations, which operate under the trade names “Advance Auto Parts” and “Advance Discount Auto Parts”. The AI segment consists solely of the operations of Autopart International, Inc. which operates under the “Autopart International” trade name.

Financial information on our segments is included in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition, selected financial data for our segments is available in Note 21 , Segment and Related Information, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Item 15, Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


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AAP Segment

As of December 28, 2013 , we operated 3,832 AAP stores throughout 39 states in the Northeastern, Southeastern and Midwestern (inclusive of South Central) regions of the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. These stores operated under the “Advance Auto Parts” trade name except for certain stores in the state of Florida, which operated under the “Advance Discount Auto Parts” trade name. These stores offer a broad selection of brand name and private label automotive replacement parts, accessories, batteries and maintenance items for domestic and imported cars and light trucks. Through our integrated operating approach, we serve our DIY and Commercial customers from our store locations and online at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com. Our online website allows our DIY customers to pick up merchandise at a conveniently located store or have their purchases shipped directly to their home or business. Our Commercial customers can conveniently place their orders online.

AAP Stores

Store Overview . Our stores generally are located in freestanding buildings in areas with high vehicle traffic counts, good visibility and easy access to major roadways and to our Commercial customers. We believe that our stores exhibit a customer-friendly format with the majority of our stores featuring an updated exterior and interior, bright lighting, and a well-designed and easily navigated floor plan. The average size of our stores is 7,300 square feet with the size of our typical new stores ranging from approximately 6,000 to 8,000 square feet. Our stores generally are open from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. six days a week and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sundays and most holidays to meet the needs of our DIY and Commercial customers.

Our stores carry a product offering of approximately 20,000 stock keeping units, or SKUs, generally consisting of a custom mix of product based on each store's respective market. Supplementing the inventory on-hand at our stores, we have 374 larger stores, known as HUB stores, which stock an additional 15,000 less common SKUs which are available to our stores within the HUB store's service areas on a same-day or next-day basis. Our stores also have access to a total assortment of 93,000 SKUs for same-day or next-day delivery from our network of 19 Parts Delivered Quickly, or PDQ ® , facilities. Additionally, our customers have access to over 522,000 SKUs by ordering directly from one of our vendors for delivery to a particular store or other destination as chosen by the customer.

We strive to be the leader in the automotive aftermarket industry by fulfilling our promise, 'Service is our best part ® ' through our Superior Availability and Service Leadership strategies. We offer our customers quality products which are covered by a solid warranty. Many of our products are offered at a good, better or best recommendation differentiated by price and quality. Store Team Members utilize our proprietary point-of-sale, or POS, system, including a fully integrated electronic parts catalog to identify and suggest the appropriate quality and price options for the SKUs we carry, as well as the related products, tools or additional information that is required by our customers to complete their automotive repair projects properly and safely.

The primary categories of products we offer in our stores include:
 
Parts , including alternators, batteries, belts and hoses, brakes and brake pads, chassis parts, clutches, driveshafts, engines and engine parts, ignition parts, lighting, radiators, starters, spark plugs and wires, steering and alignment parts, transmissions, water pumps and windshield wiper blades;
Accessories , including air fresheners, anti-theft devices, emergency road kits, floor mats, ice scrapers, mirrors, vent shades, MP3 and cell phone accessories, and seat and steering wheel covers;
Chemicals , including antifreeze, brake and power steering fluid, freon, fuel additives, windshield washer fluid and car washes and waxes;
Oil, transmission fluid and other automotive petroleum products; and
Other miscellaneous offerings, including certain eServices.

The product in our stores is generally arranged in a uniform and consistent manner based on standard store formats and merchandise presentation. The parts inventory is generally located on shelves behind the customer service counter with the remaining product, or front room merchandise, arranged on the sales floor to provide easy customer access, maximum selling space and to prominently display high-turnover products and accessories to customers. We utilize aisle displays to feature high-demand or seasonal merchandise, new items and advertised specials, including bilingual signage based on the demographics in each store's geographic area.



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Except where prohibited, we also provide a variety of services free of charge to our customers including:

Battery & wiper installation;
Battery charging;
Check engine light reading;
Electrical system testing, including batteries, starters, alternators and sensors;
“How-To” video clinics;
Oil and battery recycling; and
Loaner tool programs.

Our stores are 100% company operated and are divided into three geographic areas. Each geographic area is managed by a senior vice president, who is supported by regional and district management. District Leaders have direct responsibility for store operations in a specific district, which typically consists of 12 stores. Depending on store size and sales volume, each store is staffed by approximately 8 to 16 Team Members, under the leadership of a General Manager. Store Team Members are comprised of full and part-time Team Members. A majority of our stores include at least two parts professionals, or parts pros, who have an extensive technical knowledge of automotive replacement parts and other related applications to better serve our Commercial and DIY customers. Many of our stores include bilingual Team Members to better serve our diverse customer base. We offer training to all of our Team Members, including formal classroom workshops, e-learning and certification by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, or ASE. ASE is broadly recognized for training certification in the automotive industry.

Commercial Sales. Our Commercial sales consist of sales to both our walk-in and delivery customers, which represented approximately 37.2% of our AAP sales in Fiscal 2013 . Since 2000, we have aggressively expanded our sales to Commercial customers through our Commercial delivery program. For delivered sales, we utilize our Commercial delivery fleet to deliver product from our store locations to our Commercial customer's places of business, including independent garages, service stations and auto dealers. Our stores are supported by a Commercial sales team which is dedicated to the development of our national, regional and local Commercial customers. Our Commercial sales management is closely aligned with our store management as part of our overall integrated store operation.

Since 2008, we have concentrated a significant amount of our investments on increasing our Commercial sales at a faster rate in light of the favorable market dynamics. We have added key product brands in our stores that are well recognized by our Commercial customers and have increased the number of parts professionals, delivery trucks and other support services to serve those customers. In 2012, we added eService offerings to our Commercial customers, including online training solutions, fully searchable, diagnostic and repair resources and online marketing services which are available on a subscription basis. We believe these investments and the commitment to consistent delivery times and order accuracy will enable us to gain more Commercial customers as well as increase our sales to existing customers who will use us as their “first call” supplier. As of December 28, 2013 , 3,485 AAP stores, or 90.9% of total AAP stores, had Commercial delivery programs.

Store Development. Our store development program has historically focused on adding new stores within existing markets where we can achieve a larger presence, remodeling or relocating existing stores and entering new markets. The addition of new stores, along with strategic acquisitions, has played a significant role in our growth and success. We believe the opening of new stores, and their strategic location in relation to our DIY and Commercial customers, will continue to play a significant role in our future growth and success.

We open and operate stores in both large, densely populated markets and small, less densely populated areas. We complete substantial research prior to entering a new market. Key factors in selecting new site and market locations include population, demographics, vehicle profile, number and strength of competitors' stores and the cost of real estate.



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Our 3,832 AAP stores were located in the following states and territories as of December 28, 2013 :

Location
 
Number of
Stores
 
Location
 
Number of
Stores
 
Location
 
Number of
Stores
Alabama
 
122

 
Maryland
 
90

 
Pennsylvania
 
210

Arkansas
 
28

 
Massachusetts
 
96

 
Puerto Rico
 
25

Colorado
 
58

 
Michigan
 
119

 
Rhode Island
 
22

Connecticut
 
59

 
Minnesota
 
19

 
South Carolina
 
137

Delaware
 
13

 
Mississippi
 
57

 
South Dakota
 
7

Florida
 
479

 
Missouri
 
48

 
Tennessee
 
141

Georgia
 
246

 
Nebraska
 
24

 
Texas
 
179

Illinois
 
127

 
New Hampshire
 
22

 
Vermont
 
18

Indiana
 
110

 
New Jersey
 
95

 
Virgin Islands
 
1

Iowa
 
28

 
New Mexico
 
1

 
Virginia
 
192

Kansas
 
28

 
New York
 
194

 
West Virginia
 
73

Kentucky
 
104

 
North Carolina
 
256

 
Wisconsin
 
64

Louisiana
 
62

 
Ohio
 
227

 
Wyoming
 
4

Maine
 
16

 
Oklahoma
 
31

 
 
 
 

The following table sets forth information concerning increases in the total number of our AAP stores during the past five years:
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
Beginning Stores
3,576

 
3,460

 
3,369

 
3,264

 
3,243

New Stores (1)
284

(2)  
116

 
95

 
110

 
75

Stores Closed
(28
)
(3)  

 
(4
)
 
(5
)
 
(54
)
Ending Stores
3,832

 
3,576

 
3,460

 
3,369

 
3,264


(1)  
Does not include stores that opened as relocations of previously existing stores within the same general market area or substantial renovations of stores.
(2)  
Includes 124 stores resulting from our acquisition of B.W.P. Distributors, Inc. ("BWP") on December 31, 2012.
(3)  
The number of store closures in 2013 includes the planned consolidations of 20 BWP stores.

Store Technology. Our store-based information systems are comprised of a proprietary and integrated Point of Sale, electronic parts catalog, or EPC, and store-level inventory management system (collectively “store system”). Information maintained by our store system is used to formulate pricing, marketing and merchandising strategies and to replenish inventory accurately and rapidly. Our fully integrated system enables our store Team Members to assist our customers in their parts selection and ordering based on the year, make, model and engine type of their vehicles. Our store system provides real-time inventory tracking at the store level allowing store Team Members to check the quantity of on-hand inventory for any SKU, adjust stock levels for select items for store specific events, automatically process returns and defective merchandise, designate SKUs for cycle counts and track merchandise transfers. If a hard-to-find part or accessory is not available at one of our stores, the store system can determine whether the part is carried and in-stock through our HUB or PDQ ® networks or can be ordered directly from one of our vendors. Available parts and accessories are then ordered electronically from another store, HUB, PDQ ® or directly from the vendor with immediate confirmation of price, availability and estimated delivery time.

Our centrally-based EPC data management system enables us to reduce the time needed to (i) exchange data with our vendors and (ii) catalog and deliver updated, accurate parts information. We also support our store operations with additional proprietary systems and customer driven labor scheduling capabilities. All of these systems are tightly integrated and provide real-time, comprehensive information to store personnel, resulting in improved customer service levels, Team Member productivity and in-stock availability. In Fiscal 2013, we began rolling out a new and enhanced EPC to a limited number of stores which is expected to simplify and improve the customer experience. Among the improvements is a more efficient way to systematically identify add-on sales to ensure our customers have what they need to complete their automotive repair project.



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Store Support Center

Merchandising. Purchasing for virtually all of the merchandise for our stores is handled by our merchandise teams located in three primary locations:

Store support center in Roanoke, Virginia;
Regional office in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and
Global sourcing office in Taipei, Taiwan.

Our Roanoke team is primarily responsible for the parts categories and our Minnesota team is primarily responsible for accessories, oil and chemicals. Our global sourcing team works closely with both teams.

In Fiscal 2013 , we purchased merchandise from approximately 490 vendors, with no single vendor accounting for more than 9% of purchases. Our purchasing strategy involves negotiating agreements with most of our vendors to purchase merchandise over a specified period of time along with other terms, including pricing, payment terms and volume.

The merchandising team has developed strong vendor relationships in the industry and, in a collaborative effort with our vendor partners, utilizes a category management process where we manage the mix of our product offerings to meet customer demand. We believe this process, which develops a customer-focused business plan for each merchandise category, and our global sourcing operation are critical to improving comparable store sales, gross margin and inventory productivity.

Our merchandising strategy is to carry a broad selection of high quality and reputable brand name automotive parts and accessories which we believe will generate DIY customer traffic and also appeal to our Commercial customers. Some of these brands include Bosch ® , Castrol ® , Dayco ® , Moog ® , Monroe ® , Prestone ® , Purolator ® , Trico ® and Wagner ® . In addition to these branded products, we stock a wide selection of high quality private label products that appeal to value-conscious customers. These lines of merchandise include chemicals, interior automotive accessories, batteries and parts under various private label names such as Autocraft ® , Driveworks ® , Tough One ® and Wearever ® .

Supply Chain. Our supply chain consists of centralized inventory management and transportation functions which support a supply chain network of distribution centers, PDQ ® warehouses, HUBs and stores. Our inventory management team utilizes a replenishment system to monitor the distribution center, PDQ ® warehouse, HUB and store inventory levels and orders additional product when appropriate while streamlining handling costs. Our replenishment system utilizes the most up-to-date information from our POS system as well as inventory movement forecasting based upon sales history, sales trends by SKU, seasonality (and weather patterns) and demographic shifts in demand. Our replenishment system combines these factors with service level goals, vendor lead times and cost of inventory assumptions to determine the timing and size of purchase orders. The vast majority of our purchase orders are sent to our merchandise vendors via electronic data interchange.

We operate nine AAP distribution centers. All of these distribution centers are equipped with a warehouse management system, or WMS, which provides real-time inventory tracking through the processes of receiving, picking, shipping and replenishing inventory at our distribution centers. The WMS, integrated with material handling equipment, reduces warehouse and distribution costs, while improving efficiency. This equipment includes carousels, “pick-to-light” systems, radio frequency technology, voice technology and automated sorting systems. We opened our newest distribution center in Remington, Indiana in late 2012. It incorporates our more advanced warehouse management system which has enabled us to roll out daily replenishment to many of the stores serviced by Remington. We have ongoing supply chain initiatives to further increase the efficient utilization of our distribution capacity including planning for the roll-out of the advanced technology used at the Remington facility to other facilities in our supply chain network.

Store inventories are replenished from our nine distribution centers. We utilize reputable dedicated carriers to ship product from our distribution centers to our stores. In addition to a store's normal inventory assortment, our stock PDQ ® warehouses ( nine of which are included in our distribution centers) offer approximately 93,000 SKUs to support all of our retail stores. Stores have visibility, through our EPC system, to inventory in their respective PDQ ® warehouses and distribution centers as well as facilities throughout the Company and can place orders to these facilities through an online ordering system. Ordered parts are delivered to substantially all stores on a same-day or next-day basis through our dedicated PDQ ® trucking fleet and third-party carriers.
 
Marketing & Advertising. Our marketing and advertising program is designed to drive brand awareness and store traffic by positioning the Advance Auto Parts brand as the service leader in the aftermarket auto parts category. We strive to exceed our customers' expectations through our value-added services, extensive parts assortment and quality merchandise.


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The ‘Service is our best part ® ’ campaign was developed based on extensive research with our customers and Team Members. It has become the Company’s promise which has been embraced by each of our 71,867 Team Members. The campaign targets core DIY and Commercial customers and emphasizes our commitment to provide market-leading service to our customers. The campaign is built around a multi-channel communications plan which brings together radio, outdoor, direct marketing and digital media. The plan is supported by in-store and event signage as well as mobile and social media.

A final component of our marketing plan is event marketing. Previously, Advance was the title sponsor of the Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam, a live family-oriented monster truck event tour. Our sponsorship programs have shifted to local, grass-roots level events intended to positively impact the individual communities we serve, including Latino and other ethnic communities, and to drive awareness and repeated store visits.
 
AI Segment

AI’s business primarily serves the Commercial market, with an emphasis on parts for imported cars, from its store locations located primarily throughout the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States. In addition, its North American Sales Division serves warehouse distributors and jobbers throughout North America. We believe AI provides a high level of service to its Commercial customers by providing premium parts, expert customer service and efficient parts delivery. As a result of its extensive sourcing network, AI is able to serve its customers in search of replacement parts for both domestic and imported cars and light trucks with a greater focus on imported parts. The vast majority of AI's product is sold under its own proprietary brand. The AI stores offer approximately 30,000 SKUs through routine replenishment from its supply chain with access to over 200,000 SKUs through local sourcing networks.

AI has significantly increased its store count since our acquisition of AI in September 2005. As of December 28, 2013 , we operated 217 stores under the “Autopart International” trade name in the following states:
Location
 
Number of
Stores
 
Location
 
Number of
Stores
 
Location
 
Number of
Stores
Alabama
 
1

 
Maine
 
4

 
New York
 
33

Connecticut
 
16

 
Maryland
 
11

 
Ohio
 
5

Delaware
 
1

 
Massachusetts
 
31

 
Pennsylvania
 
22

DC
 
1

 
North Carolina
 
5

 
Rhode Island
 
4

Florida
 
40

 
New Hampshire
 
8

 
South Carolina
 
2

Georgia
 
6

 
New Jersey
 
18

 
Virginia
 
9


The following table sets forth information concerning increases in the total number of our AI stores:
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
Beginning Stores
218

 
202

 
194

 
156

 
125

New Stores
12

 
21

 
9

 
38

 
32

Stores Closed
(13
)
 
(5
)
 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
Ending Stores
217

 
218

 
202

 
194

 
156


Seasonality

Our business is somewhat seasonal in nature, with the highest sales usually occurring in the spring and summer months. In addition, our business can be affected by weather conditions. While unusually heavy precipitation tends to soften sales as elective maintenance is deferred during such periods, extremely hot or cold weather tends to enhance sales by causing automotive parts to fail at an accelerated rate.

Team Members

As of February 20, 2014 , we employed 41,238 full-time Team Members and approximately 30,629 part-time Team Members. Our workforce consisted of 87% of our Team Members employed in store-level operations, 9% employed in distribution and 4% employed in our corporate offices. Our team member counts reflect the GPI acquisition. As of February 20, 2014 , less than 1% of our Team Members were represented by labor unions. We have never experienced any labor disruption. We believe that our Team Member relations are solid.


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Intellectual Property

We own a number of trade names and own and have federally registered several service marks and trademarks, including “Advance Auto Parts”, “Autopart International”, “DriverSide”, “MotoLogic” and “Service is our best part”, for use in connection with the automotive parts retailing business. In addition, we own and have registered a number of trademarks for our private label brands. We believe that these trade names, service marks and trademarks are important to our merchandising strategy. We do not know of any infringing uses that would materially affect the use of these trade names and marks, and we actively defend and enforce them.

Competition

We operate in both the DIY and Commercial markets of the automotive aftermarket industry. Our primary competitors are (i) both national and regional retail chains of automotive parts stores, including AutoZone, Inc., O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. and The Pep Boys-Manny, Moe & Jack, (ii) discount stores and mass merchandisers that carry automotive products, (iii) wholesalers or jobber stores, including those associated with national parts distributors or associations, such as NAPA, (iv) independent operators, (v) automobile dealers that supply parts and (vi) internet-based parts providers. We believe that chains of automotive parts stores that, like us, have multiple locations in one or more markets, have competitive advantages in customer service, marketing, inventory selection, purchasing and distribution as compared to independent retailers and jobbers that are not part of a chain or associated with other retailers or jobbers. The principal methods of competition in our business include customer service, product offerings, availability, quality, price and store location.

Environmental Matters

We are subject to various federal, state and local laws and governmental regulations relating to the operation of our business, including those governing collection, transportation and recycling of automotive lead-acid batteries, used automotive oil and other recyclable items, and ownership and operation of real property. We sell consumer products containing hazardous materials as part of our business. In addition, our customers may bring automotive lead-acid batteries, used automotive oil or other recyclable items onto our properties. We currently provide collection and recycling programs for used lead-acid batteries, used oil and other recyclable items at substantially all of our stores as a service to our customers. Pursuant to agreements with third party vendors, lead-acid batteries, used oil and other recyclable items are collected by our Team Members, deposited onto pallets or into vendor supplied containers and stored by us until collected by the third party vendors for recycling or proper disposal. The terms of our contracts with third party vendors provide that they are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Our third party vendors who arrange for the removal, disposal, treatment or other handling of hazardous or toxic substances may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation at any affected disposal, treatment or other site affected by such substances. Based on our experience, we do not believe that there are any material environmental costs associated with the current business practice of accepting lead-acid batteries, used oil and other recyclable items as these costs are borne by the respective third party vendors.

We own and lease real property. Under various environmental laws and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real property may be liable for the cost of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances on, under or in such property. These laws often impose joint and several liability and may be imposed without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the release of such hazardous or toxic substances. Other environmental laws and common law principles also could be used to impose liability for releases of hazardous materials into the environment or work place, and third parties may seek recovery from owners or operators of real properties for personal injury or property damage associated with exposure to released hazardous substances. From time to time, we receive notices from the Environmental Protection Agency and state environmental authorities indicating that there may be contamination on properties we own, lease or operate or may have owned, leased or operated in the past or on adjacent properties for which we may be responsible. Compliance with these laws and regulations and clean up of released hazardous substances have not had a material impact on our operations to date.




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Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Our business is subject to a variety of risks, both known and unknown. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be negatively impacted by the following risk factors. These risks are not the only risks that may impact our business.

If overall demand for products sold by our stores slows or declines, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows will suffer. Decreased demand could also negatively impact our stock price.

Overall demand for products sold by our stores depends on many factors and may slow or decrease due to any number of reasons, including:

the number and average age of vehicles being driven , because the majority of vehicles that are seven years old and older are generally no longer covered under the manufacturers' warranties and tend to need maintenance and repair. If the number and average age of vehicles being driven were to decrease it would negatively impact demand for our products;
the economy , because during periods of declining economic conditions, both DIY and Commercial customers may defer vehicle maintenance or repair; conversely, during periods of favorable economic conditions, more of our DIY customers may pay others to repair and maintain their cars or they may purchase new cars;
the weather, because milder weather conditions may lower the failure rates of automobile parts while extended periods of rain and winter precipitation may cause our customers to defer elective maintenance and repair of their vehicles;
the average duration of manufacturer warranties and the decrease in the number of annual miles driven, because newer cars typically require fewer repairs and will be repaired by the manufacturer's dealer network using dealer parts; and lower vehicle mileage, which may be affected by gas prices and other factors, decreases the need for maintenance and repair (while higher miles driven increases the need);
technological advances and the increase in quality of vehicles manufactured , because vehicles that need less frequent maintenance and have low part failure rates will require less frequent repairs using aftermarket parts;
our vendors, because if any of our key vendors do not supply us with products on terms that are favorable to us or fail to develop new products we may not be able to meet the demands of our customers and our results of operations could be negatively affected;
our reputation and our brands, because our reputation is critical to our continued success. If we fail to maintain high standards for, or receive negative publicity whether through social media or normal media channels relating to, product safety, quality or integrity, it could reduce demand for our products. The product we sell is branded both in brands of our vendors and in our own private label brands. If the perceived quality or value of the brands we sell declines in the eyes of our customers, our results of operations could be negatively affected; and
the refusal of vehicle manufacturers to make available diagnostic, repair and maintenance information to the automotive aftermarket industry that our DIY and Commercial customers require to diagnose, repair and maintain their vehicles , because this may force consumers to have a majority of diagnostic work, repairs and maintenance performed by the vehicle manufacturers’ dealer network.

If any of these factors cause overall demand for the products we sell to decline, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be negatively impacted.

If we are unable to compete successfully against other companies in the automotive aftermarket industry we may lose customers, our revenues may decline, and we may be less profitable or potentially unprofitable.

The sale of automotive parts, accessories and maintenance items is highly competitive in many ways, including name recognition, location, price, quality, product availability and customer service. We compete in both the DIY and Commercial categories of the automotive aftermarket industry, primarily with: (i) national and regional retail automotive parts chains, (ii) discount stores and mass merchandisers that carry automotive products, (iii) wholesalers or jobber stores, (iv) independent operators, (v) automobile dealers that supply parts and (vi) internet-based parts providers. These competitors and the level of competition vary by market. Some of our competitors may possess advantages over us in certain markets we share, including a greater amount of marketing activities, a larger number of stores, more lucrative store locations, better store layouts, longer operating histories, greater name recognition, larger and more established customer bases, more favorable vendor relationships, lower prices, and better product warranties.

Our response to these competitive disadvantages may require us to reduce our prices below our normal selling prices or increase our promotional spending, which would lower our revenue and profitability. Competitive disadvantages may also prevent us from introducing new product lines, require us to discontinue current product offerings, or change some of our


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current operating strategies. If we do not have the resources, expertise, consistent execution or otherwise fail to develop successful strategies to address these competitive disadvantages, we may lose customers, our revenues and profit margins may decline and we may be less profitable or potentially unprofitable.

We may not be able to successfully integrate GPI s operations with ours; the GPI business may not achieve the expected business results and could cause us to incur unexpected liabilities; the GPI acquisition has caused and may continue to cause us to incur significant transaction and integration costs; our level of indebtedness could limit the cash flow available for operations and could adversely affect our ability to service our debt or obtain additional financing; and we may not be able to retain key GPI personnel.

Integration Issues and Business Expectations

We cannot be certain whether, and to what extent, any strategic, operational, financial or other anticipated benefits resulting from the acquisition of GPI will be achieved. In order to obtain the anticipated benefits of the transaction, we must integrate GPI’s operations with ours. This integration may be complex and failure to do so quickly and effectively may negatively affect our earnings. The market price of our common stock may decline as a result of the acquisition if our integration of GPI is unsuccessful, takes longer than expected or fails to achieve financial benefits to the extent anticipated by financial analysts or investors, or the effect of the acquisition on our financial results is otherwise not consistent with the expectations of financial analysts or investors.

The acquisition of GPI could cause disruptions in and create uncertainty surrounding GPI’s and our businesses, including affecting GPI’s and our relationships with existing and future customers, wholesalers, independently-owned and jobber stores, suppliers and employees, which could have an adverse effect on GPI’s and our business, financial results and operations. In particular, GPI and Advance could lose customers or suppliers, and new customer or supplier contracts could be delayed or decreased or otherwise adversely affected in economic value. In addition, we have diverted, and will continue to divert, significant management resources towards the integration efforts, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

In connection with our acquisition of GPI, we assumed all of the liabilities of GPI, including any actual or contingent liabilities to which GPI is or may become subject. GPI may be or may become subject to loss contingencies, known or unknown, which could relate to past, present, or future facts, events, circumstances and occurrences. Although the agreement pursuant to which we acquired GPI provides us with certain indemnification provisions, potential costs relating to any such liabilities could exceed the amount of any such indemnification.

Additional Transaction and Integration Costs

In connection with the GPI acquisition, we have incurred significant one-time transaction costs and entered into new financing agreements and issued new debt instruments. We expect to incur additional transaction and integration costs in connection with the acquisition. Although efficiencies related to the integration of the businesses may allow us to offset incremental transaction and integration costs over time, this net benefit may not be achieved in the near term, or at all.

Level of Indebtedness

In connection with our acquisition of GPI our level of indebtedness increased significantly. Our indebtedness could restrict our operations and make it more difficult for us to satisfy our debt obligations. For example, our level of indebtedness could, among other things:

affect our liquidity by limiting our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, or limit our ability to obtain financing for capital expenditures and acquisitions or make any available financing more costly;
require us to dedicate all or a substantial portion of our cash flow to service our debt, which would reduce funds available for other business purposes, such as capital expenditures, dividends or acquisitions;
limit our flexibility in planning for or reacting to changes in the markets in which we compete;
place us at a competitive disadvantage relative to our competitors who may have less indebtedness;
render us more vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions; and
make it more difficult for us to satisfy our financial obligations, including those relating to the notes associated with the acquisition of GPI.



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In addition, the indenture governing the notes related to the GPI acquisition and the credit agreement governing the new credit facilities contain financial and other restrictive covenants that limit our ability to engage in activities that may be in our long-term best interests. Our failure to comply with those covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all of our debt, including such notes.

Retention of Key GPI Personnel

The success of the integration with GPI will depend in part on the ability to retain key GPI employees who are expected to continue employment with the combined company. If any of these employees decide not to remain with the combined company, it is possible we may be unable to locate suitable replacements for such key employees or to secure employment of suitable replacements on reasonable terms. In addition, if key employees terminate their employment, management’s attention might be diverted from successfully integrating GPI’s operations to hiring suitable replacements and the combined company's business might suffer.
    
We may not be able to successfully implement our business strategy, including increasing comparable store sales, enhancing our margins and increasing our return on invested capital, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and liquidity.

We have implemented numerous initiatives as part of our business strategy to increase comparable store sales, enhance our margins and increase our return on invested capital in order to increase our earnings and cash flow. If we are unable to implement these initiatives efficiently and effectively, or if these initiatives are unsuccessful, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and liquidity could be adversely affected.

Successful implementation of our business strategy also depends on factors specific to the automotive aftermarket industry and numerous other factors that may be beyond our control. In addition to the aforementioned risk factors, adverse changes in the following factors could undermine our business strategy and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow:

the competitive environment in the automotive aftermarket retail sector that may force us to reduce prices below our desired pricing level or increase promotional spending;
our ability to anticipate changes in consumer preferences and to meet customers’ needs for automotive products (particularly parts availability) in a timely manner;
our ability to maintain and eventually grow DIY market share; and
our ability to continue our Commercial sales growth.

For that portion of our inventory manufactured and/or sourced outside the United States, geopolitical changes, changes in trade regulations, currency fluctuations, shipping related issues, natural disasters, pandemics and other factors beyond our control may increase the cost of items we purchase or create shortages which could have a material adverse effect on our sales and profitability.

We will not be able to expand our business if our growth strategy is not successful, including the availability of suitable locations for new store openings, or the continued increase in supply chain capacity and efficiency, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

New Store Openings

We have increased our store count significantly in the last ten years from 2,539 stores at the end of our 2003 fiscal year to 4,049 stores as of December 28, 2013 . We intend to continue to increase the number of our stores and expand the markets we serve as part of our growth strategy, primarily by opening new stores. We may also grow our business through strategic acquisitions. We do not know whether the implementation of our growth strategy will be successful. As we open more stores it becomes more critical that we have consistent execution across our entire store chain. The actual number of new stores to be opened and their success will depend on a number of factors, including, among other things:

the availability of desirable store locations;
the negotiation of acceptable lease or purchase terms for new locations;
the availability of financial resources, including access to capital at cost-effective interest rates; and
our ability to manage the expansion and to hire, train and retain qualified sales associates.



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We are unsure whether we will be able to open and operate new stores on a timely or sufficiently profitable basis, or that opening new stores in markets we already serve will not harm existing store profitability or comparable store sales. The newly opened and existing stores’ profitability will depend on the competition we face as well as our ability to properly merchandise, market and price the products desired by customers in these markets.

Supply Chain

Our store inventories are primarily replenished by shipments from our network of distribution centers, PDQ ® warehouses and HUB stores. As we service our growing store base, we will need to increase the capacity of our supply chain network in order to provide the added parts availability under our Superior Availability strategy while maintaining productivity and profitability expectations. We cannot be assured of the availability of potential locations on lease or purchase terms that would be acceptable to us, of our ability to integrate those new locations into our existing supply chain network or of our ability to increase the productivity and efficiency of our overall supply chain network to desired levels.

We are dependent on our suppliers to supply us with products that comply with safety and quality standards.

If our merchandise offerings do not meet our customers’ expectations regarding safety and quality, we could experience lost sales, increased costs and exposure to legal and reputational risk. All of our suppliers must comply with applicable product safety laws, and we are dependent on them to ensure that the products we buy comply with all safety and quality standards. Events that give rise to actual, potential or perceived product safety concerns could expose us to government enforcement action and/or private litigation and result in costly product recalls and other liabilities. To the extent our suppliers are subject to added government regulation of their product design and/or manufacturing processes, the cost of the merchandise we purchase may rise. In addition, negative customer perceptions regarding the safety or quality of the products we sell could cause our customers to seek alternative sources for their needs, resulting in lost sales. In those circumstances, it may be difficult and costly for us to regain the confidence of our customers.

We depend on the services of many qualified Team Members, whom we may not be able to attract and retain.

Our success depends to a significant extent on the continued services and experience of our Team Members. As of February 20, 2014 , we employed 71,867 Team Members. We may not be able to retain our current qualified Team Members or attract and retain additional qualified Team Members who may be needed in the future. Our ability to maintain an adequate number of qualified Team Members is highly dependent on an attractive and competitive compensation and benefits package. If we fail or are unable to maintain such a package, our customer service and execution levels could suffer by reason of a declining quality of our workforce, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The market price of our common stock may be volatile and could expose us to securities class action litigation.

The stock market and the price of our common stock may be subject to wide fluctuations based upon general economic and market conditions. Downturns in the stock market may cause the price of our common stock to decline. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against such companies. If similar litigation were instituted against us, it could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management’s attention and resources, which could have an adverse effect on our business.

Deterioration in global credit markets and changes in our credit ratings and deterioration in general macro-economic conditions, including unemployment, inflation or deflation, consumer debt levels, high fuel and energy costs, and higher tax rates could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Deterioration in general macro-economic conditions impacts us through (i) potential adverse effects from deteriorating and uncertain credit markets (ii) the negative impact on our suppliers and customers and (iii) an increase in operating costs from higher energy prices.

Impact of Credit Market Uncertainty and Changes in Credit Ratings

Significant deterioration in the financial condition of large financial institutions in 2008 and 2009 resulted in a severe loss of liquidity and available credit in global credit markets and in more stringent borrowing terms. We can provide no assurance that the credit market events during 2008 and 2009 will not occur again in the foreseeable future. Conditions and events in the global credit market could have a material adverse effect on our access to short and long-term borrowings to finance our operations and the terms and cost of that debt. It is possible that one or more of the banks that provide us with financing under


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our revolving credit facility may fail to honor the terms of our existing credit facility or be financially unable to provide the unused credit.

Our overall credit rating may be negatively impacted by deteriorating and uncertain credit markets or other factors which may or may not be within our control. The interest rates on our publicly issued debt, term loan and revolving credit facility are linked directly to our credit ratings. Accordingly, any negative impact on our credit rating would likely result in higher interest rates and interest expense on any borrowings under our revolving credit facility, term loan or from future issuances of public debt and less favorable terms on other operating and financing arrangements. In addition, it could reduce the attractiveness of our vendor payment program, where certain of our vendors finance payment obligations from us with designated third party financial institutions, which could result in increased working capital requirements. An inability to obtain sufficient financing at cost-effective rates could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Impact on our Suppliers

Our business depends on developing and maintaining close relationships with our suppliers and on our suppliers’ ability and/or willingness to sell quality products to us at favorable prices and terms. Many factors outside our control may harm these relationships and the ability or willingness of these suppliers to sell us products on favorable terms. One such factor is a general decline in the economy and economic conditions and prolonged recessionary conditions. These events could negatively affect our suppliers’ operations and make it difficult for them to obtain the credit lines or loans necessary to finance their operations in the short-term or long-term and meet our product requirements. Financial or operational difficulties that some of our suppliers may face could also increase the cost of the products we purchase from them or our ability to source product from them. We might not be able to pass our increased costs onto our customers. In addition, the trend towards consolidation among automotive parts suppliers as well as the off-shoring of manufacturing capacity to foreign countries may disrupt or end our relationship with some suppliers, and could lead to less competition and result in higher prices. We could also be negatively impacted by suppliers who might experience bankruptcies, work stoppages, labor strikes or other interruptions to or difficulties in the manufacture or supply of the products we purchase from them.

Impact on our Customers

Deterioration in macro-economic conditions may have a negative impact on our customers’ net worth, financial resources and disposable income. While macro-economic conditions have improved since 2008 and 2009, unemployment rates have remained at relatively high levels, consumer confidence continues to fluctuate, payroll taxes increased for most U.S. workers as a result of the changes in tax legislation effective for 2013 and many consumers are now facing increased healthcare costs as a result of the recently enacted Affordable Care Act. This impact could reduce our customers' willingness or ability to pay for accessories, maintenance or repair of their vehicles, which results in lower sales in our stores. Higher fuel costs may also reduce the overall number of miles driven by our customers resulting in fewer parts failures and elective maintenance required to be completed.

Impact on Operating Costs

Rising energy prices could directly impact our operating and product costs, including our merchandise distribution, commercial delivery, utility and product acquisition costs.

Because we are involved in litigation from time to time, and are subject to numerous laws and governmental regulations, we could incur substantial judgments, fines, legal fees and other costs.

We are sometimes the subject of complaints or litigation from customers, Team Members or others for various actions. From time to time, we are involved in litigation involving claims related to, among other things, breach of contract, tortious conduct, employment law matters, payment of wages, asbestos exposure, real estate and product defects. The damages sought against us in some of these litigation proceedings are substantial. Although we maintain liability insurance for some litigation claims, if one or more of the claims were to greatly exceed our insurance coverage limits or if our insurance policies do not cover a claim, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and governmental regulations relating to, among other things, environmental protection, product quality standards, building and zoning requirements, and employment law matters. The implementation of and compliance with existing and future laws and regulations could increase the cost of doing business and


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adversely affect our results of operations. If we fail to comply with existing or future laws or regulations, we may be subject to governmental or judicial fines or sanctions, while incurring substantial legal fees and costs. In addition, our capital and operating expenses could increase due to remediation measures that may be required if we are found to be noncompliant with any existing or future laws or regulations.

We work diligently to maintain the privacy and security of our customer and business information and the functioning of our computer systems, website and other on-line offerings. In the event of a security breach or other cyber security incident, we could experience certain operational problems or interruptions, incur substantial additional costs, or become subject to legal or regulatory proceedings, any of which could lead to damage to our reputation in the marketplace.

The nature of our business requires us to receive, retain and transmit certain personally identifiable information that our customers provide to purchase products or services, register on our websites, or otherwise communicate and interact with us.  While we have taken and continue to undertake significant steps to protect our customer and confidential information and the functioning of our computer systems, website and other online offerings, a compromise of our data security systems or those of businesses we interact with could result in information related to our customers or business being obtained by unauthorized persons or other operational problems or interruptions. We develop and update processes and maintain systems in an effort to try to prevent this from occurring, but the development and maintenance of these processes and systems are costly and requires ongoing monitoring and updating as technologies change, privacy and information security regulations change, and efforts to overcome security measures become more sophisticated.

Consequently, despite our efforts, our security measures have been breached in the past and may be breached in the future due to cyber attack, team member error, malfeasance, fraudulent inducement or other acts; and unauthorized parties have in the past obtained, and may in the future, obtain access to our data or our customers’ data. While costs associated with past security breaches have not been significant, any breach or unauthorized access in the future could result in significant legal and financial exposure and damage to our reputation that could potentially have an adverse effect on our business. While we also seek to obtain assurances that others we interact with will protect confidential information, there is a risk the confidentiality of data held or accessed by others may be compromised. If a compromise of our data security or function of our computer systems or website were to occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition and, possibly, subject us to additional legal, regulatory and operating costs and damage our reputation in the marketplace.

Business interruptions may negatively impact our store hours, operability of our computer systems and the availability and cost of merchandise which may adversely impact our sales and profitability.

War or acts of terrorism, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes or other natural disasters, or the threat of any of these calamities or others, may have a negative impact on our ability to obtain merchandise to sell in our stores, result in certain of our stores being closed for an extended period of time, negatively affect the lives of our customers or Team Members, or otherwise negatively impact our operations. Some of our merchandise is imported from other countries. If imported goods become difficult or impossible to import into the United States, and if we cannot obtain such merchandise from other sources at similar costs, our sales and profit margins may be negatively affected.

In the event that commercial transportation is curtailed or substantially delayed, our business may be adversely impacted, as we may have difficulty receiving merchandise from our suppliers and shipping it to our stores.

Terrorist attacks, war in the Middle East, or insurrection involving any oil producing country would likely result in an abrupt increase in the price of crude oil, gasoline, diesel fuel and other types of energy. Such price increases would increase the cost of doing business for us and our suppliers, and also would negatively impact our customers’ disposable income and have an adverse impact on our business, sales, profit margins and results of operations.

We rely extensively on our computer systems and the systems of our business partners to manage inventory, process transactions and report results. Any such systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, telecommunication failures, computer viruses, security breaches and catastrophic events. If our computer systems or those of our business partners fail we may experience loss of critical data and interruptions or delays in our ability to process transactions and manage inventory. Any such loss, if widespread or extended, could adversely affect the operation of our business and our results of operations.



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We may be affected by global climate change or by legal, regulatory, or market responses to such change.

The growing political and scientific sentiment is that global weather patterns are being influenced by increased levels of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere. This growing sentiment and the concern over climate change have led to legislative and regulatory initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For example, proposals that would impose mandatory requirements on greenhouse gas emissions continue to be considered by policy makers in the United States. Laws enacted that directly or indirectly affect our suppliers (through an increase in the cost of production or their ability to produce satisfactory products) or our business (through an impact on our inventory availability, cost of sales, operations or demand for the products we sell) could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Significant increases in fuel economy requirements or new federal or state restrictions on emissions of carbon dioxide that may be imposed on vehicles and automobile fuels could adversely affect demand for vehicles, annual miles driven or the products we sell or lead to changes in automotive technology. Compliance with any new or more stringent laws or regulations, or stricter interpretations of existing laws, could require additional expenditures by us or our suppliers. Our inability to respond to changes in automotive technology could adversely impact the demand for our products and our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.



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Item 2. Properties.

The following table sets forth certain information relating to our distribution and other principal facilities:
Facility (1)
 
Opening
Date
 
Area Served
 
Size
(Sq ft.) (2)
 
Nature of
Occupancy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Main Distribution Centers:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gastonia, North Carolina
 
1969
 
North Carolina, South Carolina
 
634,472

 
Owned
Salina, Kansas
 
1971
 
West, Midwest
 
413,500

 
Owned
Delaware, Ohio
 
1972
 
Midwest
 
480,100

 
Owned
Lakeland, Florida
 
1982
 
South, Offshore
 
552,796

 
Owned
Roanoke, Virginia
 
1988
 
Mid-Atlantic
 
433,681

 
Leased
Gallman, Mississippi
 
1999
 
Southwest, Midwest
 
388,168

 
Owned
Thomson, Georgia
 
1999
 
Southeast
 
374,400

 
Owned
Lehigh, Pennsylvania
 
2005
 
Northeast
 
655,991

 
Owned
Norton, Massachusetts
 
2006
 
All AI Stores
 
317,500

 
Leased
Remington, Indiana
 
2012
 
Midwest
 
542,064

 
Owned
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PDQ ®  Warehouses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Altamonte Springs, Florida
 
1996
 
Central and Northeast Florida
 
10,000

 
Owned
Jacksonville, Florida
 
1997
 
Southeastern Georgia
 
12,712

 
Owned
Tampa, Florida
 
1997
 
West Central Florida
 
10,000

 
Owned
Hialeah, Florida
 
1997
 
South Florida
 
12,500

 
Owned
Andersonville, Tennessee
 
1998
 
All
 
113,300

 
Leased
Youngwood, Pennsylvania
 
1998
 
East
 
48,320

 
Leased
Mobile, Alabama
 
1998
 
Florida Panhandle
 
10,000

 
Owned
Riverside, Missouri
 
1999
 
West
 
43,912

 
Leased
Atlanta, Georgia
 
1999
 
Georgia
 
16,786

 
Leased
Tallahassee, Florida
 
1999
 
Northwest Florida
 
10,000

 
Owned
Fort Myers, Florida
 
1999
 
Southwest Florida
 
14,330

 
Owned
Chicago, Illinois
 
2009
 
Mid-West
 
42,600

 
Leased
Rochester, New York
 
2009
 
Northeast
 
40,000

 
Leased
Leicester, Massachusetts
 
2009
 
Northeast
 
34,200

 
Leased
Washington, DC
 
2009
 
East
 
33,124

 
Leased
Houston, Texas
 
2009
 
Southwest
 
36,340

 
Leased
Denver, Colorado
 
2009
 
West
 
25,400

 
Leased
West Deptford, New Jersey
 
2009
 
East
 
33,029

 
Leased
Durham, North Carolina
 
2010
 
East
 
41,652

 
Leased
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate/Administrative Offices:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Roanoke, Virginia
 
2002
 
All
 
270,247

 
Leased
Norton, Massachusetts
 
2006
 
AI corporate office
 
30,000

 
Leased
Minneapolis, Minnesota
 
2008
 
All
 
51,674

 
Leased
(1)  
Excluded from our list of principal facilities are two distribution centers operated by BWP. These two distribution centers are expected to remain in operation during our integration of the BWP stores.
(2)  
Square footage amounts reported for the distribution centers exclude adjacent office space.





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As of December 28, 2013 , we owned 792 of our stores and leased 3,257 stores. The expiration dates, including the exercise of renewal options, of the store leases are summarized as follows:

Years
 
AAP Stores
 
AI Stores
 
Total
2014
 
37

 
44

 
81

2015-2019
 
297

 
165

 
462

2020-2024
 
535

 
8

 
543

2025-2034
 
1,006

 

 
1,006

2035-2044
 
1,102

 

 
1,102

2045-2069
 
63

 

 
63

 
 
3,040

 
217

 
3,257


Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

We currently and from time to time are involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of our business, including litigation arising from claims of employment discrimination or other types of employment matters as a result of claims by current and former Team Members. Although we diligently defend against these claims, we may enter into discussions regarding settlement of these and other lawsuits, and may enter into settlement agreements, if we believe settlement is in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders. The damages claimed against us in some of these proceedings are substantial. Although the amount of liability that may result from these matters cannot be ascertained, we do not currently believe that, in the aggregate, they will result in liabilities material to our consolidated financial condition, future results of operations or cash flow.

Our Western Auto subsidiary, together with other defendants including automobile manufacturers, automotive parts manufacturers and their material suppliers and other retailers, has been named as a defendant in lawsuits alleging injury as a result of exposure to asbestos-containing products. We and some of our other subsidiaries also have been named as defendants in many of these lawsuits. The plaintiffs have alleged that these products were manufactured, distributed and/or sold by the various defendants. The products in the lawsuits naming us or our subsidiaries as defendants have primarily included brake parts. The pending cases against us and our subsidiaries are in various stages of litigation. The damages claimed against the defendants in some of these proceedings are substantial. Additionally, some of the automotive parts manufacturers named as defendants in these lawsuits have declared bankruptcy, which will limit plaintiffs’ ability to recover monetary damages from those defendants. Although we diligently defend against these claims, we may enter into discussions regarding settlement of these and other lawsuits, and may enter into settlement agreements, if we believe settlement is in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders. We also believe that many of these claims are at least partially covered by insurance. Based on discovery to date, we do not believe the cases currently pending will have a material adverse effect on us. However, if we were to incur an adverse verdict in one or more of these claims and were ordered to pay damages that were not covered by insurance, these claims could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial position and cash flows. Historically, our asbestos claims have been inconsistent in type and number and have been immaterial. As a result, we are unable to estimate a possible range of loss with respect to unasserted asbestos claims that may be filed against the Company in the future. If the number of claims filed against us or any of our subsidiaries alleging injury as a result of exposure to asbestos-containing products increases substantially, the costs associated with concluding these claims, including damages resulting from any adverse verdicts, could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, financial position and cash flows in future periods.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.



18

Table of Contents

PART II

Item 5.
Market for Registrant s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “AAP”. The table below sets forth the high and low sale prices per share for our common stock, as reported by the NYSE, for the fiscal periods indicated.

 
 
High
 
Low
Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2013
 
 
 
 
Fourth Quarter
 
$
111.94

 
$
80.28

Third Quarter
 
$
84.93

 
$
78.91

Second Quarter
 
$
88.74

 
$
78.75

First Quarter
 
$
83.52

 
$
71.30

 
 
 
 
 
Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2012
 
 
 
 
Fourth Quarter
 
$
84.00

 
$
64.36

Third Quarter
 
$
74.39

 
$
66.31

Second Quarter
 
$
93.08

 
$
60.87

First Quarter
 
$
91.60

 
$
68.79


The closing price of our common stock on February 20, 2014 was $127.56 . At February 20, 2014 , there were 1,787 holders of record of our common stock (which does not include the number of individual beneficial owners whose shares were held on their behalf by brokerage firms in street name).

Our Board of Directors has declared a $0.06 per share quarterly cash dividend since Fiscal 2006. Any payments of dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our results of operations, cash flows, capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors.

The following table sets forth information with respect to repurchases of our common stock for the fourth quarter ended December 28, 2013 (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):
Period
 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased (1)
 
Average
Price Paid
per Share (1)
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs (2)
 
Maximum Dollar
Value that May Yet
Be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs (2)
October 6, 2013 to November 2, 2013
 

 
$

 

 
$
415,092

November 3, 2013 to November 30, 2013
 

 

 

 
415,092

December 1, 2013 to December 28, 2013
 
21

 
103.35

 

 
415,092

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
21

 
$
103.35

 

 
$
415,092

 
(1)  
We repurchased 21,000 shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of $2.2 million , or an average purchase price of $103.35 per share, in connection with the net settlement of shares issued as a result of the vesting of restricted stock during the fourth quarter ended December 28, 2013 . We did not repurchase any shares under our $500.0 million stock repurchase program during our fourth quarter ended December 28, 2013 .
(2)  
Our stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $500.0 million in common stock was authorized by our Board of Directors and publicly announced on May 14, 2012.



19

Table of Contents

Stock Price Performance

The following graph shows a comparison of the cumulative total return on our common stock, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and the Standard & Poor’s Retail Index. The graph assumes that the value of an investment in our common stock and in each such index was $100 on January 3, 2009 , and that any dividends have been reinvested. The comparison in the graph below is based solely on historical data and is not intended to forecast the possible future performance of our common stock.

COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN AMONG
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC., S&P 500 INDEX
AND S&P RETAIL INDEX
   
Company/Index
 
January 3, 2009
 
January 2, 2010
 
January 1, 2011
 
December 31, 2011
 
December 29, 2012
 
December 28, 2013
Advance Auto Parts
 
$
100.00

 
$
119.28

 
$
195.80

 
$
206.86

 
$
213.14

 
$
327.63

S&P 500 Index
 
100.00

 
119.67

 
134.97

 
134.96

 
150.51

 
197.62

S&P Retail Index
 
100.00

 
141.28

 
174.70

 
179.79

 
219.77

 
321.02




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Table of Contents

Item 6.      Selected Consolidated Financial Data.
  
The following table sets forth our selected historical consolidated statement of operations, balance sheet, cash flows and other operating data. Included in this table are key metrics and operating results used to measure our financial progress. The selected historical consolidated financial and other data (excluding the Selected Store Data and Performance Measures) as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 and for the three years ended December 28, 2013 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this report. The historical consolidated financial and other data as of December 31, 2011, January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010 and for the years ended January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes that have not been included in this report. You should read this data along with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this report.
 
 
Fiscal Year (1)
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
 
(in thousands, except per share data, store data and ratios)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statement of Operations Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Sales
 
$
6,493,814

 
$
6,205,003

 
$
6,170,462

 
$
5,925,203

 
$
5,412,623

Cost of sales
 
3,241,668

 
3,106,967

 
3,101,172

 
2,963,888

 
2,768,397

Gross Profit
 
3,252,146

 
3,098,036

 
3,069,290

 
2,961,315

 
2,644,226

Selling, general and administrative expenses (2)
 
2,591,828

 
2,440,721

 
2,404,648

 
2,376,382

 
2,189,841

Operating income
 
660,318

 
657,315

 
664,642

 
584,933

 
454,385

Interest expense (3)
 
(36,618
)
 
(33,841
)
 
(30,949
)
 
(26,861
)
 
(23,337
)
Other income (expense), net
 
2,698

 
600

 
(457
)
 
(1,017
)
 
607

Income before provision for income taxes
 
626,398

 
624,074

 
633,236

 
557,055

 
431,655

Income tax expense
 
234,640

 
236,404

 
238,554

 
211,002

 
161,282

Net income
 
$
391,758

 
$
387,670

 
$
394,682

 
$
346,053

 
$
270,373

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Per Share Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income per basic share
 
$
5.36

 
$
5.29

 
$
5.21

 
$
4.00

 
$
2.85

Net income per diluted share
 
5.32

 
5.22

 
5.11

 
3.95

 
2.83

Cash dividends declared per basic share
 
0.24

 
0.24

 
0.24

 
0.24

 
0.24

Weighted average basic shares outstanding
 
72,930

 
73,091

 
75,620

 
86,082

 
94,459

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding
 
73,414

 
74,062

 
77,071

 
87,155

 
95,113

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows provided by (used in):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating activities
 
$
545,250

 
$
685,281

 
$
828,849

 
$
666,159

 
$
699,690

Investing activities
 
(362,107
)
 
(272,978
)
 
(289,974
)
 
(199,350
)
 
(185,539
)
Financing activities
 
331,217

 
127,907

 
(540,183
)
 
(507,618
)
 
(451,491
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance Sheet and Other Financial Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,112,471

 
$
598,111

 
$
57,901

 
$
59,209

 
$
100,018

Inventory
 
2,556,557

 
2,308,609

 
2,043,158

 
1,863,870

 
1,631,867

Inventory turnover (4)
 
1.33

 
1.43

 
1.59

 
1.70

 
1.70

Inventory per store (5)
 
631

 
609

 
558

 
523

 
477

Accounts payable to Inventory ratio (6)
 
85.3
%
 
87.9
%
 
80.9
%
 
71.0
%
 
61.2
%
Net working capital (7)
 
$
1,224,599

 
$
624,562

 
$
105,945

 
$
276,222

 
$
421,591

Capital expenditures
 
195,757

 
271,182

 
268,129

 
199,585

 
192,934

Total assets
 
5,564,774

 
4,613,814

 
3,655,754

 
3,354,217

 
3,072,963

Total debt
 
1,053,584

 
605,088

 
415,984

 
301,824

 
204,271

Total net debt (8)
 
(58,887
)
 
6,977

 
358,083

 
252,171

 
113,781

Total stockholders' equity
 
1,516,205

 
1,210,694

 
847,914

 
1,039,374

 
1,282,365



21

Table of Contents

 
 
Fiscal Year (1)
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
 
 
(in thousands, except per share data, store data and ratios)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selected Store Data and Performance Measures:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comparable store sales growth (9)
 
(1.5
%)
 
(0.8
%)
 
2.2
%
 
8.0
%
 
5.3
%
Number of stores at beginning of year
 
3,794

 
3,662

 
3,563

 
3,420

 
3,368

New stores
 
296

 
137

 
104

 
148

 
107

Closed stores
 
(41
)
 
(5
)
 
(5
)
 
(5
)
 
(55
)
Number of stores, end of period
 
4,049

 
3,794

 
3,662

 
3,563

 
3,420

Stores with commercial delivery program, end of period
 
3,702

 
3,484

 
3,326

 
3,212

 
3,024

Total commercial sales, as a percentage of total sales (in 000s)
 
40.4
%
 
38.1
%
 
37.0
%
 
34.2
%
 
32.0
%
Sales per store (in 000s)   (10)
 
$
1,656

 
$
1,664

 
$
1,708

 
$
1,697

 
$
1,595

Operating income per store (in 000s)   (11)
 
168

 
176

 
184

 
168

 
134

Gross margin return on inventory (12)
 
9.9

 
9.3

 
6.6

 
5.1

 
4.0

Total store square footage, end of period (in 000s)
 
29,701

 
27,806

 
26,663

 
25,950

 
24,973


(1)  
Our fiscal year consists of 52 or 53 weeks ending on the Saturday nearest to December 31 st . All fiscal years presented are 52 weeks (the next 53 week fiscal year is 2014).
(2)  
Selling, general and administrative expense includes the impact of acquisition costs associated with our acquisition of GPI on January 2, 2014 of $24,983 for Fiscal 2013 and integration costs associated with our integration of BWP of $8,004 for Fiscal 2013.
(3)  
Interest includes the impact of acquisition costs associated with our acquisition of GPI on January 2, 2014 of $1,987 for Fiscal 2013.
(4)  
Inventory turnover is calculated as cost of sales divided by the average of beginning and ending inventories.
(5)  
Inventory per store is calculated as ending inventory divided by ending store count.
(6)  
Accounts payable to inventory ratio is calculated as ending accounts payable divided by ending inventory. We aggregate financed vendor accounts payable with accounts payable to calculate our accounts payable to inventory ratio.
(7)  
Net working capital is calculated by subtracting current liabilities from current assets.
(8)  
Net debt includes total debt and bank overdrafts, less cash and cash equivalents.
(9)  
Comparable store sales include net sales from our stores and e-commerce website. The change in store sales is calculated based on the change in net sales starting once a store has been open for 13 complete accounting periods (each period represents four weeks). Relocations are included in comparable store sales from the original date of opening. Acquired stores are included in our comparable store sales once the stores have completed 13 complete accounting periods following the acquisition date (approximately one year).
(10)  
Sales per store is calculated as net sales divided by the average of the beginning and the ending number of stores for the respective period.
(11)  
Operating income per store is calculated as operating income divided by the average of beginning and ending total store count for the respective period. Operating income per store for Fiscal 2013 was $177 excluding the impact of acquisition costs associated with our acquisition of GPI on January 2, 2014 of $24,983 and integration costs associated with our integration of BWP of $8,004. Operating income per store for Fiscal 2009 was $142 excluding the $26,100 impact of store divestitures.
(12)  
Gross margin return on inventory is calculated as gross profit divided by an average of beginning and ending inventory, net of accounts payable and financed vendor accounts payable.


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Table of Contents

Item 7. Management s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with “Selected Consolidated Financial Data,” our consolidated historical financial statements and the notes to those statements that appear elsewhere in this report. Our discussion contains forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, such as our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those set forth under the sections entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” elsewhere in this report.

Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest December 31st of each year, which results in an extra week every several years (the next 53 week fiscal year is 2014). Our first quarter consists of 16 weeks, and the other three quarters consist of 12 weeks.

Introduction

We are a leading specialty retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, batteries and maintenance items primarily operating within the United States. Our stores carry an extensive product line for cars, vans, sport utility vehicles and light trucks. We serve both DIY and Commercial customers. Our Commercial customers consist primarily of delivery customers for whom we deliver products from our store locations to our Commercial customers’ places of business, including independent garages, service stations and auto dealers. As of December 28, 2013 , we operated 4,049 stores throughout 39 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

As of December 28, 2013 , we operated in two reportable segments: Advance Auto Parts, or AAP, and Autopart International, or AI. The AAP segment is comprised of our store operations within the Northeastern, Southeastern and Midwestern (inclusive of South Central) regions of the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. These stores operate under the trade name “Advance Auto Parts” except for certain stores in the state of Florida, which operate under the “Advance Discount Auto Parts” trade name. As of December 28, 2013 , we operated 3,832 stores in the AAP segment. Our AAP stores offer a broad selection of brand name and proprietary automotive replacement parts, accessories and maintenance items for domestic and imported cars and light trucks. Through our integrated operating approach, we serve our DIY and Commercial customers from our store locations and online at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com. Our online website allows our DIY customers to pick up merchandise at a conveniently located store or have their purchases shipped directly to their home or business. Our Commercial customers can conveniently place their orders online.

As of December 28, 2013 , we operated 217 stores in the AI segment under the “Autopart International” trade name. AI’s business serves the Commercial market from its store locations primarily in the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.

Management Overview

We generated earnings per diluted share, or diluted EPS, of $5.32 during Fiscal 2013 compared to $5.22 for Fiscal 2012 . Negatively impacting our diluted EPS in Fiscal 2013 were $27.0 million of transaction related expenses related to our acquisition of GPI on January 2, 2014 and $8.0 million of expenses associated with our integration of BWP. Excluding these impacts, our operating income accelerated in the second half of our fiscal year primarily due to improving sales and more disciplined cost control. Throughout much of Fiscal 2013, our sales remained constrained in many of our markets in part due to the ongoing uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment and increased competition in our operating area. We believe consumer spending was suppressed as consumers faced higher payroll taxes, the uncertainty regarding the federal government shutdown and the apprehension regarding the impact of health care reform. We believe that our core consumers are performing only the repairs that are absolutely necessary to keep their vehicles on the road which has resulted in a significant level of deferred maintenance. During the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2013 , our sales accelerated particularly in some of our colder weather markets, driven by the extraordinary cold weather which has increased the demand for failure and maintenance parts. We continue to generate a significant amount of cash on-hand to invest in capital improvements and initiatives to support our key strategies, Superior Availability and Service Leadership, which are discussed later in the “Business Update.”








23

Table of Contents

Fiscal 2013 Highlights

A high-level summary of our financial results and other highlights from our Fiscal 2013 include:

Financial

Total sales during Fiscal 2013 increased 4.7% to $6,493.8 million as compared to Fiscal 2012 , primarily driven by the addition of the 124 acquired BWP stores and 151 other net new stores partially offset by a 1.5% decrease in comparable store sales.
Our operating income for Fiscal 2013 was $660.3 million , an increase of $3.0 million from the comparable period in Fiscal 2012 . As a percentage of total sales, operating income was 10.2% , a decrease of 42 basis points, due to higher SG&A partially offset by a higher gross profit rate. Included in the higher SG&A was $25.0 million of expenses associated with our acquisition of GPI on January 2, 2014 and $8.0 million of expenses associated with our integration of BWP.
Our inventory balance as of December 28, 2013 increased $247.9 million , or 10.7% , over the prior year driven primarily by our new store growth, acquisition of BWP and support of inventory availability initiatives.
We generated operating cash flow of $545.3 million during Fiscal 2013 , a decrease of 20.4% compared to Fiscal 2012 , primarily due to an increase in inventory, net of accounts payable.

Other

On December 31, 2012, we completed the acquisition of BWP, a leading Commercial provider in the Northeast.
In December 2013, we issued $450 million of principal amount of 4.50% senior unsecured notes, due in 2023, and entered into a new credit agreement, in anticipation of our acquisition of GPI.

Subsequent to Fiscal 2013, we completed the acquisition of GPI , a leading privately-held distributor and supplier of original equipment and aftermarket automotive replacement products for commercial markets operating under the Carquest and Worldpac brands.

Refer to the “Results of Operations” and “Liquidity” sections for further details of our income statement and cash flow results, respectively.

Business Update

Our two key strategies are Superior Availability and Service Leadership. Superior Availability is aimed at product availability and maximizing the speed, reliability and efficiency of our supply chain. Service Leadership leverages our product availability in addition to more consistent execution of customer-facing initiatives to strengthen our integrated operating approach of serving our DIY and Commercial customers in our stores and on-line. Through these two key strategies, we believe we can continue to build on the initiatives discussed below and produce favorable financial results over the long term. Sales to Commercial customers remain the biggest opportunity for us to increase our overall market share in the automotive aftermarket industry. Our Commercial sales, as a percentage of total sales, increased to 40.4% in Fiscal 2013 compared to 38.1% in Fiscal 2012 . This increase has been more pronounced in Fiscal 2013 due to the contribution of the acquired BWP stores which are more weighted in Commercial sales than our Advance stores.

Our strategic priorities include:

Growing our Commercial business through improved delivery speed and reliability, increased customer retention, increased volume with national and regional accounts, and the integrations of BWP and GPI, respectively;
Improving localized parts availability through the continued increase in the number of our larger HUB stores, strengthened focus on in-store availability and leveraging the advancement of our supply chain infrastructure beginning with our new Remington distribution center;
Accelerating our new store growth rate; and
Continuing our focus on store execution through more effective scheduling, increased productivity and simplification, improved product on-hand accuracy, expanded sales training and continued measurement of customer engagement.

Acquisitions

On December 31, 2012, we acquired B.W.P. Distributors, Inc., a privately-held company that supplied, marketed and distributed automotive aftermarket parts and products principally to Commercial customers. Prior to the acquisition, BWP


24

Table of Contents

operated or supplied 216 locations in the Northeastern United States. Concurrent with the closing of the acquisition, we transferred one distribution center and BWP’s rights to distribute to 92 independently owned locations to an affiliate of GPI. We believe this acquisition will enable us to continue our expansion in the competitive Northeast, which is a strategic growth area for us due to the large population and overall size of the market, and to gain valuable information to apply to our existing operations as a result of BWP’s expertise in Commercial. During the second quarter of Fiscal 2013, we began integrating the 124 BWP company-owned stores and two distribution centers into our Advance Auto Parts operations and plan to finish the integration by mid-2014. The integration of BWP stores consists of converting or consolidating those locations into Advance Auto Parts locations.

After the 2013 fiscal year, we acquired General Parts International, Inc. on January 2, 2014 for a purchase price of $ 2.08 billion . GPI, formerly a privately held company, is a leading distributor and supplier of original equipment and automotive aftermarket replacement products for commercial markets operating under the Carquest and Worldpac brands. As of the acquisition date, GPI operated 1,248 Carquest stores and 105 Worldpac branches located in 45 states and Canada and serviced approximately 1,400 independently-owned Carquest stores. We believe the acquisition of GPI will allow us to expand our geographic presence, commercial capabilities and overall scale to better serve customers. For additional information on the GPI acquisition, refer to Note 23 , Subsequent Event, in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Automotive Aftermarket Industry

Operating within the automotive aftermarket industry, we are influenced by a number of general macroeconomic factors similar to those affecting the overall retail industry. These factors include, but are not limited to, fuel costs, unemployment rates, consumer confidence and competition. The ongoing uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment continues to impact us and the retail industry in general. While we believe that the current macroeconomic environment continues to constrain consumer spending, we remain confident that the long-term dynamics of the automotive aftermarket industry are positive. Furthermore, we continue to believe we are well positioned to serve our customers by meeting their needs in a challenging macroeconomic environment.
We believe that two key drivers of demand within the automotive aftermarket are (i) the number of miles driven in the U.S. and (ii) the number and average age of vehicles on the road.
Miles Driven
We believe that the number of total miles driven in the U.S. influences the demand for the repair and maintenance of vehicles. As the number of miles driven increases, consumers’ vehicles are more likely to need repair and maintenance, resulting in an increase in the need for automotive parts and maintenance items. While miles driven in the U.S. remained relatively flat during 2012, miles driven began to increase beginning in the second calendar quarter of 2013 and continuing through the end of the year. Historically, rapid increases in fuel prices have negatively impacted total miles driven as consumers react to the increased expense by reducing travel. In 2012 and 2013, gas prices were relatively flat and have become somewhat less volatile when compared to prior years. Another factor impacting miles driven is the average daily commute, which corresponds to the unemployment rate. As the unemployment rate improves as it has over the past two years, the number of employees commuting increases and in turn the number of miles driven increases. While we believe there are ongoing macroeconomic pressures on our consumers, the return of increases in miles driven and stabilization in gasoline prices and improvements in the unemployment rate will continue to drive demand in the automotive aftermarket industry.
Number of Registered Vehicles and Increase in Average Vehicle Age
We believe that the total number of vehicles (excluding medium and heavy duty trucks) on the road and the average age of vehicles on the road also heavily influence the demand for products sold within the automotive aftermarket industry. There were 248 million vehicles on the road in 2013 which is 6% higher than in 2003. While recent industry data reported by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (“AAIA”) indicates that the growth in number of vehicles on the road has decelerated and new vehicle registrations are increasing, the average age of vehicle continues to increase. The average age of vehicles has gradually increased over the last five years from 10.3 years in 2009 to 11.3 years in 2013. We believe that the average age of vehicles continues to increase due to relatively constant scrappage rates, a rate of new car sales well under the 10-year trend and an increase in overall quality of vehicles. As the average age of a vehicle increases, a larger percentage of the miles driven are outside of the manufacturer warranty period. These out-of-warranty, older vehicles generate a stronger demand for automotive aftermarket products due to routine maintenance cycles and more frequent mechanical failures. We believe that despite an improving economy consumers will continue to keep their vehicles even longer contributing to the trend of an aging vehicle population.



25

Table of Contents

Store Development by Segment

The following table sets forth the total number of new, closed and relocated stores and stores with Commercial delivery programs during Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 by segment. We lease 79% of our AAP stores. We lease 100% of our AI stores. All of our AI stores have Commercial delivery programs.
AAP
 
 
Fiscal Year
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Number of stores, beginning of year
 
3,576

 
3,460

 
3,369

New stores
 
160

 
116

 
95

Acquired BWP stores
 
124

 

 

Closed stores
 
(28
)
 

 
(4
)
Number of stores, end of year
 
3,832

 
3,576

 
3,460

Relocated stores
 
6

 
12

 
7

Stores with commercial delivery programs
 
3,485

 
3,266

 
3,124

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AI
 
 
Fiscal Year
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Number of stores, beginning of year
 
218

 
202

 
194

New stores
 
12

 
21

 
9

Closed stores
 
(13
)
 
(5
)
 
(1
)
Number of stores, end of year
 
217

 
218

 
202

Relocated stores
 
11

 
7

 
3

Stores with commercial delivery programs
 
217

 
218

 
202

 
The number of AAP and AI store closures includes the previously planned consolidations of 20 BWP stores and 13 AI stores, respectively. Subsequent to the end of our Fiscal 2013, we added 1,248 Carquest stores and 105 Worldpac branches as a result of the GPI acquisition. During Fiscal 2014 , we anticipate opening 120 to 140  AAP and AI stores and Worldpac branches. We have not yet finalized the allocation of openings between AAP, AI and Worldpac.

Components of Statement of Operations

Net Sales

Net sales consist primarily of merchandise sales from our retail store locations to both our DIY and Commercial customers and sales from our e-commerce website. Our total sales growth is comprised of both comparable store sales and new store sales. We calculate comparable store sales based on the change in store sales starting once a store has been open for 13 complete accounting periods (approximately one year) and by including e-commerce sales. We include sales from relocated stores in comparable store sales from the original date of opening. Acquired stores are included in our comparable store sales once the stores have completed 13 complete accounting periods following the acquisition date (approximately one year).

Cost of Sales

Our cost of sales consists of merchandise costs, net of incentives under vendor programs; inventory shrinkage, defective merchandise and warranty costs; and warehouse and distribution expenses. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales may be affected by (i) variations in our product mix, (ii) price changes in response to competitive factors and fluctuations in merchandise costs, (iii) vendor programs, (iv) inventory shrinkage, (v) defective merchandise and warranty costs and (vi) warehouse and distribution costs. We seek to minimize fluctuations in merchandise costs and instability of supply by entering into long-term purchasing agreements, without minimum purchase volume commitments, when we believe it is advantageous. Our gross profit may not be comparable to those of our competitors due to differences in industry practice regarding the classification of certain costs. See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to our Consolidated Financial Statements elsewhere in this report for additional discussion of these costs.



26

Table of Contents

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

SG&A expenses consist of store payroll, store occupancy (including rent and depreciation), advertising expenses, acquisition and integration related expenses, Commercial delivery expenses, other store expenses and general and administrative expenses, including salaries and related benefits of store support center Team Members, share-based compensation expenses, store support center administrative office expenses, data processing, professional expenses, self-insurance costs, closed store expense, impairment charges and acquisition-related and integration costs, if any, and other related expenses. See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to our Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion of these costs.

Consolidated Results of Operations

The following table sets forth certain of our operating data expressed as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated.
 
 
Fiscal Year Ended
 
 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
 
December 31,
2011
Net sales
 
100.0
 %
 
100.0
 %
 
100.0
 %
Cost of sales, including purchasing and warehousing costs
 
49.9

 
50.1

 
50.3

Gross profit
 
50.1

 
49.9

 
49.7

Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
39.9

 
39.3

 
39.0

Operating income
 
10.2

 
10.6

 
10.8

Interest expense
 
(0.6
)
 
(0.5
)
 
(0.5
)
Other, net
 
0.0

 
0.0

 
0.0

Provision for income taxes
 
3.6

 
3.8

 
3.9

Net income
 
6.0
 %
 
6.2
 %
 
6.4
 %

Fiscal 2013 Compared to Fiscal 2012

Net Sales

Net sales for Fiscal 2013 were $6,493.8 million , an increase of $288.8 million, or 4.7% , over net sales for Fiscal 2012 . This growth was primarily due to sales from the acquired BWP stores and sales from the new AAP and AI stores opened during Fiscal 2013 partially offset by a 1.5% decrease in comparable store sales.

AAP segment sales were $6,171.3 million , an increase of $256.4 million , or 4.3% , over Fiscal 2012 . This growth was primarily a result of sales from the acquired BWP stores and sales from the net addition of 152 new stores opened during Fiscal 2013 partially offset by a comparable store sales decrease of 1.7% . The comparable store sales decrease was driven by a decrease in transaction count partially offset by an increase in transaction value, which is reflective of higher priced products sold and a higher mix of Commercial sales. AI segment sales were $337.2 million , an increase of $31.1 million , or 10.2% , over Fiscal 2012 .
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
AAP
 
AI
 
Total
 
AAP
 
AI
 
Total
Comparable Store Sales %
(1.7
)%
 
0.9
%
 
(1.5
)%
 
(0.9
)%
 
0.8
%
 
(0.8
)%
Net Stores Added (excluding BWP stores)
152

 
(1
)
 
151

 
116

 
16

 
132

 


27


Gross Profit

Gross profit for Fiscal 2013 was $3,252.1 million, or 50.1% of net sales, as compared to $3,098.0 million, or 49.9% of net sales, in Fiscal 2012 , an increase of 15 basis points. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of net sales was driven by increased merchandise margins, due to lower acquisition costs and a favorable product mix, and improvement in shrink partially offset by planned inefficiencies in supply chain costs associated with the ramp-up in shipments of inventory from our new distribution center and the impact from a higher mix of Commercial sales which have a lower gross profit rate. The increase in our Commercial mix of sales was primarily due to the sales from the acquired BWP stores.

SG&A Expenses

SG&A expenses for Fiscal 2013 were $2,591.8 million, or 39.9% of net sales, as compared to $2,440.7 million, or 39.3% of net sales, for Fiscal 2012 , an increase of 58 basis points. Included in SG&A expenses in Fiscal 2013 were $25.0 million, or 38 basis points, of transaction expenses associated with our acquisition of GPI and $8.0 million, or 12 basis points, of expenses associated with our integration of BWP. Other primary drivers of the net increase in SG&A expenses, as a percentage of net sales, include costs associated with increased new store openings and higher incentive compensation, partially offset by lower marketing expense and a decrease in overall administrative and support costs.

Operating Income

Operating income for Fiscal 2013 was $660.3 million, representing 10.2% of net sales, as compared to $657.3 million, or 10.6% of net sales, for Fiscal 2012 , a decrease of 42 basis points. This decrease was due to a higher SG&A rate partially offset by a higher gross profit rate.

AAP generated operating income of $647.8 million , or 10.5% of net sales, for Fiscal 2013 as compared to $648.5 million , or 11.0% of net sales, for Fiscal 2012 . This decrease on a rate basis was due to the gross profit and SG&A drivers previously discussed. AI generated operating income for Fiscal 2013 of $12.5 million as compared to $8.8 million for Fiscal 2012 . The increase in AI’s operating income was primarily due to improvements in store labor productivity and SG&A leverage driven by lower administrative and support costs.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for Fiscal 2013 was $36.6 million, or 0.6% of net sales, as compared to $33.8 million, or 0.5% of net sales, in Fiscal 2012 .

Income Taxes

Income tax expense for Fiscal 2013 was $234.6 million, as compared to $236.4  million for Fiscal 2012 . Our effective income tax rate was 37.5% and 37.9% for Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012 , respectively.

Net Income

Net income was $391.8 million, or $5.32 per diluted share, for Fiscal 2013 as compared to $387.7 million, or $5.22 per diluted share, for Fiscal 2012 . As a percentage of net sales, net income for Fiscal 2013 was 6.0% , as compared to 6.2% for Fiscal 2012 . The increase in diluted EPS was driven primarily by the increase in net income.

Fiscal 2012 Compared to Fiscal 2011

Net Sales

Net sales for Fiscal 2012 were $6,205.0 million , an increase of $34.5 million , or 0.6% , over net sales for Fiscal 2011 . This growth was primarily due to sales from AAP and AI stores added within Fiscal 2012 partially offset by a decrease in comparable store sales.

AAP segment sales were $5,914.9 million , an increase of $30.0 million , or 0.5% , over Fiscal 2011 . This growth was primarily a result of sales from the net addition of 116 new stores over Fiscal 2012 partially offset by a comparable store sales decrease of (0.9)% . The comparable store sales decrease was driven by a decrease in transaction count partially offset by an increase in transaction value despite more promotional activity in response to lower customer demand. The increase in transaction value is primarily due to (i) the gradual increase in cost and complexity of automotive parts and commodity prices


28


and (ii) the positive impact from a higher mix of Commercial sales. AI segment sales were $306.1 million , an increase of $5.1 million , or 1.7% , over Fiscal 2011 .

 
 
2012
 
2011
 
AAP
 
AI
 
Total
 
AAP
 
AI
 
Total
Comparable Store Sales %
(0.9
)%
 
0.8
%
 
(0.8
)%
 
1.9
%
 
8.6
%
 
2.2
%
Net Stores Added
116

 
16

 
132

 
91

 
8

 
99

 
Gross Profit

Gross profit for Fiscal 2012 was $3,098.0 million , or 49.9% of net sales, as compared to $3,069.3 million , or 49.7% of net sales, in Fiscal 2011 , an increase of 19 basis points. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of net sales was primarily due to improved shrink and reduced product acquisition costs partially offset by increased promotional activity.

SG&A Expenses

SG&A expenses for Fiscal 2012 were $2,440.7 million , or 39.3% of net sales, as compared to $2,404.6 million , or 39.0% of net sales, for Fiscal 2011 , an increase of 36 basis points. This increase as a percentage of net sales was primarily due to expense deleverage as a result of the Company s lower sales volume and increased new store openings in the second half of Fiscal 2012, partially offset by lower incentive compensation.

Operating Income

Operating income for Fiscal 2012 was $657.3 million , representing 10.6% of net sales, as compared to $664.6 million , or 10.8% of net sales, for Fiscal 2011 , a decrease of 18 basis points. This decrease was due to a higher SG&A rate partially offset by a slightly higher gross profit rate.

AAP produced operating income of $648.5 million , or 11.0% of net sales, for Fiscal 2012 as compared to $653.1 million, or 11.1% of net sales, for Fiscal 2011 . AI generated operating income for Fiscal 2012 of $8.8 million as compared to $11.5 million for Fiscal 2011 . AI s operating income decreased during Fiscal 2012 primarily due to increased promotional activity and increased percentage of newer stores outside of the Northeastern market which operate at a lower gross profit rate, partially offset by lower incentive compensation.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for Fiscal 2012 was $33.8 million , or 0.5% of net sales, as compared to $30.9 million , or 0.5% of net sales, in Fiscal 2011 . The increase in interest expense is primarily a result of the higher average borrowings outstanding during Fiscal 2012 compared to Fiscal 2011 .

Income Taxes

Income tax expense for Fiscal 2012 was $236.4 million , as compared to $238.6 million for Fiscal 2011 . Our effective income tax rate was 37.9% and 37.7% for Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011 , respectively.

Net Income

Net income was $387.7 million , or $5.22 per diluted share, for Fiscal 2012 as compared to $394.7 million , or $5.11 per diluted share, for Fiscal 2011 . As a percentage of net sales, net income for Fiscal 2012 was 6.2% , as compared to 6.4% for Fiscal 2011 . The increase in diluted EPS was driven primarily by a lower average share count outstanding during Fiscal 2012 partially offset by a slight decrease in net income.



29


Quarterly Consolidated Financial Results (in thousands, except per share data)
 
 
16-Weeks
Ended
4/21/2012
 
12-Weeks
Ended
7/14/2012
 
12-Weeks
Ended
10/6/2012
 
12-Weeks
Ended
12/29/2012
 
16-Weeks
Ended
4/20/2013
 
12-Weeks
Ended
7/13/2013
 
12-Weeks
Ended
10/5/2013
 
12-Weeks
Ended
12/28/2013
Net Sales
 
$
1,957,292

 
$
1,460,983

 
$
1,457,527

 
$
1,329,201

 
$
2,015,304

 
$
1,549,553

 
$
1,520,144

 
$
1,408,813

Gross profit
 
980,673

 
728,858

 
725,350

 
663,155

 
1,008,206

 
779,223

 
762,940

 
701,777

Net income
 
133,506

 
99,606

 
89,503

 
65,055

 
121,790

 
116,871

 
103,830

 
49,267

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
1.83

 
$
1.36

 
$
1.22

 
$
0.89

 
$
1.66

 
$
1.60

 
$
1.42

 
$
0.68

Diluted
 
$
1.79

 
$
1.34

 
$
1.21

 
$
0.88

 
$
1.65

 
$
1.59

 
$
1.42

 
$
0.67


Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

Our primary cash requirements to maintain our current operations include payroll and benefits, the purchase of inventory, contractual obligations, capital expenditures and the payment of income taxes. In addition, we have used available funds for acquisitions, to repay borrowings under our revolving credit facility, to periodically repurchase shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase programs and for the payment of quarterly cash dividends. We have funded these requirements primarily through cash generated from operations, supplemented by borrowings under our credit facilities and notes offerings as needed. We believe funds generated from our expected results of operations, available cash and cash equivalents, and available borrowing under our new credit facility will be sufficient to fund our primary obligations for the next fiscal year, including our acquisition of GPI on January 2, 2014 and its ongoing operation.

As of December 28, 2013 , our cash and cash equivalents balance was $1,112.5 million , an increase of $514.4 million compared to December 29, 2012 (the end of Fiscal 2012 ). This increase in cash was primarily a result of cash generated from operations and the issuance of senior unsecured notes partially offset by investments in property and equipment and cash used in the acquisition of BWP. Additional discussion of our cash flow results, including the comparison of Fiscal 2013 activity to Fiscal 2012 , is set forth in the Analysis of Cash Flows section.

As of December 28, 2013 , our outstanding indebtedness was $1,053.6 million , or $448.5 million higher when compared to December 29, 2012 , as a result of additional borrowings of $448.6 million under our senior unsecured notes issued on December 3, 2013. Additionally, we had $87.3 million in letters of credit outstanding. The letters of credit generally have a term of one year or less and primarily serve as collateral for our self-insurance policies. Our debt availability as of December 28, 2013 was $545.4 million based on the maximum amount of additional borrowings allowed under our leverage ratio. Subsequent to December 28, 2013 , our debt availability was updated in accordance with our new credit facility to reflect the additional borrowings related to the GPI acquisition.

GPI Acquisition

Subsequent to December 28, 2013 , we borrowed $1,006.0 million , which we used along with cash on-hand to fund the $ 2.08 billion acquisition of GPI on January 2, 2014 as discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to the normal operations of GPI, we will incur a significant amount of integration costs over the next three years in conjunction with the integration of GPI.

Capital Expenditures

Our primary capital requirements have been the funding of our new store development (leased and owned locations), maintenance of existing stores and investments under our Superior Availability and Service Leadership strategies, including supply chain and information technology. Our capital expenditures were $195.8 million in Fiscal 2013 , a decrease of $75.4 million from Fiscal 2012 . In addition to routine capital expenditures, our capital investments during Fiscal 2013 included the acquisition of BWP for $186.1 million.

Our future capital requirements will depend in large part on the number of and timing of new stores we open within a given year and the investments we make in our existing stores, information technology and our supply chain network. In Fiscal


30


2014 , we anticipate that our capital expenditures will be approximately $325 million - $350 million . These investments will be primarily driven by new store development (leased and owned locations), investments in our existing stores and investments under our Superior Availability and Service Leadership strategies, including continued investments in our supply chain network and new systems. We anticipate opening between 120 to 140  AAP stores and AI stores and Worldpac branches during Fiscal 2014 . We have not yet finalized the allocation of openings between AAP, AI and Worldpac.

Stock Repurchase Program

Our stock repurchase program allows us to repurchase our common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time to time in accordance with the requirements of the SEC.

During Fiscal 2013 , we repurchased 1.0 million shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of $77.3 million , or an average price of $77.47 per share. As of December 28, 2013 , we had $ 415.1 million remaining under our $500 million stock repurchase program authorized by our Board of Directors on May 14, 2012. Additionally, during Fiscal 2013 , we repurchased 38,000 shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of $3.5 million , or an average price of $91.78 per share, in connection with the net settlement of shares issued as a result of the vesting of restricted stock.

Dividend

Since Fiscal 2006, our Board of Directors has declared quarterly dividends of $0.06 per share to stockholders of record. On February 5, 2014 , our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share to be paid on April 4, 2014 to all common stockholders of record as of March 21, 2014 .

Analysis of Cash Flows

A summary and analysis of our cash flows for Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 is reflected in the table and following discussion.
 
Fiscal Year
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
(in millions)
Cash flows from operating activities
$
545.3

 
$
685.3

 
$
828.8

Cash flows from investing activities
(362.1
)
 
(273.0
)
 
(290.0
)
Cash flows from financing activities
331.2

 
127.9

 
(540.2
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and
 

 
 

 
 
cash equivalents
$
514.4

 
$
540.2

 
$
(1.3
)

Operating Activities

For Fiscal 2013 , net cash provided by operating activities decreased $140.0 million to $545.3 million . This net decrease in operating cash flow was primarily driven by a $206.3 million increase in inventory, net of accounts payable, primarily due to an increase in inventory related to new stores and other inventory availability initiatives combined with the deceleration in our accounts payable ratio. Partially offsetting these decreases in operating cash flow was a $57.1 million decrease in the outflow of cash related to receivables resulting from the transition of our in-house Commercial credit program last year and a $22.4 million increase in accrued expenses related to the timing of payments to vendors.

For Fiscal 2012 , net cash provided by operating activities decreased $143.6 million to $685.3 million . This net decrease in operating cash flow was primarily due to:

a $74.1 million decrease in cash flows from receivables primarily related to the transition of our in-house Commercial credit program;
a $65.1 million decrease in cash flows from inventory, net of accounts payable, due to a 13% increase in inventory over the prior year driven by our inventory availability initiatives, including store upgrades to a greater coverage of parts, the opening of our new distribution center, continued expansion of our HUB network and new store growth, coupled with a smaller increase in our accounts payable ratio versus the prior year;
a $26.1 million decrease in provision for deferred income taxes due to the lapse of certain corporate tax legislation;
a $14.9 million decrease in cash flow from other assets primarily related to timing of refundable income taxes and other working capital;


31


a $13.4 million decrease in cash flow from the excess tax benefit from share-based compensation; and
a $7.0 million decrease in net income.

Partially offsetting the decrease in operating cash flow was:

a $56.8 million increase in cash flows provided by an increase in accrued expenses related to timing of the payment of certain expenses.

Investing Activities

For Fiscal 2013 , net cash used in investing activities increased by $89.1 million to $362.1 million . The increase in cash used in investing activities was primarily driven by cash used in the acquisition of BWP, partially offset by a reduction in investments in property and equipment as a result of less spending on existing stores, new store development, information technology, and investments in supply chain.

For Fiscal 2012 , net cash used in investing activities decreased by $17.0 million to $273.0 million . The decrease in cash used was primarily driven by the decrease in cash used for business acquisitions.

Financing Activities

For Fiscal 2013 , net cash provided by financing activities increased by $203.3 million to $331.2 million . This increase was primarily a result of a net change in borrowings under our senior unsecured notes and credit facilities, partially offset by a $53.7 million increase in the repurchase of common stock under our stock repurchase program.

For Fiscal 2012 , net cash used in financing activities increased by $668.1 million to $127.9 million . This increase was primarily a result of:

a $604.0 million decrease in cash used for the repurchase of common stock under our stock repurchase program; and
$299.9 million provided by the issuance of senior unsecured notes.

Partially offsetting these increases was a $230.0 million decrease in net borrowings on credit facilities.

Long-Term Debt

Bank Debt

On December 5, 2013, we entered into a new credit agreement which provides a $700.0 million unsecured term loan and a $1.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility (the “2013 Credit Agreement”) with Advance Stores, as Borrower, the lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent. This new revolving credit facility replaced the revolver under our former Credit Agreement dated as of May 27, 2011 with Advance Stores, as Borrower, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “2011 Credit Agreement”). Upon execution of the 2013 Credit Agreement, the lenders’ commitments under the 2011 Credit Agreement were terminated and the liabilities of us and our subsidiaries with respect to their obligations under the 2011 Credit Agreement were discharged. The new revolving credit facility also provides for the issuance of letters of credit with a sub-limit of $300.0 million and swingline loans in an amount not to exceed $50.0 million . We may request, subject to agreement by one or more lenders, that the total revolving commitment be increased by an amount not to exceed $250.0 million (up to a total commitment of $1.25 billion ) during the term of the credit agreement. Voluntary prepayments and voluntary reductions of the revolving balance are permitted in whole or in part, at our option, in minimum principal amounts as specified in the revolving credit facility. The revolving credit facility terminates in December 2018 and the term loan matures in January 2019.

As of December 28, 2013 , we had not borrowed any amounts under the 2013 Credit Agreement but subsequently borrowed $700.0 million under the term loan and $306.0 million under the revolver in conjunction with our acquisition of GPI on January 2, 2014. As of December 28, 2013 , we had letters of credit outstanding of $87.3 million . The letters of credit generally have a term of one year or less and primarily serve as collateral for our self-insurance policies. Our debt availability as of December 28, 2013 was $545.4 million based on the maximum amount of additional borrowings allowed under our leverage ratio.

The interest rate on borrowings under the revolving credit facility is based, at our option, on adjusted LIBOR, plus a margin, or an alternate base rate, plus a margin. The current margin is 1.30% and 0.30% per annum for the adjusted LIBOR and


32


alternate base rate borrowings, respectively. A facility fee is charged on the total amount of the revolving credit facility, payable in arrears. The current facility fee rate is 0.20% per annum and subject to change based on our credit ratings. Under the terms of the 2013 Credit Agreement, the interest rate and facility fee are based on our credit rating.

The interest rate on the term loan is based, at our option, on adjusted LIBOR, plus a margin, or an alternate base rate, plus a margin. The current margin is 1.50% and 0.50% per annum for the adjusted LIBOR and alternate base rate borrowings, respectively. Under the terms of the term loan, the interest rate is based on our credit rating and subject to change based on our credit rating.

The 2013 Credit Agreement contains customary covenants restricting the ability of (a) subsidiaries of Advance Stores to, among other things, create, incur or assume additional debt, (b) Advance Stores and its subsidiaries to, among other things ,(i) incur liens, (ii) make loans and investments, (iii) guarantee obligations, and (iv) change the nature of its business conducted by itself and its subsidiaries; (c) us, Advance Stores and their subsidiaries to, among other things (i) engage in certain mergers, acquisitions, asset sales and liquidations, (ii) enter into certain hedging arrangements, (iii) enter into restrictive agreements limiting its ability to incur liens on any of its property or assets, pay distributions, repay loans, or guarantee indebtedness of its subsidiaries, (iv) engage in sale-leaseback transactions; and (d) us, among other things, to change our holding company status. Advance Stores is required to comply with financial covenants with respect to a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum coverage ratio. The 2013 Credit Agreement also provides for customary events of default, including non-payment defaults, covenant defaults and cross-defaults to Advance Stores’ other material indebtedness. We are also required to comply with financial covenants with respect to a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum consolidated coverage ratio. We were in compliance with our covenants at December 28, 2013 with respect to the 2013 Credit Agreement and December 29, 2012 with respect to the 2011 Credit Agreement, respectively.

Senior Unsecured Notes

W e issued 4.50% senior unsecured notes on December 3, 2013 at 99.69% of the principal amount of $450 million which are due December 1, 2023 (the “2023 Notes”). The 2023 Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.50% per year payable semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning June 1, 2014. The net proceeds from the offering of these notes were approximately $445.2 million , after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The net proceeds from the 2023 Notes were used in aggregate with borrowings under our revolving credit facility and term loan and cash on-hand to fund our acquisition of GPI on January 2, 2014 .

We previously issued its 4.50% senior unsecured notes in January 2012 at 99.968% of the principal amount of $300 million and are due January 15, 2022 (the “2022 Notes”). The 2022 Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.50%  per year payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year. Our 5.75% senior unsecured notes were issued in April 2010 at 99.587% of the principal amount of $300 million and are due May 1, 2020 (the “2020 Notes” or collectively with the 2023 Notes and the 2022 Notes, “the Notes”). The 2020 Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.75%  per year payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year. Advance served as the issuer of the Notes with certain of Advance’s domestic subsidiaries currently serving as subsidiary guarantors. The terms of the Notes are governed by an indenture (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”) among us, the subsidiary guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.

We may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time or from time to time, at the redemption price described in the Indenture. In addition, in the event of a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in each of the Indentures for the Notes), we will be required to offer to repurchase the Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date. The Notes are currently fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on an unsubordinated and unsecured basis by each of the subsidiary guarantors party thereto. We will be permitted to release guarantees without the consent of holders of the Notes under the circumstances described in the Indenture: (i) upon the release of the guarantee of our other debt that resulted in the affected subsidiary becoming a guarantor of this debt; (ii) upon the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the stock or assets of the subsidiary guarantor; or (iii) upon our exercise of its legal or covenant defeasance option.

The Indenture contains customary provisions for events of default including for: (i) failure to pay principal or interest when due and payable; (ii) failure to comply with covenants or agreements in the Indenture or the Notes and failure to cure or obtain a waiver of such default upon notice; (iii) a default under any debt for money borrowed by us or any of our subsidiaries that results in acceleration of the maturity of such debt, or failure to pay any such debt within any applicable grace period after final stated maturity, in an aggregate amount greater than $25.0 million without such debt having been discharged or acceleration having been rescinded or annulled within 10 days after receipt by us of notice of the default by the Trustee or holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding; and (iv) events of bankruptcy, insolvency or


33


reorganization affecting us and certain of our subsidiaries. In the case of an event of default, the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest may be accelerated. The Indenture also contains covenants limiting the ability of us and our subsidiaries to incur debt secured by liens and to enter into sale and lease-back transactions.

As of December 28, 2013 , we had a credit rating from Standard & Poor’s of BBB- and from Moody’s Investor Service of Baa3. The current outlooks by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s are both stable. The current pricing grid used to determine our borrowing rate under our revolving credit facility is based on our credit ratings. If these credit ratings decline, our interest rate on outstanding balances may increase and our access to additional financing on favorable terms may become more limited. In addition, it could reduce the attractiveness of our vendor payment program, where certain of our vendors finance payment obligations from us with designated third party financial institutions, which could result in increased working capital requirements. Conversely, if these credit ratings improve, our interest rate may decrease.

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements

As of December 28, 2013 , we had no off-balance-sheet arrangements as defined in Regulation S-K Item 303 of the SEC regulations. We include other off-balance-sheet arrangements in our contractual obligations table including operating lease payments, interest payments on our notes and revolving credit facility and letters of credit outstanding.

Contractual Obligations

In addition to our Notes and revolving credit facility, we utilize operating leases as another source of financing. The amounts payable under these operating leases are included in our schedule of contractual obligations. Our future contractual obligations related to long-term debt, operating leases and other contractual obligations as of December 28, 2013 were as follows:
 
 
 
 
Payments Due by Period
Contractual Obligations
 
Total
 
Less than
1 Year
 
1 - 3 Years
 
3 - 5 Years
 
More Than
5 Years
 
 
(in thousands)
Long-term debt (1)
 
$
1,053,584

 
$
916

 
$
1,049

 
$

 
$
1,051,619

 Interest payments
 
432,740

 
51,161

 
102,221

 
102,200

 
177,158

Operating leases (2)
 
2,441,925

 
353,508

 
616,447

 
546,495

 
925,475

Other long-term liabilities (3)
 
231,116

 

 

 

 

Purchase obligations  (4)
 
61,699

 
34,220

 
17,517

 
9,961

 

 
 
$
4,221,064

 
$
439,805

 
$
737,234

 
$
658,656

 
$
2,154,252


Note: For additional information refer to Note 7, Long-term Debt ; Note 15, Income Taxes ; Note 16, Lease Commitments ; Note 17, Contingencies ; and Note 18, Benefit Plans , in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(1)  
Long-term debt primarily represents the principal amount of our 2020 Notes, 2022 Notes and 2023 Notes, which become due in Fiscal 2020, Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2023, respectively.
(2)  
We lease certain store locations, distribution centers, office space, equipment and vehicles. Our property leases generally contain renewal and escalation clauses and other concessions. These provisions are considered in our calculation of our minimum lease payments which are recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the applicable lease term. Any lease payments that are based upon an existing index or rate are included in our minimum lease payment calculations.
(3)  
Primarily includes the long-term portion of deferred income taxes, self-insurance liabilities, unrecognized income tax benefits, closed store liabilities and obligations for employee benefit plans for which no contractual payment schedule exists and we expect the payments to occur beyond 12 months from December 28, 2013 . Accordingly, the related balances have not been reflected in the “Payments Due by Period” section of the table.
(4)  
Purchase obligations include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable, legally binding and specify all significant terms, including fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction. Included in the table above is the lesser of the remaining obligation or the cancellation penalty under the agreement. Our open purchase orders related to merchandise inventory are based on current operational needs and are fulfilled by our vendors within a short period of time. We currently do


34


not have minimum purchase commitments under our vendor supply agreements nor are our open purchase orders binding agreements. Accordingly, we have excluded open purchase orders from the above table.

Critical Accounting Policies
 
Our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting policies generally accepted in the United States of America. Our discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations are based on these financial statements. The preparation of these financial statements requires the application of accounting policies in addition to certain estimates and judgments by our management. Our estimates and judgments are based on currently available information, historical results and other assumptions we believe are reasonable. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.

The preparation of our financial statements included the following significant estimates and exercise of judgment.

Vendor Incentives

We receive incentives in the form of reductions to amounts owed and/or payments from vendors related to cooperative advertising allowances, volume rebates and other promotional considerations. Many of these incentives are under long-term agreements (terms in excess of one year), while others are negotiated on an annual basis or less (short-term). Volume rebates and cooperative advertising allowances not offsetting in SG&A are earned based on inventory purchases and initially recorded as a reduction to inventory. These deferred amounts are included as a reduction to cost of sales as the inventory is sold.

Cooperative advertising allowances provided as a reimbursement of specific, incremental and identifiable costs incurred to promote a vendor’s products are included as an offset to SG&A when the cost is incurred. Certain of our vendor agreements contain purchase volume incentives that provide for increased funding when graduated purchase volumes are met. Amounts accrued throughout the year could be impacted if actual purchase volumes differ from projected annual purchase volumes. Total deferred vendor incentives included in inventory was $111.3 million and $103.0 million as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 , respectively.

Similarly, we recognize other promotional incentives earned under long-term agreements as a reduction to cost of sales. However, these incentives are recognized based on the cumulative net purchases as a percentage of total estimated net purchases over the life of the agreement. Short-term incentives (terms less than one year) are generally recognized as a reduction to cost of sales over the duration of any short-term agreements.

Amounts received or receivable from vendors that are not yet earned are reflected as deferred revenue. Management’s estimate of the portion of deferred revenue that will be realized within one year of the balance sheet date is included in Other current liabilities. Earned amounts that are receivable from vendors are included in Receivables, net except for that portion expected to be received after one year, which is included in Other assets, net. We regularly review the receivables from vendors to ensure they are able to meet their obligations. Historically, the change in our reserve for receivables related to vendor funding has not been significant. A 10% difference in our vendor incentives deferred in inventory at December 28, 2013 would have affected net income by approximately $7.0 million for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013 .

Inventory Reserves

Our inventory reserves consist of reserves for projected losses related to shrink and for potentially excess and obsolete inventory. An increase to our inventory reserves is recorded as an increase to our cost of sales. Conversely, a decrease to our inventory reserves is recorded as a decrease to our cost of sales. Our inventory reserves for Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 were $37.5 million , $31.4 million and $30.8 million , respectively.

Shrink may occur due to theft, loss or inaccurate records for the receipt of merchandise, among other things. We establish reserves for estimated store shrink at a point in time based on results of physical inventories conducted by independent third parties in substantially all our stores over the course of the year, results from other targeted inventory counts in our stores and historical and current loss trends. In our distribution facilities, we perform cycle counts throughout the year to measure actual shrink and to estimate reserve requirements. We believe we have sufficient current and historical knowledge to record reasonable estimates for our shrink reserve and that any differences in our shrink rate in the future would not have a material impact on our shrink reserve. 

Our shrink rate has fluctuated less than 10 basis points over the last two years. Historically, we have not experienced material adjustments to our shrink reserve. Furthermore, we have consistently completed a similar number of physical inventories at comparable times throughout the year.


35


Our inventory consists primarily of parts, batteries, accessories and other products used on vehicles that have reasonably long shelf lives. Although the risk of obsolescence is minimal, we also consider whether we may have excess inventory based on our current approach for effectively managing slower moving inventory. We strive to optimize the life cycle of our inventory to ensure our product availability reflects customer demand. We have return rights with many of our vendors and the majority of excess inventory is returned to our vendors for full credit. We establish reserves for potentially excess and obsolete inventories based on (i) current inventory levels, (ii) the historical analysis of product sales and (iii) current market conditions. In certain situations, we establish reserves when less than full credit is expected from a vendor or when liquidating product will result in retail prices below recorded costs. In Fiscal 2013, the increase in our inventory reserves was driven primarily by our continued ramp-up in the sale of imported products and the lack of return privileges with those vendors.

Future changes by vendors in their policies or willingness to accept returns of excess inventory, changes in our inventory management approach for excess and obsolete inventory or failure by us to effectively manage the life cycle of our inventory could require us to revise our estimates of required reserves and result in a negative impact on our consolidated statement of operations. A 10% difference in actual inventory reserves at December 28, 2013 would have affected net income by approximately $2.3 million for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013 .

Warranty Reserves

We offer limited warranties on certain products that range from 30 days to lifetime warranties; the warranty obligation on the majority of merchandise sold by us with a manufacturer’s warranty is borne by our vendors.  However, we have an obligation to provide customers free replacement of merchandise or merchandise at a prorated cost if under a warranty and not covered by the manufacturer. Merchandise sold with warranty coverage by us primarily includes batteries but may also include other parts such as brakes and shocks. We estimate and record a reserve for future warranty claims at the time of sale based on the historical return experience of the respective product sold. If claims experience differs from historical levels, revisions in our estimates may be required, which could have an impact on our consolidated statement of operations. To the extent vendors provide upfront allowances in lieu of accepting the obligation for warranty claims and the allowance is in excess of the related warranty expense, the excess is recorded as a reduction to cost of sales.

A 10% change in the warranty reserves at December 28, 2013 would have affected net income by approximately $2.5 million for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013 .

Self-Insurance Reserves

We are self-insured for general and automobile liability, workers’ compensation and the health care claims of our Team Members, although we maintain stop-loss coverage with third-party insurers to limit our total liability exposure. Our self-insurance reserves for Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 were $98.5 million , $94.5 million and $98.9 million , respectively. Historically, our total self-insurance reserves have steadily increased due to our continued growth, including an increase in stores, Team Members and Commercial delivery vehicles partially offset by favorable claims development in the last two years. When excluding $4.2 million of reserves from our acquisition of BWP in Fiscal 2013, our self-insurance reserves were essentially flat with the prior year.

Our self-insurance reserves consist of the estimated exposure for claims filed, claims incurred but not yet reported and projected future claims, and are established using actuarial methods followed in the insurance industry and our historical claims experience. Specific factors include, but are not limited to, assumptions about health care costs, the severity of accidents and the incidence of illness and the average size of claims. Generally, claims for automobile and general liability and workers’ compensation take several years to settle. We classify the portion of our self-insurance reserves that is not expected to be settled within one year in long-term liabilities.

While we do not expect the amounts ultimately paid to differ significantly from our estimates, our self-insurance reserves and corresponding SG&A could be affected if future claim experience differs significantly from historical trends and actuarial assumptions. A 10% change in our self-insurance liabilities at December 28, 2013 would have affected net income by approximately $6.2 million for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013 .

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

We evaluate goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment annually as of the first day of our fiscal fourth quarter or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the goodwill or other intangible asset may not be recoverable. We complete our impairment evaluation by combining information from our internal valuation analyses by reporting units, considering other publicly available market information and using an independent valuation firm.


36


We determine fair value using widely accepted valuation techniques, including discounted cash flows and market multiple analyses. These types of analyses contain uncertainties because they require management to make assumptions as a marketplace participant would and to apply judgment to estimate industry economic factors and the profitability of future business strategies of our company and our reporting units. These assumptions and estimates are a major component of the derived fair value of our reporting units. The margin of calculated fair value over the respective carrying value of our reporting units may not be indicative of the total company due to differences in the individual reporting units, including but not limited to size and projected growth. We have allocated our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets within each of our reportable segments to multiple reporting units in our AAP segment and to the entire AI segment, respectively.

During the year, management monitored the actual performance of the business relative to the fair value assumptions used during our annual goodwill impairment test. For the periods presented, no triggering events were identified that required an update to our annual impairment test. For the presented periods, the impairment assessments indicated that the fair values of each reporting unit substantially exceeded the carrying values of the respective reporting units. We have not made any material changes in the accounting methodology we use to assess impairment loss during the past three fiscal years. We do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood there will be a material change in the future estimates or assumptions we use to test for impairment losses on goodwill. However, if actual results are not consistent with our estimates or assumptions, we may be exposed to an impairment charge that could be material.

Income Tax Reserves

The determination of our income tax liabilities is based upon the tax law, codes, regulations, pronouncements and court cases for the taxing jurisdictions in which we do business. Our income tax returns are periodically examined by those jurisdictions. These examinations include, among other things, auditing our filing positions, the timing of deductions and allocation of income among the various jurisdictions. At any particular time, multiple years are subject to examination by various taxing authorities.

In evaluating our income tax positions, we record a reserve when a tax benefit cannot be recognized and measured in accordance with the authoritative guidance on uncertain tax positions. These tax reserves are adjusted in the period actual developments give rise to such change. Those developments could be, but are not limited to: settlement of tax audits, expiration of the statute of limitations, the evolution of tax law, codes, regulations and court cases, along with varying applications of tax policy and administration within those jurisdictions.

Management is required to make assumptions and apply judgment to estimate exposures associated with our various filing positions. Although Management believes that the judgments and estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ and we may be exposed to gains or losses that could be material. To the extent that actual results differ from our estimates, the effective tax rate in any particular period could be materially affected. Favorable tax developments would be recognized as a reduction in our effective tax rate in the period of resolution. Unfavorable tax developments would require an increase in our effective tax rate and a possible use of cash in the period of resolution. A 10% change in the tax reserves at December 28, 2013 would have affected net income by approximately $1.8 million for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013 .

New Accounting Pronouncements

For a description of recently announced accounting standards, including the expected dates of adoption and estimated effects, if any, on our consolidated financial statements, see New Accounting Pronouncements in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Report on Form 10-K.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks.

Interest Rate Risk

Our primary financial market risk is due to changes in interest rates. Historically, we have reduced our exposure to changes in interest rates by entering into various interest rate hedge instruments such as interest rate swap contracts and treasury lock agreements. We have historically utilized interest rate swaps to convert variable rate debt to fixed rate debt and to lock in fixed rates on future debt issuances. Our interest rate hedge instruments have been designated as cash flow hedges. We had no derivative instruments outstanding as of December 28, 2013 .

The interest rate on borrowings under our new revolving credit facility and term loan is based, at the Company’s option, on adjusted LIBOR, plus a margin, or an alternate base rate, plus a margin. As of December 28, 2013 , we had no borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility or term loan. Subsequent to December 28, 2013 , we borrowed on the revolving


37

Table of Contents

credit facility and term loan and are therefore exposed to interest rate risk due to changes in LIBOR or alternate base rate. There is no interest rate risk associated with our 2020, 2022 or 2023 Notes, as the interest rates are fixed at 5.75%, 4.50%, and 4.50%, respectively, per annum.
Credit Risk

Our financial assets that are exposed to credit risk consist primarily of trade accounts receivable and vendor receivables. We are exposed to normal credit risk from customers. Our concentration of credit risk is limited because our customer base consists of a large number of customers with relatively small balances, which allows the credit risk to be spread across a broad base. We strive to maintain a close working relationship with our vendors and frequently monitor their financial strength. We have not historically had significant credit losses.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

See financial statements included in Item 15 “Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules” of this annual report.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures are our controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our management evaluated, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report in accordance with Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Management’ s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting is set forth in Part IV, Item 15 of this annual report.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 28, 2013 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information.

None.



38

Table of Contents

PART III


Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

For a discussion of our directors, executive officers and corporate governance, see the information set forth in the sections entitled “Proposal No. 1 - Election of Directors,” “Corporate Governance,” “Meetings and Committees of the Board,” “Information Concerning Our Executive Officers,” “Audit Committee Report,” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our proxy statement for the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013 (the “ 2014 Proxy Statement”), which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 11. Executive Compensation .

See the information set forth in the sections entitled “Meetings and Committees of the Board,” “Compensation Committee Report,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Additional Information Regarding Executive Compensation” and “Non-Management Director Compensation” in the 2014 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters .

See the information set forth in the sections entitled “Equity Compensation Plan Information Table” and "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" in the 2014 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence .

See the information set forth in the sections entitled "Corporate Governance" and “Meetings and Committees of the Board” in the 2014 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services .

See the information set forth in the section entitled “2013 and 2012 Audit Fees” in the 2014 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.



39

Table of Contents

PART IV

Item 15.      Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

(a)(1) Financial Statements
 
 
 
 
 
Management’s Responsibility for Financial Statements
 
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
 
 
 
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Subsidiaries for the years ended December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2) Financial Statement Schedules
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(3) Exhibits
 
 
 
 
 
The Exhibit Index following the signatures for this report is incorporated herein by reference.
 
 



40

Table of Contents

Management’s Responsibility for Financial Statements

Management of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively the “Company”) is responsible for the preparation, integrity, consistency and objectivity of the consolidated financial statements and supplemental financial information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP ) and, as such, include amounts based on management s best estimates and judgments.

The Company s consolidated financial statements have been audited by the independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, who conducted their audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). The independent registered public accounting firm s responsibility is to express an opinion as to whether such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the Company s financial position, results of operations and cash flows in accordance with GAAP.


Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13(a) - 15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Company s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, and effected by the Company s Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.

Our internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Internal controls over financial reporting, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error and the override of controls. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to the reliability of financial reporting and financial statement preparation and presentation.  Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness may vary over time.

As of December 28, 2013 , management, including the Company s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, assessed the effectiveness of the Company s internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on this assessment, management has determined that the Company s internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2013 is effective.

Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Company s independent registered public accounting firm who audited the Company's consolidated financial statements, has issued an attestation report on the Company s internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2013 which is included on page F-3 herein.


/s/ Darren R. Jackson
 
/s/ Michael A. Norona
 
Darren R. Jackson
 
Michael A. Norona
 
Chief Executive Officer and Director
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

February 25, 2014





F-1

Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Roanoke, Virginia

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 , and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 28, 2013 . Our audits also included the financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements and financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and financial statement schedules based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 , and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 28, 2013 , in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2013 , based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 25, 2014 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.


/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Richmond, Virginia
February 25, 2014



F-2



REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Roanoke, Virginia

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 28, 2013 , based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting . Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company's board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2013 , based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules as of and for the year ended December 28, 2013 of the Company and our report dated February 25, 2014 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedules.


/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Richmond, Virginia
February 25, 2014




F-3


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012
(in thousands, except per share data)

 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
 
Assets
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,112,471

 
$
598,111

 
Receivables, net
277,595

 
229,866

 
Inventories, net
2,556,557

 
2,308,609

 
Other current assets
42,761

 
47,614

 
Total current assets
3,989,384

 
3,184,200

 
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,255,474 and $1,102,147
1,283,970

 
1,291,759

 
Assets held for sale
2,064

 
788

 
Goodwill
199,835

 
76,389

 
Intangible assets, net
49,872

 
28,845

 
Other assets, net
39,649

 
31,833

 
 
$
5,564,774

 
$
4,613,814

 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 

 
 

 
Current liabilities:
 

 
 

 
Current portion of long-term debt
$
916

 
$
627

 
Accounts payable
2,180,614

 
2,029,814

 
Accrued expenses
428,625

 
379,639

 
Other current liabilities
154,630

 
149,558

 
Total current liabilities
2,764,785

 
2,559,638

 
Long-term debt
1,052,668

 
604,461

 
Other long-term liabilities
231,116

 
239,021

 
Commitments and contingencies


 


 
Stockholders' equity:
 

 
 

 
Preferred stock, nonvoting, $0.0001 par value,
 
 
 
 
10,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding

 

 
Common stock, voting, $0.0001 par value, 200,000 shares authorized;
 
 
 
 
74,224 shares issued and 72,840 outstanding at December 28, 2013
 
 
 
 
and 73,731 shares issued and 73,383 outstanding at December 29, 2012
7

 
7

 
Additional paid-in capital
531,293

 
520,215

 
Treasury stock, at cost, 1,384 and 348 shares
(107,890
)
 
(27,095
)
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income
3,683

 
2,667

 
Retained earnings
1,089,112

 
714,900

 
Total stockholders' equity
1,516,205

 
1,210,694

 
 
$
5,564,774

 
$
4,613,814

 

The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
are an integral part of these statements.


F-4

Table of Contents

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Years Ended December 28, 2013 , December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)

 
Fiscal Years
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$
6,493,814

 
$
6,205,003

 
$
6,170,462

Cost of sales,  including purchasing and warehousing costs
3,241,668

 
3,106,967

 
3,101,172

Gross profit
3,252,146

 
3,098,036

 
3,069,290

Selling, general and administrative expenses
2,591,828

 
2,440,721

 
2,404,648

Operating income
660,318

 
657,315

 
664,642

Other, net:
 
 
 
 


Interest expense
(36,618
)
 
(33,841
)
 
(30,949
)
Other income (expense), net
2,698

 
600

 
(457
)
Total other, net
(33,920
)
 
(33,241
)
 
(31,406
)
Income before provision for income taxes
626,398

 
624,074

 
633,236

Provision for income taxes
234,640

 
236,404

 
238,554

Net income
$
391,758

 
$
387,670

 
$
394,682

 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share
$
5.36

 
$
5.29

 
$
5.21

Diluted earnings per share
$
5.32

 
$
5.22

 
$
5.11

Dividends declared per common share
$
0.24

 
$
0.24

 
$
0.24

 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding
72,930

 
73,091

 
75,620

Weighted average common shares outstanding - assuming dilution
73,414

 
74,062

 
77,071

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the Years Ended December 28, 2013 , December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)

 
Fiscal Years
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Net income
$
391,758

 
$
387,670

 
$
394,682

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in net unrecognized other postretirement benefit costs, net of $503, $252 and $98 tax
(438
)
 
(391
)
 
(152
)
Postretirement benefit plan amendment, net of $904, $0 and $0 tax
1,454

 

 

Unrealized gain (loss) on hedge arrangements, net of $0, $163 and $163 tax

 
254

 
(254
)
Amortization of unrecognized losses on interest rate swaps, net of $0, $0 and $3,644 tax

 

 
4,807

Total other comprehensive income (loss)
1,016

 
(137
)
 
4,401

Comprehensive income
$
392,774

 
$
387,533

 
$
399,083


The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
are an integral part of these statements.


F-5

Table of Contents

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATD STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
For the Years Ended December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands)
 
Preferred Stock
 
Common Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Treasury Stock, at cost
 
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Total
Stockholders'
Equity
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
Balance, January 1, 2011

 
$

 
105,682

 
$
11

 
$
456,645

 
23,726

 
$
(1,028,612
)
 
$
(1,597
)
 
$
1,612,927

 
$
1,039,374

Net income
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
394,682

 
394,682

Total other comprehensive income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4,401

 
 
 
4,401

Issuance of shares upon the exercise of stock options
 

 
 

 
739

 


 
18,741

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
18,741

Tax withholdings related to the exercise of stock appreciation rights
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(6,582
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(6,582
)
Tax benefit from share-based compensation
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
9,565

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
9,565

Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures
 

 
 

 
78

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

Amortization of restricted stock balance
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
8,023

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
8,023

Share-based compensation
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
11,530

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
11,530

Stock issued under employee stock purchase plan
 

 
 

 
38

 
 

 
2,234

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
2,234

Treasury stock purchased
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
10,012

 
(616,155
)
 
 

 
 

 
(616,155
)
Cash dividends ($0.24 per common share)
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
(17,980
)
 
(17,980
)
Other
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
81

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
81

Balance, December 31, 2011

 
$

 
106,537

 
$
11

 
$
500,237

 
33,738

 
$
(1,644,767
)
 
$
2,804

 
$
1,989,629

 
$
847,914

Net income
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
387,670

 
387,670

Total other comprehensive loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(137
)
 
 
 
(137
)
Issuance of shares upon the exercise of stock options
 

 
 

 
900

 
 
 
5,720

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
5,720

Tax withholdings related to the exercise of stock appreciation rights
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(26,677
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(26,677
)
Tax benefit from share-based compensation
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
22,924

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
22,924

Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures
 
 
 
 
(2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Amortization of restricted stock balance
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
6,220

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
6,220

Share-based compensation
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
9,016

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
9,016

Stock issued under employee stock purchase plan
 

 
 

 
34

 
 

 
2,266

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
2,266

Treasury stock purchased
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
348

 
(27,095
)
 
 

 
 

 
(27,095
)
Retirement of treasury stock
 
 
 
 
(33,738
)
 
$
(4
)
 
 
 
(33,738
)
 
1,644,767

 
 
 
$
(1,644,763
)
 

Cash dividends ($0.24 per common share)
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
(17,636
)
 
(17,636
)
Other
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
509

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
509

Balance, December 29, 2012

 
$

 
73,731

 
$
7

 
$
520,215

 
348

 
$
(27,095
)
 
$
2,667

 
$
714,900

 
$
1,210,694

Net income
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
391,758

 
391,758

Total other comprehensive income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,016

 
 
 
1,016

Issuance of shares upon the exercise of stock options
 

 
 

 
480

 
 

 
1,903

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
1,903

Tax withholdings related to the exercise of stock appreciation rights
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(21,856
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(21,856
)
Tax benefit from share-based compensation
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
16,132

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
16,132

Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures
 

 
 

 
(10
)
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

Amortization of restricted stock balance
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
7,889

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
7,889

Share-based compensation
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
5,302

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
5,302

Stock issued under employee stock purchase plan
 

 
 

 
23

 
 

 
1,679

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
1,679

Treasury stock purchased
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
1,036

 
(80,795
)
 
 

 
 

 
(80,795
)
Cash dividends ($0.24 per common share)
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
(17,546
)
 
(17,546
)
Other
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
29

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
29

Balance, December 28, 2013

 
$

 
74,224

 
$
7

 
$
531,293

 
1,384

 
$
(107,890
)
 
$
3,683

 
$
1,089,112

 
$
1,516,205


The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.


F-6

Table of Contents


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Years Ended December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands)

 
Fiscal Years
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
391,758

 
$
387,670

 
$
394,682

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
207,795

 
189,544

 
175,949

Share-based compensation
13,191

 
15,236

 
19,553

Loss on property and equipment, net
1,599

 
2,699

 
5,228

Other
1,679

 
1,582

 
1,098

(Benefit) provision for deferred income taxes
(2,237
)
 
26,893

 
53,037

Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation
(16,320
)
 
(23,099
)
 
(9,663
)
Net (increase) decrease in:
 
 
 
 
 
Receivables, net
(32,428
)
 
(89,482
)
 
(15,372
)
Inventories, net
(203,513
)
 
(260,298
)
 
(179,288
)
Other assets
11,011

 
8,213

 
23,073

Net increase (decrease) in:
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
113,497

 
376,631

 
360,678

Accrued expenses
63,346

 
40,936

 
(15,901
)
Other liabilities
(4,128
)
 
8,756

 
15,775

Net cash provided by operating activities
545,250

 
685,281

 
828,849

Cash flows from investing activities:
 

 
 

 
 
Purchases of property and equipment
(195,757
)
 
(271,182
)
 
(268,129
)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(186,137
)
 
(8,369
)
 
(23,133
)
Sale of certain business acquisition assets
19,042

 

 

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment
745

 
6,573

 
1,288

Net cash used in investing activities
(362,107
)
 
(272,978
)
 
(289,974
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 

 
 

 
 
(Decrease) increase in bank overdrafts
(2,926
)
 
(7,459
)
 
6,625

Decrease in financed vendor accounts payable

 

 
(31,648
)
Issuance of senior unsecured notes
448,605

 
299,904

 

Payment of debt related costs
(8,815
)
 
(2,942
)
 
(3,656
)
Borrowings under credit facilities

 
58,500

 
1,435,200

Payments on credit facilities

 
(173,500
)
 
(1,320,200
)
Dividends paid
(17,574
)
 
(17,596
)
 
(18,554
)
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, primarily exercise of stock options
3,611

 
8,495

 
21,056

Tax withholdings related to the exercise of stock appreciation rights
(21,856
)
 
(26,677
)
 
(6,582
)
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation
16,320

 
23,099

 
9,663

Repurchase of common stock
(80,795
)
 
(27,095
)
 
(631,149
)
Contingent consideration related to business acquisitions
(4,726
)
 
(10,911
)
 

Other
(627
)
 
4,089

 
(938
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
331,217

 
127,907

 
(540,183
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
514,360

 
540,210

 
(1,308
)
Cash and cash equivalents , beginning of period
598,111

 
57,901

 
59,209

Cash and cash equivalents , end of period
$
1,112,471

 
$
598,111

 
$
57,901

 
 
 
 
 
 


F-7

Table of Contents

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Years Ended December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands)

 
Fiscal Years
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Supplemental cash flow information:
 
 
 
 
 
Interest paid
$
34,735

 
$
27,250

 
$
35,030

Income tax payments
219,424

 
162,677

 
170,541

Non-cash transactions:
 
 
 
 
 
Accrued purchases of property and equipment
20,714

 
26,142

 
35,648

Retirement of common stock

 
1,644,767

 

Contingent consideration accrued on acquisitions

 

 
27,776

Changes in other comprehensive income
1,016

 
(137
)
 
4,401

Declared but unpaid cash dividends
4,368

 
4,396

 
4,356


The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
are an integral part of these statements.


F-8

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)



1.
Organization and Description of Business:

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. ( Advance ) conducts all of its operations through its wholly owned subsidiary, Advance Stores Company, Incorporated ( Stores ), and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company ), all of which are 100% owned. The Company operated 4,049 stores as of December 28, 2013 . The Company operated 3,832 stores throughout 39 states in the Northeastern, Southeastern and Midwestern (inclusive of South Central) regions of the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. These stores operated under the Advance Auto Parts trade name except for certain stores in the State of Florida which operate under the Advance Discount Auto Parts trade name. These stores offer a broad selection of brand name and proprietary automotive replacement parts, accessories and maintenance items for domestic and imported cars and light trucks to do-it-yourself, or DIY, and do-it-for-me, or Commercial, customers. The Company offers delivery service to its Commercial customers places of business, including independent garages, service stations and auto dealers, utilizing a fleet of vehicles to deliver product from its 3,485 store locations with delivery service. Autopart International ( AI ), a subsidiary of Stores, operates 217 stores under the Autopart International trade name located primarily throughout the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.

2.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

Accounting Period

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest the end of December, which results in an extra week every several years (the next 53 week fiscal year is 2014).

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Advance and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Bank Overdrafts

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash in banks and money market funds with original maturities of three months or less. Included in cash equivalents are credit card and debit card receivables from banks, which generally settle within two to four business days. Credit and debit card receivables included in Cash and cash equivalents as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 were $28,828 and $26,738 , respectively. Bank overdrafts consist of outstanding checks not yet presented to a bank for settlement, net of cash held in accounts with right of offset. Bank overdrafts of $5,796 and $8,722 are included in Other current liabilities as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 , respectively.

Receivables

Receivables, net consist primarily of receivables from Commercial customers and vendors. The Company grants credit to certain Commercial customers who meet the Company’s pre-established credit requirements. The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of the Company’s Commercial customers to make required payments. The Company considers the following factors when determining if collection is reasonably assured: customer creditworthiness, past transaction history with the customer, current economic and industry trends and changes in customer payment terms. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to these receivables are limited because the Company’s customer base consists of a large number of small customers, spreading the credit risk across a broad base.  The Company also controls this credit risk through credit approvals, credit limits and accounts receivable and credit monitoring procedures.


F-9

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


The Company’s vendor receivables are established as it receives concessions from its vendors through a variety of programs and arrangements, including allowances for new stores and warranties, volume purchase rebates and co-operative advertising. Amounts receivable from vendors also include amounts due to the Company for changeover merchandise and product returns.  The Company regularly reviews vendor receivables for collectability and assesses the need for a reserve for uncollectable amounts based on an evaluation of the Company’s vendors’ financial positions and corresponding abilities to meet financial obligations. The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts related to vendor receivables is not significant.

Inventory

Inventory amounts are stated at the lower of cost or market. The cost of the Company’s merchandise inventory is determined using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method. Under the LIFO method, the Company’s cost of sales reflects the costs of the most recently purchased inventories, while the inventory carrying balance represents the costs relating to prices paid in prior years.

Vendor Incentives

The Company receives incentives in the form of reductions to amounts owed and/or payments from vendors related to cooperative advertising allowances, volume rebates and other promotional considerations. Many of these incentives are under long-term agreements (terms in excess of one year), while others are negotiated on an annual basis or less (short-term). Volume rebates and cooperative advertising allowances not offsetting in selling, general and administrative expenses, or SG&A, are earned based on inventory purchases and initially recorded as a reduction to inventory. These deferred amounts are included as a reduction to cost of sales as the inventory is sold. Cooperative advertising allowances provided as a reimbursement of specific, incremental and identifiable costs incurred to promote a vendor’s products are included as an offset to SG&A when the cost is incurred. Total deferred vendor incentives included as a reduction of Inventory was $111,304 and $102,975 as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 , respectively.

Similarly, the Company recognizes other promotional incentives earned under long-term agreements not specifically related to volume of purchases as a reduction to cost of sales. However, these incentives are not deferred as a reduction of inventory and are recognized based on the cumulative net purchases as a percentage of total estimated net purchases over the life of the agreement. Short-term incentives (terms less than one year) are generally recognized as a reduction to cost of sales over the duration of any short-term agreements.

Amounts received or receivable from vendors that are not yet earned are reflected as deferred revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Management’s estimate of the portion of deferred revenue that will be realized within one year of the balance sheet date has been included in Other current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Earned amounts that are receivable from vendors are included in Receivables, net except for that portion expected to be received after one year, which is included in Other assets, net on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expense, net of vendor promotional funds, was $69,116 , $83,871 and $84,656 in Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 , respectively. Vendor promotional funds, which reduced advertising expense, amounted to $18,622 and $11,445 in Fiscal 2013 and 2012 . Prior to Fiscal 2011, the Company received no vendor promotional funds to reduce advertising expense.

Preopening Expenses

Preopening expenses, which consist primarily of payroll and occupancy costs related to the opening of new stores, are expensed as incurred.


F-10

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period of the enactment date.

The Company recognizes tax benefits and/or tax liabilities for uncertain income tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step requires the Company to estimate and measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts, as the Company must determine the probability of various possible outcomes.

The Company reevaluates these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis or when new information becomes available to management. The reevaluations are based on many factors, including but not limited to, changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, successfully settled issues under audit, expirations due to statutes of limitations, and new federal or state audit activity. Any change in either the Company’s recognition or measurement could result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an increase to the tax accrual. 

The Company also follows guidance provided on other items relevant to the accounting for income taxes throughout the year, as applicable, including derecognition of benefits, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.  Refer to Note 15 , Income Taxes , for a further discussion of income taxes.

Self-Insurance

The Company is self-insured for general and automobile liability, workers’ compensation and health care claims of its employees, or Team Members, while maintaining stop-loss coverage with third-party insurers to limit its total liability exposure. Expenses associated with these liabilities are calculated for (i) claims filed, (ii) claims incurred but not yet reported and (iii) projected future claims using actuarial methods followed in the insurance industry as well as the Company’s historical claims experience. The Company includes the current and long-term portions of its self-insurance reserve in Accrued expenses and Other long-term liabilities, respectively.
 
The following table presents changes in the Company’s total self-insurance reserves:
 
 
December 28, 2013
 
December 29, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
Self-insurance reserves, beginning of period
$
94,548

 
$
98,944

 
$
97,070

Additions to self-insurance reserves
120,782

 
105,670

 
105,379

Acquired reserves
4,195

 

 

Reserves utilized
(121,050
)
 
(110,066
)
 
(103,505
)
Self-insurance reserves, end of period
$
98,475

 
$
94,548

 
$
98,944

 
Warranty Liabilities

The warranty obligation on the majority of merchandise sold by the Company with a manufacturer's warranty is the responsibility of the Company’s vendors.  However, the Company has an obligation to provide customers free replacement of certain merchandise or merchandise at a prorated cost if under a warranty and not covered by the manufacturer. Merchandise sold with warranty coverage by the Company primarily includes batteries but may also include other parts such as brakes and shocks. The Company estimates its warranty obligation at the time of sale based on the historical return experience, sales level


F-11

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


and cost of the respective product sold. To the extent vendors provide upfront allowances in lieu of accepting the obligation for warranty claims and the allowance is in excess of the related warranty expense, the excess is recorded as a reduction to cost of sales.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue at the time the sale is made, at which time the Company’s walk-in customers take immediate possession of the merchandise or same-day delivery is made to the Company’s commercial delivery customers. For e-commerce sales, revenue is recognized either at the time of pick-up at one of the Company’s store locations or at the time of shipment depending on the customer’s order designation. Sales are recorded net of discounts, sales taxes and estimated allowances. The Company estimates returns based on current sales levels and the Company’s historical return experience. The Company’s reserve for sales returns and allowances was not material as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 .

Share-Based Payments

The Company provides share-based compensation to its Team Members and board of directors. The Company is required to exercise judgment and make estimates when determining the projected (i) fair value of each award granted and (ii) number of awards expected to vest. The Company calculates the fair value of all share-based awards at the date of grant and uses the straight-line method to amortize this fair value as compensation cost over the requisite service period.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
 
The Company’s accounting policy for derivative financial instruments is based on whether the instruments meet the criteria for designation as cash flow or fair value hedges. The criteria for designating a derivative as a hedge include the assessment of the instrument’s effectiveness in risk reduction, matching of the derivative instrument to its underlying transaction and the probability that the underlying transaction will occur. For derivatives with cash flow hedge designation, the Company reports the after-tax gain or loss from the effective portion of the hedge as a component of Accumulated other income (loss) and reclassifies it into earnings in the same period or periods in which the hedged transaction affects earnings, and within the same income statement line item as the impact of the hedged transaction. For derivatives with fair value hedge accounting designation, the Company would recognize gains or losses from the change in the fair value of these derivatives, as well as the offsetting change in the fair value of the underlying hedged item, in earnings. The Company had no derivative instruments outstanding as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 .

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The purpose of reporting Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is to report a measure of all changes in equity of an enterprise that result from transactions and other economic events of the period. The changes in accumulated other comprehensive income refer to revenues, expenses, gains, and losses that are included in other comprehensive income but excluded from net income.

The Company’s Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of the unamortized portion of the previously recorded unrecognized gains or loss on interest rate swaps and forward treasury rate locks and the net unrealized gain associated with the Company’s postretirement benefit plan.
 
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in business combinations accounted for under the purchase method. The Company tests goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually as of the first day of the fiscal fourth quarter, or when indications of potential impairment exist. These indicators would include a significant change in operating performance, the business climate, legal factors, competition, or a planned sale or disposition of a significant portion of the business, among other factors.



F-12

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


Valuation of Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates the recoverability of its long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset might not be recoverable and exceeds its fair value.

Significant factors, which would trigger an impairment review, include the following:

Significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset (asset group);
Significant changes in how assets are used or are planned to be used;
Significant adverse change in legal factors or business climate, including adverse regulatory action;
Significant negative industry trends;
An accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the acquisition or construction of a long-lived asset (asset group);
Significant changes in technology;
A current-period operating or cash flow loss combined with a history of operating or cash flow losses, or a projection or forecast that demonstrates continuing losses associated with the use of a long-lived asset (asset group); or
A current expectation that, more likely than not, a long-lived asset (asset group) will be sold or otherwise disposed of significantly before the end of its previously estimated useful life.

When such an event occurs, the Company estimates the undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the long-lived asset (asset group) and its eventual disposition. These impairment evaluations involve estimates of asset useful lives and future cash flows. If the undiscounted expected future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset and the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized. When an impairment loss is recognized, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its estimated fair value based on quoted market prices or other valuation techniques (e.g., discounted cash flow analysis). There were no material impairment losses in the three years ended December 28, 2013 .

Earnings per Share

The Company uses the two-class method to calculate earnings per share. Under the two-class method, unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are considered participating securities and are included in the computation of earnings per share. Certain of the Company’s shares granted to Team Members in the form of restricted stock and restricted stock units are considered participating securities.

Accordingly, earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines income per share for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Diluted income per common share reflects the more dilutive earnings per share amount calculated using the treasury stock method or the two-class method.

Basic earnings per share of common stock has been computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, which is reduced by stock held in treasury and shares of nonvested restricted stock. Diluted earnings per share of common stock reflects the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding, outstanding deferred stock units and the impact of outstanding stock options and stock appreciation rights (collectively “share-based awards”). Share-based awards containing performance conditions are included in the dilution impact as those conditions are met. Diluted earnings per share are calculated by including the effect of dilutive securities.

Lease Accounting

The Company leases certain store locations, distribution centers, office space, equipment and vehicles. Initial terms for facility leases are typically 10 to 15 years, with renewal options at five year intervals, and may include rent escalation clauses. The total amount of the minimum rent is expensed on a straight-line basis over the initial term of the lease unless external economic factors exist or become existent such that renewals are reasonably assured, in which case the Company would


F-13

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


include the renewal period in its amortization period. In those instances, the renewal period would be included in the lease term for purposes of establishing an amortization period and determining if such lease qualified as a capital or operating lease. In addition to minimum fixed rental payments, some leases provide for contingent facility rentals. Differences between the calculated rent expense and cash payments are recorded as a liability within the Accrued expenses and Other long-term liabilities captions in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, based on the terms of the lease. Deferred rent was $50,638 and $45,791 as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 , respectively. Contingent facility rentals are determined on the basis of a percentage of sales in excess of stipulated minimums for certain store facilities as defined in the individual lease agreements. Most of the leases provide that the Company pay taxes, maintenance, insurance and certain other expenses applicable to the leased premises. Management expects that in the normal course of business leases that expire will be renewed or replaced by other leases.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation, or at fair value if acquired through a business combination. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged directly to expense when incurred; major improvements are capitalized. When items are sold or retired, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the account balances, with any gain or loss reflected in the consolidated statements of operations.

Depreciation of land improvements, buildings, furniture, fixtures and equipment, and vehicles is provided over the estimated useful lives, which range from 2 to 40 years, of the respective assets using the straight-line method. Depreciation of building and leasehold improvements is provided over the shorter of the original useful lives of the respective assets or the term of the lease using the straight-line method.

Closed Store Liabilities

The Company continually reviews the operating performance of its existing store locations and closes or relocates certain stores identified as underperforming or delivering strategically or financially unacceptable results. Expenses pertaining to closed store exit activities are included in the Company’s closed store liabilities. Closed store liabilities include the present value of the remaining lease obligations and management’s estimate of future costs of insurance, property tax and common area maintenance expenses (reduced by the present value of estimated revenues from subleases and lease buyouts) and new provisions are established by a charge to SG&A in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations at the time the facilities actually close.

From time to time closed store liability estimates require revisions, primarily due to changes in assumptions associated with revenue from subleases. The effect of changes in estimates for our closed store liabilities impact both our income statement and balance sheet: (i) they are included in SG&A in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, and (ii) they are recorded in Accrued expenses (current portion) and Other long-term liabilities (long-term portion) in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

The Company also evaluates and determines if the results from the closure of store locations should be reported as discontinued operations based on the elimination of the operations and associated cash flows from the Company’s ongoing operations. The Company does not include in its evaluation of discontinued operations those operations and associated cash flows transferred to another store in the local market.



F-14

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


Cost of Sales and Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

The following table illustrates the primary costs classified in each major expense category:
Cost of Sales
 
SG&A
Ÿ
Total cost of merchandise sold including:
 
Ÿ
Payroll and benefit costs for retail and corporate
 
-
Freight expenses associated with moving
 
 
Team Members;
 
 
merchandise inventories from our vendors to
 
Ÿ
Occupancy costs of retail and corporate facilities;
 
 
our distribution center,
 
Ÿ
Depreciation related to retail and corporate assets;
 
-
Vendors incentives, and
 
Ÿ
Advertising;
 
-
Cash discounts on payments to vendors;
 
Ÿ
Costs associated with our commercial delivery
Ÿ
Inventory shrinkage;
 
 
program, including payroll and benefit costs,
Ÿ
Defective merchandise and warranty costs;
 
 
and transportation expenses associated with moving
Ÿ
Costs associated with operating our distribution
 
 
merchandise inventories from our retail store to
 
network, including payroll and benefit costs,
 
 
our customer locations;
 
occupancy costs and depreciation; and
 
Ÿ
Self-insurance costs;
Ÿ
Freight and other handling costs associated with
 
Ÿ
Professional services;
 
moving merchandise inventories through our
 
Ÿ
Other administrative costs, such as credit card
 
supply chain
 
 
service fees, supplies, travel and lodging;
 
-
From our distribution centers to our retail
 
Ÿ
Closed store expense;
 
 
store locations, and
 
Ÿ
Impairment charges;
 
-
From certain of our larger stores which stock a
 
Ÿ
GPI acquisition-related expenses; and
 
 
wider variety and greater supply of inventory (“HUB
 
Ÿ
BWP acquisition-related expenses and integration costs.
 
 
stores”) and Parts Delivered Quickly warehouses
 
 
 
 
 
(“PDQ ® s”) to our retail stores after the customer
 
 
 
 
 
has special-ordered the merchandise.
 
 
 

New Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued ASU No. 2013-11 “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists.”  Under ASU 2013-11 an entity is required to present an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward.  If a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets.  ASU 2013-11 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013.  The adoption of this guidance affects presentation only and, therefore, it is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.   

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02 “Comprehensive Income - Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.” ASU 2013-02 is an amendment adding new disclosure requirements for items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). The amendment requires presentation of changes in AOCI balances by component and significant items reclassified out of AOCI by component either (1) on the face of the statement of operations or (2) as a separate disclosure in the notes to the financial statements. ASU 2013-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2013-02 had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.



F-15

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU No. 2012-02 “Intangible-Goodwill and Other – Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment.” ASU 2012-02 modifies the requirement to test intangible assets that are not subject to amortization based on events or changes in circumstances that might indicate that the asset is impaired now requiring the test only if it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired. Furthermore, ASU 2012-02 provides entities the option of performing a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of an intangible asset is less than the carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative impairment test. ASU 2012-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012 and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2012-02 had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

3.
Inventories, net:

Merchandise Inventory

The Company used the LIFO method of accounting for approximately 95% of inventories at both December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 . Under LIFO, the Company’s cost of sales reflects the costs of the most recently purchased inventories, while the inventory carrying balance represents the costs for inventories purchased in  Fiscal 2013  and prior years. The Company recorded a reduction to cost of sales of $5,572 and $24,087 in Fiscal 2013 and Fiscal 2012 , respectively. The Company’s overall costs to acquire inventory for the same or similar products have generally decreased historically as the Company has been able to leverage its continued growth, execution of merchandise strategies and realization of supply chain efficiencies. In Fiscal 2011 , the Company recorded an increase to cost of sales of $24,708 due to an increase in supply chain costs and inflationary pressures affecting certain product categories.

Product Cores

The remaining inventories are comprised of product cores, the non-consumable portion of certain parts and batteries, which are valued under the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method. Product cores are included as part of the Company’s merchandise costs and are either passed on to the customer or returned to the vendor. Because product cores are not subject to frequent cost changes like the Company’s other merchandise inventory, there is no material difference when applying either the LIFO or FIFO valuation method.

Inventory Overhead Costs

Purchasing and warehousing costs included in inventory as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 , were $161,519 and $134,258 , respectively.

Inventory Balance and Inventory Reserves

Inventory balances at the end of Fiscal 2013 and 2012 were as follows:
 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
Inventories at FIFO, net
$
2,424,795

 
$
2,182,419

Adjustments to state inventories at LIFO
131,762

 
126,190

Inventories at LIFO, net
$
2,556,557

 
$
2,308,609


Inventory quantities are tracked through a perpetual inventory system. The Company completes physical inventories and other targeted inventory counts in its store locations to ensure the accuracy of the perpetual inventory quantities of both merchandise and core inventory in these locations. In its distribution centers and PDQ ® s, the Company uses a cycle counting program to ensure the accuracy of the perpetual inventory quantities of both merchandise and product core inventory. Reserves for estimated shrink are established based on the results of physical inventories conducted by the Company with the assistance of an independent third party in substantially all of the Company’s stores over the course of the year, other targeted inventory counts in its stores, results from recent cycle counts in its distribution facilities and historical and current loss trends.


F-16

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


The Company also establishes reserves for potentially excess and obsolete inventories based on (i) current inventory levels, (ii) the historical analysis of product sales and (iii) current market conditions. The Company has return rights with many of its vendors and the majority of excess inventory is returned to its vendors for full credit. In certain situations, the Company establishes reserves when less than full credit is expected from a vendor or when liquidating product will result in retail prices below recorded costs.

The following table presents changes in the Company’s inventory reserves for years ended December 28, 2013 , December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011 :
 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
 
December 31,
2011
Inventory reserves, beginning of period
$
31,418

 
$
30,786

 
$
18,150

Additions to inventory reserves
65,466

 
72,852

 
90,128

Reserves utilized
(59,361
)
 
(72,220
)
 
(77,492
)
Inventory reserves, end of period
$
37,523

 
$
31,418

 
$
30,786


4.
Acquisitions:

On December 31, 2012, the Company acquired B.W.P. Distributors, Inc. (“BWP”) in an all-cash transaction. BWP, formerly a privately-held company, supplied, marketed and distributed automotive aftermarket parts and products principally to commercial customers. Prior to the acquisition, BWP operated or supplied 216 locations in the Northeastern United States. The Company believes this acquisition will enable the Company to continue its expansion in the competitive Northeast, which is a strategic growth area for the Company due to the large population and overall size of the market, and to gain valuable information to apply to its existing operations as a result of BWP’s expertise in Commercial. The amount of acquired goodwill reflects this strategic importance to the Company.

Concurrent with the closing of the acquisition, the Company transferred one distribution center and BWP’s rights to distribute to 92 independently owned locations to an affiliate of General Parts International, Inc. (“GPI”), a privately held auto supply company. As a result, the Company began operating the 124 BWP company-owned stores and two remaining BWP distribution centers as of the closing date. The Company has included the financial results of BWP in its consolidated financial statements commencing December 31, 2012 (Fiscal 2013). Pro forma results of operations related to the acquisition of BWP are not presented as BWP’s results are not material to the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Company acquired the net assets in exchange for a purchase price of $187,109 . Following the closing of the acquisition, the Company sold certain of the acquired assets for $16,798 related to the transfer of operations to GPI.



F-17

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


The following table summarizes the consideration paid for BWP and the amounts of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed that were recognized at the acquisition date:
Total Consideration
 
$
187,109

 
 
 
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets
 
 
acquired and liabilities assumed
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
972

Receivables
 
22,615

Inventory
 
52,229

Other current assets
 
9,741

Property, plant and equipment
 
5,329

Intangible assets
 
31,600

Other assets
 
2,253

Accounts payable
 
(37,303
)
Accrued and other current liabilities
 
(11,843
)
Long-term liabilities
 
(11,930
)
Total identifiable net assets
 
63,663

 
 
 
Goodwill
 
123,446

 
 
 
Total acquired net assets
 
$
187,109


Due to the nature of BWP’s business, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as part of this acquisition are similar in nature to those of Advance. For additional information regarding intangible assets acquired, see Note 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets . All of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. The Company completed its purchase accounting related to the BWP acquisition in the third quarter of Fiscal 2013.

Subsequent to December 28, 2013, the Company acquired GPI. Refer to Note 23, Subsequent Event , for further details of the GPI acquisition.

5.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets:

Goodwill

The Company has goodwill recorded in both the Advance Auto Parts (“AAP”) and Autopart International (“AI”) segments. The following table reflects the carrying amount of goodwill pertaining to the Company’s two segments and the changes in goodwill carrying amounts. 
 
 
AAP Segment
 
AI Segment
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2011
 
$
58,095

 
$
18,294

 
$
76,389

Fiscal 2012 activity
 

 

 

Balance at December 29, 2012
 
$
58,095

 
$
18,294

 
$
76,389

Fiscal 2013 activity
 
123,446

 

 
123,446

Balance at December 28, 2013
 
$
181,541

 
$
18,294

 
$
199,835


As discussed in Note 4 , Acquisitions , on December 31, 2012, the Company acquired BWP in an all-cash transaction which resulted in the addition of $123,446 of goodwill in the AAP Segment.


F-18

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


Intangible Assets Other Than Goodwill

In Fiscal 2013, the Company recorded a net increase to intangible assets of $29,001 . The increase included Customer Relationships of $23,801 which will be amortized over 12 years and other intangible assets of $5,200 which will be amortized over a weighted average of 3.4 years. Included in the net increase in Fiscal 2013 is the reduction of $2,244 of intangible assets in conjunction with the sale of certain BWP customer relationships subsequent to the acquisition. In Fiscal 2012, the Company purchased the rights to certain software assets for $1,100 which will further support the Company’s e-commerce offerings.

The gross and net carrying amounts of acquired intangible assets as of December 28, 2013 , December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are comprised of the following: 
 
Acquired intangible assets
 
 
 
Subject to Amortization
 
Not Subject to Amortization
 
 
 
Customer
Relationships
 
Acquired Technology
 
Other
 
Trademark and
Tradenames
 
Intangible Assets
(excluding goodwill)
Gross:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross carrying amount at December 31, 2011
$
9,800

 
$
7,750

 
$
885

 
$
20,550

 
$
38,985

Additions

 
1,100

 

 

 
1,100

Gross carrying amount at December 29, 2012
$
9,800

 
$
8,850

 
$
885

 
$
20,550

 
$
40,085

Additions
23,801

 

 
5,200

 

 
29,001

Gross carrying amount at December 28, 2013
$
33,601

 
$
8,850

 
$
6,085

 
$
20,550

 
$
69,086

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net:
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Net book value at December 31, 2011
$
3,618

 
$
6,987

 
$
225

 
$
20,550

 
$
31,380

Additions

 
1,100

 

 

 
1,100

2012 amortization
(960
)
 
(2,668
)
 
(7
)
 

 
(3,635
)
Net carrying amount at December 29, 2012
$
2,658

 
$
5,419

 
$
218

 
$
20,550

 
$
28,845

Additions
23,801

 

 
5,200

 

 
29,001

2013 amortization
(3,167
)
 
(2,950
)
 
(1,857
)
 

 
(7,974
)
Net book value at December 28, 2013
$
23,292

 
$
2,469

 
$
3,561

 
$
20,550

 
$
49,872

 
Future Amortization Expense

The table below shows expected amortization expense for the next five years for acquired intangible assets recorded as of December 28, 2013 :
Fiscal Year
 
Amount
2014
 
$
6,988

2015
 
3,515

2016
 
2,490

2017
 
2,490

2018
 
1,990

Thereafter
 
11,849



F-19

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


6.
Receivables, net:

Receivables consist of the following:
 
 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
Trade
 
$
145,670

 
$
110,153

Vendor
 
138,336

 
119,770

Other
 
6,884

 
5,862

Total receivables
 
290,890

 
235,785

Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts
 
(13,295
)
 
(5,919
)
Receivables, net
 
$
277,595

 
$
229,866


7.
Long-term Debt:

Long-term debt consists of the following:
 
December 28, 2013
 
December 29, 2012
Revolving facility at variable interest rates (1.47% at December 28, 2013, due December 5, 2018 and 1.74% at December 29, 2012 replaced by the current facility)
$

 
$

Term loan at variable interest rates (1.67% at December 29, 2013) due December 1, 2023

 

5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes (net of unamortized discount of $865 and $975 at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively) due May 1, 2020
299,135

 
299,025

4.50% Senior Unsecured Notes (net of unamortized discount of $80 and $88 at December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012, respectively) due January 15, 2022
299,920

 
299,912

4.50% Senior Unsecured Notes (net of unamortized discount of $1,387 at December 28, 2013) due December 1, 2023
448,613

 

Other
5,916

 
6,151

 
1,053,584

 
605,088

Less: Current portion of long-term debt
(916
)
 
(627
)
Long-term debt, excluding current portion
$
1,052,668

 
$
604,461


Bank Debt

On December 5, 2013, the Company entered into a new credit agreement which provides a $700,000 unsecured term loan and a $1,000,000 unsecured revolving credit facility (the “2013 Credit Agreement”) with Advance Stores, as Borrower, the lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent. This new revolving credit facility replaced the revolver under the Company’s former Credit Agreement dated as of May 27, 2011 with Advance Stores, as Borrower, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “2011 Credit Agreement”). Upon execution of the 2013 Credit Agreement, the lenders’ commitments under the 2011 Credit Agreement were terminated and the liabilities of the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to their obligations under the 2011 Credit Agreement were discharged. The new revolving credit facility also provides for the issuance of letters of credit with a sub-limit of $300,000 and swingline loans in an amount not to exceed $50,000 . The Company may request, subject to agreement by one or more lenders, that the total revolving commitment be increased by an amount not to exceed $250,000 (up to a total commitment of $1,250,000 ) during the term of the credit agreement. Voluntary prepayments and voluntary reductions of the revolving balance are permitted in whole or in part, at the Company’s option, in minimum principal amounts as specified in the revolving credit facility. The revolving credit facility terminates in December 2018 and the term loan matures in January 2019.


F-20

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)



As of December 28, 2013 , the Company had not borrowed any amounts under the 2013 Credit Agreement but subsequently borrowed $700,000 under the term loan and $306,046 under the revolver in conjunction with the Company’s acquisition of GPI on January 2, 2014. As of December 28, 2013 , the Company had letters of credit outstanding of $87,260 . The letters of credit generally have a term of one year or less and primarily serve as collateral for the Company’s self-insurance policies. The Company's debt availability as of December 28, 2013 was $545,382 based on the maximum amount of additional borrowings allowed under the Company's leverage ratio.

The interest rate on borrowings under the revolving credit facility is based, at the Company’s option, on adjusted LIBOR, plus a margin, or an alternate base rate, plus a margin. The current margin is 1.30% and 0.30% per annum for the adjusted LIBOR and alternate base rate borrowings, respectively. A facility fee is charged on the total amount of the revolving credit facility, payable in arrears. The current facility fee rate is 0.20% per annum and subject to change based on the Company’s credit ratings. Under the terms of the 2013 Credit Agreement, the interest rate and facility fee are based on the Company’s credit rating.

The interest rate on the term loan is based, at the Company’s option, on adjusted LIBOR, plus a margin, or an alternate base rate, plus a margin. The current margin is 1.50% and 0.50% per annum for the adjusted LIBOR and alternate base rate borrowings, respectively. Under the terms of the term loan, the interest rate is based on the Company’s credit rating and subject to change based on the Company’s credit rating.

The 2013 Credit Agreement contains customary covenants restricting the ability of (a) subsidiaries of Advance Stores to, among other things, create, incur or assume additional debt, (b) Advance Stores and its subsidiaries to, among other things ,(i) incur liens, (ii) make loans and investments, (iii) guarantee obligations, and (iv) change the nature of its business conducted by itself and its subsidiaries; (c) the Company, Advance Stores and their subsidiaries to, among other things (i) engage in certain mergers, acquisitions, asset sales and liquidations, (ii) enter into certain hedging arrangements, (iii) enter into restrictive agreements limiting its ability to incur liens on any of its property or assets, pay distributions, repay loans, or guarantee indebtedness of its subsidiaries, (iv) engage in sale-leaseback transactions; and (d) the Company, among other things, to change the holding company status of the Company. Advance Stores is required to comply with financial covenants with respect to a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum coverage ratio. The 2013 Credit Agreement also provides for customary events of default, including non-payment defaults, covenant defaults and cross-defaults to Advance Stores’ other material indebtedness. The Company is also required to comply with financial covenants with respect to a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum consolidated coverage ratio. The Company was in compliance with its covenants at December 28, 2013 with respect to the 2013 Credit Agreement and December 29, 2012 with respect to the 2011 Credit Agreement, respectively.

Senior Unsecured Notes

The Company issued 4.50% senior unsecured notes on December 3, 2013 at 99.69% of the principal amount of $450,000 which are due December 1, 2023 (the “2023 Notes”). The 2023 Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.50% per year payable semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning June 1, 2014. The net proceeds from the offering of these notes were approximately $445,200 , after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The net proceeds from the 2023 Notes were used in aggregate with borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility and term loan and cash on-hand to fund the Company’s acquisition of GPI on January 2, 2014 .

The Company previously issued 4.50% senior unsecured notes in January 2012 at 99.968% of the principal amount of $300,000 which are due January 15, 2022 (the “2022 Notes”). The 2022 Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.50%  per year payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The Company’s 5.75% senior unsecured notes were issued in April 2010 at 99.587% of the principal amount of $300,000 and are due May 1, 2020 (the “2020 Notes” or collectively with the 2023 Notes and the 2022 Notes, “the Notes”). The 2020 Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.75%  per year payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year. Advance served as the issuer of the Notes with certain of Advance’s domestic subsidiaries currently serving as subsidiary guarantors. The terms of the Notes are governed by an indenture (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”) among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.



F-21

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


The Company may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time or from time to time, at the redemption price described in the Indenture. In addition, in the event of a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in each of the Indentures for the Notes), the Company will be required to offer to repurchase the Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date. The Notes are currently fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on an unsubordinated and unsecured basis by each of the subsidiary guarantors. The Company will be permitted to release guarantees without the consent of holders of the Notes under the circumstances described in the Indenture: (i) upon the release of the guarantee of the Company’s other debt that resulted in the affected subsidiary becoming a guarantor of this debt; (ii) upon the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the stock or assets of the subsidiary guarantor; or (iii) upon the Company’s exercise of its legal or covenant defeasance option.

The Indenture contains customary provisions for events of default including for: (i) failure to pay principal or interest when due and payable; (ii) failure to comply with covenants or agreements in the Indenture or the Notes and failure to cure or obtain a waiver of such default upon notice; (iii) a default under any debt for money borrowed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that results in acceleration of the maturity of such debt, or failure to pay any such debt within any applicable grace period after final stated maturity, in an aggregate amount greater than $25,000 without such debt having been discharged or acceleration having been rescinded or annulled within 10 days after receipt by the Company of notice of the default by the Trustee or holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding; and (iv) events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization affecting the Company and certain of its subsidiaries. In the case of an event of default, the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest may be accelerated. The Indenture also contains covenants limiting the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to incur debt secured by liens and to enter into sale and lease-back transactions.

Debt Guarantees

Certain 100% wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries of Stores, including its Material Subsidiaries (as defined in the 2013 Credit Agreement) serve as guarantors of the Notes and 2013 Credit Agreement with Advance also serving as a guarantor of the 2013 Credit Agreement. The subsidiary guarantees related to the Company’s Notes and 2013 Credit Agreement are full and unconditional and joint and several, and there are no restrictions on the ability of Advance to obtain funds from its subsidiaries. Also, Advance has no independent assets or operations, and the subsidiaries not guaranteeing the Notes and 2013 Credit Agreement are minor as defined by SEC regulations.

Future Payments

As of  December 28, 2013 , the aggregate future annual maturities of long-term debt instruments are as follows:
Fiscal
Year
 
Amount
2014
 
$
916

2015
 
1,049

2016
 

2017
 

2018
 

Thereafter
 
1,051,619

 
 
$
1,053,584


8.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities:

From September 2011 through January 2012, the Company executed a series of forward treasury rate locks in anticipation of the issuance of the 2022 Notes. The treasury rate locks, which were derivative instruments, were designated as cash flow hedges to offset the Company’s exposure to increases in the underlying U.S. Treasury benchmark rate. This rate was used to establish the fixed interest rate for 2022 Notes which was comprised of the underlying U.S. Treasury benchmark rate, plus a credit spread premium. Upon issuance of the 2022 Notes, the cumulative change in fair market value of the treasury rate locks


F-22

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


was not significant due to the narrow margin between the lock rate and the underlying treasury rate. The Company did not maintain any derivative financial instruments during the current fiscal year.
 
The table below presents the effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments on the statement of operations for the Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 , respectively:
Interest rate swaps
 
Amount of
Gain or
(Loss)
Recognized
in OCI on
Derivative,
net of tax
(Effective
Portion)
 
Location of Gain or
(Loss) Reclassified
from Accumulated
OCI into Income
(Effective Portion)
 
Amount of
Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified
from
Accumulated
OCI into
Income, net of
tax (Effective
Portion)
 
Location of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
(Ineffective Portion
and Amount Excluded
from Effectiveness
Testing)
 
Amount of
Gain or (Loss)
Recognized in
Income on
Derivative, net
of tax
(Ineffective
Portion and
Amount
Excluded from
Effectiveness
Testing)
2013
 
$

 
Interest expense
 
$

 
Other (expense)
income, net
 
$

2012
 
$
254

 
Interest expense
 
$
108

 
Other (expense) income, net
 
$
66

2011
 
$
(254
)
 
Interest expense
 
$
(4,807
)
 
Other (expense) income, net
 
$
(132
)

9.
Fair Value Measurements:
 
The Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value are grouped in three levels. The levels prioritize the inputs used to measure the fair value of these assets or liabilities. These levels are:

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices that are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date.
Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for assets and liabilities at the measurement date, either directly or indirectly. These inputs include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are less active, and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability or corroborated by other observable market data.
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for assets or liabilities that are not able to be corroborated by observable market data and reflect the use of a reporting entity’s own assumptions. These values are generally determined using pricing models for which the assumptions utilize management’s estimates of market participant assumptions.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The fair value hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available. In instances where inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the fair value measurement has been determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Our assessment of the significance of a particular item to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, including the consideration of inputs specific to the asset or liability.
 


F-23

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


The following table sets forth the Company’s financial liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 :
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
 
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Fair Value
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
As of December 28, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent consideration related to business acquisitions
$
9,475

 
$

 
$

 
$
9,475

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 29, 2012
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent consideration related to business acquisitions
$
16,999

 
$

 
$

 
$
16,999

 
In Fiscal 2011, the Company recorded contingent consideration related to its acquisition of two small technology companies. The fair value of the contingent consideration, which is recorded in Accrued expenses and Other long-term liabilities, is based on various estimates including the Company’s estimate of the probability of achieving the targets and the time value of money. During Fiscal 2013, contingent consideration decreased due to the payment of $4,726 associated with the achievement of a performance condition and a $3,529 net reduction in fair value of the remaining balance due to an increase in likelihood of nonperformance in the future, partially offset by amortization of the net present value discount.

The carrying amount of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, bank overdrafts, accounts payable, accrued expenses and current portion of long term debt approximate their fair values due to the relatively short term nature of these instruments. The fair value of the Company’s senior unsecured notes was determined using Level 2 inputs based on quoted market prices and the Company believes that the carrying value of its other long-term debt and certain long-term liabilities approximate fair value.

The carrying value and fair value of the Company’s long-term debt as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 , respectively, are as follows:
 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
Carrying Value
$
1,052,668

 
$
604,461

Fair Value
$
1,086,000

 
$
655,000


Non-Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis; that is, the assets and liabilities are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances (e.g., when there is evidence of impairment). At December 28, 2013 , the Company had no significant non-financial assets or liabilities that had been adjusted to fair value subsequent to initial recognition.  



F-24

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


10.
Property and Equipment:
 
Property and equipment consists of the following:
 
 
Original
Useful Lives
 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
 
Land and land improvements
 
0 - 10 years
 
$
418,207

 
$
403,401

 
Buildings
 
30 - 40 years
 
445,820

 
432,274

 
Building and leasehold improvements
 
3 - 30 years
 
336,685

 
309,194

 
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
 
3 - 20 years
 
1,244,456

 
1,152,778

 
Vehicles
 
2 - 5 years
 
18,291

 
19,490

 
Construction in progress
 
 
 
75,985

 
76,769

 
 
 
 
 
2,539,444

 
2,393,906

 
Less - Accumulated depreciation
 
 
 
(1,255,474
)
 
(1,102,147
)
 
Property and equipment, net
 
 
 
$
1,283,970

 
$
1,291,759

 

Depreciation expense was $199,821 , $185,909 and $174,219 for Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 , respectively. The Company capitalized approximately $11,534 , $10,026 and $6,258 incurred for the development of internal use computer software during Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 , respectively. These costs are included in the furniture, fixtures and equipment category above and are depreciated on the straight-line method over three to five years.

11.
Accrued Expenses:
 
Accrued expenses consist of the following:
 
 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
 
Payroll and related benefits
 
$
101,576

 
$
79,756

 
Warranty reserves
 
39,512

 
38,425

 
Capital expenditures
 
20,714

 
26,142

 
Self-insurance reserves
 
45,504

 
45,324

 
Taxes payable
 
82,179

 
73,158

 
Other
 
139,140

 
116,834

 
Total accrued expenses
 
$
428,625

 
$
379,639

 

The following table presents changes in the Company’s warranty reserves:
 
 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
 
December 31,
2011
Warranty reserves, beginning of period
 
$
38,425

 
$
38,847

 
$
36,352

Additions to warranty reserves
 
42,380

 
40,766

 
43,013

Reserves utilized
 
(41,293
)
 
(41,188
)
 
(40,518
)
Warranty reserves, end of period
 
$
39,512

 
$
38,425

 
$
38,847




F-25

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


12.
Other Current and Long-term Liabilities:
 
Other current liabilities consist of the following:
 
 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
Deferred income taxes
 
$
135,754

 
$
134,279

Other
 
18,876

 
15,279

Total current liabilities
 
$
154,630

 
$
149,558


Other long-term liabilities consist of the following:
 
 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
Deferred income taxes
 
$
91,957

 
$
100,235

Self-insurance reserves
 
52,971

 
49,224

Other
 
86,188

 
89,562

Total long-term liabilities
 
$
231,116

 
$
239,021


13.
Stock Repurchase Program:

The Company’s stock repurchase program allows it to repurchase its common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time to time in accordance with the requirements of the SEC. The Company’s $500,000 stock repurchase program in place as of December 28, 2013 was authorized by its Board of Directors on May 14, 2012.

During Fiscal 2013 , the Company repurchased 998 shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $77,293 , or an average price of $77.47 per share under its stock repurchase program. The Company had $415,092 remaining under its stock repurchase program as of December 28, 2013 . The Company repurchased 38 shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $3,502 , or an average price of $91.78 per share, in connection with the net settlement of shares issued as a result of the vesting of restricted stock.

During Fiscal 2012 , the Company repurchased 257 shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $19,589 , or an average price of $76.18 per share. Additionally, the Company repurchased 91 shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $7,506 , or an average price of $82.42 per share, in connection with the net settlement of shares issued as a result of the vesting of restricted stock. The Company also retired 33,738 shares of treasury stock during Fiscal 2012 .

14.
Earnings per Share:
 
Certain of the Company’s shares granted to Team Members in the form of restricted stock are considered participating securities which require the use of the two-class method for the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share. For Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 , earnings of $895 , $870 and $1,055 , respectively, were allocated to the participating securities.
 
Diluted earnings per share are calculated by including the effect of dilutive securities. Share-based awards to purchase approximately 75 , 221 and 56 shares of common stock that had an exercise price in excess of the average market price of the common stock during Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 , respectively, were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because they are anti-dilutive.



F-26

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


The following table illustrates the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 , respectively:  
 
 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
 
December 31,
2011
Numerator
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income applicable to common shares
 
$
391,758

 
$
387,670

 
$
394,682

Participating securities’ share in earnings
 
(895
)
 
(870
)
 
(1,055
)
Net income applicable to common shares
 
$
390,863

 
$
386,800

 
$
393,627

Denominator
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic weighted average common shares
 
72,930

 
73,091

 
75,620

Dilutive impact of share-based awards
 
484

 
971

 
1,451

Diluted weighted average common shares
 
73,414

 
74,062

 
77,071

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income applicable to common stockholders
 
$
5.36

 
$
5.29

 
$
5.21

Diluted earnings per common share
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income applicable to common stockholders
 
$
5.32

 
$
5.22

 
$
5.11

 
15.
Income Taxes:
 
Provision for Income Taxes

Provision for income taxes for Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 consists of the following:
 
 
Current
 
Deferred
 
Total
2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
 
$
202,784

 
$
(1,898
)
 
$
200,886

State
 
25,287

 
(339
)
 
24,948

Foreign
 
8,806

 

 
8,806

 
 
$
236,877

 
$
(2,237
)
 
$
234,640

2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
 
$
185,564

 
$
21,940

 
$
207,504

State
 
20,116

 
4,953

 
25,069

Foreign
 
3,831

 

 
3,831

 
 
$
209,511

 
$
26,893

 
$
236,404

2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
 
$
162,020

 
$
47,436

 
$
209,456

State
 
22,626

 
5,601

 
28,227

Foreign
 
871

 

 
871

 
 
$
185,517

 
$
53,037

 
$
238,554




F-27

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


The provision for income taxes differed from the amount computed by applying the federal statutory income tax
rate due to:
 
 
December 28, 2013
 
December 29, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
Income before provision for income taxes at statutory U.S. federal income tax rate (35%)
 
$
219,239

 
$
218,426

 
$
221,632

State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit
 
16,216

 
16,295

 
18,348

Other, net
 
(815
)
 
1,683

 
(1,426
)
 
 
$
234,640

 
$
236,404

 
$
238,554


Deferred Income Tax Assets/(Liabilities)

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred income taxes reflect the net income tax effect of temporary differences between the basis of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and for income tax reporting purposes. Net deferred income tax balances are comprised of the following:

 
 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
Deferred income tax assets
 
$
101,979

 
$
103,339

Valuation allowance
 
(1,557
)
 
(1,557
)
Deferred income tax liabilities
 
(321,778
)
 
(330,139
)
Net deferred income tax liabilities
 
$
(221,356
)
 
$
(228,357
)

As of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 , the Company had deferred income tax assets of $2,207 and $3,213 from federal net operating losses, or NOLs, of $6,307 and $9,181 , and deferred income tax assets of $2,130 and $1,841 from state NOLs of $40,440 and $35,681 , respectively. These NOLs may be used to reduce future taxable income and expire periodically through Fiscal 2033. Due to uncertainties related to the realization of certain deferred tax assets for NOLs in certain jurisdictions, the Company recorded a valuation allowance of $1,557 as of both December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 . The amount of deferred income tax assets realizable, however, could change in the future if projections of future taxable income change. As of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 , the Company had cumulative net deferred income tax liabilities of $221,356 and $228,357 , respectively.



F-28

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


Temporary differences which give rise to significant deferred income tax assets (liabilities) are as follows:
 
 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
Current deferred income tax assets (liabilities):
 
 
 
 
Inventory valuation differences
 
$
(178,201
)
 
$
(176,869
)
Accrued medical and workers compensation
 
9,370

 
10,523

Accrued expenses not currently deductible for tax
 
28,501

 
31,061

Other, net
 
5,612

 
1,437

Total current deferred income tax assets (liabilities)
 
$
(134,718
)
 
$
(133,848
)
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term deferred income tax assets (liabilities):
 
 
 
 
Property and equipment
 
$
(143,577
)
 
$
(153,270
)
Share-based compensation
 
10,733

 
12,624

Accrued medical and workers compensation
 
20,532

 
19,570

Net operating loss carryforwards
 
3,426

 
4,048

Straight-line rent
 
20,784

 
17,799

Other, net
 
1,464

 
4,720

Total long-term deferred income tax assets (liabilities)
 
$
(86,638
)
 
$
(94,509
)

These amounts are recorded in Other current liabilities and Other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, as appropriate.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

The following table lists each category and summarizes the activity of the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits for the fiscal years ended December 28, 2013 , December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011 :
 
 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
 
December 31,
2011
Unrecognized tax benefits, beginning of period
 
$
16,708

 
$
24,711

 
$
12,953

Increases related to prior period tax positions
 

 
702

 
10,555

Decreases related to prior period tax positions
 
(1,313
)
 
(9,629
)
 
(660
)
Increases related to current period tax positions
 
3,678

 
3,985

 
2,861

Settlements
 

 
(1,111
)
 
(319
)
Expiration of statute of limitations
 
(615
)
 
(1,950
)
 
(679
)
Unrecognized tax benefits, end of period
 
$
18,458

 
$
16,708

 
$
24,711


As of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 , the entire amount of unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would reduce the Company’s annual effective tax rate. As of December 31, 2011 , the Company had $14,551 of unrecognized tax benefits which, if recognized, would reduce the Company’s annual effective tax rate.

The Company provides for potential interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as a part of income tax expense. During Fiscal 2013 , the Company recorded potential interest and penalties of $818 . During Fiscal 2012 , the Company recognized a benefit from interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions of $754 . During Fiscal 2011 the Company recorded potential interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions of $1,628 . As of December 28, 2013 , the Company had recorded a liability for potential interest and penalties of $5,767 and $316 , respectively. As of December 29, 2012 , the Company had recorded a liability for potential interest and penalties of $4,964 and $301 , respectively. The Company has not


F-29

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


provided for any penalties associated with tax contingencies unless considered probable of assessment. The Company does not expect its unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly over the next 12 months.

During the next 12 months, it is possible the Company could conclude on approximately $6,000 to $7,000 of the contingencies associated with unrecognized tax uncertainties due mainly to the conclusion of audits and the expiration of statutes of limitations. The majority of these resolutions would be achieved through the completion of current income tax examinations.

The Company files U.S. and state income tax returns in jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitations. Fiscal 2010 and subsequent years generally remain subject to examination by federal and state tax authorities. 

16.
Lease Commitments:
 
As of December 28, 2013 , future minimum lease payments due under non-cancelable operating leases with lease terms ranging from 1 year to 30 years through the year 2043 for all open stores are as follows:
Fiscal Year
 
Amount
2014
 
$
353,508

2015
 
316,637

2016
 
299,810

2017
 
283,333

2018
 
263,162

Thereafter
 
925,475


 
$
2,441,925


The Company anticipates its future minimum lease payments will be partially off-set by future minimum sub-lease income. As of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 , future minimum sub-lease income to be received under non-cancelable operating leases is $29,950 and $25,561 , respectively.

Net Rent Expense

Net rent expense for Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 was as follows:
 
 
December 28, 2013
 
December 29, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
Minimum facility rentals
 
$
328,581

 
$
300,552

 
$
289,306

Contingency facility rentals
 
578

 
907

 
1,162

Equipment rentals
 
5,333

 
5,027

 
5,403

Vehicle rentals
 
29,100

 
18,401

 
20,565

 
 
363,592

 
324,887

 
316,436

Less: Sub-lease income
 
(5,983
)
 
(4,600
)
 
(3,967
)
 
 
$
357,609

 
$
320,287

 
$
312,469


17.
Contingencies:

In the case of all known contingencies, the Company accrues for an obligation, including estimated legal costs, when it is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable. As facts concerning contingencies become known to the Company, the Company reassesses its position with respect to accrued liabilities and other potential exposures. Estimates that are particularly sensitive to future change include legal matters, which are subject to change as events evolve and as additional information becomes available during the administrative and litigation process.
 


F-30

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


The Company’s Western Auto subsidiary, together with other defendants including automobile manufacturers, automotive parts manufacturers and other retailers, has been named as a defendant in lawsuits alleging injury as a result of exposure to asbestos-containing products. The Company and some of its other subsidiaries also have been named as defendants in many of these lawsuits. The plaintiffs have alleged that these products were manufactured, distributed and/or sold by the various defendants. The products in the lawsuits naming us or our subsidiaries as defendants have primarily included brake parts. Many of the cases pending against the Company or its subsidiaries are in the early stages of litigation. The damages claimed against the defendants in some of these proceedings are substantial. Additionally, some of the automotive parts manufacturers named as defendants in these lawsuits have declared bankruptcy, which will limit plaintiffs’ ability to recover monetary damages from those defendants. Although the Company diligently defends against these claims, the Company may enter into discussions regarding settlement of these and other lawsuits, and may enter into settlement agreements, if it believes settlement is in the best interests of the Company’s shareholders. The Company believes that many of these claims are at least partially covered by insurance. Based on discovery to date, the Company does not believe the cases currently pending will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operating results, financial position or liquidity. However, if the Company were to incur an adverse verdict in one or more of these claims and was ordered to pay damages that were not covered by insurance, these claims could have a material adverse effect on its operating results, financial position and liquidity. Historically, our asbestos claims have been inconsistent in type and number and have been immaterial. As a result, we are unable to estimate a possible range of loss with respect to unasserted asbestos claims that may be filed against the Company in the future. If the number of claims filed against the Company or any of its subsidiaries alleging injury as a result of exposure to asbestos-containing products increases substantially, the costs associated with concluding these claims, including damages resulting from any adverse verdicts, could have a material adverse effect on its operating results, financial position or liquidity in future periods.

The Company is involved in various types of legal proceedings arising from claims of employment discrimination or other types of employment matters as a result of claims by current and former Team Members. The damages claimed against the Company in some of these proceedings are substantial. Because of the uncertainty of the outcome of such legal matters and because the Company’s liability, if any, could vary widely, including the size of any damages awarded if plaintiffs are successful in litigation or any negotiated settlement, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss which may arise. The Company is also involved in various other claims and legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. Although the final outcome of these legal matters cannot be determined, based on the facts presently known, it is management’s opinion that the final outcome of such claims and lawsuits will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

18.
Benefit Plans:

401(k) Plan

The Company maintains a defined contribution benefit plan, which covers substantially all Team Members after one year of service and who have attained the age of 21. The plan allows for Team Member salary deferrals, which are matched at the Company’s discretion. Company contributions were $10,850 , $10,255 and $10,148 in Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 , respectively.
 
Deferred Compensation

The Company maintains a non-qualified deferred compensation plan for certain Team Members. This plan provides for a minimum and maximum deferral percentage of the Team Member’s base salary and bonus, as determined by the Retirement Plan Committee. The Company establishes and maintains a deferred compensation liability for this plan. As of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 , these liabilities were $14,835 and $12,927 , respectively.
 
Postretirement Plan

The Company provides certain health and life insurance benefits for eligible retired Team Members through a postretirement plan. Plan participants include only those Team Members who were either already retired or eligible for retirement as of January 1, 2005. In Fiscal 2013, the Company amended the plan to allow participants to opt out of the plan due to health care reform. Plan benefits are subject to deductibles, co-payment provisions and other limitations. The plan has no assets and is funded on a cash basis as benefits are paid. The accrued postretirement benefit obligation, included in Accrued


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Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


expenses and Other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, was $2,305 and $5,223 as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 , respectively.

19.
Share-Based Compensation:

Overview

The Company grants share-based compensation awards to its Team Members and members of its Board of Directors as provided for under the Company’s 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan, or LTIP. In Fiscal 2012, the Company switched from granting restricted stock to granting restricted stock units (“RSUs”). The Company currently grants share-based compensation in the form of stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), RSUs and deferred stock units (“DSUs”). The Company also has outstanding restricted stock granted prior to the transition to RSUs and outstanding stock options granted prior to the end of Fiscal 2007.

General Terms of Awards

The Company’s grants of SARs, RSUs and historically, restricted stock awards, generally included both a time-based service portion and a performance-based portion, which collectively represent the target award. In Fiscal 2013, corresponding with its annual December grant, the Company simplified its award structure in the form of time-based RSUs and performance-based SARs, as described below.

Time Vested Awards

The SARs generally vest over a three-year period in equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. All SARs granted are non-qualified, terminate on the seventh anniversary of the grant date and contain no post-vesting restrictions other than normal trading black-out periods prescribed by the Company’s corporate governance policies.

During the vesting period, holders of RSUs and restricted stock are entitled to receive dividends or in the case of RSUs, dividend equivalents, while holders of restricted stock are also entitled to voting rights. All RSU and restricted stock grants generally vest over a three-year period in equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. For restricted stock, the shares are issued upon grant, but are restricted until they vest and cannot be sold by the recipient until the restriction has lapsed at the end of the respective vesting period.

Performance-Based Awards

Each performance award may vest following a three-year period subject to the Company’s achievement of certain financial goals. The performance RSUs and restricted stock awards do not have dividend equivalent rights and do not have voting rights until earned and issued following the end of the applicable performance period. Depending on the Company’s results during the three-year performance period, the actual number of shares vesting at the end of the period may range from 75% to 200% of the target award (50% to 200% for certain officers). Beginning with the December 2013 grant, the target award for purposes of calculating performance vesting consists solely of the performance award granted rather than the entire time-based and performance-based portions granted.



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Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


Share-Based Compensation Expense & Cash Flows

The expense the Company has incurred annually related to the issuance of share-based compensation is included in SG&A. The Company receives cash when Team Members purchase stock under the employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”), as well as upon the exercise of stock options that were granted prior to Fiscal 2007. Total share-based compensation expense and cash received included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statement of cash flows, respectively, are reflected in the table below, including the related income tax benefits, for fiscal years ended December 28, 2013 , December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011 as follows:
 
 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
 
December 31,
2011
Share-based compensation expense
 
$
13,191

 
$
15,236

 
$
19,553

Deferred income tax benefit
 
4,991

 
5,774

 
7,411

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, primarily exercise of stock options
 
3,611

 
8,495

 
21,056

Tax withholdings related to the exercise of stock appreciation rights
 
(21,856
)
 
(26,677
)
 
(6,582
)
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation
 
16,320

 
23,099

 
9,663


As of December 28, 2013 , there was $33,691 of unrecognized compensation expense related to all share-based awards that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years .

The fair value of each SAR was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:
Black-Scholes Option Valuation Assumptions (1)
 
December 28, 2013
 
December 29, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Risk-free interest rate  (2)
 
1.1
%
 
0.5
%
 
0.7
%
Expected dividend yield
 
0.3
%
 
0.3
%
 
0.4
%
Expected stock price volatility (3)
 
26.9
%
 
33.2
%
 
36.3
%
Expected life of awards (in months) (4)
 
49

 
49

 
50


(1)  
Forfeitures are based on historical experience.
(2)  
The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury constant maturity interest rate having term consistent with the expected life of the award.
(3)  
Expected volatility is determined using a blend of historical and implied volatility.
(4)  
The expected life of the Company's awards represents the estimated period of time until exercise and is based on historical experience of previously granted awards.



F-33

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


Time-Based Share Awards

Stock Appreciation Rights and Stock Options

The following table summarizes the time-vested stock option and time-vested SARs activity for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013 :
 
 
Number of Awards
 
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
 
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at December 29, 2012
 
2,155

 
$
51.55

 
 
 
 
Granted
 
33

 
82.98

 
 
 
 
Exercised
 
(929
)
 
38.60

 
 
 
 
Forfeited
 
(124
)
 
70.21

 
 
 
 
Outstanding at December 28, 2013
 
1,135

 
$
60.99

 
4.15

 
$
55,549

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vested and expected to vest
 
1,121

 
$
60.82

 
4.13

 
$
55,033

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding and exercisable
 
821

 
$
56.50

 
3.57

 
$
43,869


The weighted average fair value of SARs granted during Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 was $18.55 , $19.25 and $19.81 per share, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value reflected in the table above and the following page is based on the Company’s closing stock price of $109.92 as of the last trading day of Fiscal 2013 . The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options and SARs (the amount by which the market price of the stock on the date of exercise exceeded the exercise price) exercised during Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 was $38,914 , $44,471 and $33,779 , respectively.

Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock
            
The following table summarizes the RSU and restricted stock activity for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013 :
 
 
Number of Awards
 
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
 
 
 
 
 
Nonvested at December 29, 2012
 
175

 
$
71.43

Granted
 
133

 
102.19

Vested
 
(72
)
 
69.89

Forfeited
 
(26
)
 
71.95

Nonvested at December 28, 2013
 
210

 
$
91.44


The fair value of each RSU and restricted stock award is determined based on the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The weighted average fair value of RSUs and restricted shares granted during Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 was $102.19 , $75.26 and $67.79 per share, respectively. The total grant date fair value of RSUs and restricted shares vested during Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 was $5,035 , $4,734 and $10,548 , respectively.



F-34

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


Performance-Based Awards

Performance-based awards granted in the following tables represent the performance portion of awards granted during Fiscal 2013 at the target level, as achievement of the target level was deemed probable as of the grant date. Change in units based on performance represents the change in number of awards previously granted that the Company believes will ultimately vest based on its probability assessment at December 28, 2013 .

Compensation expense for performance-based awards of $1,141 , $3,267 , and $6,714 in Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 , respectively, was determined based on management’s estimate of the probable vesting outcome.

Performance-Based SARs

The following table summarizes the performance-based SARs activity for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013 :
 
Number of Awards
 
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
 
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at December 29, 2012
758

 
$
49.93

 
 
 
 
Granted
231

 
106.00

 
 
 
 
Change in units based on performance
(137
)
 
59.48

 
 
 
 
Exercised
(296
)
 
32.41

 
 
 
 
Forfeited
(36
)
 
71.67

 
 
 
 
Outstanding at December 28, 2013
520

 
$
78.21

 
5.46

 
$
16,491

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vested and expected to vest
461

 
$
75.44

 
4.86

 
$
15,883

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding and exercisable
131

 
$
36.13

 
2.80

 
$
9,661


The weighted average fair value of performance-based SARs granted during Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 was $23.72 , $19.23 and $19.86 per share, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of performance-based SARs exercised during Fiscal 2013 and 2012 was $14,257 and $34,020 , respectively. There were no awards exercised prior to Fiscal 2012. As of December 28, 2013 , the maximum potential payout under the Company’s currently outstanding performance-based SAR awards was 2,696 units.

Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock

The following table summarizes the performance-based RSUs and restricted stock activity for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013 :
 
 
Number of Awards
 
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
 
 
 
 
 
Nonvested at December 29, 2012
 
102

 
$
63.08

Granted
 
172

 
77.47

Change in units based on performance
 
(31
)
 
71.23

Vested
 
(31
)
 
42.50

Forfeited
 
(30
)
 
74.70

Nonvested at December 28, 2013
 
182

 
$
75.36



F-35

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


The fair value of each performance-based RSU and share of restricted stock is determined based on the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The weighted average fair value of performance-based RSUs or share of restricted stock granted during Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 was $77.47 , $75.20 and $67.16 per share, respectively. The total grant date fair value of performance-based restricted stock vested during Fiscal 2013 and 2012 was $1,290 and $4,858 . No awards vested prior to Fiscal 2012. As of December 28, 2013 , the maximum potential payout under the Company’s currently outstanding performance-based RSUs was 579 shares.

Subsequent Grant of Awards

Subsequent to December 28, 2013, the Company granted share-based compensation awards to GPI team members in connection with the Company’s acquisition of GPI. Refer to Note 23, Subsequent Event , for further details of the grant.

Deferred Stock Units

The Company grants share-based awards annually to its Board of Directors in connection with its annual meeting of stockholders. These awards are granted in the form of DSUs as provided for in the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Deferred Stock Unit Plan for Non-Employee Directors and Selected Executives, or the DSU Plan. Each DSU is equivalent to one share of common stock of the Company. The DSUs are awarded in two equal portions, each with different schedules for conversion into common shares.  The first type of DSUs is fully vested after one year of board service and is distributed in common shares after the director’s service on the board ends.  The second type of DSUs is fully vested after one year of board service and is distributed in common shares after three years.  Directors may choose to defer receipt of the second type of DSUs beyond the initial three years.  Additionally, the DSU Plan provides for the deferral of compensation as earned in the form of (i) an annual retainer for directors, and (ii) wages for certain highly compensated Team Members of the Company. These DSUs are settled in common stock with the participants at a future date, or over a specified time period as elected by the participants in accordance with the DSU Plan.

The Company granted 10 DSUs in Fiscal 2013 . The weighted average fair value of DSUs granted during Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 was $83.63 , $69.82 , and $62.99 , respectively. The DSUs are awarded at a price equal to the market price of the Company’s underlying stock on the date of the grant. For Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 , respectively, the Company recognized a total of $840 , $960 , and $1,008 on a pre-tax basis, in compensation expense for these DSU grants.

LTIP Availability

At December 28, 2013 , there were 7,408 shares of common stock currently available for future issuance under the 2004 Plan based on management’s current estimate of the probable vesting outcome for performance-based awards. The Company issues new shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options and SARs. Availability is determined net of forfeitures and is reduced by an additional 0.7 availability factor for restricted stock and DSUs in accordance with the LTIP. Availability also includes shares which became available for reissuance in connection with the exercise of SARs.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company also offers an ESPP. Eligible Team Members may purchase the Company’s common stock at a discount to its fair market value on the date of purchase. During Fiscal 2012, the Company increased this discount from 5% to 10%. There are annual limitations on Team Member elections of either $25 per Team Member or 10% of compensation, whichever is less. Under the plan, Team Members acquired 23 , 34 and 38 shares in Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 , respectively. As of December 28, 2013 , there were 1,138 shares available to be issued under the plan.



F-36

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


20.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):

Comprehensive income is computed as net earnings plus certain other items that are recorded directly to stockholders’ equity during the accounting period. In addition to net earnings, comprehensive income also includes changes in unrealized gains or losses on hedge arrangements and postretirement plan benefits, net of tax. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, for Fiscal 2013 , 2012 and 2011 consisted of the following:
 
 
Unrealized Gain
(Loss) on Hedging
Arrangements
 
Unrealized Gain (Loss)
on Postretirement
Plan
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Balance, January 1, 2011
 
$
(4,807
)
 
$
3,210

 
$
(1,597
)
Fiscal 2011 activity
 
4,553

 
(152
)
 
4,401

Balance, December 31, 2011
 
$
(254
)
 
$
3,058

 
$
2,804

Fiscal 2012 activity
 
254

 
(391
)
 
(137
)
Balance, December 29, 2012
 
$

 
$
2,667

 
$
2,667

Fiscal 2013 activity
 

 
1,016

 
1,016

Balance, December 28, 2013
 
$

 
$
3,683

 
$
3,683


21.
Segment and Related Information:

The Company has the following two reportable segments: AAP and AI. The AAP segment is comprised of 3,832 stores, as of December 28, 2013 , which operate in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands under the trade names “Advance Auto Parts” and “Advance Discount Auto Parts.” These stores offer a broad selection of brand name and proprietary automotive replacement parts, accessories and maintenance items for domestic and imported cars and light trucks. The Company aggregates the financial results of AAP’s geographic areas, which are individually considered operating segments, due to the economic similarities of those areas.

Included in the Company’s geographic areas are sales generated from its e-commerce platforms. The Company’s e-commerce platforms primarily consist of its online website and Commercial ordering platform as part of its integrated operating approach of serving its DIY and Commercial customers. The Company’s online website allows its DIY customers to pick up merchandise at a conveniently located store location or have their purchases shipped directly to them. The majority of the Company’s online sales are picked up at store locations. Through the Company’s online ordering platform, Commercial customers can conveniently place orders with a designated store location for delivery to their place of business.

The AI segment consists solely of the operations of Autopart International, and operates stores under the “Autopart International” trade name. AI mainly serves the Commercial market from its 217 stores, as of December 28, 2013 , primarily located in the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.

The Company evaluates each of its segment’s financial performance based on net sales and operating profit for purposes of allocating resources and assessing performance. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are generally the same as those used by the Company.



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Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


The following table summarizes financial information for each of the Company’s business segments for the years ended December 28, 2013 , December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011 , respectively.
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
AAP
 
$
6,171,343

 
$
5,914,946

 
$
5,884,903

AI
 
337,216

 
306,138

 
301,077

Eliminations (1)
 
(14,745
)
 
(16,081
)
 
(15,518
)
Total net sales
 
$
6,493,814

 
$
6,205,003

 
$
6,170,462

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Percentage of Sales, by Product Group
in AAP Segment (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Parts and Batteries
 
65
%
 
64
%
 
63
%
Accessories
 
15
%
 
14
%
 
14
%
Chemicals
 
10
%
 
11
%
 
11
%
Oil
 
10
%
 
10
%
 
10
%
Other
 
%
 
1
%
 
2
%
Total
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
100
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before provision for income taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
AAP
 
$
613,875

 
$
615,284

 
$
621,700

AI
 
12,523

 
8,790

 
11,536

Total income before provision for income taxes
 
$
626,398

 
$
624,074

 
$
633,236

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for income taxes
 
 
 
 
 
 
AAP
 
$
229,813

 
$
232,778

 
$
233,753

AI
 
4,827

 
3,626

 
4,801

Total provision for income taxes
 
$
234,640

 
$
236,404

 
$
238,554

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
AAP
 
$
5,289,357

 
$
4,352,686

 
$
3,413,145

AI
 
275,417

 
261,128

 
242,609

Total segment assets
 
$
5,564,774

 
$
4,613,814

 
$
3,655,754

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
 
 
 
 
 
AAP
 
$
201,445

 
$
183,183

 
$
169,541

AI
 
6,350

 
6,361

 
6,408

Total depreciation and amortization
 
$
207,795

 
$
189,544

 
$
175,949

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
 
 
 
 
 
 
AAP
 
$
191,383

 
$
265,179

 
$
264,108

AI
 
4,374

 
6,003

 
4,021

Total capital expenditures
 
$
195,757

 
$
271,182

 
$
268,129

 
(1)  
For Fiscal 2013 , eliminations represented net sales of $10,154 from AAP to AI and $4,591 from AI to AAP. For Fiscal 2012 , eliminations represented net sales of $10,192 from AAP to AI and $5,889 from AI to AAP. For Fiscal 2011 , eliminations represented net sales of $8,522 from AAP to AI and $6,996 from AI to AAP.
(2)  
Sales by product group are not available for the AI segment.



F-38

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


22.
Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited):

The following table summarizes quarterly financial data for Fiscal 2013 and 2012 :
2013
 
First
 
Second
 
Third
 
Fourth
 
 
(16 weeks)
 
(12 weeks)
 
(12 weeks)
 
(12 weeks)
Net sales
 
$
2,015,304

 
$
1,549,553

 
$
1,520,144

 
$
1,408,813

Gross profit
 
1,008,206

 
779,223

 
762,940

 
701,777

Net income
 
121,790

 
116,871

 
103,830

 
49,267

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share
 
1.66

 
1.60

 
1.42

 
0.68

Diluted earnings per share
 
1.65

 
1.59

 
1.42

 
0.67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2012
 
First
 
Second
 
Third
 
Fourth
 
 
(16 weeks)
 
(12 weeks)
 
(12 weeks)
 
(12 weeks)
Net sales
 
$
1,957,292

 
$
1,460,983

 
$
1,457,527

 
$
1,329,201

Gross profit
 
980,673

 
728,858

 
725,350

 
663,155

Net income
 
133,506

 
99,606

 
89,503

 
65,055

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share
 
1.83

 
1.36

 
1.22

 
0.89

Diluted earnings per share
 
1.79

 
1.34

 
1.21

 
0.88


Note: Quarterly and year-to-date computations of per share amounts are made independently. Therefore, the sum of per share amounts for the quarters may not be equal to the per share amount for the year.

23.
Subsequent Event:

On January 2, 2014 , the Company acquired General Parts International, Inc. (“GPI”) in an all-cash transaction. GPI, formerly a privately held company, is a leading distributor and supplier of original equipment and aftermarket replacement products for commercial markets operating under the Carquest and Worldpac brands. As of the acquisition date, GPI operated 1,248 Carquest stores and 105 Worldpac branches located in 45 states and Canada and serviced approximately 1,400 independently-owned Carquest stores. The Company believes the acquisition of GPI will allow the Company to expand its geographic presence, Commercial capabilities and overall scale to better serve customers. The Company acquired all of GPI’s assets and liabilities as a result of the transaction.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of GPI for a purchase price of $2,080,537 (subject to adjustment for certain closing items) consisting of $1,307,724 in cash to GPI’s shareholders, the repayment of $694,301 of GPI debt and $78,512 in make-whole fees and transaction-related expenses. The Company funded the purchase price with cash on-hand, $700,000 from the term loan and $306,046 from the revolving credit facility. Refer to Note 7, Long-Term Debt, for a more detailed description of this debt. The Company recognized $26,970 of acquisition-related costs during Fiscal 2013 , of which $24,983 and $1,987 are included in the Company’s selling, general and administrative expenses and interest expense, respectively, in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations. The Company will include the financial results of GPI in its consolidated financial statements commencing January 2, 2014 .

The pro forma revenue of the combined company for the year ended December 28, 2013 as if the acquisition had occurred on December 30, 2012 (the first day of the Company’s Fiscal Year 2013) is $9,456,000 . T he pro forma revenue is not indicative of the future operating revenue of the combined company. Additionally, d ue to the limited time since the date of acquisition, the remaining disclosures for this business combination are incomplete as of the date of this filing. As such, it is impracticable for the Company to include pro forma earnings and the purchase price allocation.


F-39

Table of Contents
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)


On February 10, 2014, the Company granted share-based compensation awards with a total grant date fair value of $6,650 to certain GPI team members. These awards consisted of time-based RSUs, performance RSUs and performance SARs. The vesting terms of these awards are consistent with the overall description of our share-based compensation awards in Note 19, Share-Based Compensation . These awards would not have impacted the Company’s basic or diluted earnings per share had they been granted prior to December 28, 2013.



F-40


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
Condensed Parent Company Balance Sheets
December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012
(in thousands, except per share data)

 
 
December 28,
2013
 
December 29,
2012
Assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
9

 
$
9

Other current assets
 
1,819

 
5,884

Other assets, net
 
13,345

 
13,542

Intercompany receivable, net
 

 
14,626

Intercompany note receivable
 
1,047,668

 
598,937

Investment in subsidiary
 
1,590,649

 
1,183,572

 
 
$
2,653,490

 
$
1,816,570

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
 
$
12

 
$
76

Accrued expenses
 
5,496

 
2,467

Dividends payable
 
4,368

 
4,396

Long-term debt
 
1,047,668

 
598,937

Intercompany payable, net
 
79,741

 

Total liabilities
 
1,137,285

 
605,876

Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock, nonvoting, $0.0001 par value
 
 
 
 
10,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding
 

 

Common stock, voting $0.0001 par value; 200,000
 
 
 
 
shares authorized; 74,224 shares issued and 72,840 outstanding
 
 
 
 
in 2013 and 73,731 issued and 73,383 outstanding in 2012
 
7

 
7

Additional paid-in capital
 
531,293

 
520,215

Treasury stock, at cost, 1,384 and 348 shares
 
(107,890
)
 
(27,095
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
3,683

 
2,667

Retained earnings
 
1,089,112

 
714,900

Total stockholders’ equity
 
1,516,205

 
1,210,694

 
 
$
2,653,490

 
$
1,816,570











The accompanying notes to the condensed parent company financial information
are an integral part of this schedule.


F-41


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
Condensed Parent Company Statements of Operations
For the Years Ended December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)

 
 
Fiscal Years
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
$
13,303

 
$
18,447

 
$
21,603

Other income, net
 
13,016

 
19,062

 
23,046

(Loss) income before provision for income taxes
 
(287
)
 
615

 
1,443

Income tax (benefit) provision
 
(117
)
 
1,048

 
1,159

(Loss) income before equity in earnings of subsidiaries
 
(170
)
 
(433
)
 
284

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
 
391,928

 
388,103

 
394,398

Net income
 
$
391,758

 
$
387,670

 
$
394,682

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share
 
$
5.36

 
$
5.29

 
$
5.21

Diluted earnings per share
 
$
5.32

 
$
5.22

 
$
5.11

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average common shares outstanding
 
72,930

 
73,091

 
75,620

Average common shares outstanding - assuming dilution
 
73,414

 
74,062

 
77,071




ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
Condensed Parent Company Statements of Comprehensive Income
For the Years Ended December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
 
Fiscal Years
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Net income
 
$
391,758

 
$
387,670

 
$
394,682

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in net unrecognized other postretirement benefit costs, net of $503, $252 and $98 tax
 
(438
)
 
(391
)
 
(152
)
Postretirement benefit plan amendment, net of $904, $0 and $0 tax
 
1,454

 

 

Unrealized gain (loss) on hedge arrangements, net of $0, $163 and $163 tax
 

 
254

 
(254
)
Amortization of unrecognized losses on interest rate swaps, net of $0, $0 and $3,644 tax
 

 

 
4,807

Total other comprehensive income (loss)
 
1,016

 
(137
)
 
4,401

Comprehensive income
 
$
392,774

 
$
387,533

 
$
399,083






The accompanying notes to the condensed parent company financial information
are an integral part of this schedule.


F-42


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
Condensed Parent Company Statements of Cash Flows
For the Years Ended December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands)

 
 
Fiscal Years
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
391,758

 
$
387,670

 
$
394,682

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
 
 
 
 
 
 
provided by (used in) operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in earnings of subsidiary
 
(391,928
)
 
(388,103
)
 
(394,398
)
Depreciation and amortization
 

 
2

 
101

Other
 
170

 
420

 
(388
)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
 

 
(11
)
 
(3
)
Cash flows from investing activities:
 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:
 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
 

 
(11
)
 
(3
)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
 
9

 
20

 
23

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
9

 
$
9

 
$
20

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Supplemental cash flow information:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest paid
 
$
30,750

 
$
23,925

 
$
17,250

Income taxes paid, net
 

 

 

Noncash transactions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Issuance of senior unsecured notes with proceeds received
by Stores
 
$
448,605

 
$
299,904

 
$

Payment of debt related costs by Stores
 
8,815

 
2,942

 
3,656

Repurchase of Parent's common stock by Stores
 
80,795

 
27,095

 
631,149

Proceeds received by Stores from stock transactions under the
Parent's stock subscription plan and Stores' stock option plan
 
3,611

 
8,495

 
21,056

Tax withholdings paid by Stores from stock transactions under the
Parent's stock subscription plan and Stores' stock option plan
 
(21,856
)
 
(26,677
)
 
(6,582
)
Cash dividends paid by Stores on behalf of Parent
 
17,574

 
17,596

 
18,554

Retirement of common stock
 

 
1,644,767

 

Changes in other comprehensive income (loss)
 
1,016

 
(137
)
 
4,401

Declared but unpaid cash dividends
 
4,368

 
4,396

 
4,356







The accompanying notes to the condensed parent company financial information
are an integral part of this schedule.


F-43


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
Notes to the Condensed Parent Company Statements
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)

1. Organization and Basis of Presentation

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (“the Company”) is a holding company and the 100% shareholder of Advance Stores Company, Incorporated and its subsidiaries (“Stores”). The Company conducts substantially all of its business operations through Stores. The parent/subsidiary relationship between the Company and Stores includes certain related party transactions. These transactions consist primarily of intercompany advances and interest on intercompany advances, dividends, capital contributions and allocations of certain costs. Deferred income taxes have not been provided for financial reporting and tax basis differences on the undistributed earnings of the subsidiaries.

These condensed financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although management believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. Under a “parent-only” presentation, the investment of the Company in Stores is presented under the equity method of accounting. These parent-only financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Company included in Item 15 “Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“consolidated financial statements”).

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Accounting Period

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest the end of December, which results in an extra week every several years (the next 53 week fiscal year is 2014).

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash in banks and money market funds with original maturities of three months or less.

Share-Based Payments

The Company grants share-based compensation awards to certain executive-level Team Members and members of its Board of Directors as provided for under its 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The Company’s accounting policy for share-based payments is the same as for the consolidated company which is described in the summary of significant accounting policies in Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements.

Earnings per Share

The Company uses the two-class method to calculate earnings per share. Under the two-class method, unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are considered participating securities and are included in the computation of earnings per share. Certain of the Company’s shares granted to Team Members in the form of restricted stock and restricted stock units are considered participating securities.

 


F-44


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
Notes to the Condensed Parent Company Statements
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)

Accordingly, earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to the Company’s common shareholders
by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the period. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines income per share for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Diluted income per common share reflects the more dilutive earnings per share amount calculated using the treasury stock method or the two-class method.

Basic earnings per share of common stock has been computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, which is reduced by stock held in treasury and shares of nonvested restricted stock. Diluted earnings per share of common stock reflects the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding, outstanding deferred stock units and the impact of outstanding stock options, and stock appreciation rights (collectively “share-based awards”). Share-based awards containing performance conditions are included in the dilution impact as those conditions are met. Diluted earnings per share are calculated by including the effect of dilutive securities.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued ASU No. 2013-11 “Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists.”  Under ASU 2013-11 an entity is required to present an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward.  If a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets.  ASU 2013-11 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013.  The adoption of this guidance affects presentation only and, therefore, it is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.   

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02 “Comprehensive Income - Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.” ASU 2013-02 is an amendment adding new disclosure requirements for items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). The amendment requires presentation of changes in AOCI balances by component and significant items reclassified out of AOCI by component either (1) on the face of the statement of operations or (2) as a separate disclosure in the notes to the financial statements. ASU 2013-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2013-02 had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

3. Intercompany Transactions

On December 29, 2012, Stores declared a non-cash dividend to the Company totaling $2,231,200 . The dividend was comprised of: (i) the forgiveness of the $1,632,300 intercompany receivable owed to Stores by the Company and (ii) the issuance of a $598,900 intercompany note payable from Stores to the Company.

The intercompany note payable contains terms and conditions that are similar in all material respects to the Notes discussed in footnote 4 below.



F-45


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
Notes to the Condensed Parent Company Statements
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)

4. Long-Term Debt

Senior Unsecured Notes

The Company issued 4.50% senior unsecured notes on December 3, 2013 at 99.69% of the principal amount of $450,000 which are due December 1, 2023 (the “2023 Notes”). The 2023 Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.50% per year payable semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning June 1, 2014. The net proceeds from the offering of these notes were approximately $445,200 , after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The net proceeds from the 2023 Notes were used in aggregate with borrowings under the Company’s revolver and term loan and cash on-hand to fund the Company’s acquisition of General Parts International, Inc. on January 2, 2014.

The Company previously issued 4.50% senior unsecured notes on January 2012 at 99.968% of the principal amount of $300,000 which are due January 15, 2022 (the “2022 Notes”). The 2022 Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.50%  per year payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The Company’s 5.75% senior unsecured notes were issued in April 2010 at 99.587% of the principal amount of $300,000 and are due May 1, 2020 (the “2020 Notes” or collectively with the 2023 Notes and the 2022 Notes, “the Notes”). The 2020 Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.75%  per year payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year. Advance served as the issuer of the Notes with certain of Advance’s domestic subsidiaries currently serving as subsidiary guarantors. The terms of the Notes are governed by an indenture (as amended, supplemented, waived, or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”) among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.

The Company may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time or from time to time, at the redemption price described in the Indenture. In addition, in the event of a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in each of the Indentures for the Notes), the Company will be required to offer to repurchase the Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date. The Notes are currently fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on an unsubordinated and unsecured basis by each of the subsidiary guarantors. The Company will be permitted to release guarantees without the consent of holders of the Notes under the circumstances described in the Indenture: (i) upon the release of the guarantee of the Company’s other debt that resulted in the affected subsidiary becoming a guarantor of this debt; (ii) upon the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the stock or assets of the subsidiary guarantor; or (iii) upon the Company’s exercise of its legal or covenant defeasance option.

The Indenture contains customary provisions for events of default including for: (i) failure to pay principal or interest when due and payable; (ii) failure to comply with covenants or agreements in the Indenture or the Notes and failure to cure or obtain a waiver of such default upon notice; (iii) a default under any debt for money borrowed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that results in acceleration of the maturity of such debt, or failure to pay any such debt within any applicable grace period after final stated maturity, in an aggregate amount greater than $25,000 without such debt having been discharged or acceleration having been rescinded or annulled within 10 days after receipt by the Company of notice of the default by the Trustee or holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding; and (iv) events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization affecting the Company and certain of its subsidiaries. In the case of an event of default, the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest may be accelerated. The Indenture also contains covenants limiting the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to incur debt secured by liens and to enter into sale and lease-back transactions.

Bank Debt

The Company fully and unconditionally guarantees the revolving credit facility of Stores. The revolving credit agreement does not contain restrictions on the payment of dividends, loans or advances between the Company and Stores and Stores’ subsidiaries. Therefore, there are no such restrictions as of December 28, 2013 and December 29, 2012 .



F-46


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
Notes to the Condensed Parent Company Statements
December 28, 2013, December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except per share data)

5. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company has indirect commitments and contingencies through Stores. For a discussion of the commitments and contingencies of the consolidated company, see Notes 16 , Lease Commitments , and 17 , Contingencies , of the consolidated financial statements.




F-47


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(in thousands)

Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable:
 
Balance at
Beginning
of Period
 
Charges to
Expenses
 
Deductions
 
 
Other
 
Balance at
End of
Period
December 31, 2011
 
$
4,816

 
$
645

 
$
(1,405
)
(1)  
 
$

 
$
4,056

December 29, 2012
 
4,056

 
4,127

 
(2,264
)
(1)  
 

 
5,919

December 28, 2013
 
5,919

 
11,955

 
(4,995
)
(1)  
 
416

(2)  
13,295


(1)  
Accounts written off during the period. These amounts did not impact the Company’s statement of operations for any year presented.
(2)  
Reserves assumed in the acquisition of B.W.P. Distributors, Inc.


Note : Other valuation and qualifying accounts have not been reported in this schedule because they are either not applicable or because the information has been included elsewhere in this report .


F-48


Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: February 25, 2014
 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
 
 
By:
/s/ Michael A. Norona
 
 
 
Michael A. Norona
 
 
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
 
Title
 
Date
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Darren R. Jackson
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
February 25, 2014
Darren R. Jackson
 
and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Michael A. Norona
 
Executive Vice President and Chief
 
February 25, 2014
Michael A. Norona
 
Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Jill A. Livesay
 
Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief
 
February 25, 2014
Jill A. Livesay
 
   Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ John C. Brouillard
 
Chairman and Director
 
February 25, 2014
John C. Brouillard
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ John F. Bergstrom
 
Director
 
February 25, 2014
John F. Bergstrom
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Fiona P. Dias
 
Director
 
February 25, 2014
Fiona P. Dias
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ William S. Oglesby
 
Director
 
February 25, 2014
William S. Oglesby
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Gilbert T. Ray
 
Director
 
February 25, 2014
Gilbert T. Ray
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ J. Paul Raines
 
Director
 
February 25, 2014
J. Paul Raines
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Carlos A. Saladrigas
 
Director
 
February 25, 2014
Carlos A. Saladrigas
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ O. Temple Sloan, III
 
Director
 
February 25, 2014
O. Temple Sloan, III
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Jimmie L. Wade
 
Director
 
February 25, 2014
Jimmie L. Wade
 
 
 
 


S-1


EXHIBITS INDEX
 
 
Incorporated by Reference
Filed
Exhibit No.
Exhibit Description
Form
Exhibit

Filing Date
Herewith
1.1
Underwriting Agreement, dated November 25, 2013, by and among Advance Auto Parts, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors signatory thereto and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as Representatives of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 thereto.
8-K
1.1

12/2/2013
 
1.2
Underwriting Agreement, dated January 11, 2012, by and among Advance Auto Parts, Inc., the Subsidiary Guarantors signatory thereto and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as Representatives of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 thereto.
8-K
1.1

1/17/2012
 
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Advance Auto Parts, Inc., Generator Purchase, Inc., General Parts International, Inc. and
Shareholder Representative Services LLC (as the Shareholder Representative), Dated as of October 15, 2013
 
 
 
X
3.1
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (“Advance Auto”) (as amended effective as of June 7, 2013).
10-Q
3.1

8/19/2013
 
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Advance Auto. (effective June 4, 2013).
8-K
3.2

6/13/2013
 
4.1
Indenture, dated as of April 29, 2010, among Advance Auto Parts, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.
8-K
4.1

4/29/2010
 
4.2
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 29, 2010, among Advance Auto Parts, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.
8-K
4.2

4/29/2010
 
4.3
Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 27, 2011 to the Indenture dated as of April 29, 2010 among Advance Auto Parts, Inc. as Issuer, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.
8-K
10.45

6/3/2011
 
4.4
Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 17, 2012 among Advance Auto Parts, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.
8-K
4.4

1/17/2012
 
4.5
Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 21, 2012 among Advance Auto Parts, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.
8-K
4.5

12/21/2012
 
4.6
Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 19, 2013 among Advance Auto Parts, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.
8-K
4.6

4/19/2013
 
4.7
Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 3, 2013, among Advance Auto Parts, Inc., each of the Subsidiary Guarantors from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee.
8-K
4.7

12/9/2013
 
4.8
Form of 5.750% Note due 2020.
8-K
4.3

4/29/2010
 
4.9
Form of 4.500% Note due 2022.
8-K
4.5

1/17/2012
 
4.1
Form of 4.500% Note due 2023
8-K
4.8

12/9/2013
 
10.1
Form of Indemnity Agreement between each of the directors of Advance Auto and Advance Auto, as successor in interest to Advance Holding.
8-K
10.19

5/20/2004
 
10.2
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended April 17, 2008).
10-Q
10.19

5/29/2008
 



 
 
Incorporated by Reference
Filed
Exhibit No.
Exhibit Description
Form
Exhibit

Filing Date
Herewith
10.3
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Deferred Stock Unit Plan for Non-Employee Directors and Selected Executives (as amended January 1, 2008), including First Amendment to the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Deferred Stock Unit Plan for Non-Employee Directors and Selected Executives (as amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2009) and Second Amendment to the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Deferred Stock Unit Plan for Non-Employee Directors and Selected Executives (as amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2010).
10-K
10.17

3/1/2011
 
10.4
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan Stock Option Agreement.
10-Q
10.38

8/16/2004
 
10.5
Amended and Restated Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
DEF 14A
Appendix C

4/16/2012
 
10.6
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (as amended January 1, 2008), including First Amendment to the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (as amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2009) and Second Amendment to the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (as amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2010).
10-K
10.19

3/1/2011
 
10.7
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2007 Restricted Stock Award.
8-K
10.39

2/26/2007
 
10.8
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2007 Stock Appreciation Right Award.
8-K
10.40

2/26/2007
 
10.9
Employment Agreement effective January 7, 2008 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc., and Darren R. Jackson.
8-K
10.25

1/1/2008
 
10.10
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan.
DEF 14A
Appendix B

4/11/2007
 
10.11
First Amendment to Employment Agreement effective June 4, 2008 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Darren R. Jackson.
8-K
10.32

6/4/2008
 
10.12
Form of Employment Agreement effective June 4, 2008 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc., and Kevin P. Freeland and Michael A. Norona.
8-K
10.33

6/4/2008
 
10.13
Attachment C to Employment effective June 4, 2008 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc., and Kevin P. Freeland.
8-K
10.34

6/4/2008
 
10.14
Attachment C to Employment Agreement effective June 4, 2008 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc., and Michael A. Norona.
8-K
10.35

6/4/2008
 
10.15
Form of Senior Vice President Loyalty Agreements.
10-Q
10.37

11/12/2008
 
10.16
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement dated November 17, 2008.
8-K
10.38

11/21/2008
 
10.17
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Restricted Stock Award Agreement dated November 17, 2008.
8-K
10.39

11/21/2008
 
10.18
Second Amendment to Employment Agreement effective January 1, 2010 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Darren R. Jackson.
10-Q
10.43

6/2/2010
 
10.19
Form of First Amendment to Employment Agreement effective January 1, 2010 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Kevin P. Freeland and Michael A. Norona.
10-Q
10.44

6/2/2010
 
10.20
Employment Agreement dated as of January 1, 2012, between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Jimmie L. Wade.
8-K
10.46

1/24/2012
 
10.21
Third Amendment to Employment Agreement effective September 1, 2010 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Darren R. Jackson.
10-Q
10.48

11/17/2010
 
10.22
Fourth Amendment to Employment Agreement effective January 7, 2011 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Darren R. Jackson.
10-K
10.41

3/1/2011
 
10.23
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2011 SARs Award Agreement and Restricted Stock Award Agreement between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Darren R. Jackson.
10-K
10.42

3/1/2011
 



 
 
Incorporated by Reference
Filed
Exhibit No.
Exhibit Description
Form
Exhibit

Filing Date
Herewith
10.24
Credit Agreement dated as of May 27, 2011 among Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Advance Stores Company, Incorporated, as borrower, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent.
8-K
10.43

6/3/2011
 
10.25
Guarantee Agreement dated as of May 27, 2011 among Advance Auto Parts, Inc., Advance Stores Company, Incorporated, as borrower, the subsidiaries to the borrower from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders.
8-K
10.44

6/3/2011
 
10.26
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2012 SARs Award Agreement and Restricted Stock Award Agreement between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Darren R. Jackson.
10-K
10.32

2/28/2012
 
10.27
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. SAR Award Agreement under 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
10-K
10.33

2/28/2012
 
10.28
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Restricted Stock Award Agreement under 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
10-K
10.34

2/28/2012
 
10.29
Fifth Amendment to Employment Agreement effective January 7, 2013, between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Darren R. Jackson.
8-K
10.35

10/12/2012
 
10.30
Second Amendment to Employment Agreement effective December 31, 2012 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Kevin P. Freeland.
10-Q
10.36

11/13/2012
 
10.31
Second Amendment to Employment Agreement effective December 31, 2012 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Michael A. Norona.
10-Q
10.37

11/13/2012
 
10.32
Supplement No. 1 to Guarantee Agreement.
8-K
10.1

12/21/2012
 
10.33
Third Amendment to the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (Effective as of January 1, 2013).
10-K
10.33

2/25/2013
 
10.34
Third Amendment to the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Deferred Stock Unit Plan for Non-Employee Directors and Selected Executives (Effective as of January 1, 2013).
10-K
10.34

2/25/2013
 
10.35
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. SARs Award Agreement and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Darren R. Jackson.
10-K
10.35

2/25/2013
 
10.36
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. SARs Award Agreement and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
10-K
10.36

2/25/2013
 
10.37
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Darren R. Jackson dated March 1, 2013
8-K
10.37

3/7/2013
 
10.38
Form of Advance Auto, Inc. Restricted Stock Unit Agreement dated March 1, 2013.
8-K
10.38

3/7/2013
 
10.39
Form of Employment Agreement effective April 21, 2013 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and George E. Sherman and Charles E. Tyson.
8-K
10.39

4/30/2013
 
10.40
Supplement No. 2 to Guarantee Agreement.
8-K
10.2

4/19/2013
 
10.41
Third Amendment to Employment Agreement between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Michael A. Norona, effective June 4, 2013.
8-K
10.4

6/6/2013
 
10.42
Credit Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2013, among Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Advance Stores Company, Incorporated, the lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
8-K
10.1

12/9/2013
 
10.43
Guarantee Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2013, among Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Advance Stores Company, Incorporated, the other lenders from time to time party lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the lenders.
8-K
10.2

12/9/2013
 
10.45
Supplement No. 1 to Guarantee Agreement.
 
 
 
X



 
 
Incorporated by Reference
Filed
Exhibit No.
Exhibit Description
Form
Exhibit

Filing Date
Herewith
10.46
First Amendment to the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (As amended and Restated Effective as of May 15, 2012)
 
 
 
X
10.47
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. SARs Award Agreement and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Darren R. Jackson.
 
 
 
X
10.48
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. SARs Award Agreement and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement.
 
 
 
X
10.49
Employment Agreement effective January 2, 2014 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and O. Temple Sloan III.
 
 
 
X
10.50
Restricted Stock Unit Agreement between Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and O. Temple Sloan III dated February 10, 2014.
 
 
 
X
12.1
Statement Regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
 
 
 
X
21.1
Subsidiaries of Advance Auto.
 
 
 
X
23.1
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
 
 
 
X
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 

 
X
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 

 
X
32.1
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 

 
X
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
 
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
 
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 





Exhibit 2.1






AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

BY AND AMONG

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.,

GENERATOR PURCHASE, INC.,

GENERAL PARTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

AND

SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE SERVICES LLC

(AS THE SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE),





Dated as of October 15, 2013











TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Article I

DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1
 
Definitions
2

Section 1.2
 
Interpretation and Rules of Construction
18


Article II

THE MERGER
Section 2.1
 
The Merger
19

Section 2.2
 
Effective Time; Closing
19

Section 2.3
 
Effect of the Merger
20

Section 2.4
 
Articles of Incorporation of Surviving Corporation; Directors and Officers of
 
 
 
Surviving Corporation
20

Section 2.5
 
Effect of Merger on the Shares of the Constituent Corporations
20

Section 2.6
 
Company Restricted Shares
22

Section 2.7
 
Company Options
22

Section 2.8
 
Dissenting Shares
23

Section 2.9
 
Payments and Deliverables at Closing
23

Section 2.10
 
Payment Mechanics
24

Section 2.11
 
Escrow Agreement
26

Section 2.12
 
Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action
27


Article III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Section 3.1
 
Organization and Qualification of the Company
27

Section 3.2
 
Authorization of Agreement
27

Section 3.3
 
Capitalization; Ownership of Shares; Subsidiaries
28

Section 3.4
 
No Conflict
30

Section 3.5
 
Governmental Consents and Approvals
30

Section 3.6
 
Financial Information
30

Section 3.7
 
Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities
31

Section 3.8
 
Conduct in the Ordinary Course
31

Section 3.9
 
Litigation
33

Section 3.10
 
Compliance with Laws; Permits
33

Section 3.11
 
Environmental Matters
34

Section 3.12
 
Intellectual Property
35

Section 3.13
 
Real Property
36

Section 3.14
 
Employee Benefit Matters
37



i



Section 3.15
 
Labor Matters
39

Section 3.16
 
Taxes
39

Section 3.17
 
Material Contracts
41

Section 3.18
 
Brokers
43

Section 3.19
 
Transactions with Affiliates
43

Section 3.20
 
Assets
44

Section 3.21
 
Product Liability
44

Section 3.22
 
Accounts Receivable
44

Section 3.23
 
Bonds, Guaranties and Letters of Credit
45

Section 3.24
 
Jobber Agreements
45

Section 3.25
 
Insurance Policies
45

Section 3.26
 
Customers and Suppliers
46

Section 3.27
 
Disclaimer of the Company
46


Article IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES of PARENT AND MERGER SUB
Section 4.1
 
Organization, Authority and Qualification
46

Section 4.2
 
No Conflict
47

Section 4.3
 
Governmental Consents and Approvals
47

Section 4.4
 
Litigation
48

Section 4.5
 
Brokers
48

Section 4.6
 
Financing
48


Article V

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
Section 5.1
 
Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing
48

Section 5.2
 
Access to Information
51

Section 5.3
 
Confidentiality
52

Section 5.4
 
Regulatory and Other Authorizations; Notices and Consents
52

Section 5.5
 
Indemnification of Officers and Directors
54

Section 5.6
 
Notice of Certain Developments
55

Section 5.7
 
Further Action
55

Section 5.8
 
Exclusivity
56

Section 5.9
 
Transaction Litigation
57

Section 5.10
 
Shareholders’ Meeting and Company Shareholder Approval
57

Section 5.11
 
280G Approval
59

Section 5.12
 
Financing
60

Section 5.13
 
Takeover Statutes
63

Section 5.14
 
Tax Refunds
63

Section 5.15
 
Conveyance Taxes
64

Section 5.16
 
Amendment to Stockel Agreement
64


ii



Article VI

EMPLOYEE MATTERS
Section 6.1
 
Compensation and Employee Benefits
64


Article VII

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
Section 7.1
 
Conditions to Obligations of the Company
66

Section 7.2
 
Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub
66


Article VIII

INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1
 
Survival of Representations and Warranties
68

Section 8.2
 
Indemnification by the Company Shareholders and Optionholders
69

Section 8.3
 
Indemnification by Parent
71

Section 8.4
 
Claims
72

Section 8.5
 
Satisfaction of Claims; Limitation of Liability
73

Section 8.6
 
Remedies
73

Section 8.7
 
Shareholder Representative
74

Section 8.8
 
Shareholder Representative Fund
76


Article IX

TERMINATION
Section 9.1
 
Termination
77

Section 9.2
 
Effect of Termination
79

Section 9.3
 
Parent Termination Fee
79


Article X

GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 10.1
 
Expenses
80

Section 10.2
 
Notices
80

Section 10.3
 
Public Announcements
82

Section 10.4
 
Severability
83

Section 10.5
 
Entire Agreement
83

Section 10.6
 
Assignment
83

Section 10.7
 
Amendment
83

Section 10.8
 
Waiver
83

Section 10.9
 
No Third Party Beneficiaries
84

Section 10.10
 
Specific Performance
84



iii



Section 10.11
 
Governing Law
85

Section 10.12
 
Consent to Jurisdiction
85

Section 10.13
 
Mutual Drafting
86

Section 10.14
 
Independence of Agreements, Covenants, Representations and Warranties
86

Section 10.15
 
Counterparts
86

Section 10.16
 
Continuing Counsel
86



Exhibit
Description
Exhibit A
Form of Letter of Transmittal
Exhibit B
Form of Escrow Agreement
 
 
Schedule
Description
Schedule I
Knowledge of the Company
Schedule II
Knowledge of Parent
Schedule III
Per Share Cash Consideration





iv



AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This Agreement and Plan of Merger (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of October 15, 2013, is entered into by and among Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Parent ”), Generator Purchase, Inc., a North Carolina corporation and (direct or indirect) subsidiary of Parent (“ Merger Sub ”), General Parts International, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “ Company ”), and Shareholder Representative Services LLC, a Colorado limited liability company, solely in its capacity as the representative of the Company Shareholders and Optionholders (the “ Shareholder Representative ”).
WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement and in accordance with the North Carolina Business Corporation Act, as set forth in Chapter 55 of the North Carolina General Statutes, as may be amended from time to time (the “ NCBCA ”), the Boards of Directors of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company have each determined that it is in the best interests of their respective shareholders for Parent to acquire the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has adopted resolutions (i) adopting and approving this Agreement and approving the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (collectively, including the Merger, the “ Transactions ”), and (ii) recommending that the Company Shareholders approve this Agreement and the Merger (the “ Company Recommendation ”);
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Merger Sub has adopted and approved this Agreement and approved the Merger and the other Transactions and recommended that Parent, its sole shareholder, approve this Agreement and the Merger;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Parent has approved this Agreement, the Merger and the other Transactions;
WHEREAS, as a condition of Parent’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, in connection with the Closing, Parent requires the Company to cause to be purchased all shares of capital stock of CARQUEST CANADA LTD. not owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and as a condition of Parent’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, certain shareholders of the Company are entering into Voting Agreements with respect to the Transactions (the “ Voting Agreements ”); and
WHEREAS, prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and as an inducement to Parent to enter into this Agreement, certain Persons have entered into a Non-Competition Agreement (the “ Non-Competition Agreements ”), with Parent, effective as of the Closing.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, promises and representations set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are





hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions . For all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meaning:

Action ” shall mean any action, suit, complaint, charge, arbitration, litigation, inquiry, proceeding, or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority.
Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person; provided , however , that with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the term “Affiliate” shall not include any Sigma Entity.
Aggregate Merger Consideration ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a)(i) .
Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Alternative Financing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(a) .
Articles of Merger ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .
Business Day ” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are required or authorized by Law to be closed in Raleigh, North Carolina or New York, New York.
CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class “T” Common Share ” shall mean a Class “T” common share of CARQUEST CANADA LTD. as defined in the Articles of Incorporation of CARQUEST CANADA LTD., as amended or restated as of the date hereof.
CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class “X” Common Share ” shall mean a Class “X” common share of CARQUEST CANADA LTD. as defined in the Articles of Incorporation of CARQUEST CANADA LTD., as amended or restated as of the date hereof.
CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shareholders ” shall mean the holders of CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class “T” Common Shares and CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class “X” Shares, immediately prior to the purchase described in Section 2.5(b) , taken together.
CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shares ” shall mean, collectively, the CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class “T” Common Shares and CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class “X” Shares.
Certificate ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a) .

2



Class A Common Share ” shall mean a share of Class A Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company.
Class B Common Share ” shall mean a share of Class B Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company.
Class B Preferred Share ” shall mean a share of Class B Preferred Stock, par value $85.00 per share, of the Company.
Class C Common Share ” shall mean a share of Class C Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company.
Class D Common Share ” shall mean a share of Class D Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company.
Class E Common Share ” shall mean a share of Class E Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company.
Class F Common Share ” shall mean a share of Class F Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company.
Class G Common Share ” shall mean a share of Class G Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company.
Class H Common Share ” shall mean a share of Class H Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company.
Class I Common Share ” shall mean a share of Class I Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company.
Class J Common Share ” shall mean a share of Class J Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company.
Class T Common Share ” shall mean a share of Class T Common Stock, no par value, of the Company, including any share in any of the Common Stock classes listed sequentially in the Company’s articles of incorporation, as amended and restated, from “T0903 Common” through and including “TGPII Common.”
Class W Common Share ” shall mean a share of Class W Common Stock, par value $10.00 per share, of the Company.
Closing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .
Closing Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .
Code ” shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

3



Company Balance Sheet ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(a) .
Company Charter Documents ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1 .
Company Group ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(b) .
Company Indemnified Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(a) .
Company Intellectual Property ” shall mean the Owned Intellectual Property and the Licensed Intellectual Property.
Company IP Agreements ” shall mean all (i) licenses of Intellectual Property (a) from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, to any third party (including licenses to customers and end users granted in the ordinary course of business) and (b) to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from any third party (including Shrink‑Wrap Agreements); and (ii) all contracts and agreements with a third party relating to the development of any Intellectual Property, independently or jointly, by or for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Company’s Knowledge, ” “ Knowledge of the Company ” or similar terms used in this Agreement shall mean the actual knowledge of the individuals set forth on Schedule I , as well as knowledge that any of such individuals should have reasonably been expected to acquire in the ordinary course of the performance of their respective responsibilities for the Company.
Company Recommendation ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Company Restricted Share ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6 .
Company Shareholder Approval ” shall mean (i) the approval by Company Shareholders holding a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the Junior Common Shares and Class W Common Shares, voting as a single voting group, and (ii) the approval of at least two-thirds of the Class W Common Shares, voting as a separate voting group, in each case, of this Agreement and the Merger at the Shareholders’ Meeting.
Company Shareholders ” shall mean the holders of Company Shares immediately prior to the Effective Time, taken together.
Company Shares ” shall mean, collectively, the Junior Common Shares, the Class T Common Shares, the Class W Common Shares and the Class B Preferred Shares.
Compliant ” shall mean, with respect to the Required Information, that (i) such Required Information does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the Required Information, in the light of the circumstances under which the statements contained in the Required Information are made, not misleading, (ii) such Required Information is, and remains throughout the Marketing Period, compliant in all material respects with all applicable requirements of Regulation S-K and Regulation S-X under the Securities Act for offerings of debt securities on a registration statement on Form S-1, (iii) the Company’s independent auditors have delivered drafts of customary comfort letters, including customary negative assurance comfort with respect to periods following the end of the latest fiscal year or fiscal quarter for

4



which historical financial statements are included in the Required Information, and such auditors have confirmed they are prepared to issue any such comfort letter upon any pricing date occurring during the Marketing Period, and (iv) the financial statements and other financial information included in such Required Information are, and remain throughout the Marketing Period, sufficient to permit a registration statement on Form S-1 using such financial statements and financial information to be declared effective by the SEC throughout and on each day during the Marketing Period.
Confidentiality Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a) .
Continuing Employee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1 .
control ” (including the terms “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ”), with respect to the relationship between or among two or more Persons, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly or as trustee, personal representative or executor, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the affairs or management of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee, personal representative or executor, by contract or otherwise.
Conveyance Taxes ” shall mean sales, use, value added, transfer, stamp, stock transfer, real property transfer and similar taxes, fees or charges (together with any interest, penalties or additions in respect thereof) imposed by any Governmental Authority in respect of the surrender of the Company Shares in the Merger pursuant to this Agreement.
Deductible ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(a) .
Disclosure Schedules ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article III .
Dissenting Shareholders ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a) .
Dissenting Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a) .
Effective Time ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .
Employee ” shall mean each individual who is an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Encumbrance ” shall mean any security interest, pledge, charge, adverse claim, hypothecation, mortgage, lien or encumbrance, other than any license of, option to license, or covenant not to assert claims of infringement, misappropriation or other violation with respect to, Intellectual Property.
Environmental Law ” shall mean any Law, consent decree or judgment, in each case in effect on or prior to the date hereof, relating to (a) pollution or the protection of the environment; (b) public health and safety; (c) workplace health and safety; (d) the presence, use, generation, management, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, distribution, labeling, release, threatened release, removal or cleanup of any Hazardous Substance; or (e) any Laws issued by the California Air Resources Board or United States Environmental Protection Agency relating to emissions from vehicles.

5



Environmental Permit ” shall mean any material permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under or issued pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law.
Equity Plans ” shall mean the Company’s incentive equity plans, including without limitation, the Company’s 1999 Amended and Restated Restricted Stock Plan (and the grant agreements made thereunder), the Company’s Direct Stock Ownership Program (and participation agreements made thereunder) and the ESOP.
ERISA ” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
Escrow Account ” shall mean the account into which the Escrowed Cash is deposited with the Escrow Agent and held by it, subject to disbursement as provided in Article VIII and in the Escrow Agreement.
Escrow Agent ” shall mean Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.
Escrow Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.11 .
Escrow Fund ” shall mean the Escrowed Cash deposited with the Escrow Agent in the Escrow Account, as such sum may increase or decrease from time to time as provided in this Agreement or the Escrow Agreement.
Escrowed Cash ” shall mean Two Hundred Million Dollars ($200,000,000).
ESOP ” shall mean the Company Employee Stock Ownership Plan and its related trust.
ESOP Amendment ” shall mean an amendment to the ESOP, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent, adopted prior to the Closing Date, but effective in all respects as of the Effective Time, providing that, (i) the ESOP shall no longer be considered an “employee stock ownership plan” (as defined in Section 4975 of the Code), (ii) the ESOP shall be converted to a profit sharing plan and frozen as to both participation and benefit accruals and each ESOP Participant shall be fully vested in his or her benefits thereunder (to the extent not previously fully vested), (iii) the ESOP shall not permit distributions to ESOP Participants in the form of employer securities and (iv) the ESOP shall contain provisions for the prudent investment of cash assets consistent with applicable Law.
ESOP Determination ” shall mean the determination by the ESOP Fiduciary, in the exercise of its fiduciary discretion under ERISA and in accordance with ERISA, that the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is in the best interests of the ESOP Participants.
ESOP Fairness Opinion ” shall mean an opinion of the ESOP Financial Advisor, to the effect that (i) the consideration to be paid to the ESOP Fiduciary, on behalf of the ESOP, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not less than adequate consideration (as defined in Section 3(18) of ERISA) and (ii) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are fair to the ESOP from a financial point of view.

6



ESOP Fiduciary ” shall mean GreatBanc Trust Company, the independent fiduciary that has been duly engaged by the Company to act as a discretionary fiduciary under Section 17.4 of the ESOP in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ESOP Financial Advisor ” shall mean Duff & Phelps Corporation, the independent appraiser meeting the requirements of Section 401(a)(28)(C) of the Code that has been duly engaged by the ESOP Fiduciary on behalf of the ESOP in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ESOP Participant ” shall mean any participant in, or beneficiary of a deceased participant in, the ESOP who has an ESOP account balance as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.
Exchange Act ” shall mean the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Exchange Agent ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a) .
Exchange Fund ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a)(i) .
Extended Closing Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .
Fairness Opinion ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.18 .
FCPA ” shall mean the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.
Final Escrow Release Date ” shall mean the date as set forth in the Escrow Agreement, which is the thirty-sixth (36) month anniversary of the Closing.
Financial Statements ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(a) .
Financing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6 .
Financing Commitments ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6 .
Financing Sources ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(b) .
Fundamental Representations ” shall mean the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.1 (Organization and Qualification of the Company), Section 3.2 (Authorization of Agreement), Section 3.3 (other than clauses (d), (e) or (g) thereof) (Capitalization; Ownership of Shares; Subsidiaries), Section 3.8(b) (Locked Box), Section 3.16 (Taxes) and Section 3.18 (Brokers).
GAAP ” shall mean United States generally accepted accounting principles in effect and applied consistently throughout the periods involved.

7



Governmental Authority ” shall mean any federal, national, foreign, supranational, state, provincial, local or other government, governmental, regulatory, administrative or quasi-governmental authority, agency, bureau, board, office, self‑regulatory organization, instrumentality or commission or any court, tribunal, or judicial or arbitral body of competent jurisdiction.
Government Official ” shall mean any (i) official, officer, employee, or representative of, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of, any Governmental Authority, (ii) any political party or party official or candidate for political office, or any (iii) company, business, enterprise or other entity owned, in whole or in part, or controlled by any person described in the foregoing clause (i) or (ii) of this definition.
Governmental Order ” shall mean any order, writ, judgment, injunction, subpoena, decree, stipulation, determination, settlement or award entered by or with any Governmental Authority.
Hazardous Substance ” shall mean any material, substance or waste that is or has been defined, listed, prohibited or regulated, or for which liability or standards of conduct may be imposed, under any Environmental Law, including petroleum, petroleum products, asbestos, asbestos-containing materials, radioactive materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, noise, odor or mold.
HSR Act ” shall mean the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.
Indebtedness ” of any Person shall mean, at any time, without duplication, (i) any indebtedness for borrowed money of such Person, (ii) any indebtedness of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments or debt securities, (iii) any liability of such Person in respect of amounts of drafts presented and duly honored under letters of credit, (iv) any obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements, (v) any obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding obligations of such Person to creditors for goods and services incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business), (vi) any capitalized lease obligations of such Person, (vii) any obligations of others secured by any Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) on property or assets owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (viii) any obligations of such Person under interest rate or currency swap transactions (valued at the termination value thereof), (ix) any obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements, (x) any indebtedness of any other Person of the nature specified in clauses (i)-(ix) guaranteed in any manner by such Person (excluding guarantees of loans made by banks to various independent store customers of the Company who are not Specified Persons in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice) and (xi) any accrued and unpaid interest or penalties on, and any prepayment premiums, penalties or similar contractual charges or fees paid in respect of any of the foregoing, including, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, the principal, interest, pre‑payment premiums and fees owing under the Credit Agreement.
Indemnified Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(a) .

8



Indemnifying Party ” shall mean, as applicable, either any Company Shareholder or Optionholder, on the one hand, or Parent, on the other hand, that is an indemnifying party pursuant to, and in accordance with, the provisions of Article VIII .
Indemnifiable Taxes ” shall mean (i) all Taxes (or the non-payment thereof) of the Company or any Subsidiary for all taxable periods ending on or before the Locked Box Date and the pre-Locked Box Date portion of any taxable period that includes but does not end on the Locked Box Date (collectively, the “ Pre-Locked Box Tax Period ”), and (ii) any Taxes resulting from the Intellectual Property Transfer. In the case of any taxable period that includes (but does not end on) the Locked Box Date, the amount of any Taxes based on or measured by income or receipts of the Company or any Subsidiary for the Pre-Locked Box Tax Period shall be determined based on an interim closing of the books as of the close of business on the Locked Box Date (and for such purpose, the taxable period of any partnership or other pass-through entity in which any Company holds a beneficial interest shall be deemed to terminate at such time) and the amount of other Taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that relates to the Pre-Locked Box Tax Period shall be deemed to be the amount of such Tax for the entire taxable period multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the taxable period ending on the Locked Box Date, and the denominator of which is the number of days in such period.
Indemnified Person ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(a) .
Information Statement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(a) .
Intellectual Property ” shall mean (a) inventions (whether or not patentable), patents and patent applications, together with all reissues, continuations, continuations‑in‑part, revisions, divisionals, extensions and reexaminations in connection therewith; (b) trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade dress, Internet domain names, and all other indicia of origin, together with the goodwill associated therewith; (c) works of authorship (whether or not copyrightable), and copyrights; (d) registrations, applications for registration, and renewals of any of the foregoing in (a) through (c); (e) trade secrets, know‑how and technology; (f) software (including source code, executable code, databases, firmware, and related documentation); and (g) all other proprietary and intellectual property rights.
Intellectual Property Transfer ” shall mean the consummation of the transactions contemplated by that certain Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2013 (the “ IP Transfer APA ”), and the other agreements and documents referenced therein, pursuant to which certain Intellectual Property that is used by the Company and its Subsidiaries but not currently owned 100% by the Company and its Subsidiaries has been (a) sold by the current owners thereof to an entity that is 100% owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and (b) licensed back to the current owners thereof.
intentional misrepresentation ” shall mean, with respect to any express representation of a party in this Agreement, a material representation made falsely with intent of misleading the party to whom such express representation is made under this Agreement.
IRS ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Service of the United States.

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Jobber Agreement ” shall mean each Independent CARQUEST Store Agreement and any other similar agreement or arrangement with an independently owned branded CARQUEST Auto Parts store serviced and/or supplied by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Junior Common Shares ” shall mean, collectively, the Class A Common Shares, Class B Common Shares, Class C Common Shares, Class D Common Shares, Class E Common Shares, Class F Common Shares, Class G Common Shares, Class H Common Shares, Class I Common Shares and Class J Common Shares.
Knowledge of Parent ” or similar terms used in this Agreement shall mean the actual knowledge of the individuals set forth on Schedule II , as well as knowledge that any of such individuals should have reasonably been expected to acquire in the ordinary course of the performance of their respective responsibilities for Parent.
Law ” shall mean any federal, national, foreign, supranational, state, provincial or local statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, requirement or rule of law issued, enacted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under authority of any Governmental Authority.
Leakage ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.8 .
Leased Real Property ” shall mean the real property leased or subleased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, as tenant or sublessee, together with, to the extent leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, all buildings and other structures, facilities or improvements located thereon, all fixtures, systems, equipment and items of personal property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries attached or appurtenant thereto and all easements, licenses, rights and appurtenances relating to the foregoing.
Letter of Transmittal ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b) .
Licensed Intellectual Property ” shall mean all Intellectual Property that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is licensed to use pursuant to the Company IP Agreements.
Locked Box Date ” shall mean June 30, 2013.
Losses ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(a) .
Marketing Period ” shall mean the first period of twenty (20) consecutive Business Days commencing on or after the date hereof and throughout which: (a) Parent shall have all of the Required Information and during which period such information shall remain Compliant; provided that if the Company shall in good faith reasonably believe that it has delivered the Required Information, it may deliver to Parent a written notice to that effect (stating when it believes it completed such delivery) in which case the Marketing Period shall be deemed to have commenced on the date specified in such notice (but in no event prior to the date hereof) unless Parent reasonably believes the Company has not completed delivery of the Required Information and within five (5) Business Days after delivery of such notice by the Company, delivers a written notice to the Company to that effect (stating in good faith and

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with reasonable specificity which Required Information the Company has not delivered to Parent); and (b) at the beginning of such Marketing Period, Parent has a reasonable expectation that prior to the end of the Marketing Period, all of the conditions set forth in Article VII shall be satisfied or waived (to the extent permissible) by Parent or the Company, as applicable, and nothing shall have occurred and no condition shall exist that would cause any of the conditions set forth in Article VII to fail to be satisfied assuming the Closing were to be scheduled for any time during such twenty (20) Business Day period; provided that (i) the Marketing Period will not be deemed to have commenced if prior to the completion of the Marketing Period, (x) the Company’s auditors shall have withdrawn their audit opinion with respect to any of the financial statements included in the Required Information for which they have provided such opinion, in which case the Marketing Period shall not be deemed to commence unless and until a new unqualified audit opinion is issued with respect thereto by the Company’s auditors or another independent public accounting firm reasonably acceptable to Parent or (y) the Company issues a statement indicating an intent to restate any historical financial statements of the Company, in whole or in part, or otherwise indicates its intent or the need to restate any of the financial statements included in the Required Information, or that any such restatement is under consideration, in which case the Marketing Period shall not be deemed to commence unless and until such restatement has been completed and the relevant financial statements have been amended or the Company has announced or informed Parent that it has concluded in good faith and in its reasonable business judgment (including the basis for such conclusion) that no restatement of financial statements shall be required in accordance with GAAP and (ii) such twenty (20) consecutive Business Day period (x) shall not be required to be consecutive to the extent that it would include November 28, 2013 through and including November 29, 2013 (which dates shall not count for purposes of the twenty (20) consecutive Business Day period) and (y) if not ended on or prior to December 20, 2013, shall commence no earlier than January 6, 2014.
Material Adverse Effect ” shall mean any effect, event, fact, development, circumstance or change that, individually or in the aggregate, is or would reasonably be expected to (i) be materially adverse to the business, assets, liabilities, operations, operating results or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) prevent or materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to timely consummate the Transactions other than, in the case of clause (i), any effect or change resulting from or relating to: (a) general business or economic conditions, or general business or economic conditions affecting the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate, (b) national or international political or social conditions, including the engagement by the United States in hostilities, whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war, or the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack upon the United States, or any of its territories, possessions, or diplomatic or consular offices or upon any military installation, equipment or personnel of the United States, (c) financial, banking or securities markets in the United States or in any other country in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate (including any disruption thereof and any decline in the price of any security or any market index), (d) the taking of any action expressly required by this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, (e) the announcement or pendency of the Transactions, solely to the extent permitted by this Agreement, (f) any failure by the Company to meet projections or forecasts or revenue or earnings predictions (except that the underlying facts, events or circumstances causing or contributing to such failure shall be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has or would reasonably be expected to have occurred unless specifically excluded under a different clause of this

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definition) and (g) any change in GAAP or applicable Laws after the date hereof (except that, in the case of each of clauses (a), (b), (c) and (g), such effect, event, fact, development, circumstance or change shall be taken into account when determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has or would reasonably be expected to have occurred if such effect, event, fact, development, circumstance or change has a materially disproportionate impact on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other similarly situated companies in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate).
Material Contracts ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.17(a) .
Merger ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 .
Merger Sub ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Merger Sub Common Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(e) .
NCBCA ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Non-Competition Agreements ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Option Shares ” shall mean, collectively, the applicable Company Shares exercisable under Options.
Options ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(a) .
Optionholders ” shall mean the holders of Options immediately prior to the Effective Time, taken together.
Owned Intellectual Property ” shall mean all Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Owned Real Property ” shall mean all land, together with all buildings, structures, improvements and fixtures located thereon, and all easements and other rights and interests appurtenant thereto, owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Parent ” shall have the meaning set forth in preamble.
Parent Group ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(b) .
Parent Indemnified Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(a) .
Parent Plans ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(c) .
Parent Termination Fee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(a) .
Party ” shall mean a party to this Agreement.
Per CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class “T” Common Share Purchase Price ” shall mean, with respect to each series of CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class “T” Common Shares, the amount set

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forth opposite such series of CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class “T” Common Shares on Schedule III .
Per CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class “X” Common Share Purchase Price ” shall mean, with respect to a CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class “X” Share, the amount set forth opposite “CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Common X” on Schedule III .
Per Class B Preferred Share Cash Consideration ” shall mean the amount set forth opposite “General Parts International Preferred B” on Schedule III .
Per Class T Common Share Cash Consideration ” shall mean, with respect of each class of Class T Common Shares, the amount set forth opposite such class of Class T Common Shares on Schedule III .
Per Class W Common Share Cash Consideration ” shall mean (a) in the case of the Stockel Shares, the Per Share Change of Control Purchase Price, and (b) in the case of any Class W Common Shares other than the Stockel Shares, the amount set forth opposite “General Parts International Common W” on Schedule III .
Per Junior Common Share Cash Consideration ” shall mean the amount set forth opposite “General Parts International Common Junior” on Schedule III .
Per Option Share Cash Consideration ” shall mean the amount set forth opposite “General Parts International Option A” on Schedule III .
Per Redeemed Share Cash Consideration ” shall mean, with respect to each Redeemed Share, the excess, if any, of the applicable Per Share Cash Consideration over the redemption price paid by the Company for such Redeemed Share.
Per Share Cash Consideration ” shall mean the Per Option Share Cash Consideration, the Per Junior Common Share Cash Consideration, the Per Class B Preferred Share Cash Consideration, the Per Class T Common Share Cash Consideration, the Per Class W Common Share Cash Consideration, the Per CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class “T” Common Share Purchase Price, Per CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class “X” Common Share Purchase Price, the Per Redeemed Company Share Cash Consideration, and the Per Redeemed CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Share Cash Consideration, as applicable.
Per Share Change of Control Purchase Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Stockel Agreement.
Per Share Consideration ” shall mean the applicable Per Share Cash Consideration (as it may be adjusted as set forth on Schedule III ) plus, solely with respect to the Company Shareholders and Optionholders, the applicable Pro Rata Portion of any distributions to the Company Shareholders and Optionholders from the Escrow Account in accordance with the Escrow Agreement, the applicable Pro Rata Portion of any distributions to the Company Shareholders and Optionholders in respect of a Refund under Section 5.14 , and the applicable Pro Rata Portion of any distributions to the Company Shareholders and Optionholders with respect to the Shareholder Representative Fund under Section 8.8(c) .

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Permits ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.10 .
Permitted Encumbrances ” shall mean: (a) statutory liens for current Taxes not yet due or the validity or amount of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and properly reserved for in the Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP; (b) mechanics’, carriers’, workers’, repairers’ and other similar liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business, or pledges, deposits or other liens securing the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases or statutory obligations (including workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other social security legislation) for amounts not yet due or the validity or amount of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and properly reserved for in the Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP, to the extent, individually or in the aggregate, not material to the use or value of the assets to which they pertain; (c) liens on leases, subleases, easements, licenses, rights of use, rights to access and rights of way arising therefrom or benefiting or created by any superior estate, right or interest which do not or would not materially impair the use or occupancy of the real property of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (d) any Encumbrances set forth in any title policies, endorsements, title commitments, title certificates and/or title reports made available to Parent relating to the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ interests in real property and any zoning, entitlement, conservation restriction and other land use and environmental regulations by Governmental Authorities, in each case, which individually or in the aggregate, do not materially impair the present use of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (e) all covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements, charges, rights‑of‑way, other Encumbrances and other similar matters of record set forth in any state, local or municipal recording or like office which do not materially interfere with the present use of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (f) matters which would be disclosed by an accurate survey or inspection of the real property, minor encroachments including but not limited to foundations and retaining walls, standard survey and title exceptions, variations, if any, between tax lot lines and property lines, deviations, if any, of fences or shrubs from designated property lines, to the extent such matters, individually or in the aggregate, do not and would not materially impair the occupancy or use of such real property which they encumber; and (g) all other Encumbrances which have arisen in the ordinary course of business and that, individually or in the aggregate, do not and would not be material to the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course.
Permitted Leakage ” shall mean: (i) any payment, transfer or transactions expressly required to be made under this Agreement; (ii) any payments, transfer or transaction set forth on Section 1.1(B) of the Disclosure Schedules; and (iii) any payment, transfer or transaction with the prior written consent of Parent (such consent to be in Parent’s sole discretion; provided , that Parent shall respond to any request of the Company for such consent in a reasonably expeditious manner following notice of such request from the Company).
Person ” shall mean any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization, union, Governmental Authority or other entity, as well as any syndicate or group that would be deemed to be a person under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
Plans ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.14(a) .

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Pre-Locked Box Tax Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Indemnifiable Taxes.”
Pro Rata Portion ” shall mean, with respect to any amount payable to a Company Shareholder or an Optionholder, a portion calculated as (x) the aggregate amount of Aggregate Merger Consideration received or to be received by such Company Shareholder and/or Optionholder in respect of all Company Shares and Options owned of record by such Company Shareholder and/or Optionholder immediately prior to the Effective Time divided by (y) the aggregate amount of Aggregate Merger Consideration received or to be received by all Company Shareholders and Optionholder in respect of all Company Shares and Options owned of record by all Company Shareholders and Optionholders immediately prior to the Effective Time.
Real Property Leases ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(b) .
Record Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(d) .
Redeemed Shareholder ” shall mean a holder of record of Redeemed Shares immediately prior to the redemption, sale, or exchange thereof.
Redeemed Shares ” shall mean (i) all Class T Common Shares or Junior Common Shares “redeemed” (within the meaning of any existing shareholder’s agreement or other prior agreement with the Company) on or after July 12, 2013 pursuant to such agreements based upon a “termination of employment” (within the meaning of such agreement) or the exercise of a put option/sale, and (ii) all shares of Class A Common Stock, Class C Common Stock or Class B Preferred Stock allocated to the account of an ESOP participant and that were sold or exchanged pursuant to the terms of the ESOP during the period beginning July 12, 2013 and ending on the date of this Agreement.
Refund ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.14 .
Registered ” shall mean issued by, registered or filed with, renewed by or the subject of a pending application before any Governmental Authority or Internet domain name registrar.
Regulations ” shall mean the Treasury Regulations (including Temporary Regulations) promulgated by the United States Department of the Treasury with respect to the Code or other federal tax statutes.
Representative Expenses Shortfall ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.8(d) .
Representatives ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors or other representatives.
Required Information ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.12(b) .
Responsible Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.15 .

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Scheduled Closing Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .
SEC ” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933.
Shareholder Representative ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Shareholder Representative Amount ” shall mean Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000).
Shareholder Representative Expenses ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.8(b) .
Shareholder Representative Fund ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.8(a) .
Shareholders’ Meeting ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(c) .
Shrink‑Wrap Agreements ” shall mean “shrink‑wrap” and “click‑wrap” licenses and licenses concerning generally commercially available software.
Sigma Entity ” shall mean the Persons set forth on Section 1.1(C) of the Disclosure Schedules.
Specified Person ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.19 .
Stockel Agreement ” shall mean that certain Stock Purchase Agreement, dated December 31, 2012, among Sheser Creek Company LLC and each of the Stockel Shareholders, as amended by an Amendment to Stock Purchase Agreement dated January 31, 2013, regarding certain Class W Common Shares.
Stockel Share ” shall mean a Class W Common Share owned of record as of immediately prior to the Effective Time by any of the Stockel Shareholders who have not agreed pursuant to an amendment of the Stockel Agreement to accept as payment for such Class W Common Share the Per Class W Common Share Cash Consideration pursuant to the Merger and this Agreement in lieu of payment of the Per Share Change of Control Purchase Price under the Stockel Agreement.
Stockel Shareholders ” shall mean the Persons (other than Sheser Creek Company LLC) who are party to the Stockel Agreement set forth on Section 1.1(D) of the Disclosure Schedules.
Subsidiary ” of any Person shall mean (i) any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, which is controlled by such Person or (ii) whose voting securities are more than fifty percent (50%) owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

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Surviving Corporation ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 .
Takeover Statutes ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2 .
Tax ” or “ Taxes ” shall mean all (i) United States federal, state or local or non-United States taxes, assessments, charges, duties, levies or other similar governmental charges of any nature, including all income, franchise, profits, capital gains, capital stock, transfer, sales, use, occupation, property, excise, severance, windfall profits, stamp, stamp duty reserve, license, payroll, withholding, ad valorem, value added, alternative minimum, environmental, customs, social security (or similar), unemployment, sick pay, disability, registration and other taxes, assessments, charges, duties, fees, levies or other similar governmental charges of any kind whatsoever, whether disputed or not, together with all estimated taxes, deficiency assessments, additions to tax, penalties and interest; (ii) any liability for the payment of any amount of a type described in clause (i) arising as a result of being or having been a member of any consolidated, combined, unitary or other group or being or having been included or required to be included in any Tax return related thereto; and (iii) any liability for the payment of any amount of a type described in clause (i) or clause (ii) as a result of any obligation to indemnify or otherwise assume or succeed to the liability of any other Person.
Termination Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(b) .
Third Party Claim ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.4(b) .
Transaction Documents ” shall mean this Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, any certificate or other instrument delivered pursuant to Article VII , the Letters of Transmittal, the Voting Agreements and the Non-Competition Agreements.
Transaction Expenses ” shall mean all expenses and disbursements of the Company and its Subsidiaries and other Persons incurred or to be incurred in connection with the preparation, execution and consummation of this Agreement, the Transactions, and the Closing, to the extent such expenses and disbursements are, or could become (by contract, guarantee or otherwise), the responsibility of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including fees and disbursements of legal counsel (including the ESOP Fiduciary’s legal counsel), investment bankers, accountants, the ESOP Fiduciary, the ESOP Financial Advisor, investment bankers, accountants and other advisors and service providers; provided , however , that Transaction Expenses shall not include any expenses that are the financial responsibility of Parent under Section 5.12(c) .
Transaction Litigation ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.6 .
Transactions ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
WARN Act ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(d) .
Withdrawal of Recommendation ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(f) .

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Workers ” shall mean the individuals who are at the date of this Agreement providing services to the Company and its Subsidiaries on a self-employed basis or are supplied by an agency.
Voting Agreements ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Section 1.2 Interpretation and Rules of Construction .

(a) In this Agreement, except to the extent otherwise provided or that the context otherwise requires:

(i) when a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference is to an Article or Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement;

(ii) the table of contents and headings for this Agreement are for reference purposes only and do not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement;

(iii) whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they are deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

(iv) the word “or” in this Agreement is disjunctive but not necessarily exclusive;

(v) the words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement;

(vi) references to terms in the singular shall include the plural forms of such terms and references to the masculine shall include references to the feminine and neuter genders of such terms, and vice versa

(vii) references in this Agreement to days mean calendar days unless expressly stated to be Business Days;

(viii) all terms defined in this Agreement have the defined meanings when used in any certificate delivered pursuant hereto, unless otherwise defined therein;

(ix) the definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms;

(x) references to a Person are also to its successors and permitted assigns;

(xi) references to sums of money are expressed in lawful currency of the United States of America, and “$” refers to U.S. dollars; and


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(xii) except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, all references herein to any Laws defined or referred to herein, including the Code and ERISA, are references to those Laws or any successor Laws, as the same may have been amended or supplemented from time to time, and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, except as expressly set forth in the Disclosure Schedules, the information and disclosures contained in any Section of the Disclosure Schedules shall be deemed to be disclosed and incorporated by reference in each other Section of the Disclosure Schedules as though fully set forth in such other Section of the Disclosure Schedules to the extent the relevance of such information to such other Section is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure.

ARTICLE II

THE MERGER

Section 2.1 The Merger . At the Effective Time and subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Articles of Merger and the applicable provisions of the NCBCA, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company (the “ Merger ”), the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving company under the laws of North Carolina. The Company, as the surviving company after the Merger, is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “ Surviving Corporation .”

Section 2.2 Effective Time; Closing . The closing of the Merger (the “ Closing ”) shall take place at the offices of Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P., 2300 Wells Fargo Capitol Center, Raleigh, NC 27601, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the date that is the later of (i) three (3) Business Days after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions, which by their terms, are to be satisfied or waived on the Closing Date, but subject to the satisfaction of such conditions on the Closing Date) or (ii) the earlier of (A) the third (3rd) Business Day immediately following the last day of the Marketing Period and (B) the date on which Parent delivers written notice to the Company waiving this clause (ii), which at the option of the Company may be postponed until the third (3rd) Business Day following such date (but, in any event, subject to the satisfaction or waiver (to the extent permissible) by the applicable party of the conditions set forth in Article VII at the Closing); provided , however , that the Closing may be consummated on such other date, time or place as Parent and the Company may mutually agree, or at such other time as the parties hereto agree in writing; provided , further , that in no event shall the Closing take place prior to December 30, 2013 (the “ Closing Date ”). Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on the Closing Date, the Company shall execute articles of merger (the “ Articles of Merger ”) as provided by Section 55-11-05 of the NBCA and deliver the Articles of Merger and any other documents required under the NCBCA to effect the Merger to the Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina for filing as provided by Section 55-11-05 of the NCBCA. The Merger shall become effective at the time specified in the Articles of Merger (the “ Effective Time ”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Closing would otherwise be required to occur pursuant to and in accordance with this Section 2.2 on any date prior to December 30, 2013 (the “ Scheduled Closing Date ”), then the Closing Date shall be extended to such date on or after December 30, 2013 and prior to the Termination Date as shall be mutually agreed in good faith by Parent and the Company (the “ Extended Closing Date ”); provided , that if, following good faith negotiation by Parent and the Company, Parent and the Company have not mutually agreed on the date of the Extended Closing Date (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld), the Extended Closing Date shall be the Termination Date. In the event that the Scheduled

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Closing Date has been extended pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger on the Extended Closing Date shall remain subject to the fulfillment or waiver of each of the conditions set forth in Article VII and all other conditions to the occurrence of the Closing Date set forth in this Section 2.2 (other than the condition set forth in Section 7.2(g) , the satisfaction of which shall be deemed to be waived by Parent to the extent the failure of such condition to be so satisfied on the Extended Closing Date is attributable solely to a Material Adverse Effect that shall have occurred during the period between the Scheduled Closing Date and the Extended Closing Date).

Section 2.3 Effect of the Merger . At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement and the applicable provisions of the NCBCA and the Articles of Merger.

Section 2.4 Articles of Incorporation of Surviving Corporation; Directors and Officers of Surviving Corporation . At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Merger Sub or the Company:

(a) the articles of incorporation of the Company, as in effect as of the Effective Time, shall be the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended in accordance with the NCBCA and the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation;

(b) the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended and restated to be identical to the bylaws of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that all references to the name of Merger Sub in the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation shall be revised to refer to “General Parts International, Inc.;”

(c) the directors of the Surviving Corporation shall initially be the directors of Merger Sub as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, each to hold office in accordance with the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified;

(d) the officers of the Surviving Corporation shall initially be the officers of Merger Sub as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, each to hold office in accordance with the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and until his or her successor is duly appointed and qualified; and

(e) the share transfer books of the Company shall be closed and no transfer of Company Shares shall thereafter be made.

Section 2.5 Effect of Merger on the Shares of the Constituent Corporations .

(a) Effect on Company Shares . Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part

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of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or the Company Shareholders, each issued and outstanding Company Share (other than any (i) Company Shares to be cancelled pursuant to Section 2.5(d) and (ii) Dissenting Shares) will be cancelled and extinguished and be converted automatically into the right to receive the applicable Per Share Consideration, payable in each case without interest to the Company Shareholders, in the manner provided in Section 2.10 . If any Company Shareholder issued any promissory note(s) to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with his, her or its purchase of Company Shares that has an unpaid principal balance and/or any accrued and unpaid interest balance on the Closing Date, upon receipt by the Exchange Agent of a Letter of Transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, Parent will direct the Exchange Agent to (A) pay on such Company Shareholder’s behalf an amount equal to the aggregate unpaid principal and any accrued and unpaid interest balances outstanding under all such promissory notes to the holder(s) of such promissory notes (not to exceed the total amount of Aggregate Merger Consideration otherwise payable to such Company Shareholder in connection with the Merger) and (B) pay, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Letter of Transmittal, to such Company Shareholder the remainder (after the payment of any amounts in accordance with clause (A)), if any, of the aggregate amount of Aggregate Merger Consideration payable to such Company Shareholder in connection with the Merger.
(b) Purchase of CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shares . Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Company shall:
(i) immediately prior to the Effective Time, purchase from each holder thereof:
(1)    all CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class “T” Common Shares at the applicable Per CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class T Common Share Purchase Price; and
(2)    all CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class “X” Common Shares at the Per CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Class “X” Common Share Purchase Price;
by delivering to such holder, prior to the Effective Time, a notice from CARQUEST CANADA LTD. stating that (A) the holder’s shares will be purchased immediately prior to the Effective Time by the Company as the designated Affiliate of CARQUEST CANADA LTD. pursuant to section 3(ii)(c)(9) of the CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Articles of Amalgamation, as amended (the “ CCL Articles ”), (B) the applicable per share purchase price meets or exceeds the applicable “Value” (as defined in the section 3(ii)(a) of the CCL Articles) of each such share as required by section 3(ii)(c)(8) of the CCL Articles, and (C) if applicable, the net amount payable to each such holder following any setoff pursuant to section 3(ii)(c)(12) of the CCL Articles in respect of any indebtedness of the holder to CARQUEST CANADA LTD.;
(ii) cause CARQUEST CANADA LTD. to take all actions necessary to effect the foregoing; and

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(iii) tender to CARQUEST CANADA LTD. for cancellation, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, all such purchased CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shares as a contribution to the capital of CARQUEST CANADA LTD.

(c) Payments in Respect of Certain Shares Redeemed Prior to Closing . Effective as of the Effective Time, subject to the terms and conditions herein, each Redeemed Shareholder shall be entitled to receive in respect of each Redeemed Share, the Per Redeemed Share Cash Consideration.

(d) Cancellation of Company Shares . Each Company Share held immediately prior to the Effective Time by Merger Sub, Parent or any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company or of Parent shall be cancelled and extinguished without any conversion thereof.

(e) Shares of Merger Sub . Each share of common stock of Merger Sub (the “ Merger Sub Common Shares ”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into one validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of Class A common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Surviving Corporation and such shares of the Surviving Corporation shall be the only shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation that are issued and outstanding immediately after the Effective Time.

Section 2.6 Company Restricted Shares . Prior to the Effective Time, the Board of Directors of the Company shall take all actions necessary to cause each Company Share that is subject to vesting or other restrictions pursuant to an Equity Plan other than the ESOP and that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (whether vested or unvested) (such Company Shares, “ Company Restricted Shares ”) to vest and become free of such restrictions as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and at the Effective Time the holder thereof shall, subject to this Article II , be entitled to receive the applicable Per Share Cash Consideration with respect to each such Company Restricted Share, less any required withholding Taxes.

Section 2.7 Company Options . Neither Parent nor Surviving Corporation shall assume any option exercisable by any Person for Company Shares (the “ Options ”). As soon as practicable after the date hereof, but no later than five (5) days prior to the Effective Time, Company shall take all actions necessary to cause each Option outstanding at the Effective Time to either be canceled or terminated effective immediately prior to the Effective Time, and the holder of each such Option shall, subject to Section 2.10(g) , have the right to receive as of the Effective Time, the Per Option Share Cash Consideration. Thereafter, without impairing the rights of the Optionholders to receive the payments to the extent set forth herein, the Optionholders shall, as of the Effective Time, cease to have any further right or entitlement to acquire any Common Stock or any shares of capital stock of Parent or the Surviving Corporation under the cancelled or terminated Options. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall obtain all necessary waivers, consents or releases, in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent, from holders of Options under the Plans and take all such other action, without incurring any liabilities in connection therewith, as Parent may deem to be necessary to give effect to the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.7 . As promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company (or, if appropriate, any committee thereof administering the Plans) shall adopt such resolutions or take such other actions as are required to give effect to the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.7 .

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Section 2.8 Dissenting Shares .

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary and to the extent available under the NCBCA, Company Shares that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and that are held by Company Shareholders who have perfected and not withdrawn a demand for, or lost their right to, appraisal pursuant to Article 13 of the NCBCA (collectively, the “ Dissenting Shares ;” holders of Dissenting Shares being referred to as “ Dissenting Shareholders ”) shall be cancelled and the Dissenting Shareholders shall not be entitled to receive the Per Share Consideration payable in respect of such Dissenting Shares pursuant hereto and shall instead have only such rights in respect of the Dissenting Shares owned by him, her or it as are provided by Article 13 of the NCBCA, except that all Company Shares held by holders who shall have failed to perfect or who effectively shall have withdrawn or lost their appraisal rights in connection with the Merger under Article 13 of the NCBCA prior to the Effective Time shall thereupon (i) not be deemed to be Dissenting Shares and (ii) be and be deemed to have been cancelled and converted into, and to have become exchanged for, as of the Effective Time, the right to receive the Per Share Consideration payable in respect of such Company Share pursuant hereto, without any interest thereon, in the manner provided in Section 2.10 .

(b) The Company shall give Parent (i) prompt notice of any demands for appraisal received by the Company, withdrawals of such demands, and any other instruments served under Article 13 of the NCBCA and received by the Company and (ii) the opportunity to control and direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for appraisal under the NCBCA. The Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of Parent, make any payment with respect to any demands for appraisal or offer to settle or settle any such demands.

Section 2.9 Payments and Deliverables at Closing .

(a) At Closing, Parent will pay (or cause to be paid):

(i) to the Exchange Agent, to be held in trust in a separate account (the “ Exchange Fund ”) for distribution to the Company Shareholders, the CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shareholders, the Optionholders and the Redeemed Shareholders pursuant to Section 2.10 , by wire transfer of immediately available funds, an amount equal to the aggregate Per Share Cash Consideration in respect of all Company Shares and Option Shares and all CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shares (net of the aggregate setoff amounts required by section 3(ii)(c)(12) of the CCL Articles described in Section 2.5(b)(i)(C) with respect to CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shares) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (subject to the last sentence of Section 2.8(a) ) and all Redeemed Shares (such amount, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include the Escrowed Cash or the Shareholder Representative Amount, and shall include aggregate setoff amounts required by section 3(ii)(c)(12) of the CCL Articles described in Section 2.5(b)(i)(C) with respect to CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shares, the “ Aggregate Merger Consideration ”);

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(ii) to the Escrow Agent, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, an amount equal to the Escrowed Cash, which shall be managed and paid out by the Escrow Agent in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement; and

(iii) to the Escrow Agent, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, an amount equal to the Shareholder Representative Amount, to be used for the Shareholder Representative Expenses incurred by the Shareholder Representative in performing its duties hereunder on behalf of the Company Shareholders and the Optionholders

(b) At Closing, the Company will deliver (or cause to be delivered) the following:

(i) letters executed by each director of the Company, resigning such person’s positions as a director of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries (but not such person’s employment, if any, with such entity);

(ii) the shareholder approval contemplated by Section 5.11 , if applicable; and

(iii) (A) the duly adopted and executed ESOP Amendment, (B) the final ESOP Fairness Opinion issued by the ESOP Financial Advisor and (C) a certificate obtained from the ESOP Fiduciary and duly executed by the ESOP Fiduciary certifying as to the ESOP Determination.

(c) Upon payment by (or on behalf of) Parent pursuant to Section 2.9(a) above, each Company Shareholder and Optionholder will be deemed to have (i) received the full Per Share Cash Consideration payable in respect of its Company Shares and Option Shares in accordance with Section 2.5 , Section 2.6 , and Section 2.7 , (ii) to have deposited with the Escrow Agent an amount equal to such Company Shareholder’s or Optionholder’s Pro Rata Portion of the Escrowed Cash; and (iii) to have deposited with the Escrow Agent an amount equal to such Company Shareholder’s or Optionholder’s Pro Rata Portion of the Shareholder Representative Amount. The parties hereto agree that, for Tax reporting purposes, Parent shall be deemed to be the owner of the Escrowed Cash, and that all interest on or other taxable income, if any, earned from the investment of the Escrowed Cash pursuant to this Agreement shall be treated for Tax purposes as earned by Parent until the Escrowed Cash is distributed in accordance with this Agreement. Upon the release of the Escrowed Cash, a portion distributed to a Company Shareholder or Optionholder shall be treated as interest under the imputed interest rules of the Code.

Section 2.10 Payment Mechanics .

(a) Exchange Agent . On or prior to the Closing Date, Parent shall appoint a bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as exchange agent (the “ Exchange Agent ”) for the payment of the Aggregate Merger Consideration (i) in exchange for certificates formerly representing Company Shares (“ Certificates ”), (ii) in exchange for Company Shares or CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shares held in book-entry form on the Company’s or CARQUEST CANADA LTD. books and records, as the case may be, and (iii) in respect of the Redeemed Shares and Option Shares.

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(b) Letter of Transmittal . As promptly as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of Company Shares or CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shares immediately prior to the Effective Time or, in the case of Redeemed Shares or Options, to each holder of record of such Redeemed Shares or Options immediately prior to the redemption or cancellation thereof, a letter of transmittal substantially in the form of Exhibit A (the “ Letter of Transmittal ”), together with instructions thereto.

(c) Merger Consideration Received in Connection with Exchange . Upon receipt by the Exchange Agent of a Letter of Transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto and, in the case of Company Shares represented by a Certificate, the surrender of such Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange Agent, together with such other documents as may reasonably be required by the Exchange Agent, the former holder of the Company Shares, subject to such Letter of Transmittal and, if applicable, such Certificate, shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the applicable Per Share Cash Consideration into which such Company Shares have been converted pursuant to Section 2.5(a) or to which entitled with respect to CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shares purchased under Section 2.5(b) , or to which entitled with respect to the Redeemed Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be. In the event of a transfer of ownership of Company Shares or CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shares that is not registered in the transfer records of the Company or CARQUEST CANADA LTD., as the case may be, the applicable Per Share Cash Consideration may be issued to a transferee if the Certificate representing such Company Shares (or, if such Company Shares or CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shares are held in book-entry form, proper evidence of such transfer) is presented to the Exchange Agent, accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect such transfer and by evidence that any applicable stock transfer Taxes have been paid. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.10(c) , each Company Share or CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Share, and any Certificate with respect to a Company Share, shall be deemed at any time from and after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the applicable Per Share Consideration that the holders of Company Shares or CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shares are entitled to receive in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.5 . No interest shall be paid or shall accrue on the cash payable upon surrender of any Certificate (or Company Shares or CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shares held in book-entry form) or in respect of Redeemed Shares or Option Shares. If, after the Effective Time, any Certificates formerly representing Company Shares (or Company Shares or CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shares held in book-entry form) are presented to Parent or the Exchange Agent for any reason, they shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in this Article II .

(d) Termination of Exchange Fund . Any portion of the Exchange Fund (including any interest received with respect thereto) that remains undistributed to Company Shareholders, CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shareholders, Optionholders or Redeemed Shareholders for twelve (12) months after the Effective Time shall be delivered to Parent, and any holder of Company Shares, Optionholder,

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CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shareholder or Redeemed Shareholder who has not theretofore complied with this Article II shall thereafter look only to the Surviving Corporation (subject to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law) for payment of its claim for the Per Share Consideration, without any interest thereon.

(e) No Liability . None of the Company, Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent, or any of their respective Representatives, shall be liable to any Person in respect of any portion of the Exchange Fund delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.

(f) Investment of Exchange Fund . The Exchange Agent shall invest the cash in the Exchange Fund if and as directed by Parent in (i) readily marketable direct obligations of the government of the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof or readily marketable obligations unconditionally guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the government of the United States or (ii) insured certificates of deposit of, or time deposits with, any commercial bank that is a member of the U.S. Federal Reserve System. Any interest and other income resulting from such investments shall be paid to, and be the property of, Parent. No investment losses resulting from investment of the Exchange Fund shall diminish the rights of any Company Shareholder, Optionholder, CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shareholder or Redeemed Shareholder to receive the applicable Per Share Cash Consideration or any other payment as provided herein. To the extent there are losses with respect to such investments or the Exchange Fund diminishes for any other reason below the level required to make prompt cash payment of the aggregate funds required to be paid pursuant to the terms hereof, Parent shall reasonably promptly replace or restore the cash in the Exchange Fund so as to ensure that the Exchange Fund is at all times maintained at a level sufficient to make such cash payments.

(g) Withholding Rights . Each of Parent, the Company, the Surviving Corporation, the Exchange Agent and the Escrow Agent (without duplication) shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any holder of Company Shares, Optionholder, CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shareholder or Redeemed Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as are required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under applicable Tax Law. Amounts so withheld and timely paid over to the appropriate taxing authority shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of Company Shares, Optionholder, CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shareholder or Redeemed Shareholder in respect of which such deduction or withholding was made.

(h) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates . If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by Parent, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable and customary amount as Parent may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent shall, in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate, pay the Per Share Cash Consideration deliverable in respect thereof pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 2.11 Escrow Agreement . On or prior to the Closing, the Shareholder

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Representative and Parent shall enter into an Escrow Agreement with the Escrow Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit B , subject to any administrative changes as may be required by the Escrow Agent (the “ Escrow Agreement ”).

Section 2.12 Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action . If, at any time after the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving Corporation with full right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub, the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation will be authorized to take all such lawful and necessary action in the name of and on behalf of the Company or Merger Sub.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

The Company represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub, subject only to such exceptions as are disclosed in writing in the disclosure schedules supplied by the Company to Parent and Merger Sub dated the date hereof (the “ Disclosure Schedules ”):
Section 3.1 Organization and Qualification of the Company . The Company (a) is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of North Carolina, (b) has the requisite corporate power and authority necessary to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and (c) is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the ownership or leasing of its properties makes such qualification or license necessary (a complete and accurate list of each such jurisdiction is set forth on Section 3.1 of the Disclosure Schedules), except in the case of clause (c) where the failure to be so qualified or licensed or in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made available to Parent complete and correct copies as of the date hereof of the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Company (the “ Company Charter Documents ”), as amended or restated as of the date hereof. The Company is not in violation of any of the provisions of the Company Charter Documents. Section 3.1 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth the names and titles of each of the directors and officers of the Company.

Section 3.2 Authorization of Agreement . The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party, and, subject to receipt of the Company Shareholder Approval, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which the Company is a party and the consummation by the Company of the Transactions have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or similar action and, subject to receipt of the Company Shareholder Approval and except as contemplated by this Agreement, no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or to consummate the Transactions. This Agreement has been (and on the Closing Date the other Transaction Documents will be) duly executed and delivered by the Company, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof or thereof by the other parties hereto or thereto, constitutes (or will constitute once executed) the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and legal principles of general applicability governing the availability of equitable remedies (whether considered in a proceeding

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in equity or at law or under applicable legal codes). The Board of Directors of the Company has adopted resolutions (a) adopting and approving this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party and approving the Merger and the other Transactions, (b) recommending that the Company Shareholders approve this Agreement and the Merger, and (c) approving this Agreement, the Voting Agreements, the other Transaction Documents and the Transactions to render inapplicable to this Agreement, the Voting Agreements, the other Transaction Documents and the Transactions any applicable “fair price,” “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “interested stockholder,” “business combination” or other similar Law (each, a “ Takeover Statute ”). The Company Shareholder Approval is the only approval of the holders of any class or series of Company Shares or any class or series of any capital stock of any Subsidiary of the Company necessary to approve and adopt this Agreement and approve the Merger.

Section 3.3 Capitalization; Ownership of Shares; Subsidiaries .

(a) Section 3.3(a) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth the number of authorized, issued and outstanding shares of each class of capital stock of the Company and a list of all Company Shareholders and the number of shares of each class of Company Shares held by each Company Shareholder. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights. All of the Company Shares owned by and held under the ESOP are allocated to the accounts of ESOP Participants. Except as set forth on Section 3.3(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments or agreements of any character, written or oral, to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound obligating the Company to issue, deliver, sell, repurchase or redeem, or cause to be issued, delivered, sold, repurchased or redeemed, any shares of capital stock of the Company or obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to grant, extend, change the price of, otherwise amend or enter into any such option, warrant, call, right, commitment or agreement. Except as set forth on Section 3.3(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other similar rights with respect to the Company. Other than provisions with respect to voting contained in the plan document and trust agreement governing the ESOP, there are no registration rights, and there is no voting trust, proxy, rights plan, anti‑takeover plan or other agreements or understandings to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound with respect to any shares of any class of capital stock of the Company. Other than the Company Shareholders, as of the date hereof, no Person owns any Company Shares or other securities of the Company. Subject to Section 3.3(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, the allocation of the Aggregate Merger Consideration and Per Share Consideration (i) is in accordance with applicable Law, and (ii) satisfies all obligations set forth in the Company Charter Documents, the organizational documents of CARQUEST CANADA LTD., any agreement, arrangement or understanding between the Company and any Company Shareholder or CARQUEST CANADA LTD. and any

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CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shareholder, and any other agreement pertaining to the Company Shares or CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shares, in each case as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time.

(b) Except for the Equity Plans or as set forth on Section 3.3(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Company does not have or maintain any stock option plan, equity incentive plan, employee stock purchase plan or other similar plan, agreement or arrangement or other similar plan providing for equity compensation of any Person. Except as set forth on Section 3.3(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, as of the date of this Agreement, no Company Shares are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants to purchase Company Shares. Section 3.3(b) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete list of the holders of Company Restricted Shares, stock options, and phantom stock as of the date hereof, including (to the extent applicable) the applicable Equity Plan, the class of security, date of grant, maximum or target number of Company Shares subject to such Company Restricted Shares, expiration date, exercise price, vesting schedule and status.

(c) Section 3.3(c) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth the name of each Subsidiary of the Company, the governing jurisdiction of each such Subsidiary and the name of each Person (other than the Company or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries) who owns of record any such equity interests. Except as set forth on Section 3.3(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, all equity interests in the Subsidiaries of the Company are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, are free and clear of all Encumbrances, have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and none of such equity interests have been issued in violation of any preemptive rights. Except as set forth on Section 3.3(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments relating to the equity interests in any Subsidiary of the Company or obligating the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to issue or sell any equity interests in any Subsidiary of the Company.

(d) Each Subsidiary of the Company (i) is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (where such concept is applicable) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has the requisite organizational power and authority necessary to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and (iii) is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the ownership or leasing of its properties makes such qualification or license necessary (a complete and accurate list of each such jurisdiction is set forth on Section 3.3(c) of the Disclosure Schedules), except in the case of clause (iii) where the failure to be so qualified or licensed or in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made available to Parent true, complete and correct copies as of the date hereof of the organizational documents of each of its Subsidiaries. Each Subsidiary is not in violation of its organizational documents. Section 3.3(c) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth the names and titles of each of the directors and officers (or equivalent management positions) of each Subsidiary of the Company.

(e) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns, or holds the right to acquire, any equity interest or voting interest in any Person (other than any Subsidiary of the Company).

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(f) Except as set forth on Section 3.3(f) of the Disclosure Schedules, all repurchases and/or redemptions by the Company or any Subsidiary of any Company Shares and CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shares have complied in all respects with the Company Charter Documents and all other applicable governing documents (including shareholder agreements),  any other  agreement, arrangement or understanding between the Company or any Subsidiary and the Company Shareholder or the CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shareholder, as applicable, from whom such Company Share or CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Share, as applicable, was repurchased or redeemed, as the case may be, and all applicable Laws.

(g) No class of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or has been required to be registered under the Exchange Act and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is or has been required to file any forms, reports or other documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act in respect of any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 3.4 No Conflict . Assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and other actions described in Section 3.5 have been obtained, made or waived, as applicable, except as set forth on Section 3.4 of the Disclosure Schedules, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party do not and will not: (a) violate or result in the breach of any provision of Company Charter Documents or similar organizational documents of any of the Subsidiaries of the Company; (b) violate any Law or Governmental Order applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (c) result in any breach of, constitute a default (or an event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a default) under, require any consent, waiver or notice under, or give to others, after notice or lapse of time, or both, any rights of termination, acceleration or cancellation of, or result in the loss of a benefit or the imposition of an obligation under, any Permit or any Material Contract, or result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance on any of the Company’s assets, except, in the case of clauses (b) and (c), as would not (i) prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to timely consummate the Transactions or (ii) be material to the Company or its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

Section 3.5 Governmental Consents and Approvals . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the Transactions do not and will not require any consent, approval, authorization or other order or declaration of, action by, filing with or notification to any Governmental Authority other than (a) the premerger notification and waiting period requirements of the HSR Act; (b) the filing of the Articles of Merger and related documentation by the Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina pursuant to the NCBCA; or (c) where failure to obtain such consent, approval, authorization or action, or to make such filing or notification, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.6 Financial Information .

(a) Section 3.6(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains true and complete copies of (i) the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the calendar years ended as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 and the related audited consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the calendar years then ended (including the notes or other supplementary information thereto) and (ii)

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the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2013 (the “ Company Balance Sheet ”), and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the six‑month period then ended ((i) and (ii) collectively, the “ Financial Statements ”).

(b) The Financial Statements have been prepared in all material respects in accordance with GAAP, subject, in the case of the unaudited financial statements, to absence of footnotes and normal and recurring year-end adjustments, which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material in nature or amount, and fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of such dates and the results of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ operations for the periods specified, except as disclosed therein.

Section 3.7 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities . Except (i) as disclosed in the Financial Statements, (ii) for liabilities and obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice of the Company and its Subsidiaries since the date of the Company Balance Sheet, (iii) the Transaction Expenses or (iv) liabilities incurred since the date of the Company Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice under contracts to which the Company is a party (other than those that result from breach of such contracts), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material liabilities or obligations that would be required to be reflected on or reserved against or disclosed in the notes to a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Section 3.8 Conduct in the Ordinary Course .

(a) Since the date of the Company Balance Sheet and except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth on Section 3.8(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, (i) the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries has been conducted in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, (ii) there has not occurred any Material Adverse Effect, and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action that, if taken after the date hereof without Parent’s consent, would constitute a material breach of Section 5.1(a) .

(b) Since the Locked Box Date, except to the extent comprising a Permitted Leakage:

(i) no dividend, return of capital or other distribution of profits or assets or other similar payment of any nature has been declared, paid or made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any stockholder, member or owner of equity interests, as applicable, of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than such payments declared, paid or made to the Company or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries;

(ii) no payments have been made by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to or in favor of or for the benefit of, or at the direction of, any Company Shareholder

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or any Affiliate thereof, including any payment of interest or principal on any amounts owed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by any Company Shareholder or any Affiliate thereof;

(iii) no shares or capital stock, notes, bonds or other securities (or any restricted stock, option, warrant or other right to acquire the same or phantom stock) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been issued or sold (other than issuances to the Company or any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company) and no change to the equity capitalization or capital structure of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been made;

(iv) no changes have been made to the terms of any borrowing between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by any Company Shareholder or any Affiliate thereof;

(v) no payment of any bonus or discretionary payment has been paid or made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(vi) no amendments or modifications have been made to the terms of remuneration of any officer or senior executive of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(vii) no guarantee or indemnity relating to the obligation of any Person other than a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company has been entered into or agreed to by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company other than guarantees of loans made by banks to various independent store customers of the Company who are not Specified Persons in the ordinary course of the Company’s business consistent with past practice;

(viii) no amounts owed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by any Company Shareholder or any Affiliate thereof shall have been waived, forgiven or released and no claim outstanding against any Company Shareholder or any Affiliate thereof has been released or waived;

(ix) no assets, rights or other benefits have been sold, acquired or transferred from or to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than on arm’s length terms at a fair market value;

(x) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has made or agreed to make any gift or gratuitous payment;

(xi) no liabilities have been assumed or incurred (or any indemnity given in respect thereof) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of or on behalf of or in favor of any Company Shareholder or any Affiliate thereof;

(xii) no Encumbrance has been created over any of the assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in favor of or on behalf of or for the benefit of any Company Shareholder or any Affiliate thereof;

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(xiii) no management, monitoring or other shareholder or directors’ fees or bonuses or payments of a similar nature have been paid by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to or for the benefit of or in favor of any Company Shareholder or any Affiliate thereof;

(xiv) no costs or expenses relating to the Transactions (including the Transaction Expenses or any other transaction or sale bonuses or other payments payable as a result of or in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, including advisor fees and expenses) have been paid or incurred, or have been agreed to be paid or incurred, by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in excess in the aggregate of the amount set forth on Section 3.8(b) of the Disclosure Schedules;

(xv) no Tax or other similar payment has been assumed, incurred or paid by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and

(xvi) no agreement, arrangement or understanding relating to any of the matters referred to in this Section 3.8(b) has been entered into or reached.
Each of the events described in this Section 3.8 , and the amounts involved in connection therewith, shall be referred to herein as “ Leakage .”
Section 3.9 Litigation . Except as set forth on Section 3.9 of the Disclosure Schedules, (i) there is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, that would reasonably be likely to result in Losses to the Company and its Subsidiaries in excess of $500,000 and (ii) since January 1, 2010, no Action has been filed or commenced against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their assets, properties or rights, resulting or that would reasonably be likely to result in Losses to the Company and its Subsidiaries in excess of $500,000. Except as set forth on Section 3.9 of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any Governmental Order which would reasonably be likely to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to timely consummate the Transactions.

Section 3.10 Compliance with Laws; Permits .

(a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in possession of all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, variances, exemptions, consents, certificates, approvals and orders necessary to own, lease, maintain and operate its properties and to carry on the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as it is being conducted on the date hereof (collectively, the “ Permits ”), except for such Permits the failure of which to so hold would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. All Permits held by the Company and its Subsidiaries are in full force and effect, and no suspension, modification, withdrawal or revocation of any such Permits is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened. The Company and its Subsidiaries are, and since January 1, 2010 have been, in compliance in all material respects with all of the Permits and all Laws applicable to the Company and its Subsidiaries or by or to which any of their respective assets or

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properties are bound or subject. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is suspended or debarred from doing business with any Governmental Authority, nor is any such Person the subject of a finding of non‑responsibility or ineligibility for contracting with any Governmental Authority.

(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any of their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives, consultants or agents for or on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries (i) has made, authorized or offered or is making any illegal contributions, gifts, entertainment or payments of other expenses related to political activity, (ii) has made, authorized or offered or is making any direct or indirect payments to any foreign or domestic Government Official for the purpose of influencing any act or decision of such person in their capacity as a Government Official, inducing any Government Official in their official capacity to do or omit to do any act in violation of their lawful duties, securing any improper advantage, inducing a Government Official to influence or affect any act or decision of any Governmental Authority or assisting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to, it or to any of its directors, officers, employees, representatives, consultants or agents, (iii) has established or maintained, or is maintaining, any unlawful fund of corporate monies or other properties, (iv) has made any bribe, unlawful rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment of any nature or (v) has violated or is violating any provision of the FCPA or any other applicable Laws to which any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject relating to corruption, bribery, money laundering, political contributions or gifts and gratuities, involving or to any Governmental Authority or any Government Official or commercial entity.

(c) During the last five years, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice that any products or materials imported by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or on behalf of the Company or such Subsidiary where the Company or such Subsidiary is the importer of record, for which final liquidation has not yet occurred, is subject to or otherwise covered by an antidumping duty order or countervailing duty order that remains in effect or is subject to or otherwise covered by any pending antidumping or countervailing duty investigation by agencies of the United States government.

Section 3.11 Environmental Matters . (a) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are and have been in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws and have obtained and are, and have been in compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Permits; (b) there are no Actions that are material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, pursuant to any Environmental Law pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened in writing, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (c) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice, report, order, directive or other information regarding any actual or alleged material violation of, or material liability under, any Environmental Laws relating to any of them, their business, or their past or current facilities arising under Environmental Laws that remains unresolved or for which there are ongoing obligations; (d) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has treated, stored, packaged, disposed of, leaked, spilled, arranged for or permitted the disposal of, transported, manufactured, distributed, released, or exposed any Person to, any Hazardous Substance, or owned or operated any property or facility contaminated by any Hazardous Substance, so as to give rise to any current or future material liabilities under Environmental Laws; (e) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has designed or manufactured any products or items containing asbestos or silica in a manner

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that has resulted, or would be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in any material liability; (f) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has assumed, undertaken, provided an indemnity for, or become subject to, any material liability of any other Person relating to Environmental Laws or Hazardous Substances; and (g) the Company has made available to Parent copies of all environmental assessments or other environmental documents in the possession or control of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, that relate to and are material to the operations, properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The representations and warranties set forth in this Section 3.11 are the Company’s sole and exclusive representations and warranties regarding the environmental matters expressly contemplated by this Section 3.11 .

Section 3.12 Intellectual Property .

(a) Section 3.12 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all Registered Owned Intellectual Property. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries is the owner of, or has a valid and enforceable right to use, each item of material Company Intellectual Property, free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances). The Company Intellectual Property constitutes all material Intellectual Property necessary for, or used in, the conduct of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and all of the material Company Intellectual Property shall be owned or available for use by the Company and its Subsidiaries immediately after the Closing Date in substantially the same manner as such Company Intellectual Property is owned or used by the Company and its Subsidiaries prior to the Closing Date, except as would not be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.12(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, to the Knowledge of the Company, the operation of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries as and where currently conducted has not, within the past five (5) years, infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated in any material respect the Intellectual Property rights of any other Person. There are no written, or to the Knowledge of the Company, oral claims against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that were either made within the past five (5) years or are presently pending, contesting the ownership, use, registrability, validity or enforceability of any material Company Intellectual Property, other than in prosecution proceedings entered into in the ordinary course with the applicable Government Authority with which any Registered Company Intellectual Property has been filed. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Person is engaging in any activity that infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any material Owned Intellectual Property. The material Company Intellectual Property is not subject to any outstanding consent, settlement, decree, order, injunction, judgment or ruling restricting the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ use thereof. The representations and warranties in this Section 3.12(b) are the only representations and warranties of the Company regarding infringements, misappropriation or violation of Intellectual Property, and no other representations or warranties in this Article III shall be deemed to apply to such matters.

(c) Each item of material, issued Registered Owned Intellectual Property is valid, enforceable and in full force and effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken actions reasonably necessary to maintain and protect the material Company Intellectual Property, including the secrecy of trade secrets (including the source code for proprietary software). The Company and its Subsidiaries have

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entered into (i) written confidentiality agreements with each current and, to the Knowledge of the Company, former, employee, consultant and independent contractor, in each case, who has had access to material trade secrets and other material confidential information of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and (ii) written Intellectual Property assignment agreements with each current and, to the Knowledge of the Company, former, employee, consultant and independent contractor, in each case, who has contributed to the development of any material Company Intellectual Property for or on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(d) The computer software, firmware, communications technology, networks, interfaces, platforms and information technology systems that are owned, licensed or leased by the Company or its Subsidiaries are sufficient in all material respects for the immediate needs of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses as and where they are currently conducted. The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain security, disaster recovery and business continuity plans and procedures sufficient to fulfill all obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries relating to security, disaster recovery and business continuity plans and procedures under any contracts and agreements of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. In the last eighteen (18) months, there has not been any material failure with respect to any such information technology systems that has not been remedied in all material respects.

(e) The Company and its Subsidiaries have not used any open source, public source or freeware software licensed pursuant to the GNU general public license, limited general public license or any similar distribution model in connection with any material proprietary software of the Company and its Subsidiaries in a manner that would require any such proprietary software to be disclosed, licensed or distributed in source code form or to be redistributable at no charge beyond the cost of its distribution.

Section 3.13 Real Property .

(a) Owned Real Property . Section 3.13(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the address and description of each Owned Real Property. With respect to each Owned Real Property: (i) the Company or its applicable Subsidiary has good and marketable indefeasible fee simple title to such Owned Real Property, free and clear of all Encumbrances, except Permitted Encumbrances; (ii) except as set forth in Section 3.13(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not leased or otherwise granted to any Person the right to use or occupy on or after the date hereof any Owned Real Property or any material portion thereof; and (iii) other than the right of Parent pursuant to this Agreement, there are no outstanding options, rights of first offer or rights of first refusal to purchase such Owned Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any agreement or option to purchase any real property or interest therein.

(b) Leased Real Property . Section 3.14(b) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth the address of each Leased Real Property, and a true and complete list of all leases, subleases and other agreements in effect at the date hereof relating to the Leased Real Property (the “ Real Property Leases ”) for each such Leased Real Property. The Company has made available to Parent a true and complete copy of each such Real Property Lease. Except as set forth in Section 3.14(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, with respect to each Real Property Lease requiring the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to collectively pay

36



rent in excess of $100,000 annually: (i) such Real Property Lease is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor to the Knowledge of the Company any other party to the Real Property Lease, is in material breach or default under such Real Property Lease, and no event has occurred or circumstance exists which, with the delivery of notice, the passage of time or both, would constitute such a material breach or default, or permit the termination, modification or acceleration of rent under such Real Property Lease; and (iii) the other party to such Real Property Lease is not an Affiliate of, and otherwise does not have any economic interest in, the Company or any Subsidiary.

(c) Real Property Used in The Business . The Owned Real Property identified in Section 3.13(a) and the Leased Real Property identified in Section 3.13(b) of the Disclosure Schedules comprise all of the real property used or intended to be used in, or otherwise related to, the business of the Company.

Section 3.14 Employee Benefit Matters .

(a) Section 3.14(a) of the Disclosure Schedules lists (i) each “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) and any other material compensation, benefit, fringe benefit, severance, profit sharing, and any other material employee benefit plan, program, arrangement, policy or agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or that are maintained, contributed to or sponsored by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to which the Company or any Subsidiary has any actual liability or contingent liability and (ii) all contracts, arrangements and agreements between the Company, any of its Affiliates and any Employee, former employee, Worker or former Worker other than agreements pursuant to the Company’s standard form of offer letter that do not provide for any severance (collectively, the “ Plans ”).

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.14(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, each Plan is in writing, and the Company has made available to Parent, to the extent applicable (i) a complete and accurate copy of each Plan document and summary plan description, and (ii) any other material documents that insure, or implement such Plans, including, with respect to the ESOP, the agreement between the Company and the ESOP Fiduciary and the agreement with the Company, ESOP Fiduciary and ESOP Financial Advisor. Prior to the date hereof, the Company has provided to Parent a copy of the ESOP Fairness Opinion.

(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.14(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, (i) each Plan has been operated in all material respects in accordance with its terms, the terms of any union contact or similar agreement, and the requirements of all applicable Laws; (ii) each of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, has performed all material obligations required to be performed by it under, is not in any material respect in default under or in material violation of, and the Company has no Knowledge of, any material default or violation by any party to, any Plan; (iii) no material Action is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to any Plan (other than claims for benefits in the ordinary course) and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no fact or event exists that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any such material Action; and (iv) no Plan has any material unfunded liabilities.

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(d) Except as set forth in Section 3.14(d) of the Disclosure Schedules, each Plan, that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, has received a favorable determination letter or opinion letter from the IRS relating to the most recently completed IRS qualification cycle applicable to such Plan and, to the Knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred since the date of such determination or opinion letter that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of such Plan.

(e) Except as set forth in Section 3.14(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the Company nor any entity that is treated as a single employer with the Company or any Subsidiary for purposes of Section 414 of the Code maintains sponsors or has any liability with respect to any (i) multiemployer plan (within the meaning of Section 3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA); (ii) “defined benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA that is subject to Title IV of ERISA; (iii) a plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA; or (iv) employee benefit plan, program or arrangement that provides for post‑employment or other retiree medical, life insurance or other welfare‑type benefits (other than health continuation coverage required by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) or other applicable Law for which the covered individual pays the full cost of coverage).

(f) Except as set forth in Section 3.14(f) of the Disclosure Schedules, (i) There is no loan outstanding between the ESOP and any other Person; (ii) the ESOP has at all times been primarily invested in “employer securities” as defined in Section 409(l) of the Code, and has never acquired or held any employer security that was not a “qualifying employer security” as defined in Section 407(d)(5) of ERISA; (iii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has been subject to any unpaid Tax imposed by Sections 4978 and 4979A of the Code; (iv) neither the ESOP nor any “fiduciary” (as defined in Section 3(21) of ERISA) of the ESOP has engaged in any non-exempt “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) with respect to the ESOP; and (v) any transaction to which the ESOP was at any time a party involving the purchase, sale or exchange of any security complied with the applicable requirements of ERISA and the Code, including Section 3(18) of ERISA.

(g) Except as set forth on Section 3.14(g) of the Disclosure Schedules, none of the Plans provides any separation, severance, termination or similar benefit or accelerates any vesting, distribution or funding schedule or alter any benefit structure as a result of this Agreement or the Merger (either alone or in combination with any other event). No amount paid or payable (whether in cash, in property, or in the form of benefits) in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (either solely as a result thereof or as a result of such transactions in conjunction with any other event) could reasonably be expected to be an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any indemnity obligation for any Taxes imposed under Section 4999 or 409A of the Code.

(h) The representations and warranties set forth in this Section 3.14 are the Company’s sole and exclusive representations and warranties regarding the employee benefit matters expressly contemplated by this Section 3.14 .


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Section 3.15 Labor Matters .

(a) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining, works council or other material agreement with any labor organization applicable to any Employee, other than as set forth in Section 3.15(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, there are no material organizational campaigns, petitions or other unionization or decertification activities relating to any Employee, other than as set forth in Section 3.15(a) of the Disclosure Schedules and no such activities have occurred since January 1, 2010. With respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any notice to Employees or their representatives required under any Law or collective bargaining agreement has been or prior to Closing will be provided, and all bargaining obligations with any employee representative have been or prior to Closing will be satisfied.

(b) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are currently, and since January 1, 2010 have been, in compliance in all material respects with all Laws related to the engagement of labor, including those related to working time and wages and hours, collective bargaining, immigration, harassment, and discrimination. There is no strike, work stoppage, or other material labor dispute pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and no such activities have occurred since January 1, 2010. Since January 1, 2010, there have been no material Actions pending or threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries related to the engagement of labor, including harassment, immigration, discrimination, collective bargaining, unfair labor practices, and wages and hours.

(c) Section 3.15(c) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a complete and accurate list of the following information for each employee or manager of the Company who is employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries: name; job title; primary work location; whether on active status or leave; current base compensation rate; whether the employee is classified as exempt or nonexempt from minimum wage and overtime rules; hire date; and other compensation and material fringe benefits that such employee is entitled to receive other than any paid time off that is accrued but unused.

(d) Since January 1, 2011, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has implemented any plant closings or employee layoffs requiring notice under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 or any similar or related Law (collectively, the “ WARN Act ”).

(e) The representations and warranties as set forth in this Section 3.15 are the Company’s sole and exclusive representations and warranties regarding the labor matters expressly contemplated by this Section 3.15 .

Section 3.16 Taxes .

(a) (i) All income Tax returns and other material Tax returns required to be filed with a Governmental Authority, taking into account valid extensions of time for filing, by or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been duly and timely filed, (ii) such Tax returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects, (iii) all income Taxes and other material Taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which have become due have been timely paid in full, and (iv) the Company and

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each of its Subsidiaries has withheld from each payment or deemed payment made to its past or present employees, officers, directors and independent contractors, suppliers, creditors, shareholders or other third parties all material Taxes required to be withheld and has, within the time and in the manner required by law, paid such withheld amounts to the proper Governmental Authorities.

(b) Except as set forth on Section 3.16(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, there is not in force any waiver or agreement for any extension of time for the assessment or payment of any Tax of or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Tax return to be filed by or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(c) Except as set forth on Section 3.16(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, no audit or other examination of any Tax return of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is presently in progress, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of or request for any audit or other examination with respect to Taxes. There is no written (or, to the Knowledge of the Company or its Subsidiaries, otherwise) claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any material Taxes, and no assessment, deficiency or adjustment has been asserted or proposed in writing (or, to the Knowledge of the Company, otherwise) with respect to any material Tax return of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Since January 1, 2010, no claim has been made in writing (or, to the Knowledge of the Company or its Subsidiaries, otherwise) by a Governmental Authority that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be subject to material taxation in a jurisdiction in which the Company or the relevant Subsidiary, as applicable does not file Tax returns.

(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has ever been a member of an affiliated group (within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code) filing a consolidated federal income Tax return other than a group the parent of which is the Company, (ii) is a party to, is bound by or has any obligation under any Tax sharing or Tax indemnity agreement or similar contract or arrangement, or (iii) has any material liability for the Taxes of any Person other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under Section 1.1502‑6 of the Regulations (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.

(e) Except as set forth on Section 3.16(e) of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is a party to (x) any “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Section 1.6011-4 of the Regulations for which the principal purpose was Tax avoidance, or (y) a “listed transaction” within the meaning of Section 1.6011‑4 of the Regulations, (ii) has been either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a distribution occurring during any period in which the statute of limitations has not expired in which the parties to such distribution treated the distribution as one to which Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code is applicable, or (iii) is or has been a “United States real property holding company” within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code at any time during the five‑year period ending on the Closing Date.

(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of (i) any change in method of accounting made prior to the Closing Date, (ii) any “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign Tax law) entered into by the Company or any

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of its Subsidiaries on or prior to the Closing Date, (iii) any installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date, (iv) any use of an improper method of accounting for a taxable period or portion thereof ending on or prior to the Closing Date, (v) any prepaid amounts received on or prior to the Closing Date or (vi) any election under Section 108(i) of the Code.

(g) For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company and each Subsidiary is properly classified in the applicable manner specified in Section 3.16(g) of the Disclosure Schedules.

(h) The representations and warranties set forth in this Section 3.16 are the Company’s sole and exclusive representations and warranties regarding the matters expressly contemplated by this Section 3.16 .

Section 3.17 Material Contracts .

(a) Section 3.17(a) of the Disclosure Schedules lists each of the following contracts and agreements of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in effect as of the date hereof (such contracts and agreements, being “ Material Contracts ”):

(i) all contracts and agreements for consideration in excess of $100,000 with customers or distributors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who purchased $5,000,000 or greater in products or services from the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case, during the twelve (12) month period ended on June 30, 2013;

(ii) all contracts and agreements for consideration in excess of $100,000 with suppliers or vendors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who sold $5,000,000 or greater in products or services to the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case, during the twelve (12) month period ended on June 30, 2013;

(iii) all contracts and agreements for consideration in excess of $100,000 with independent contractors or consultants (or similar arrangements) that are not cancelable without penalty or further payment and without more than ninety (90) days’ notice;

(iv) all contracts and agreements relating to Indebtedness of amounts in excess of $100,000;

(v) all contracts and agreements that limit or purport to limit in any material respect the ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to freely conduct or compete in any material line of business or with any Person or in any material geographic area or during any material period of time;

(vi) all material Company IP Agreements excluding (A) licenses to customers and end users granted in the ordinary course of business and (B) Shrink‑Wrap Agreements with a

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replacement cost and/or aggregate annual license and maintenance fee of less than $500,000;

(vii) all Real Property Leases requiring the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to collectively pay rent in excess of $100,000 annually and each contract and agreement affecting the ownership of or title to the Owned Real Property;

(viii) all contracts and agreements between or among the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Specified Person, on the other hand, to pay consideration in excess of $50,000 other than contracts or agreements with Employees described in Section 3.14(a) ;

(ix) (x) any contract for the disposition of any material assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than sale of products in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices), or (y) any contract for the acquisition of the assets or business of another Person (other than purchases of inventory or components in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices) under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has material obligations (whether contingent or otherwise);

(x) any collective bargaining agreement or similar agreement with any labor organization, works council, trade organization or other Employee representative;

(xi) any settlement, conciliation or similar agreement with (A) any Governmental Authority with material outstanding obligations or (B) pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will be required after the date of this Agreement to pay consideration in excess of $250,000;

(xii) all contracts concerning the establishment, governance, operation, or control, termination or economic rights of, any partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or similar enterprise;

(xiii) all contracts and agreement in respect of any material bonus, pension, profit sharing, retirement or any other form of deferred compensation plan or practice, whether formal or informal, or any severance agreement or arrangement;

(xiv) any other contract that involves a payment to or from the Company in excess of $250,000 on its face in any individual case;

(xv) obligates the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make any capital commitment, capital expenditure or minimum level of purchases in excess of $500,000;

(xvi) all contracts or agreements (x) providing for any Person to be the exclusive provider of any product or service to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or that otherwise involves the granting by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Person exclusive rights, in such a manner that materially restricts the ability of the Company or its Subsidiaries from conducting business anywhere in the world, (y) any agreement with any Person set forth in Section 3.26(a) or Section 3.26(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, containing a provision of the type

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commonly referred to as a “most favored nation” provision for the benefit of a Person other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or which otherwise provides that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will offer to sell products to any Person at prices that are the same as or better than the prices offered to any other, or certain other, Persons, or (z) any agreement with any Person set forth in Section 3.26(a) or Section 3.26(b) of the Disclosure Schedules , containing a provision that establishes the price at which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may purchase or sell products for a period of longer than one year from the date of such contract or agreement, other than, in each case, any such contract or agreement terminable upon no more than 30 days prior notice without penalty or payment; or

(xvii) any outstanding commitment to enter into any contract of the type described in (i) through (xvi) above.

(b) Each Material Contract (i) is valid and binding on, and enforceable against, the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, the counterparty thereto, and is in full force and effect; and (ii) upon consummation of the Transactions, except to the extent that any consents set forth in Section 3.4 of the Disclosure Schedules are not obtained, shall continue in full force and effect without material penalty or other material and adverse consequence. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no other party thereto is, in material breach of, or default under, any Material Contract to which it is a party, and no event has occurred or circumstances exists which, with the delivery of notice, the passage of time or both, would constitute such a breach or default. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice from any counterparty to any Material Contract to the effect that such counterparty intends to terminate or not renew any Material Contract or is seeking the renegotiation of such Material Contract or substitute performance thereunder. The Company has made available true and complete copies of the Material Contracts (including all amendments and side letters thereto) to Parent.

Section 3.18 Brokers . Except for Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and The Orr Group, LLC, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company. The aggregate amount of fees payable to Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and The Orr Group, LLC in connection with the Transactions is set forth on Section 3.18 of the Disclosure Schedules. The Board of Directors of the Company has received the opinion of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based upon and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and other matters considered in connection with the preparation of such opinion, the aggregate Per Share Cash Consideration to be collectively received by the holders of Company Shares in the Merger pursuant to the Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders of Company Shares (the “ Fairness Opinion ”).

Section 3.19 Transactions with Affiliates . Except for employment agreements with any employee or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any inter-company agreements among the

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Company and/or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries and those contracts disclosed on Section 3.19 of the Disclosure Schedules, no officer, director or Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any immediate family member of any of the foregoing (each a “ Specified Person ”), is a party to any agreement, arrangement or transaction with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries requiring annual payments exceeding (or that would reasonably be expected to exceed) $50,000, has any interest in any asset or property used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with a book value exceeding (or that would reasonably be expected to exceed) $50,000, or has any outstanding amounts payable to or receivable from (including loans and advances) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries exceeding (or that would reasonably be expected to exceed) $50,000 (except for amounts due as normal compensation and reimbursement or advance of business expenses in the ordinary course). To the Knowledge of the Company, no Specified Person owns any direct or indirect interest in, controls or is a director, officer, employee or partner of, or consultant or lender to, or borrower from or has the right to participate in the profits of, any Person which is (a) a supplier, customer, distributor, landlord, creditor or debtor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (b) a participant in any transaction to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party requiring annual payments (by any party) exceeding (or that would reasonably be expected to exceed) $50,000. No Specified Person has asserted any material claims against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (except for wages, salary, bonus payments and/or employee benefits in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no such claims are threatened.

Section 3.20 Assets . The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and valid title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all of their material, tangible assets, free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances), except as would not be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The tangible assets owned, used or held for use by the Company and its Subsidiaries constitute all of the tangible assets, rights and properties necessary for the conduct of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries substantially in the same manner as presently conducted, except as would not be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

Section 3.21 Product Liability . To the Knowledge of the Company, other than for specific warranty reserves set forth in the Financial Statements, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material liability for replacement or repair of any products sold or leased by the Company or its Subsidiaries or damages in connection therewith, other than product warranty expenses of a type and amount consistent with the ordinary course of business and past practice of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

Section 3.22 Accounts Receivable . The Company has made available to Parent an accurate and complete list of all accounts receivable of the Company and its Subsidiaries existing as of June 30, 2013. Except as set forth in Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules, each account receivable of the Company and its Subsidiaries existing as of June 30, 2013 constitutes a bona fide receivable resulting from a bona fide sale to a customer or other transaction entered into in the ordinary course of business on commercially reasonable terms and, to the Knowledge of the Company, is collectible without offset or deduction except for properly estimated (in accordance with the Company’s past experience) and reserved amounts for doubtful accounts and/or bad debt.


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Section 3.23 Bonds, Guaranties and Letters of Credit . Section 3.23 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a complete and correct list of all material bonds, guarantees and letters of credit or other credit arrangements, including surety and performance bonds and similar documents, agreements, arrangements or understanding, and all material agreements, arrangements and understandings related thereto, in each case, entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (a) issued or entered into by or on behalf of, or in support of any liability or obligation of, the business and operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, or (b) that would be required to be issued under any proposals, bids or other commitments outstanding in respect of the Company or its Subsidiaries, in each case indicating the agreement or situation requiring the provision thereof, together with the issuer, amount, principal terms and conditions, beneficiaries and expiration date thereof (or, in the case of pending proposals, bids or other commitments outstanding as of the date hereof, the anticipated amount, principal terms and conditions, beneficiaries and term thereof). All such bonds, guarantees and letters of credit are in full force and effect and have been fully funded to the extent so required in accordance with their terms, and no material amounts are due and owing to any third party issuer, payee or beneficiary thereof with respect thereto.

Section 3.24 Jobber Agreements . During the last three (3) years, none of the Company or its Subsidiaries have received written notice of any material claims concerning the execution of a Jobber Agreement or the establishment, operation or termination of the relationship pursuant to a Jobber Agreement which asserts that the relationship is a franchise, partnership, agency or other fiduciary relationship or that any of the Company or its Subsidiaries violated any Law concerning the registration, disclosure or sale of a franchise or business opportunity. The representations and warranties set forth in this Section 3.24 are the Company’s sole and exclusive representations and warranties regarding the matters expressly contemplated by this Section 3.24 .

Section 3.25 Insurance Policies . Section 3.25 of the Disclosure Schedules contains a description of each material insurance policy maintained by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries as of the date hereof with respect to any of their properties, assets and business, each such policy is in full force and effect and all premiums due and payable under such policies have been paid. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default in any material respect with respect to its obligations under any insurance policy maintained by it, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been denied insurance coverage within the past five (5) years. Except as set forth on Section 3.25 of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has self-insurance or co-insurance programs. Except as set forth on Section 3.25 of the Disclosure Schedules, the execution and delivery by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, of this Agreement and all other agreements and instruments contemplated hereby to which the Company or such Subsidiary is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not result in a breach or default in any material respect under any insurance policy maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Section 3.25 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth each of the insurance policies under which, to the Knowledge of the Company, the Company and/or its Subsidiaries may seek and/or have sought coverage with respect to asbestos personal injury claims.


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Section 3.26 Customers and Suppliers .

(a) Section 3.26(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a complete list of all customers and distributors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who purchased $5,000,000 or greater in products or services from the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case, during the twelve (12) month period ended on June 30, 2013 (together with the aggregate amount of purchases for the relevant period by each identified customer). With respect to customers listed on Section 3.26(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, (i) none of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries has received written or, to the Company’s Knowledge, verbal notice from any such customer of any termination or material reduction in such customer’s relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) no such customer has provided written or, to the Company’s Knowledge, verbal notice to the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries that it intends to terminate or materially reduce its relationship with the Company or such Subsidiary.

(b) Section 3.26(b) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a complete list of all suppliers and vendors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who sold $5,000,000 or greater in products or services to the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case, during the twelve (12) month period ended on June 30, 2013 (together with the amount of sales for the relevant period by each identified supplier). With respect to suppliers listed on Section 3.26(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, (i) none of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries has received written or, to the Company’s Knowledge, verbal notice from any such supplier who does business directly with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any termination or material reduction in such supplier’s relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) no such supplier has provided written or, to the Company’s Knowledge, verbal notice to the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries that it intends to terminate or materially reduce its relationship with the Company or such Subsidiary.

Section 3.27 Disclaimer of the Company . EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS Article III OR IN ANY CERTIFICATE OR OTHER INSTRUMENT DELIVERED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT (SOLELY WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTIES TO SUCH TRANSACTION DOCUMENT), NONE OF THE COMPANY, ITS AFFILIATES OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES OR REPRESENTATIVES MAKES OR HAS MADE ANY OTHER REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, IN RESPECT OF THE COMPANY OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES, THE PROPERTIES OR ASSETS OF THE COMPANY OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES OR THE BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES.


ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES of PARENT AND MERGER SUB

Parent and Merger Sub hereby represent and warrant to the Company as follows:
Section 4.1 Organization, Authority and Qualification . Parent is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State

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of Delaware and has all necessary power and authority to enter into this Agreement, to carry out its obligations and to consummate the Transactions. Merger Sub is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of North Carolina and has all necessary power and authority to enter into this Agreement, to carry out its obligations and to consummate the Transactions. Each of Parent and Merger Sub is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing (to the extent such concepts are recognized under applicable Law) in each jurisdiction in which the properties owned or leased by it or the operation of its business makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good standing would not adversely affect the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to carry out their obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery by Parent and Merger Sub of this Agreement, the performance by Parent and Merger Sub of their obligations hereunder and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Transactions have been duly authorized by all requisite action on the part of Parent and Merger Sub. The respective board of directors of each of Parent and Merger Sub have adopted resolutions approving this Agreement, the Voting Agreements, the other Transaction Documents to which Parent or Merger Sub is a party and the Transactions. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency (including Laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
Section 4.2 No Conflict . Assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations and other actions described in Section 4.3 have been obtained, made or waived, as applicable, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which Parent or Merger Sub is a party do not and will not: (a) violate or result in the breach of any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or similar organizational documents) of Parent or Merger Sub; (b)  violate in any respect any Law or Governmental Order applicable to Parent or Merger Sub; or (c)  result in any breach of, constitute a default (or an event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a default) under, require any consent under, or give to others, after notice or lapse of time, or both, any rights of termination, acceleration or cancellation of, any contract, agreement or other arrangement to which Parent or Merger Sub is a party, except, in the case of clauses (b) and (c), as would not prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent and Merger Sub to timely consummate the Transactions.

Section 4.3 Governmental Consents and Approvals . The execution, delivery and performance by Parent and Merger Sub of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub do not and will not require any consent, approval, authorization or other order or declaration of, action by, filing with or notification to, any Governmental Authority, other than (a) the premerger notification and waiting period requirements of the HSR Act; (b) for the filing of the Articles of Merger and related documentation by the Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina pursuant to the NCBCA, or (c) where failure to obtain such consent, approval, authorization or action, or to make such filing or notification, would not prevent or materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent to timely consummate the Transactions.


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Section 4.4 Litigation . As of the date hereof, there is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened, and since January 1, 2010 to the date hereof, no Action has been filed or commenced, against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their assets, properties or rights, which would materially and adversely affect the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions.

Section 4.5 Brokers . No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates for which the Company would have any liability prior to the Effective Time.

Section 4.6 Financing . Parent has delivered to the Company true and complete copies, as of the date hereof, of executed commitment letters with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (collectively, subject to replacement, amendment, or modification as described in Section 5.12(a) , the “ Financing Commitments ”), pursuant to which the parties thereto have committed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to lend the amounts set forth therein for the purposes of financing the transactions contemplated hereby and related fees and expenses and the refinancing of any outstanding indebtedness of the Company (the “ Financing ”). Parent has paid any and all commitment fees or other fees in connection with the Financing Commitments that are payable on or prior to the date hereof, and as of the date hereof the Financing Commitments are in full force and effect and are the legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of Parent and, to the Knowledge of Parent, each of the other parties thereto, except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and legal principles of general applicability governing the availability of equitable remedies (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law or under applicable legal codes). As of the date hereof, Parent is not and, to the Knowledge of Parent, no other party to the Financing Commitments is, in breach of, or default under, any of the Financing Commitments and, to the Knowledge of Parent, no event has occurred or circumstances exist as of the date hereof which, with the delivery of notice, the passage of time or both, would constitute such a breach or default. Assuming the full amount of the Financing is funded in accordance with the Financing Commitments, Parent will have at the Closing funds sufficient to (a) pay the Aggregate Merger Consideration, the Escrowed Cash, and the Shareholder Representative Amount, (b) pay any and all fees and expenses required to be paid by Parent in connection with the Transactions, (c) pay any and all amounts in connection with the refinancing of any outstanding Indebtedness of the Company contemplated by this Agreement or the Financing Commitments and (d) satisfy any and all of the other payment obligations of Parent contemplated hereunder.

ARTICLE V

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

Section 5.1 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing . (a) The Company covenants and agrees that, except as set forth in Section 5.1(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, as expressly required by this Agreement or as required by applicable Law, between the date hereof and the Closing, except with the prior written consent of Parent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), the Company

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shall cause the Company and each of the Company’s Subsidiaries to (x) conduct its business in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice; and (y) use its reasonable best efforts to preserve intact in all material respects the business organization of the Company and its Subsidiaries and maintain existing relations and goodwill with Governmental Authorities, customers, suppliers, employees and business associates. Without limiting the foregoing, except as described in Section 5.1(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, as expressly required by this Agreement or as required by applicable Law, the Company covenants and agrees that, between the date hereof and the Closing, without the prior written consent of Parent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), neither the Company nor any of the Company’s Subsidiaries will:

(i) issue or sell any shares or capital stock, notes, bonds or other securities (or any restricted stock, option, warrant or other right to acquire the same or phantom stock) or change its equity capitalization or capital structure (other than issuances to the Company or any wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company);

(ii) amend or restate the Company Charter Documents or any organizational documents of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries;

(iii) change any method of accounting or accounting practice or policy used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including with respect to the timing of the payment of accounts payable or accrued expenses, the collection of accounts receivable, or making any material changes in its cash management practices) or make any material change outside the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, in the manner in which the Company and its Subsidiaries extend discounts to customers, other than such changes as are required by GAAP or a Governmental Authority;

(iv) settle or compromise any claims of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $100,000, or commence any material Action, other than for routine collection of accounts;

(v) (A) enter into any Material Contract (or any Contract that would have been a Material Contract if entered into at any time prior to the date hereof), (B) amend in any material respect, modify in any material respect or waive any material right under any Material Contract or (C) cancel or terminate any Material Contract;

(vi) make, revoke or change any Tax election, adopt or change any method of Tax accounting, file any amended Tax return, enter into any closing agreement, or settle or compromise any claim or assessment, surrender any right to claim a refund offset or other reduction in liability, consent to any extension or waiver of the limitations period applicable to any claim or assessment, in each case with respect to Taxes;

(vii) sell, assign, license, abandon, or otherwise dispose of any material Owned Intellectual Property other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

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(viii) make any capital expenditures in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate for the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, without Parent’s prior written consent (such consent to be in Parent’s sole discretion; provided , that Parent shall respond to any request of the Company for such consent in a reasonably expeditious manner following notice of such request from the Company);

(ix) incur or guarantee any Indebtedness in excess of $2,000,000 in the aggregate;

(x) unless required pursuant to the terms of a Plan set forth on Section 3.14(a) of the Disclosure Schedules that is currently in effect and made available to Parent and in accordance with its terms as in effect on the date hereof, (A) adopt, enter into, terminate or amend any Plan, or any other employee plan, policy, agreement or arrangement or any collective bargaining agreement; (B) increase the compensation or benefits of (other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice with respect to Employees having an annual base salary and incentive compensation opportunity not to exceed $150,000 in the aggregate) or pay or promise any bonus, severance or other termination payment to, any director, officer, Employee or Worker (in each case whether current, former or retired) or other Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (C) amend or accelerate the payment, right to payment or vesting of any compensation or benefits, including any outstanding equity compensation, (D) pay any material benefit not provided for under any Plan set forth on Section 3.14(a) of the Disclosure Schedules or any employee plan, agreement, contract or arrangement or benefit plan as of the date of this Agreement, (E) grant any awards under any bonus, incentive, equity, performance or other compensation plan or arrangement or benefit plan, including the grant of performance units or the removal of existing restrictions in any benefit plans or agreements or awards made thereunder, (F) take any action to fund or in any other way secure the payment of compensation or benefits under any employee plan, agreement, contract or arrangement or benefit plan, (G) hire any new Employees or Workers, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and with an annual base salary and annual target incentive compensation opportunity not to exceed $150,000 in the aggregate and on terms that do not provide for any payments or benefits upon termination; or (H) terminate any key employee other than for cause; provided, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or otherwise by or on the part of the Company shall arise in connection with the timely adoption of the ESOP Amendment by the Company as required under this Agreement;

(xi) sell, assign, lease, sublease, license, sublicense, pledge or otherwise transfer or dispose of or grant any option or rights in, to or under, or incur any Encumbrance on, any material assets, except for the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(xii) (A) acquire or negotiate for the acquisition of any Person or business, (B) initiate the start‑up of any new business, (C) make any loan, investment in or capital contribution to any Person or (D) otherwise acquire or agree to acquire any securities or assets of

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any Person that are material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(xiii) merge or consolidate or agree to merge or consolidate with or into any other Person;

(xiv) enter into any transaction, agreement or arrangement with a Specified Person or an Affiliate;

(xv) adopt a plan of liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization, bankruptcy, suspension of payments or other reorganization;

(xvi) terminate, cancel, amend, waive, modify or fail to maintain, renew or comply with any material Permit, or fail to maintain in full force and effect any material insurance policy;

(xvii) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to renew any Real Property Lease (unless Parent, following reasonable consultation, confirms in writing its desire that the Company not renew such Real Property Lease);

(xviii) revalue its assets, including writing down or writing off the value of inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivable, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(xix) implement any facility closings or mass layoffs that would implicate the WARN Act; or

(xx) authorize, propose or agree to take any of the actions specified in the foregoing.

(b) Locked Box . From the date hereof through the Closing, the Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, take any action or refrain from taking any action that constitutes Leakage (except for Permitted Leakage).

(c) No Control of Other Party’s Business . Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give Parent, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ operations prior to the Effective Time, and nothing contained in this Agreement shall give the Company, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct Parent’s or its Subsidiaries’ operations prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time, subject to the covenants, agreements and obligations set forth in this Agreement, each of the Company and Parent shall exercise, complete control and supervision over its and its Subsidiaries’ respective operations.

Section 5.2 Access to Information . From the date hereof until the Closing, upon reasonable notice, the Company shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary of the Company, and use reasonable best efforts to cause each Representative of the Company and its Subsidiaries to, (a) afford Parent and its Representatives reasonable access to the assets, offices, properties and books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and (b) furnish to Parent and authorized Representatives of Parent such

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additional financial and operating data and other information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries (or copies thereof) as Parent may from time to time reasonably request; provided , however , that any such access or furnishing of information shall be conducted during normal business hours, and in such a manner as not to unreasonably interfere with the normal operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, prior to the Closing, Parent and authorized Representatives of Parent shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, contact any customers, vendors, suppliers and creditors of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or the Transactions contemplated herein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to provide any such access or disclose any such information to Parent if such disclosure would reasonably be expected to (i) jeopardize any attorney‑client or other legal privilege; or (ii) violate any confidentiality provisions related to any agreement or contract; provided , however , that the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain any consents of third parties that are necessary to permit such access or make such disclosure and shall otherwise use reasonable best efforts to permit such access or disclosure, including pursuant to the use of “clean room” arrangements or redactions, pursuant to which Representatives of the recipient could be provided access to any such information.

Section 5.3 Confidentiality .

(a) The terms of the letter agreement dated as of June 7, 2013 (the “ Confidentiality Agreement ”) between Parent and the Company are hereby incorporated herein by reference and shall continue in full force and effect until the Closing and shall terminate upon the Closing. If this Agreement is, for any reason, terminated prior to the Closing, the Confidentiality Agreement shall nonetheless continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

(b) Parent acknowledges and agrees that any Evaluation Material (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) made available to Parent, its Affiliates or their respective Representatives prior to the date hereof or pursuant to Section 5.2 by the Company, its Affiliates (including the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) or any of their respective Representatives shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Confidentiality Agreement.

Section 5.4 Regulatory and Other Authorizations; Notices and Consents .

(a) Each of Parent and the Company shall use its respective reasonable best efforts to (i) promptly obtain all authorizations, consents, orders and approvals of all Governmental Authorities that may be or become necessary for its execution and delivery of, and the performance of its obligations pursuant to, this Agreement; (ii) cooperate fully with the other in promptly seeking to obtain all such authorizations, consents, orders and approvals; and (iii) provide such other information to any Governmental Authority as such Governmental Authority may reasonably request in connection herewith. Each party hereto agrees to make as promptly as practicable (and, in any event, no later than five (5)

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Business Days following the date hereof), its respective filing (or notification), if necessary, pursuant to the HSR Act and any other applicable antitrust, competition, or trade regulation Law with respect to the Transactions and to supply as promptly as practicable to the appropriate Governmental Authorities any additional information and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to the HSR Act and other applicable antitrust, competition, or trade regulation Law. Parent shall pay all fees or make other payments required by applicable Law to any Governmental Authority in order to obtain any such authorizations, consents, orders or approvals.

(b) Without limiting the generality of Parent’s undertaking pursuant to Section 5.4(a) , Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to take any and all steps necessary to avoid or eliminate each and every impediment under any antitrust, competition or trade regulation Law that may be asserted by any antitrust or competition Governmental Authority or any other party so as to enable the parties hereto to close the Transactions prior to the Termination Date, including proposing, negotiating, committing to and effecting, by consent decree, hold separate orders, or otherwise, the sale, divestiture or disposition of its assets, properties or businesses or of the assets, properties or businesses to be acquired by it pursuant hereto, and the entrance into such other arrangements, as are necessary or advisable in order to avoid the entry of, and the commencement of litigation seeking the entry of, or to effect the dissolution of, any injunction, temporary restraining order or other order in any suit or proceeding, which would otherwise have the effect of preventing the consummation of Transactions. In addition, Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to defend on the merits any claim asserted by any party in order to avoid entry of any decree, order or judgment (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that would prevent the Closing prior to the Termination Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, nothing in this Section 5.4 shall require Parent and its Affiliates to, and “reasonable best efforts” shall not be deemed to require Parent and its Affiliates to, take any action that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a material and adverse impact on (i) the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) the reasonably expected benefits to Parent of completing the Merger, which reasonably expected benefits shall be measured at a level of those reasonably likely to have a material and adverse impact on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and not at the level or measure that would reasonably likely to have a material and adverse impact on Parent and its Affiliates, taken as a whole.

(c) Each party to this Agreement shall promptly notify the other party of any communication it or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives receives from any Governmental Authority relating to the matters that are the subject of this Agreement and permit the other party to review in advance any proposed communication by such party to any Governmental Authority. Neither of the parties to this Agreement shall agree to participate in any meeting with any Governmental Authority in respect of any filings, investigation (including any settlement of an investigation), or other inquiry unless it consults with the other party in advance and, to the extent permitted by such Governmental Authority, gives the other party the opportunity to attend and participate at such meeting. Each party hereto shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives to, coordinate and cooperate fully with the other party hereto in exchanging such information and providing

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such assistance as the other party hereto may reasonably request in connection with the foregoing and in seeking early termination of any applicable waiting periods, including under the HSR Act. The parties to this Agreement shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates and their respective Representatives to, provide each other with copies of all correspondence, filings or communications between them or any of their respective Representatives, on the one hand, and any Governmental Authority or members of its staff, on the other hand, with respect to this Agreement and the Transactions; provided , however , that materials may be redacted (i) to remove references concerning the valuation of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (ii) as necessary to comply with contractual arrangements or applicable Laws; and (iii) as necessary to address reasonable attorney‑client or other privilege or confidentiality concerns.

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, the parties hereto understand and agree that all obligations of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub relating to the Financing shall be governed solely by Section 5.12 and not by this Section 5.4 .

Section 5.5 Indemnification of Officers and Directors .

(a) Parent agrees that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries now existing in favor of each Person who is now, or has been at any time before the date hereof or who becomes before the Closing Date, an officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or who, at the request of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, served as a director, officer, trustee or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, pension or other employee benefit plan or enterprise (each, an “ Indemnified Person ”), as provided in the articles of incorporation, bylaws, operating agreement or similar organizational document of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case as in effect on the date of this Agreement, or pursuant to any other respective governing documents or indemnification agreements in effect on the date hereof (in each case, to the extent made available to Parent prior to the date hereof), shall survive the Closing Date and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms. For the avoidance of doubt, such indemnification, advancement and exculpation provisions shall not be repealed, amended or otherwise modified for a period of six (6) years from the Effective Time in a manner that would adversely affect the rights of individuals who, at any time before the Effective Time, were indemnified parties thereunder, except as required by applicable Law.

(b) The Company shall, prior to the Closing Date, purchase a “tail” insurance policy for a period of six (6) years after the Effective Time, of at least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and conditions that are no less advantageous in the aggregate than the current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance maintained by the Company with respect to claims arising from or related to facts or events that occurred at or before the Effective Time; provided , however , that the Company shall not expend more than three hundred percent (300%) of the annual premium for the current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance maintained by the Company (which such annual premium is set forth on Section 5.5(b) of the Disclosure Schedules) in the aggregate to purchase such “tail” insurance. If such insurance coverage can only be obtained at a premium in excess of three hundred percent (300%) of such current annual premium, the Company shall obtain one or more policies with the greatest coverage available for an aggregate premium equal to three hundred percent (300%) of such current annual premium.

(c) The obligations of Parent and the Company under this Section 5.5 shall survive the consummation of the Merger and are intended to be for the benefit of the Indemnified Persons, each of whom shall be a third-party beneficiary of this Section 5.5 .

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(d) If Parent, the Company or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity in such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in either such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Parent or the Company, as the case may be, shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 5.5 .

(e) For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that any Parent Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification under Article VIII with respect to any matter that would otherwise give rise to indemnification or advancement of expenses pursuant to this Section 5.5 (including, for purposes of this Section 5.5(e) , pursuant to any provision of the articles of incorporation, bylaws, operating agreement or similar organizational document of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any other governing document, any indemnification agreement or applicable Law), any payments by Parent, the Surviving Corporation, or any of their Subsidiaries in respect of any indemnification or advancement of expenses pursuant to this Section 5.5 to an Indemnified Person pursuant to this Section 5.5 shall be deemed “Losses” incurred by the Parent Indemnified Parties for purposes of any claim made by any Parent Indemnified Party under Article VIII related to such matter.

Section 5.6 Notice of Certain Developments . Prior to the Closing Date, Parent shall give the Company, and the Company shall give Parent, prompt written notice of (a) the occurrence of any fact, event or circumstance that causes any representation or warranty of the Company or Parent and Merger Sub, respectively and as the case may be, set forth in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect at or prior to the Closing Date, (b) any failure of the Company or Parent and Merger Sub, as the case may be, to comply with or satisfy in any material respect any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under this Agreement, (c) any Action made or instituted or, to the Company’s Knowledge or the Knowledge of Parent, as the case may be, threatened by any current or former Company Shareholder (or holder of any other equity securities), or any Affiliate, trustee or beneficiary of any Company Shareholder (or holder of any other equity securities), seeking to assert, or based upon (i) any alleged breach of fiduciary duty, usurping corporate opportunity or similar breach of care, loyalty or comparable claims by any officer, director, trustee, fiduciary, agent or current or former Company Shareholder occurring prior to the Closing, whether or not in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions, (ii) any rights, preferences or privileges under any of the Company Charter Documents and any allocations pursuant thereto, (iii) any allocation of the Aggregate Merger Consideration or the Per Share Consideration or (iv) challenging this Agreement or the Transactions or seeking to enjoin, delay or prevent the Transactions (collectively, a “ Transaction Litigation ”), and (d) any Leakage (other than Permitted Leakage) from and after the Locked Box Date.

Section 5.7 Further Action .

(a) Following the Closing, the parties hereto shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action, to do or cause to be done all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law, and to execute and deliver such documents and other papers, as may be required to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and

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consummate and make effective the Transactions; provided that Parent and its Affiliates shall not be required to pay any further consideration or amounts therefor.

(b) Each of the parties hereto shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary consents in Material Contracts required to be obtained by it from third parties (other than Governmental Authorities) in connection with the Transactions. Each of the parties hereto shall provide reasonable assistance to the other party in obtaining such consents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no party hereto or any of its respective Affiliates shall have any obligation to, and the Company and its Affiliates shall not without the prior written consent of Parent, (i) pay sums of money or provide any guarantee or other material consideration in connection with obtaining the consents or approvals referred to in this Section 5.7(b) ; (ii) waive or discharge any material liabilities or obligations owing to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by any counterparty, (iii) waive any material rights of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any agreement, arrangement, document, permit or other instrument, or (iv) amend, modify, supplement or otherwise change in any material respect the terms of any such agreement, arrangement, document, permit or other instrument.

(c) Prior to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries entering into: (i) any real property lease or sublease agreement (as landlord or tenant) or similar arrangement or any extension, modification, renewal, termination or amendment of any such lease, sublease or agreement, (ii) any purchase or sale of real property or any other agreement related to the transfer of real property, or (iii) any construction on real property or repairs related thereto in excess of $100,000, the Company shall reasonably consult with Parent regarding the terms of such agreement or arrangement.

Section 5.8 Exclusivity . The Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives not to, directly or indirectly: (i) initiate, solicit, knowingly encourage or otherwise knowingly facilitate any inquiry, proposal, offer or discussion with any party (other than Parent) concerning any Acquisition Proposal or any proposal or offer that would reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal, (ii) furnish any information concerning the business, properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to any Person (other than Parent) relating to any Acquisition Proposal or any proposal or offer that would reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal or (iii) engage in discussions or negotiations with any party (other than Parent) concerning any Acquisition Proposal or any proposal or offer that would reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal. The Company shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, (i) immediately cease any and all discussions or negotiations of the nature described in preceding sentence that have occurred prior to the date of this Agreement (other than with Parent and its Representatives), and (ii) promptly (and within 24 hours) notify Parent of the material terms of any Acquisition Proposal received after the date hereof, including the identity of the party making such Acquisition Proposal and the amount offered in such Acquisition Proposal. “ Acquisition Proposal ” shall mean any inquiry, proposal or offer from any Person relating to any direct or indirect acquisition or purchase (including through a license) of any material amount of equity or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether through merger, business combination, or other transaction, and whether in one transaction or a series of related transactions; provided , however , that Acquisition Proposal shall not include any sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice.


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Section 5.9 Transaction Litigation . The Company shall keep Parent reasonably informed regarding the status of any Transaction Litigation. The Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and Representatives not to, compromise, settle, come to an arrangement regarding or agree to compromise, settle or come to an arrangement regarding any Transaction Litigation unless Parent shall have consented thereto in writing.

Section 5.10 Shareholders’ Meeting and Company Shareholder Approval .

(a) As soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, but in any event within ten (10) Business Days following the date hereof, the Company shall prepare and mail to the Company Shareholders an information statement in connection with the Shareholders’ Meeting (as amended or supplemented, the “ Information Statement ”). Each of Parent and Merger Sub will furnish to the Company such information relating to it as may be reasonably requested by the Company for inclusion into the Information Statement. Prior to mailing the Information Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) to the Company Shareholders, the Company shall provide Parent and its Representatives a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such document, and the Company shall consider in good faith any such comments made by Parent or its Representative. The Information Statement shall include (i) the Company Recommendation, subject to Section 5.10(f) , (ii) the Fairness Opinion and (iii) the ESOP Fairness Opinion.

(b) Each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company agrees, for itself and in respect of each of its respective Affiliates and Representatives, that none of the information supplied or to be supplied by Parent, Merger Sub or the Company, as applicable, expressly for inclusion in the Information Statement will, as of the time such documents (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) are mailed to the Company Shareholders and at the time of the Shareholders’ Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If at any time prior to the Shareholders’ Meeting, any event or circumstance relating to Parent or Merger Sub, or their respective officers or directors, should be discovered by Parent or Merger Sub which should be set forth in an amendment or a supplement to the Information Statement to ensure that the Information Statement would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, Parent shall promptly notify the Company, and the Company shall amend or supplement and, if required by applicable Law, mail to the Company Shareholders, the Information Statement promptly to disclose such event or circumstance. If at any time prior to the Shareholders’ Meeting, any event or circumstance relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective officers or directors should be discovered by the Company which should be set forth in an amendment or a supplement to the Information Statement to ensure that the Information Statement would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Company shall promptly notify Parent, and the Company shall amend or supplement and, if required by applicable Law, mail to the Company Shareholders, the Information Statement promptly to disclose such event or circumstance.

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(c) The Company shall take all action necessary to duly call, give notice of, and, within thirty (30) days following the mailing of the Information Statement to the Company Shareholders, convene and hold a meeting of the Company Shareholders for the purpose of adopting this Agreement (the “ Shareholders’ Meeting ”).

(d) The Company agrees and acknowledges that it has established the Business Day immediately following the date hereof as the record date for purposes of determining the Company Shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Shareholders’ Meeting (the “ Record Date ”) and has established a date for the Shareholders’ Meeting in accordance with Section 5.10(c) . The Company shall not change the Record Date without the prior written consent of Parent, unless required to do so by applicable Law (based on the advice of outside legal counsel). The Company shall not delay or postpone convening the Shareholders’ Meeting, or adjourn the Shareholders’ Meeting beyond the time that the Shareholders’ Meeting would otherwise be held, except to the extent required by applicable Law (based on the advice of outside legal counsel) and then only for the minimum period required by applicable Law (based on the advice of outside legal counsel). Unless this Agreement is validly terminated in accordance with Article IX , the Company shall submit this Agreement (and not submit any Acquisition Proposal) to the Company Shareholders for adoption at the Shareholders’ Meeting in accordance with this Section 5.10 even if a Withdrawal of Recommendation shall have occurred.

(e) Except to the extent a Withdrawal of Recommendation is effected in accordance with Section 5.10(f) , following the mailing of the Information Statement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit the Company Shareholder Approval. Promptly following Parent’s request, the Company shall advise Parent as to the aggregate tally of the proxies received by the Company and not withdrawn with respect to the Company Shareholder Approval. Without the prior written consent of Parent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the approval of the Transactions, and the matters contemplated by Section 5.11 , shall be the only matters (other than procedural matters) that the Company shall propose to be acted on by the Company Shareholders at the Shareholders’ Meeting.

(f) The Company and the Board of Directors of the Company shall not (and shall cause the Representatives of the Company not to) (i) fail to make, withdraw (or not continue to make), or modify, or publicly propose to withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent and/or Merger Sub, the Company Recommendation, including failure to include the Company Recommendation in the Information Statement, (ii) approve, recommend, adopt, or publicly propose to approve, recommend or adopt, an Acquisition Proposal or (iii) otherwise take any action or make any statement inconsistent with the Company Recommendation; provided , however , that at any time prior to receipt of the Company Shareholder Approval, the Board of Directors of the Company may submit this Agreement for approval by the Company’s Shareholders at the Shareholders’ Meeting without the Company Recommendation (although the resolutions adopting this Agreement may not be rescinded or amended) and, in such case,

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shall communicate the basis for its lack of a recommendation to the Company Shareholders in the Information Statement or an appropriate amendment or supplement thereto to the extent (but only to the extent) required by applicable Law (collectively, a “ Withdrawal of Recommendation ”), but only if: (A) the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith, after consultation with (and based on the advice of) outside legal counsel (and, in the case of a Withdrawal of Recommendation that relates to or in connection with an Acquisition Proposal, a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation), that because of a conflict of interest or other special circumstances (it being agreed that such special circumstances will include, for purposes of this Agreement, the receipt by the Company of an Acquisition Proposal but only if such Acquisition Proposal was not the result of a breach of Section 5.8 ) it would violate its fiduciary duties under applicable Law not to effect a Withdrawal of Recommendation; (B) the Company has notified Parent in writing that the Board of Directors of the Company will effect a Withdrawal of Recommendation on the fifth (5th) Business Day following the receipt by Parent of such notice, which notice describes in reasonable detail the circumstances resulting in the Withdrawal of Recommendation including, in the case of a Withdrawal of Recommendation that relates to or is in connection with an Acquisition Proposal, the material terms of such Acquisition Proposal (including copies of any documentation setting forth the Acquisition Proposal), the identity of the party making such Acquisition Proposal and the amount offered in such Acquisition Proposal; (C) during the five (5) Business Day period following Parent’s receipt of such notice pursuant to clause (B) of this Section 5.10(f) the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and Representatives to, negotiate in good faith with Parent, Merger Sub and their respective Representatives (to the extent they desire to negotiate) to make adjustments and/or modifications in the terms and conditions of this Agreement, any other Transaction Document and the Financing Commitment; provided , however , that any material change in the circumstances resulting in the Withdrawal of Recommendation, including, in the case of a Withdrawal of Recommendation that relates to or is in connection with an Acquisition Proposal, any amendment to the financial terms or any other material amendment to such Acquisition Proposal, shall require a new written notice to be delivered by the Company to Parent and the Company shall be required to comply again with the requirements of clauses (A) through (D) of this Section 5.10(f) ( provided , that references to the five (5) Business Day period above shall be deemed to be references to a three (3) Business Day period); and (D) following such five (5) Business Day period (and any additional three (3) Business Day period(s)), the Board of Directors of the Company again determines in good faith, after consultation with (and based on the advice of) outside legal counsel (and, in the case of a Withdrawal of Recommendation relating to or in connection with an Acquisition Proposal, a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation), that because of such conflict of interest or such other special circumstances it would violate its fiduciary duties under applicable Law not to effect a Withdrawal of Recommendation (after taking into account and/or giving effect to any adjustments or modifications offered or proposed by Parent, Merger Sub or their respective Representatives).

Section 5.11 280G Approval . Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall obtain a written waiver from each “disqualified individual” (within the meaning of Section 280G(c) of the Code and the applicable rulings and final regulations thereunder) of his or her right to any and all payments or other benefits that could reasonably be deemed “parachute payments” as defined by Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code and the applicable rulings and final regulations thereunder (determined without regard to Sections 280G(b)(4) and 280G(b)(5) of the Code). After obtaining such written waivers and prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall solicit shareholder approval of any and all such payments or benefits in a manner that satisfies the requirements for the exemption under Section 280G(b)(5)(A)(ii) of the Code and the applicable rulings and final regulations thereunder, including the Company’s provision of

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adequate disclosure to all applicable shareholders of all material facts concerning all payments that, in the absence of such shareholder approval, could be classified as “parachute payments” to a “disqualified individual” under Section 280G of the Code and the applicable rulings and final regulations thereunder. The Company shall provide such adequate disclosure to the applicable shareholders in a manner that satisfies Section 280G(b)(5)(B)(ii) of the Code and the applicable rulings and final regulations thereunder. The form of waiver solicitation of approval, and disclosure materials must be reasonably satisfactory to Parent, and Parent shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to review such documents before the waivers and approval are sought, in all cases, such that the deduction of such payments and benefits will not be limited by the application of Section 280G of the Code and the applicable rulings and final regulations thereunder.

Section 5.12 Financing .

(a) Without the Company’s prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), Parent shall not agree to any material amendment or modification to be made to the Financing Commitments; provided , that Parent may replace, amend or modify any term of the Financing Commitments, without the Company’s consent, (x) to modify the pricing terms or to add lenders, lead arrangers, bookrunners, syndication agents or similar entities that have not executed the Financing Commitments as of the date hereof or (y) if such replacement, amendment or modification would not reduce the amount of aggregate cash proceeds available from the Financing to less than required to consummate the Merger or impose new or additional conditions precedent that would reasonably be expected to adversely impact the ability of Parent to enforce its rights against the other parties to the Financing Commitments or that materially delay or impair the ability of Parent to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to arrange and obtain the Financing on the terms and conditions described in the Financing Commitments (including the flex provisions therein, but not in excess or outside of such provisions unless so agreed by Parent, and taking into account the anticipated timing of the Marketing Period), including using reasonable best efforts to (i) satisfy, perform and observe on a timely basis (taking into account the expected timing of the Marketing Period) all conditions and covenants within Parent’s control in the Financing Commitments and otherwise comply in all material respects with its obligations thereunder, (ii) enter into definitive agreements with respect to the Financing on the terms and conditions (including the flex provisions but not in excess or outside such flex provisions unless so agreed by Parent) contemplated by the Financing Commitments and (iii) upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the Financing Commitments, consummate the Financing at or prior to Closing. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Parent shall give the Company prompt notice: (A) of any breach or default or threatened breach or default by any party to any Financing Commitment, in each case, of which Parent becomes aware, if such breach or default would reasonably be expected to result in a material delay of the Closing Date; and (B) of the receipt of any written notice or other written communication from any Person with respect to any breach or default or threatened breach, termination or repudiation by any party to any Financing Commitment or any definitive document related to the Financing or any provisions of the Financing Commitments or any definitive document related to the Financing. If any portion of the Financing becomes unavailable on the terms and conditions (including the flex provisions but not in excess or outside such flex provisions unless so agreed by Parent) contemplated in the Financing Commitments in effect on the date hereof so as not to enable Parent to proceed with the Merger in a timely manner, Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to arrange and obtain, as promptly as practicable following the occurrence of such event, alternative financing from the same or alternative sources ( provided , that if Alternative Financing (as defined herein) is not available from the same sources, then Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to arrange and

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obtain Alternative Financing from alternative sources) in an amount sufficient, when added to the portion of the Financing being replaced that is still available, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and on terms and conditions that are no less favorable to Parent, taken as a whole (taking into account any flex provisions, but not in excess or outside of such flex provisions unless so agreed by Parent), than those set forth in the Financing Commitments in effect on the date hereof (“ Alternative Financing ”); provided that the “effective yield” in respect of the Alternative Financing may exceed the “effective yield” in respect of the Financing Commitments in effect as of the date hereof (including any flex provision) but by no more than fifty (50) basis points (unless so agreed by Parent). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the reasonable best efforts of Parent be deemed or construed to require Parent to, and Parent shall not be required to, (1) pay any fees in excess of those contemplated by the Financing Commitments, (2) agree to any economic provision that is outside of, or less favorable than, any applicable economic provision of the Financing Commitments or any related fee letter (including any flex provision therein) or (3) initiate any enforcement action to cause the lenders or other parties providing the Financing to fund such Financing; provided that, clauses (1) (solely with respect to any upfront fees or original issue discount) and (2) shall apply only to the extent that the “effective yield” in respect of any Alternative Financing exceeds the “effective yield” in respect of the Financing Commitments in effect as of the date hereof (including any flex provision therein) by more than fifty (50) basis points. Parent shall keep the Company reasonably informed of the status of its efforts to arrange the Financing. Any reference in this Agreement to the “Financing” and “Financing Commitments” shall include the financing contemplated by the Financing Commitments on the date hereof, as permitted to be amended, modified or replaced (in whole or in part) by this Section 5.12(a) , including any Alternative Financing. For purposes hereof, in calculating the “effective yield” under the Financing Commitments as in effect on the date hereof or any Alternative Financing, (x) upfront fees and original issue discount (each converted to yield assuming a four-year average life and without any present value discount), interest rate spreads and interest rate benchmarks floors will be taken into account and (y) the effect of any arrangement, structuring, syndication or other fees payable in connection therewith that are not shared with all lenders or holders of such Alternative Financing and any fluctuations in LIBOR or comparable rate will be excluded.

(b) Prior to the Closing, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to provide to Parent, at Parent’s sole expense, all reasonable cooperation reasonably requested by Parent in connection with the Financing, including:

(i) furnishing Parent and its Financing Sources as promptly as practicable with financial and other pertinent information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries as may be reasonably requested by Parent or the lenders under the Commitment Letter in connection with the Financing, including financial statements (including the financial statements set forth in clause (ii) below) (which, with respect to annual financial statements, shall have been audited and, with respect to interim financial statements, shall have been reviewed by the independent accountants for the Company as provided in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 100), pro forma financial statements of the Company ( provided that it is understood that the preparation of combined pro

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forma financial information and the assumptions underlying the pro forma adjustments to be made are the responsibility of Parent), business and other financial data of the type and form required by Regulation S-X and Regulation S-K under the Securities Act and of type and form customarily included in a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act for a public offering of the debt securities contemplated by the Commitment Letter, assuming that such offering was consummated at the same time during the Company’s fiscal year as the offering of debt securities contemplated by the Commitment Letter (other than consolidating financial statements; provided that customary data as to the total assets, revenue, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA of non-guarantor Subsidiaries shall be provided), all other data that would be necessary for the underwriter to such offering of the debt securities contemplated by the Financing Commitments to receive customary “comfort” (including “negative assurance” comfort) from the Company’s independent accountants in connection with such offering of the debt securities contemplated by the Financing Commitments, and reasonable and customary authorization letters to the financing sources authorizing the distribution of information to prospective lenders and containing customary information;

(ii) furnishing Parent and its Financing Sources as promptly as reasonably practicable with (A) by a date that is not later than forty-five (45) calendar days after the end of any fiscal quarter after the date hereof that is not a fiscal year end, the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of the end of such subsequent quarterly period ended no less than forty-five (45) calendar days prior to the Closing Date and the related unaudited statements of income and cash flows and (B) by a date that is not later than ninety (90) calendar days after the end of any fiscal year, the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of the end of such fiscal year ended not less than ninety (90) days prior to the Closing Date, and the related audited statements of income and cash flows for the year then ended, and the notes and schedules thereto (the information described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 5.12(b) being collectively referred to as the “ Required Information ”);

(iii) participating in a reasonable number of meetings (including customary one-on-one meetings with the parties acting as lead arrangers or agents for, and prospective lenders and purchasers of, the financing and senior management and Representatives, with appropriate seniority and expertise, of the Company and its Subsidiaries), presentations, road shows, due diligence sessions, drafting sessions and sessions with rating agencies in connection with the financing.

(iv) facilitating the pledging of collateral and perfection of security interests (including obtaining customary payoff letters, lien releases and instruments of termination or discharge) as required by the Commitment Letters, including executing and delivering any customary collateral documents and other customary documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by Parent and cooperating and assisting Parent in obtaining customary legal opinions, appraisals, surveys, title insurance, other certifications and documents as reasonably required by the Financing Sources for financings similar to the Financing, and cooperating with and assisting Parent in connection with obtaining such items;

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(v) assisting with the preparation of materials for rating agencies and rating agency presentations, bank information memoranda, offering documents (including assistance in the preparation of pro forma financial statements giving effect to the transactions hereunder), private placement memoranda and similar documents required in connection with the Financing;

(vi) facilitating the execution and delivery at the Closing of definitive Financing documents by the Company and its Subsidiaries and all other customary documents in connection therewith, including pledge and security agreements, mortgages, guarantees, filings and certificates as reasonably required in connection with the Financing (including a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to solvency matters and consents of independent accountants for the use of their reports in any materials relating to the Financing, provided that any obligations contained in such documents shall be effective no earlier than as of the Closing);

(vii) using reasonable best efforts to cooperate with Parent to satisfy the conditions precedent to the Financing to the extent within the control of the Company and causing the taking of corporate actions by the Company and its Subsidiaries reasonably necessary to permit the completion of the Financing;

provided , that (i) the foregoing shall not require such cooperation to the extent that it would interfere unreasonably with the business or operation of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to commit to take any action (including the payment of any commitment or other fee or the incurrence of any liability prior to the Effective Time to the extent not reimbursed by Parent pursuant to Section 5.12(c) ) that is not contingent upon the Closing (including the entry into any agreement) or that would be effective prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Parent shall, upon written request of the Company, reimburse the Company for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs incurred in good faith by the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with their obligations pursuant to Section 5.12(b) prior to the Closing. Parent shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company and its Subsidiaries and Representatives from and against any and all Losses suffered or incurred by them in connection with the arrangement of the Financing or providing any of the information utilized in connection therewith, except to the extent resulting from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any such Persons.

Section 5.13 Takeover Statutes . If any Takeover Statute is or may become applicable to the Merger or the other Transactions, the Company and its Board of Directors shall grant such approvals and take such other actions as are necessary so that the Transactions may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise act to eliminate or minimize the effects of such statute or regulation on such transactions.

Section 5.14 Tax Refunds . Any refund of any Indemnifiable Taxes (other than any refund or that portion of any refund arising out of the carryback of a loss or credit incurred by the Company or

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any of its Subsidiaries in a Tax period (or portion thereof) commencing after the Locked Box Date), and any interest paid or credited by any Governmental Authority in respect thereto (a “ Refund ”), shall be the property of the Company Shareholders and the Optionholders. In the event that any Refund is received by Parent, the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Affiliate thereof, including by way of credit or allowance against Taxes otherwise payable, an amount equal to such Refund less any reasonable costs incurred by Parent in obtaining such Refund shall be paid to the Exchange Agent for further distribution to the Company Shareholders and Optionholders promptly upon such receipt from the applicable Governmental Authority.

Section 5.15 Conveyance Taxes . All Conveyance Taxes shall be paid when due by the Party legally responsible to pay such amount (the “ Responsible Party ”). The Responsible Party will, at its own expense, file all necessary Tax returns and other documentation with respect to all such Conveyance Taxes and, if required by applicable Law, the other Party will, and will cause its Affiliates to, join in the execution of any such Tax returns and other documentation. Parent and the Company Shareholders agree to cooperate in the execution and delivery of all instruments and certificates necessary to minimize the amount of any Conveyance Taxes and to enable Parent and the Company Shareholders to comply with any pre-Closing filing requirements.

Section 5.16 Amendment to Stockel Agreement . Promptly (and in any event within five (5) Business Days) following the date hereof, the Company shall provide notice to the Stockel Shareholders in respect of the Merger in accordance with the Stockel Agreement. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Stockel Agreement to be amended (in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent) as promptly as practicable to provide that the Per Class W Common Share Cash Consideration (plus the applicable Pro Rata Portion of any distributions to the Stockel Shareholders from the Escrow Account in accordance with the Escrow Agreement, the applicable Pro Rata Portion of any distributions to the Stockel Shareholders by the Exchange Agent in respect of a Refund under Section 5.14 , and the applicable Pro Rata Portion of any distributions to the Stockel Shareholders from the Shareholder Representative Fund under Section 8.8(c) ) to be paid in the Merger shall be in lieu of payment of the Per Share Change of Control Purchase Price under the Stockel Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

EMPLOYEE MATTERS

Section 6.1 Compensation and Employee Benefits .

(a) For the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the date that is ninety (90) days thereafter, Parent shall, and shall cause the Company and its Subsidiaries to, provide current Employees as of the Closing Date (the “ Continuing Employees ”) with base salary, cash bonus opportunities and a level of employee benefits (other than equity‑based compensation or benefits, retiree or post-employment welfare benefits, and defined benefit pension benefits), during such Continuing Employee’s period of employment, that are no less favorable in the aggregate than as those provided to

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the Continuing Employees immediately prior to the Closing Date under the Plans set forth in Section 3.14(a) of the Disclosure Schedules and made available to Parent.

(b) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall adopt written resolutions and a plan amendment to fully (100%) vest all participants’ accounts under the Company’s 401(k) plan, such vesting to be effective on the date that includes the Effective Time (but may be contingent on the Closing). Such resolutions and amendment shall not apply, and prior to the Effective Time the Company shall not take any action, to fully (100%) vest any employer contributions made to the Company’s 401(k) plan after the Effective Time. The form and substance of such written resolutions and plan amendment shall be preapproved by Parent, such preapproval not to be unreasonably withheld.

(c) Parent shall cause Continuing Employees to receive credit for service with the Company and its Subsidiaries prior to the Closing for purposes of eligibility to participate, vesting, vacation entitlement and level of severance benefits under each of the employee benefit plans, programs and policies of Parent (other than those providing equity-based benefits or compensation), the Surviving Corporation or its relevant Subsidiary, as applicable, in which such Continuing Employees become participants in immediately after the Closing Date (“ Parent Plans ”) to the extent such service was credited to such Continuing Employee as of the Closing Date under the analogous Plan; provided , that no such service recognition shall be required if it would result in any duplication of benefits.  With respect to each Parent Plan that is a group health plan, the Parent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause all pre-existing condition exclusions and actively-at-work requirements of such Parent Plan to be waived for each Continuing Employee and his or her covered dependents, unless and to the extent the individual, immediately before entry in the Parent Plans, was subject to such conditions under a comparable Plan, as applicable, and (ii) cause each Continuing Employee to be given credit under such Parent Plans for all amounts paid by such Continuing Employee under any similar Plan for the plan year that includes the Closing Date for purposes of applying deductibles, co-payments and out-of-pocket maximums under Parent Plans to the same extent such amounts were credited for the same purpose under such Plan for such Continuing Employee.

(d) Nothing contained in this Section 6.1 shall be construed to create any right to employment or continued employment or any term or condition of employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Nothing in this Section 6.1 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall make any Continuing Employee a third party beneficiary of this Section 6.1 or this Agreement or any rights relating thereto or be deemed to be an amendment to any employee benefit plan or arrangement of any party, including any Plan.



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ARTICLE VII

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

Section 7.1 Conditions to Obligations of the Company . The obligations of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or written waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

(a) Representations, Warranties and Covenants . (i) (A) the representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in Section 4.1 and Section 4.5 shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” qualifiers contained therein) in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (as if made on the Closing Date) (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date) and (B) all of the other representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub in Article IV (other than those referenced in clause (A) above) shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” qualifiers contained therein) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (as if made on the Closing Date) (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, does not or would not reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the consummation of the Transactions, (ii) each of Parent and Merger Sub shall have performed and complied in all material respects with each of its covenants and agreements in this Agreement to be performed by it before or at the Closing and (iii) a senior executive officer of Parent shall have delivered to the Company at the Closing a certificate, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, confirming satisfaction of the conditions set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above.

(b) Governmental Approvals . Any waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the HSR Act shall have expired or shall have been terminated.

(c) No Order . No Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law or Governmental Order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and has the effect of making the Transactions illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Transactions.

(d) Required Shareholder Approval . The Company Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained in accordance with the NCBCA, any other applicable legal requirements and the Company Charter Documents.

Section 7.2 Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub . The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Transactions shall be subject to the fulfillment or written waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

(a) Representations, Warranties and Covenants . (i) (A) The Fundamental

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Representations (except with respect to the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.3(f) , solely to the extent that the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct has resulted solely from the disclosures expressly set forth on Section 3.3(f) of the Disclosure Schedules) shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” qualifiers contained therein) in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (as if made on the Closing Date) (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date); and (B) all of the other representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Article III (other than those referenced in clause (A) above) shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” qualifiers contained therein) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (as if made on the Closing Date) (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct does not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and (C) all of the representations and warranties of the Shareholder Representative in Section 8.7(c) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (as if made on the Closing Date); (ii) each of the Company and the Shareholder Representative shall have performed and complied in all material respects with each of its covenants and agreements in this Agreement to be performed by it before or at the Closing; and (iii) a senior executive officer of the Company shall have delivered to Parent and Merger Sub at the Closing a certificate, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent and Merger Sub, confirming satisfaction, with respect to the Company, of the conditions set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above.

(b) FIRPTA Certificate . The Company shall have delivered to Parent on the Closing Date a certificate for purposes of satisfying Parent’s obligations under Section 1.1445‑2(c)(3)(i) of the Regulations and a notice to the IRS in accordance with Section 1.897‑2(h)(2) of the Regulations.

(c) Payoff Letters . The Company shall have delivered to Parent at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date payoff letters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent to the effect that upon receipt of payment as described therein such recipient shall have been paid in full for all Indebtedness (except for Indebtedness of the types described in clauses (v)-(ix) of the definition thereof) or Transaction Expenses due and owing to such Person as of the Closing Date.
(d) Governmental Approvals . Any waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the HSR Act shall have expired or shall have been terminated.

(e) No Order . No Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law or Governmental Order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and has the effect of making the Transactions illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Transactions.

(f) No Litigation . There shall not be instituted or pending any Action or proceeding by any Governmental Authority that seeks to prevent, restrain or prohibit the consummation of the Merger.

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(g) Material Adverse Effect . After the date of this Agreement, no Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred.

(h) Deliveries . The Company shall have made all other deliveries required to be made at or prior to the Closing pursuant to Section 2.9(b) .

(i) Required Shareholder Approval . The Company Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained in accordance with the NCBCA, any other applicable legal requirements and the Company Charter Documents.

(j) ESOP Matters . The ESOP Financial Advisor shall have issued the ESOP Fairness Opinion, the ESOP Fiduciary shall have made and certified the ESOP Determination, and the Company shall have properly adopted and executed the ESOP Amendment.

(k) Intellectual Property Transfer . The Intellectual Property Transfer shall have been consummated in accordance with the terms of the IP Transfer APA and shall remain in effect (including, without limitation, that the Membership Agreement (as defined in the IP Transfer APA) shall not have been reinstated and the voting rights of the Current Stockholders (as defined in the IP Transfer APA) shall not have been restored).

(l) Dissenting Shares . The number of Dissenting Shares shall not exceed 5% of the aggregate number of Company Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Closing.

ARTICLE VIII

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 8.1 Survival of Representations and Warranties . The (a) representations and warranties of the Company contained in Article III or in any certificate or other instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement, (b) the representations and warranties of the Shareholder Representative contained in Section 8.7(c) and (c) the covenants and agreements of the Company or the Shareholder Representative set forth in this Agreement which by their terms are to be wholly performed prior to the Closing, in each case, shall survive the Closing for a period of eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date; provided , however , that the Fundamental Representations shall survive the Closing for a period of thirty-six (36) months after the Closing Date. The representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub contained in Article IV , or in any certificate or other instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement, and the covenants and agreements of Parent or Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement which by their terms are to be wholly performed prior to the Closing, in each case, shall terminate at the Closing. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the covenants and agreements of the Company, the Shareholder Representative, Parent or Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement which by their terms are to be performed, in whole or in part, after the Closing shall survive until they have been performed or satisfied. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any claim by a party for indemnification hereunder with respect to the breach or alleged breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement asserted prior to the expiration of the applicable survival period set forth in this Section 8.1 shall survive the expiration of such period until the final resolution of such claim. It is the express intent of the parties that, if the applicable

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survival period for an item as contemplated by this Article VIII is shorter than the statute of limitations that would otherwise have been applicable to such item, then, by contract, the applicable statute of limitations with respect to such item shall be deemed to have been reduced to the shortened survival period contemplated hereby. The parties further acknowledge that they do not intend to extend the applicable statute of limitations.

Section 8.2 Indemnification by the Company Shareholders and Optionholders .

(a) Subject to the limitations in this Article VIII , each Company Shareholder and Optionholder shall on a several basis (based on such Company Shareholder’s or Optionholder’s Pro Rata Portion) indemnify, defend and hold harmless Parent and its Subsidiaries (including, following the Closing, the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries), their respective Representatives and Parent’s and their Representatives’ respective permitted assigns and successors (each, a “ Parent Indemnified Party ”) from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, settlements, payments, Taxes, penalties, fines and interest, as well as costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of legal counsel and other experts) (collectively, the “ Losses ”), resulting from or arising out of, directly or indirectly, any of the following:

(i) the misrepresentation or breach of any representation or warranty made by the Company contained in Article III of this Agreement, as if such representation or warranty were made as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date, or in any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement;

(ii) the breach of any covenant or agreement made or to be performed by the Company or the Shareholder Representative contained in this Agreement, other than the breach of any covenant or agreement made or to be performed by the Company contained in Section 5.1(b) ;

(iii) the breach of any covenant or agreement made or to be performed by the Company contained in Section 5.1(b) ;

(iv) any Indemnifiable Taxes;

(v) any payments paid or owed by the Surviving Corporation to any Company Shareholder with respect to any Dissenting Shares to the extent that the aggregate amount of such payments, together with the aggregate amount of all Losses with respect thereto, exceeds the consideration that otherwise would have been payable to such Company Shareholder pursuant to Article II upon the conversion of such Dissenting Shares if such Company Shareholder had not exercised his, her or its right pursuant to Article 13 of the NCBCA;

(vi) any Transaction Litigation; and

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(vii) the allocation of the Aggregate Merger Consideration and Per Share Consideration among the Company Shareholders, Optionholders, CARQUEST CANADA LTD. Shareholders and/or Stockel Shareholders;

provided , that (A) with respect to indemnification claims under Section 8.2(a)(i) or Section 8.2(a)(ii) (solely with respect to a breach of any covenant or agreement of the Company or the Shareholder Representative set forth in this Agreement which by its terms was to be wholly performed prior to the Closing), the Company Shareholders and Optionholders shall not be liable in respect of any claim (including any other claims relating to similar facts and circumstances) for indemnifiable Losses that are of an amount less than One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000), (B) with respect to indemnification claims under Section 8.2(a)(i) or Section 8.2(a)(ii) (solely with respect to a breach of any covenant or agreement of the Company or the Shareholder Representative set forth in this Agreement which by its terms was to be wholly performed prior to the Closing), the Company Shareholders and Optionholders shall not be liable hereunder unless the aggregate amount of indemnifiable Losses hereunder with respect to such claims exceeds Fourteen Million Dollars ($14,000,000) (the “ Deductible ”), at which point the Company Shareholders and Optionholders will be obligated to indemnify the Parent Indemnified Parties against all Losses so identified by the Parent Indemnified Parties to the extent they exceed the Deductible (and only for such excess); provided , further , that none of the foregoing limitations in (A) and (B) shall apply to misrepresentations or breaches of the Fundamental Representations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement will limit any remedy or claim for Losses that Parent Indemnified Parties may have to the extent arising out of intentional misrepresentation or fraud, subject to Section 8.5 .
(b) No Parent Indemnified Party shall make any claim for or be entitled to indemnification for a Loss (other than with respect to indemnification under Section 8.2(a)(iii) ) to the extent that such Loss is included in the Company Balance Sheet as a specific liability or reserve expressly relating to such matter (but not including any reserve for deferred tax liabilities established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income); provided , however , that this Section 8.2(b) shall not limit the amount to which any Parent Indemnified Party would otherwise be entitled to indemnification for any Losses in excess such proven amounts.

(c) Where the Company Shareholders and Optionholders have made a payment to a Parent Indemnified Party in relation to any claim and Parent or any of its Affiliates are entitled to recover from a third party a sum which indemnifies or compensates Parent Indemnified Parties (in whole or in part) in respect of the liability or Loss which is the subject of a claim, Parent or its relevant Affiliates shall pay to the Company Shareholders and Optionholders, as soon as practicable after receipt, an amount equal to the amount actually recovered from the third party (net of taxation and less any reasonable costs of recovery) up to the amount previously paid hereunder; provided , that Parent shall not be obligated to commence any Action or incur any material costs or expenses (including in the form of increased insurance premiums) in order to seek recovery from a third party; provided , further , that to the extent permissible under applicable Law or the terms of any applicable contracts, the Company Shareholders and Optionholders shall be entitled to exercise, and shall be subrogated to, any rights and remedies (including

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rights of indemnity, rights of contribution and other rights of recovery) that the Parent Indemnified Parties may have against any such third party with respect to any Losses to which such payment is directly related, so long as the Parent Indemnified Parties are not adversely affected thereby.

(d) The Parent Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to recover under this Article VIII with respect to any Losses caused by an inaccuracy or breach of any representation, warranty or covenant by the Company contained in this Agreement even if, at or before the Closing, Parent had knowledge of the facts, matters or circumstances giving rise to such inaccuracy or breach.

(e) For purposes of the calculation of any Losses incurred with respect to a breach requiring indemnification of the Parent Indemnified Parties as provided in Section 8.2(a) , (i) each representation, warranty, covenant and agreement made by the Company is made without any qualifications or limitations as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect and (ii) without limiting the foregoing, the words “material” and “Material Adverse Effect” and words of similar import shall be deemed deleted from any such representation, warranty, covenant or agreement.

(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement: (i) from and after the Closing, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be liable to the Company Indemnified Parties for any or all actual or alleged breach by the Company and its Subsidiaries of any of their representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement and (ii) if a party is entitled to bring a claim under more than one provision of Section 8.2(a) or Section 8.3(a) , as the case may be, such party may choose in its sole and absolute discretion the provision or provisions under which it seeks indemnification.

(g) NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY ELSEWHERE IN THIS AGREEMENT OR PROVIDED FOR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE LAW, NO PARTY NOR ANY COMPANY SHAREHOLDER OR SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE, NOR ANY CURRENT OR FORMER SHAREHOLDER, DIRECTOR, OFFICER, EMPLOYEE, AFFILIATE OR REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING SHALL, IN ANY EVENT, BE LIABLE TO ANY OTHER PERSON, EITHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, FOR ANY EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES RELATING TO THE BREACH OR ALLEGED BREACH OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT, EXCEPT IN EACH CASE TO THE EXTENT INCLUDED IN A CLAIM BY A THIRD PARTY OR ARISING FROM A CLAIM BASED UPON INTENTIONAL MISREPRESENTATION OR FRAUD (SUBJECT TO Section 8.5 ).

Section 8.3 Indemnification by Parent .

(a) Subject to the limitations in this Article VIII , Parent shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Company Shareholder and Optionholder (and their respective directors, managers, officers, employees, shareholders and Affiliates) (each, a “ Company Indemnified Party ” and, together with Parent Indemnified Parties, the “ Indemnified Party ,” as the case may be) from and against all Losses, resulting from or arising out of, directly or indirectly, any of the following:

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(i) the misrepresentation or breach of any representation or warranty made by Parent or Merger Sub contained in Article IV of this Agreement, as if such representation or warranty were made as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date, or in any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement; or

(ii) the breach of any covenant or agreement made or to be performed by Parent or Merger Sub contained in this Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement will limit any remedy or claim for Losses that the Company Indemnified Parties may have to the extent arising out of intentional misrepresentation or fraud, subject to Section 8.5 .
(b) The provisions of the proviso set forth in Section 8.2(a) , Section 8.2(c) , Section 8.2(d) and Section 8.2(e) shall apply to this Section 8.3(a) , mutatis mutandis . In no event shall Parent’s aggregate liability pursuant to this Agreement exceed an aggregate amount equal to the Aggregate Merger Consideration plus the Escrowed Cash plus the Shareholder Representative Amount plus any Refunds under Section 5.14 .

Section 8.4 Claims .

(a) Any Parent Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Shareholder Representative (which shall act on behalf of any or all Company Shareholders and Optionholders for purposes of any claims pursuant to Section 8.2(a) ) in the event that such Parent Indemnified Party claims indemnification hereunder pursuant to Section 8.2(a) . A Company Indemnified Party shall promptly notify Parent and the Shareholder Representative of any claim with respect to which such Company Indemnified Party claims indemnification hereunder against Parent pursuant to Section 8.3(a) . Any failure of the Indemnified Party to give any notice required under this Section 8.4(a) shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Article VIII except to the extent that such Indemnifying Party shall have been actually prejudiced thereby. Such notice shall state in reasonable detail the matter which such Indemnified Party has determined has given rise to a right of indemnification under this Agreement, the amount of the Loss, if known (or Parent’s good faith estimate of the maximum amount of Losses in respect of such claim if such amount is uncertain), and method of computation thereof, and containing a reference to the provisions of this Agreement in respect of which such right of indemnification is claimed or arises.

(b) If any claim relates to any Action instituted against the Indemnified Party by a third party (a “ Third Party Claim ”), then the Shareholder Representative, on behalf of the Company Shareholders and Optionholders, or Parent, as the case may be, shall be entitled to be fully involved and participate fully in the defense of such Third Party Claim. Within fifteen (15) days after the Indemnified Party gives written notice of such Third Party Claim pursuant to Section 8.4(a) , the Shareholder Representative, on behalf of the Company Shareholders and Optionholders, or Parent, as the case may be, may assume the defense of such Third Party Claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party by providing the Indemnified Party with written notice of its election to assume such

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defense. Notwithstanding the right of the Indemnified Party to retain its own counsel as described below, if the Shareholder Representative or Parent, as the case may be, assumes the defense of any Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party shall agree to any settlement, compromise or discharge of such Third Party Claim that the Shareholder Representative or Parent, as the case may be, may recommend, and which releases the Indemnified Party and its Affiliates completely and unconditionally in connection with such Third Party Claim, provided that such settlement, compromise or discharge does not (i) involve an admission of wrongdoing by the Indemnified Party or its Affiliates or (ii) impose any equitable or other non‑monetary remedies or obligations on the Indemnified Party, but solely involves the payment of money damages for which the Indemnified Party will be fully indemnified hereunder.

(c) The Indemnified Party shall retain the right to employ its own counsel and to participate in the defense of any Third Party Claim, the defense of which has been assumed by the Shareholder Representative, on behalf of the Company Shareholders and Optionholders, or Parent, as the case may be, pursuant hereto, but the Indemnified Party shall bear and shall be solely responsible for its own costs and expenses in connection with such participation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) the Indemnifying Party does not exercise its rights to defend the Indemnified Party against such Third Party Claim, (ii) the Indemnified Party reasonably concludes, after consultation with counsel, that representation of the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party by the same counsel presents a potential conflict of interest under applicable standards of professional conduct, (iii) the Indemnified Party determines, after consultation with counsel, that it has legal defenses available to it which are different from or in addition to the defenses available to the Indemnifying Party, (iv) the Third‑Party Claim involves potential criminal liability or admission of wrong doing, or (v) the Third‑Party Claim seeks any non‑monetary remedy against the Indemnified Party, without waiving any rights against the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnified Party may (subject to the below) retain its own counsel, defend against or settle any such Third Party Claim in the Indemnified Party’s sole and absolute discretion and the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to recover from the Indemnifying Party the amount of any settlement or judgment and, on an ongoing basis, all Losses of the Indemnified Party with respect thereto, including interest owed to third parties from the date such Losses were incurred; provided , that in no event will the Indemnified Party consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement with respect to any Third Party Claim for which it seeks indemnification hereunder without the prior written consent of the Shareholder Representative, on behalf of the Company Shareholders and Optionholders, on the one hand, or Parent, on the other hand (the decision on whether to provide such prior written consent may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

Section 8.5 Satisfaction of Claims; Limitation of Liability . The Escrow Fund shall be the sole and exclusive source for satisfaction of any and all claims by Parent Indemnified Parties for Losses under this Agreement (except in cases of intentional misrepresentation or fraud). No Company Shareholder or Optionholder shall have any liability pursuant to this Agreement in excess of such Company Shareholder’s or Optionholder’s Pro Rata Portion of the Escrow Fund; provided , however , that this Section 8.5 shall not (i) limit any remedy or claim for Losses that the Parent Indemnified Parties may have against a Company Shareholder or Optionholder to the extent arising out of intentional misrepresentation or fraud, except that no Company Shareholder or Optionholder shall have any liability pursuant to this Agreement in excess of such Company Shareholder’s and/or Optionholder’s Pro Rata Portion of the aggregate amount of Aggregate Merger Consideration received by all Company

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Shareholders and Optionholders pursuant to this Agreement in respect of Options and Company Shares or (ii) apply to the Shareholder Representative’s rights to indemnification from the Company Shareholders and Optionholders pursuant to Section 8.7 .

Section 8.6 Remedies . The parties agree that except for (a) the matters covered by Section 2.8 , (b) other than as provided in Section 9.3 and Section 10.10 and (c) any claims for intentional misrepresentation or fraud or any claims seeking injunctive, specific performance or other equitable relief, from and after the Closing, the remedies provided in this Article VIII shall be deemed the sole and exclusive remedies of the parties, from and after the Closing Date, for any and all claims arising under, out of, or related to this Agreement, or the sale and purchase of the Company, and no person will have any other entitlement, remedy or recourse, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, it being agreed that all of such other remedies, entitlements and recourse are expressly waived and released by the Parties hereto to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Section 8.7 Shareholder Representative .

(a) For purposes of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement, the Company hereby appoints, and each Company Shareholder and Optionholder shall, without any further action on the part of any such Company Shareholder or Optionholder, be deemed (by virtue of the adoption and approval of this Agreement and approval of the Merger and/or acceptance of any consideration pursuant to this Agreement) to have consented to the appointment of Shareholder Representative Services LLC as the attorney‑in‑fact and agent for and on behalf of each such Company Shareholder and Optionholder, and the taking by the Shareholder Representative of any and all actions and the making of any decisions required or permitted to be taken by the Shareholder Representative under or contemplated by this Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby, including the exercise of the power to (i) execute this Agreement, the Escrow Agreement and other agreements, documents and certificates pursuant to such agreements, including all amendments to such agreements, and take all actions required or permitted to be taken under such agreements, (ii) authorize delivery to Parent of all or any portion of the Escrow Fund from the Escrow Account, in satisfaction of indemnification or other claims contemplated by this Agreement or as provided in the Escrow Agreement, (iii) agree to, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of and comply with orders of courts and awards of arbitrators with respect to such indemnification or other claims, (iv) resolve any indemnification or other claims, (v) receive and forward notices and communications pursuant to this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement, and (vi) take all actions necessary in the judgment of the Shareholder Representative for the accomplishment of the foregoing and all of the other terms, conditions and limitations of this Agreement, the Escrow Agreement and any other agreements, documents and certificates thereto. Any and all such actions taken by the Shareholder Representative on behalf of the Company Shareholders and Optionholders (or former Company Shareholders and Optionholders) shall be deemed to be facts ascertainable outside this Agreement and shall be binding on all of the Company Shareholders and Optionholders. The Company Shareholders and Optionholders shall cooperate with the Shareholder Representative and any accountants, attorneys or other agents whom the Shareholder Representative may retain to assist in carrying out Shareholder Representative’s duties hereunder. Shareholder Representative Services LLC hereby accepts its appointment as the Shareholder Representative. The Shareholder Representative is authorized by each Company Shareholder and Optionholder by virtue of the adoption and approval of this Agreement and approval of the Merger to act on its behalf as required hereunder and under the Escrow Agreement. The Shareholder Representative may resign at any time, with thirty (30)

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days prior written notice to Parent and the Escrow Agent, upon the terms set forth in the engagement agreement between the Company and the Shareholder Representative. At any time during the term of the Escrow Agreement, Company Shareholders holding (or after the Effective Time, former Company Shareholders who held immediately prior to the Effective Time) a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the Junior Common Shares at the Shareholders’ Meeting can appoint a new Shareholder Representative (after reasonably consulting with Parent regarding the proposed new Shareholder Representative) by sending notice and a copy of the duly executed written consent appointing such new Shareholder Representative to Parent and the Escrow Agent. Such appointment will be effective upon the later of the date indicated in the consent or the date such consent is received by Parent and the Escrow Agent. The parties acknowledge that the Shareholder Representative’s obligations under this Article VIII are solely as a representative of the Company Shareholders and Optionholders under this Article VIII .

(b) All decisions, actions, consents and instructions of the Shareholder Representative shall be final and binding upon all the Company Shareholders and Optionholders and no Company Shareholder or Optionholder shall have any right to object, dissent, protest or otherwise contest the same, except for fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct. Parent shall be able to rely conclusively on the instructions and decisions of the Shareholder Representative and shall be required to only file and negotiate any claims or disputes with the Shareholder Representative and not with each Company Shareholder and Optionholder. The Shareholder Representative shall not have by reason of this Agreement a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Company Shareholder or Optionholder, except in respect of amounts actually received on behalf of such Company Shareholder or Optionholder. The Shareholder Representative shall not be required to make any inquiry concerning either the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of this Agreement. The Shareholder Representative shall not have any liability to any Company Shareholder or Optionholder in connection with the Shareholder Representative’s services pursuant to this Agreement while acting in good faith, and any act done or omitted pursuant to the advice of legal counsel, public accountants or other independent experts reasonably relied upon in good faith by the Shareholder Representative shall be conclusive evidence of such good faith. The Company Shareholders and Optionholders shall severally (based on such Company Shareholder’s or Optionholder’s Pro Rata Portion) indemnify the Shareholder Representative and hold it harmless against any loss, liability, damage, claim, penalty, fine, forfeiture, action, fee cost or expense (including the fees and expenses of counsel and experts and their staffs and all expense of document location, duplication and shipment) (collectively, “ Shareholder Representative Expenses ”) arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties hereunder, in each case as such Shareholder Representative Expense is suffered or incurred; provided, that in the event that any such Shareholder Representative Expense is finally adjudicated to have been directly caused by the gross negligence or bad faith of the Shareholder Representative, the Shareholder Representative will reimburse the Company Shareholders and Optionholders the amount of such indemnified Shareholder Representative Expense to the extent attributable to such gross negligence or bad faith. If not paid directly to the Shareholder Representative by the Company Shareholders and Optionholders, any such Shareholder Representative Expenses may be recovered by the Shareholder Representative from (i) the funds in the Shareholder Representative Fund and (ii) the amounts in the Escrow Fund at such time as remaining amounts would otherwise be distributable to the Company Shareholders and Optionholders; provided , that in no event may any Shareholder Representative Expenses be recovered by the Shareholder Representative from any portion of the Escrow Fund that has not been disbursed by the Escrow Agent for distribution to the Company Shareholders and Optionholders in accordance with the Escrow Agreement; provided , further, that while this section allows the Shareholder Representative to be paid from

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Shareholder Representative Fund and the Escrow Fund, this does not relieve the Company Shareholders and Optionholders from their obligation to promptly pay such Shareholder Representative Expenses as they are suffered or incurred, nor does it prevent the Shareholder Representative from seeking any remedies available to it at law or otherwise. In no event will the Shareholder Representative be required to advance its own funds on behalf of the Company Shareholders and Optionholders or otherwise. The Company Shareholders and Optionholders acknowledge and agree that the foregoing indemnities will survive the resignation or removal of the Shareholder Representative or the termination of this Agreement.

(c) The Shareholder Representative hereby represents and warrants to Parent that (i) it is a limited liability company validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Colorado, (ii) it has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder, (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by it has been, and the execution and delivery of the Escrow Agreement by it at Closing will be, duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action, (iv) this Agreement has been (and upon the Shareholder Representative’s execution thereof the Escrow Agreement will be) duly executed and delivered by it, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the other parties hereto or thereto, constitutes (or will constitute once executed) the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Shareholder Representative, enforceable against it in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, the laws of agency, and legal principles of general applicability governing the availability of equitable remedies (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law or under applicable legal codes).

Section 8.8 Shareholder Representative Fund .

(a) Pursuant to Section 2.9(a)(iii) , the Shareholder Representative Amount (together with all interest and other distributions and payments thereon, the “ Shareholder Representative Fund ”) shall be paid by Parent at Closing (without duplication) to the Escrow Agent, for the benefit of the Company Shareholders and Optionholders. The Escrow Agent shall hold and invest the Shareholder Representative Fund in a segregated account to be invested in the same manner as the Escrow Fund.

(b) The Shareholder Representative shall have the right to recover the Shareholder Representative Expenses from the Shareholder Representative Fund as such expenses arise. The Shareholder Representative Fund will not be available to any Parent Indemnified Party in satisfaction of any indemnification or other obligations of the Company Shareholders and Optionholders hereunder and will only be available to the Shareholder Representative to satisfy the Shareholder Representative Expenses. The Shareholder Representative Fund is for convenience of administration only, and its

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establishment does not limit any rights or obligations of the Shareholder Representative or any other Person under this Agreement.

(c) The Shareholder Representative Fund shall be held as a trust fund by the Escrow Agent and shall not be subject to any lien, attachment, trustee process or any other judicial process of any creditor of any party, and shall be held and disbursed solely for the purposes of and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement. The Shareholder Representative Fund, and any portions thereof, shall be disbursed and released in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement.

(d) In the event that the Shareholder Representative Fund is insufficient to pay the Shareholder Representative Expenses (the “ Representative Expenses Shortfall ”), the Shareholder Representative may recover any amounts of the Representative Expenses Shortfall from the portion of the Escrow Fund disbursed by the Escrow Agent for distribution to the Company Shareholders and Optionholders in accordance with the Escrow Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall any Representative Expenses Shortfall be payable from any portion of the Escrow Fund that has not been disbursed by the Escrow Agent for distribution to the Company Shareholders and Optionholders in accordance with the Escrow Agreement, if any. The Shareholder Representative may issue a written demand to the Company Shareholders and Optionholders for reimbursement of the Representative Expenses Shortfall from the Company Shareholders and Optionholders in the event that the Shareholder Representative reasonably determines that the Shareholder Representative Expenses exceed the sum of (i) the amounts remaining in the Shareholder Representative Fund and (ii) the amounts that are immediately available to be paid to the Shareholder Representative from the Escrow Fund on or after the Final Escrow Release Date and which the Company Shareholders and Optionholders are entitled to receive (or are projected to be entitled to receive) pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement; provided , that for the avoidance of doubt, the Shareholder Representative will not be required to wait for future releases from the Escrow Fund prior to having recourse to the Company Shareholders and Optionholders directly. Within fifteen (15) days of receipt from the Shareholder Representative of such written demand for reimbursement, each Company Shareholder and Optionholder shall make payment to the Shareholder Representative of his, her or its Pro Rata Portion of such Representative Expenses Shortfall so demanded.

(e) At any time and from time to time, the Shareholder Representative may instruct the Escrow Agent to distribute all or a portion of the Shareholder Representative Fund to the Exchange Agent for further distribution to the Company Shareholders and Optionholders in accordance with their Pro Rata Portions.


ARTICLE IX

TERMINATION

Section 9.1 Termination . This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:
(a) by the mutual written consent of Parent and the Company;

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(b) by either the Company or Parent if the Closing shall not have occurred by January 15, 2014 (as may be extended pursuant to the proviso to this sentence, the “ Termination Date ”); provided , however , that if on the initial Termination Date the conditions set forth in Section 7.1(b) and/or Section 7.2(d) shall not have been satisfied, or a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Governmental Order under the HSR Act or any other applicable antitrust, competition or trade regulation Law (in each case, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and has the effect of making the Transactions illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Transactions, but all other conditions set forth in Section 7.1 and Section 7.2 shall have been satisfied or waived (to the extent permissible) (other than those conditions which, by their terms, are to be satisfied or waived on the Closing Date, each of which is capable of being satisfied on the Closing Date), then the Termination Date shall be automatically extended, without further action by the parties hereto, to April 15, 2014; provided , further , that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.1(b) shall not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement shall have been the primary cause of the failure of the Closing to occur on or prior to such date;

(c) by either the Company or Parent in the event that any Governmental Order is entered or issued which is final and nonappealable, or any Law is enacted or implemented, in each case, which prevents the consummation of the Transactions or makes consummation of the Transactions illegal; provided , that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.1(c) shall not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this Agreement shall have been the primary cause of the failure of the Closing to occur on or prior to such date;

(d) by Parent if the Company Shareholder Approval is not obtained at the Shareholders’ Meeting;

(e) by the Company if a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Parent set forth in this Agreement shall have occurred that would, if occurring or continuing on the Closing Date, cause the condition set forth in Section 7.1(a) not to be satisfied, and such breach, if curable, is not cured, within thirty (30) days (but no later than the Termination Date) of receipt of written notice by the Company to Parent of such breach; provided , that the Company is not then in material breach of this Agreement so as to cause any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 not to be satisfied;

(f) by the Company if (i) the Marketing Period has ended and all of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 have been satisfied (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied by actions taken at the Closing, each of which shall have been capable of being satisfied on the date the Closing should have occurred pursuant to Section 2.2 ), (ii) Parent fails to complete the Closing within three (3) Business Days following the date the Closing should have occurred pursuant to Section 2.2 , (iii) the Company has irrevocably confirmed in writing to Parent that (x) all of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 have been satisfied (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied by actions taken at the Closing, each of which shall have been capable of being satisfied on the date the Closing should have occurred pursuant to Section 2.2 ) or will be waived by the Company and (y) it is

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ready, willing and able to consummate the Closing, and (iv) the Company stood ready, willing and able to consummate the Merger during the period referred to in clause (ii) above; or

(g) by Parent if a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall have occurred that would, if occurring or continuing on the Closing Date, cause the condition set forth in Section 7.2(a) not to be satisfied, and such breach, if curable, is not cured, within thirty (30) days (but no later than the Termination Date) of receipt of written notice by Parent to the Company of such breach; provided , that Parent is not then in material breach of this Agreement so as to cause any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1 not to be satisfied.

Section 9.2 Effect of Termination . In the event of termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 9.1 , this Agreement shall forthwith become void, there shall be no liability on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, any Financing Source or the Company or their respective officers, directors, Affiliates, shareholders, managers or partners and all rights and obligations of any party hereto shall cease, except that nothing herein shall relieve any party hereto of any liability for any and all of the Losses suffered by the other party hereto as a result of any intentional misrepresentation or fraud or any material breach of such party’s covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement that is a consequence of an act undertaken by the breaching party with the actual knowledge that the taking of such act would, or would reasonably be expected to, cause a material breach of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of Section 5.3 , this Section 9.2 , Section 9.3 and Article X shall survive any termination. No termination of this Agreement shall affect the obligations of the parties under the Confidentiality Agreement.

Section 9.3 Parent Termination Fee .

(a) If this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 9.1(f) then Parent shall pay or cause to be paid to the Company a fee (the “ Parent Termination Fee ”) in cash equal to One Hundred Eighty-Five Million Dollars ($185,000,000).

(b) The Parent Termination Fee shall be paid within two (2) Business Days after the termination of this Agreement, it being understood that in no event shall Parent be required to pay or cause to be paid the Parent Termination Fee on more than one occasion. Upon payment of the Parent Termination Fee, none of (i) Parent or Merger Sub, (ii) the former, current or future holders of any equity, partnership or limited liability company interest, controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, Affiliates, members, managers, general or limited partners, stockholders, assignees of Parent or Merger Sub, (iii) any lender, prospective lender, arranger or agent of or under the Financing or any of their respective former, current or future equityholders, controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, managers or agents (collectively, the “ Financing Sources ”) or (iv) any holders or future holders of any capital stock or other equity interest (including any options, warrants, calls, rights, convertible or exchangeable securities, “phantom” stock rights, stock appreciation rights, stock-based performance units with respect to such interest or stock), controlling persons, directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, Affiliates, members, managers, general or limited partners, stockholders or assignees of any of the foregoing (the Persons described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) shall be

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collectively referred to as the “ Parent Group ”) shall have any further liability with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Financing) to the Company or any other Person (whether at law, in equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise), and neither the Company nor any other Person shall have any claim or recourse against any member of the Parent Group as a result of the breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of Parent or Merger Sub, as applicable, contained herein or otherwise arising out of or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Financing). Without limiting the foregoing, following a termination of this Agreement in the circumstances described in Section 9.1(f) , in no event shall (A) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) any former, current or future, direct or indirect, stockholder, director, officer, employee, agent, representative, Affiliate or assignee of any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (C) any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, representative, Affiliate or assignee of any of the foregoing (the Persons described in clauses (A), (B) and (C) shall be collectively referred to as the “ Company Group ”) seek, or permit to be sought, on behalf of any member of the Company Group, any monetary damages from any member of the Parent Group in connection with this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Financing), other than (without duplication) payment of the Parent Termination Fee from Parent to the extent provided in Section 9.3(a) . Nothing in this Section 9.3 shall in any way expand or be deemed to expand the circumstances in which Parent, Merger Sub or any other member of the Parent Group may be liable under this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Financing). The provisions of this Section 9.3(b) are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each member of the Parent Group.

(c) Parent and Merger Sub each acknowledge that the agreements contained in this Article IX are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that, without these agreements, the Company would not enter into this Agreement, and that any amounts payable pursuant to this Section 9.3 do not constitute a penalty but constitute payment of liquidated damages and that the Company’s liquidated damages amount is reasonable in light of the substantial but indeterminate harm anticipated to be caused by Parent’s and Merger Sub’s breach or default under this Agreement, the difficulty of proof of loss and damages, the inconvenience and non-feasibility of otherwise obtaining an adequate remedy, and the value of the transactions to be consummated hereunder.


ARTICLE X

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 10.1 Expenses . Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement or the Escrow Agreement, all costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions shall be borne by the party incurring such costs and expenses, whether or not the Closing shall have occurred.

Section 10.2 Notices . All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by an internationally recognized overnight courier

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service, by facsimile or by e‑mail to the respective parties hereto at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10.2 ):

(a) if to Parent or Merger Sub, to:

Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
5008 Airport Road
Roanoke, Virginia 24012
Attention:     Michael A. Norona
Facsimile:     (540) 561-1448
E‑mail:     mike.norona@advance-auto.com

and

Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
5008 Airport Road
Roanoke, Virginia 24012
Attention:     Sarah Powell, Esq.
Facsimile:     (540) 561-1448
E-mail:     spowell@advance-auto.com

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Kirkland & Ellis LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attention:     Daniel E. Wolf
    Michael P. Brueck
Facsimile:     (212) 446-4900
Telephone:     (212) 446-4800
E-mail:     daniel.wolf@kirkland.com
    michael.brueck@kirkland.com

(b) if to the Company, to:

General Parts International, Inc.
c/o O. Temple Sloan, III
President and Chief Executive Officer
2635 East Millbrook Road
Raleigh, NC 27611
Facsimile:    (919) 573-3551
Telephone:    (919) 573-3489
E‑Mail:     temple.sloan3@gpi.com

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with copies to (which shall not constitute notice):

Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P.
2300 Wells Fargo Capitol Center
P.O. Box 2611
Raleigh, NC 27602-2611
Attention:     John L. Jernigan, Esq.
Facsimile:    (919) 821-6800
Telephone:    (919) 821-6611
E-mail:     jjernigan@smithlaw.com

Manning Fulton & Skinner, P.A.
3605 Glenwood Avenue
Suite 500
Raleigh, NC 27612
Attention:    W. Gerald Thornton
Facsimile:    (919) 325-4625
Telephone:    (919) 510-9264
E-mail:        thornton@manningfulton.com

(c) if to the Shareholder Representative, to:

Shareholder Representative Services LLC
1614 15th Street, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80202
Attention:     Managing Director
Email:         deals@shareholderrep.com
Facsimile:     (303) 623-0294
Telephone:     (303) 648-4085

with copies to (which shall not constitute notice):

Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P.
2300 Wells Fargo Capitol Center
P.O. Box 2611
Raleigh, NC 27602-2611
Attention:     John L. Jernigan, Esq.
Facsimile:    (919) 821-6800
Telephone:    (919) 821-6611
E-mail:     jjernigan@smithlaw.com

Manning Fulton & Skinner, P.A.
3605 Glenwood Avenue
Suite 500
Raleigh, NC 27612
Attention:     W. Gerald Thornton
Facsimile:     (919) 325-4625

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Telephone:     (919) 510-9264
E-mail:     thornton@manningfulton.com

Section 10.3 Public Announcements . None of the parties to this Agreement shall make, or cause to be made, any press release or public announcement in respect of this Agreement or the Transactions or otherwise communicate with any news media regarding this Agreement or the Transactions without the prior consent of Parent (in the case of the Company) or the Company (in the case of Parent and Merger Sub), unless such press release or public announcement is otherwise required by Law or applicable stock exchange regulation, in which case, the parties to this Agreement shall to the extent practicable, consult with each other as to the timing and contents of any such press release, public announcement or communication. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) each party may, without such consultation or consent, make any public statement in response to questions from the press, analysts, investors or those attending industry conferences, make internal announcements to employees and make disclosures in public filings, in each case so long as such statements are consistent with previous press releases, public disclosures or public statements made jointly by the parties hereto (or individually, if approved by the other party hereto) and (ii) following Closing and the public announcement of the Merger, the Shareholder Representative may publicly announce that it has been engaged as the Shareholder Representative as long as such announcement does not disclose any of the other terms of the transactions contemplated herein.

Section 10.4 Severability . If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any Law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect for so long as the economic or legal substance of the Transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party hereto. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties hereto as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the Transactions are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

Section 10.5 Entire Agreement . This Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

Section 10.6 Assignment . This Agreement shall not be transferred or assigned by Parent or Merger Sub without the prior written consent of the Company or by the Company without the prior written consent of Parent.

Section 10.7 Amendment . This Agreement may not be amended or modified except (a) by an instrument in writing signed by, or on behalf of, the Company, Parent and Merger Sub that expressly references the Section of this Agreement to be amended; or (b) by a waiver in accordance with Section 10.8 . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no amendment or modification to Section 9.2 , Section 9.3(b) , Section 10.5 , this Section 10.7 , Section 10.8 , Section 10.9 , Section 10.11 or Section 10.12 (or any amendment or modification with respect to any related definitions

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as they affect any such Section), in each case that is adverse in any material respect to the Financing Sources, shall be effective without the prior written consent of the Financing Sources adversely affected thereby.

Section 10.8 Waiver . Any party to this Agreement may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other party; (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other party contained herein or in any document delivered by the other party pursuant to this Agreement; or (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements of the other party or conditions to such obligations contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party granting such extension or waiver. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by any party hereto in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or future exercise of any other right hereunder. The failure of any party hereto to assert any of its rights hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of any of such rights.

Section 10.9 No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, only the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and, except (a) after the Effective Time, as set forth in Section 5.5 , (b) Parent may enforce the indemnities under Section 8.2 on behalf of each Parent Indemnified Party and the Shareholder Representative may enforce the indemnities under Section 8.3 on behalf of each Company Indemnified Party, (c) the provisions of Section 9.3(b) are for the benefit of and may be enforced by each member of the Parent Group and (d) with respect to the sources of Financing, the provisions set forth in Section 9.2 , Section 10.5 , Section 10.7 , Section 10.8 , this Section 10.9 , Section 10.11 and Section 10.12 are for the benefit of and may be enforced by the sources of Financing; each of the rights set forth in the foregoing clauses (a) through (d) are hereby expressly acknowledged and agreed to by the parties, and except as provided in the foregoing clauses (a) through (d), nothing herein, express or implied is intended to and shall not confer upon any person other than the parties hereto, any rights or remedies hereunder.

Section 10.10 Specific Performance .

(a) The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the parties hereto would be irreparably damaged if any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific terms or are otherwise breached and that any non-performance or breach of this Agreement by any party hereto could not be adequately compensated by monetary damages alone and that the parties hereto would not have any adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, in addition to any other right or remedy to which any party hereto may be entitled, at law or in equity (including monetary damages), such party shall be entitled to enforce any provision of this Agreement (including, in the case of the Company, and solely to the extent provided under and in, the circumstances set forth in Section 10.10(b) , to cause the Merger to be consummated) by a decree of specific performance and to temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of any of the provisions of this Agreement without posting any bond or other undertaking.

(b) Notwithstanding the right of the Company to obtain an injunction or injunctions, or other appropriate form of specific performance or equitable relief described in Section 10.10(a) above,

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no such right may be enforced to cause the Merger to be consummated or the Aggregate Merger Consideration and the Escrowed Cash and the Shareholder Representative Amount to be paid, unless:

(i) all conditions in Section 7.2 have been satisfied (or, with respect to certificates to be delivered at the Closing, are capable of being satisfied upon the Closing and subject to their satisfaction or waiver at Closing) or irrevocably waived in writing (to the extent permissible by applicable Law) at the time when the Closing would have otherwise occurred;

(ii) Parent and Merger Sub are required to complete the Closing pursuant to Section 2.2 ;

(iii) the Financing has been funded or the lenders party to the Financing Commitment have irrevocably confirmed in a written notice delivered to Parent that all conditions to the funding of the Financing have been satisfied (other than any condition with respect to certificates to be delivered at the Closing);

(iv) the Company has irrevocably confirmed in a written notice delivered to Parent that if specific performance under this Section 10.10(b) is granted and the Financing is funded, then the Closing will occur; and

(v) Parent and Merger Sub have not consummated the Merger.

Section 10.11 Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL CLAIMS OR CAUSES OF ACTION (WHETHER AT LAW, IN CONTRACT, IN TORT OR OTHERWISE) THAT MAY BE BASED UPON, ARISE OUT OF OR RELATE TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION OR PERFORMANCE HEREOF SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DOMESTIC LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICTING PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF DELAWARE TO BE APPLIED; PROVIDED THAT TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY THE NCBCA, MATTERS RELATING TO THE MERGER SHALL BE GOVERNED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. IN FURTHERANCE OF THE FOREGOING, THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WILL CONTROL THE INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT, EVEN IF UNDER SUCH JURISDICTION’S CHOICE OF LAW OR CONFLICT OF LAW ANALYSIS, THE SUBSTANTIVE LAW OF SOME OTHER JURISDICTION WOULD ORDINARILY APPLY. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT SUCH PARTY MAY LEGALLY AND EFFECTIVELY DO SO, AND AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SEEK, TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE FINANCING.


85



Section 10.12 Consent to Jurisdiction . EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AGREES AND CONSENTS TO THE EXCLUSIVE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, OR TO THE EXTENT SUCH COURT SHALL DECLINE TO ACCEPT, ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITH RESPECT TO ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND TO THE TRANSACTIONS, WAIVES ALL OBJECTIONS BASED ON LACK OF VENUE AND FORUM NON CONVENIENS AND IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF ALL SUCH COURTS. THE PARTIES FURTHER AGREE THAT THE MAILING BY CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO THE ADDRESS SET FORTH IN Section 10.2 , OF ANY PROCESS REQUIRED BY ANY SUCH COURT SHALL CONSTITUTE VALID AND LAWFUL SERVICE OF PROCESS AGAINST THEM, WITHOUT NECESSITY FOR SERVICE BY ANY OTHER MEANS PROVIDED BY STATUTE OR RULE OF COURT. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each of the parties hereto agrees that it will not bring or support any action, cause of action, claim, cross-claim or third-party claim of any kind or description, whether in law or in equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against the Financing Sources in any way relating to this Agreement or any of the Transactions, including any dispute arising out of or relating in any way to the Financing Commitments or the performance thereof, in any forum other than the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, or, if under applicable law exclusive jurisdiction is vested in the Federal courts, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (and appellate courts thereof).

Section 10.13 Mutual Drafting . Each party hereto has participated in the drafting of this Agreement, which each party acknowledges is the result of extensive negotiations between the parties. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision.

Section 10.14 Independence of Agreements, Covenants, Representations and Warranties . All agreements and covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a certain action or condition constitutes a default under a certain agreement or covenant, the fact that such action or condition is permitted by another agreement or covenant shall not affect the occurrence of such default. In addition, all representations and warranties hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular representation or warranty concerning the same or similar subject matter is correct or is not breached will not affect the incorrectness of or a breach of a representation and warranty hereunder.

Section 10.15 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or other means of electronic transmission, such as by electronic mail in “pdf” form) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart signature page is as effective as executing and delivering this Agreement in the presence of the other parties to this Agreement.


86



Section 10.16 Continuing Counsel . Parent and Merger Sub each hereby acknowledges that each of Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P., Manning Fulton & Skinner, P.A., and Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP has acted as counsel to the Company, certain Company Shareholders, and their respective Affiliates, from time to time prior to the Merger as well as with respect to the Merger. Each of Parent and Merger Sub agrees that to the extent that Parent, through its acquisition of the Company, acquires any right to treat Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P., Manning Fulton & Skinner, P.A., or Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP as Parent’s counsel or former counsel, it will not, solely as a result thereof, take any action to disqualify Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P., Manning Fulton & Skinner, P.A., or Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP from acting and continuing to act as counsel to a Company Shareholder, Optionholder and/or any Shareholder Representative in connection with any matters related to the Merger or this Agreement, or in the event of a dispute hereunder. Effective as of the Effective Time, Parent, for itself and the Company and for their respective successors and assigns, hereby waives any conflicts of interest arising from such representation and consents to any such representation in any such matter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a dispute arises between Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries and a third party other than a party to this Agreement after the Closing, the Company and its Subsidiaries may assert (in its sole discretion) the attorney-client (or similar) privilege to prevent disclosure of confidential communications by Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P., Manning Fulton & Skinner, P.A., or Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP to such third party. Effective as of the Effective Time, any attorney-client privilege, attorney work product protection and expectation of client confidence attaching as a result of Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P.’s, Manning Fulton & Skinner, P.A.’s, or Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP’s representation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including in connection with the Merger, and all information and documents covered by such privilege or protection, shall belong to and be controlled by the Company and may be waived only by the Company and not any other Person, and shall not pass to or be claimed or used by any other Person.

[ SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS ]



87



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Merger Sub, the Company and the Shareholder Representative have caused this Agreement to be signed, all as of the date first written above.
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.


By:
/s/ Michael A. Norona     
Name: Michael A. Norona
Title: EVP CFO


GENERATOR PURCHASE, INC.


By:
/s/ Michael A. Norona                  
Name: Michael A. Norona
Title: Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and
Assistant Secretary


GENERAL PARTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.


By:
/s/ O. Temple Sloan III                  
Name: O. Temple Sloan III
Title: President & Chief Executive
Officer


SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE SERVICES LLC, solely in its capacity as the Shareholder Representative


By:
/s/ Mark B. Vogel                      
Name: Mark B. Vogel
Title: Managing Director





Exhibit 10.45



SUPPLEMENT No. 1 (this “ Supplement ”) dated as of January 31, 2014, to the Guarantee Agreement dated as of December 5, 2013 (the “ Guarantee Agreement ”), among ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“ Parent ”), ADVANCE STORES COMPANY, INCORPORATED, a Virginia corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the subsidiaries of the Borrower from time to time party thereto (the “ Subsidiary Guarantors ” and, together with Parent, the “ Guarantors ”) and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (“ JPMCB ”), as administrative agent for the Lenders.
A. Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of December 5, 2013 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Parent, the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “ Lenders ”) and JPMCB, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) for the Lenders.
B. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement, as applicable.
C. The Borrower and the Guarantors have entered into the Guarantee Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make Loans and the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit. Pursuant to the definition of the term “Guarantee Requirement” and Section 5.10 of the Credit Agreement, the Acquired Company, its Subsidiaries that constitute Material Subsidiaries as of the Acquisition Date and each other Material Subsidiary that was not in existence or not a Material Subsidiary on the Effective Date is required to enter into the Guarantee Agreement as a Subsidiary Guarantor no more than 30 days after the Acquisition Date or the date of determination (in accordance with the provisions of the definition of “Material Subsidiary” in the Credit Agreement) that such Subsidiary has become (or is deemed to be) a Material Subsidiary, as applicable. Section 20 of the Guarantee Agreement provides that such Material Subsidiaries and other additional Subsidiaries may become Subsidiary Guarantors under the Guarantee Agreement by execution and delivery of an instrument in the form of this Supplement. Each undersigned Subsidiary (each, a “ New Guarantor ”) is executing this Supplement in accordance with the requirements of the Credit Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement to become a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee Agreement in order to induce the Lenders to make additional Loans and the Issuing Banks to issue additional Letters of Credit and as consideration for Loans previously made and Letters of Credit previously issued.
Accordingly, the Administrative Agent and each New Guarantor agree as follows:
In accordance with Section 20 of the Guarantee Agreement, each New Guarantor by its signature below becomes a Guarantor under the Guarantee Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Guarantor and each New Guarantor hereby (a) agrees to be bound by and comply with all the terms and provisions of the Guarantee Agreement applicable to it as a Guarantor thereunder and to perform all of its obligations as a Guarantor thereunder (b) represents and warrants that the representations and warranties relating to it contained in the Credit Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof. Each reference to a “Guarantor” in the Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to include each New Guarantor.





Each New Guarantor represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, the other Lenders and the Issuing Banks that this Supplement has been duly executed and delivered by the New Guarantor and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such New Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
This Supplement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Supplement shall become effective when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts of this Supplement that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each New Guarantor and the Administrative Agent. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Supplement by facsimile or other electronic methods of transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Supplement.
Except as expressly supplemented hereby, the Guarantee Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
THIS SUPPLEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Supplement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and in the Guarantee Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby (it being understood that the invalidity of a particular provision hereof in a particular jurisdiction shall not in and of itself affect the validity of such provision in any other jurisdiction).
All communications and notices hereunder shall be in writing and given as provided in Section 13 of the Guarantee Agreement. All communications and notices hereunder to a New Guarantor shall be given to it in care of the Borrower.
Each New Guarantor agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent for its out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this Supplement in accordance with Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement.

    





IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Guarantor and the Administrative Agent have duly executed this Supplement to the Guarantee Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

WORLDPAC, Inc.
WORLDPAC Puerto Rico, LLC
General Parts, Inc.
Golden State Supply LLC
Worldwide Auto Parts
Straus-Frank Enterprises LLC
General Parts Distribution LLC
GPI Technologies, LLC
CQ Sourcing, Inc.
General Parts International, Inc.
Lee Holdings NC, Inc.
Valley Master Partnership LLC
Western Auto of St. Thomas, Inc.


by
             
Name: Michael A. Norona
Title: Chief Financial Officer








JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent,

by
             
Name:
Title:







Exhibit 10.46

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
(As Amended and Restated Effective as of May 15, 2012)

WHEREAS, Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, (the “Company”), sponsors the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) to encourage and enable eligible employees of the Company and its participating subsidiaries the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company through the purchase of the Company’s stock at a discount; and
WHEREAS, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and approved an amendment of the Plan to remove the exclusion of participating rights of employees who work 20 hours or less per week.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, Section 2(k) of the Plan is hereby amended as prescribed below, effective for quarterly stock purchase offering periods commencing on or after April 1, 2014.
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
*      *      *
(k)      “Eligible Employee” means each employee (as defined for purposes of Section 423 of the Code) of a Participating Employer who has been employed by such employer at least thirty days prior to the beginning of each Offering Period, except the following:
(i)      An employee who would own (immediately after the grant of an option under this Plan) stock possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company based on the rules set forth in Section 423(b)(3) and Section 424 of the Code.
(ii)      A highly compensated employee (as defined under Section 414(q) of the Code) of the Participating Employer (i) who is an officer or required to file statements under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or (ii) whose compensation equals or exceeds any threshold established by the Committee, if the Committee has determined in its discretion to exclude under this Plan some or all such highly compensated employees for a particular Offering Period; provided, however , that any such exclusion shall be applied in an identical manner to all highly compensated employees of every Participating Employer in that Offering Period.
*      *      *






Pursuant to the authority granted by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. under its resolutions adopted on __________________, 2014, the undersigned hereby executes this First Amendment to the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan on behalf of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.

By:              
Tammy Finley
SVP, Human Resources


Dated:      , 2014






Exhibit 10.47

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
2014 PERFORMANCE-BASED SARS AWARD AGREEMENT
(STOCK SETTLED)

Award Date
Performance-based SARs (at Target Level)
Grant Price
Expiration Date
[GRANT DATE]
##
##
[GRANT DATE + 7 YRS]

THIS CERTIFIES THAT Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (the “Company”) has on the Award Date specified above granted to

Darren Jackson

(“Participant”) Stock Appreciation Rights (the “SARs”) with respect to the number of Shares of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Common Stock, $.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), indicated above in the box labeled “Performance-based SARs (at Target Level)” (the “Target Award”). The initial fair market value of each underlying Share is indicated above in the box labeled “Grant Price.” The SARs that this Certificate represents shall vest and become exercisable in accordance with Sections 1 and 2 below, and upon vesting shall be fully exercisable until the Expiration Date except as otherwise provided in Section 2 below. This Award is subject to the terms and conditions set forth below and in the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). A copy of the Plan is available on the Company’s Intranet site or upon request. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Plan and this Award, the terms of the Plan shall govern. Any terms not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

* * * * *

1. Vesting. Subject to the remaining provisions of this Award:

Performance-based SARs shall vest, in an amount up to your maximum vesting schedule (defined below) on March 1, [YEAR 4], 1 subject to your continued employment or other association the Company to that date and except as otherwise provided in Section 2 below. The precise amount in which you may vest will be determined in accordance with the following rules, subject to certification by the Committee of the Company’s average annual comparable store sales growth and cumulative Operating Income over the [YEAR 1] through [YEAR 3] fiscal years:

(a) 50% of the performance-based SARs will vest according to the Company’s Cumulative Operating Income results (as expressed in dollars) during the Performance Period against the Company’s business plan, including results of General Parts International, Inc., according to the schedule established by the Committee as shown in Exhibit 1 to this Agreement. Payout based on performance results between the threshold and maximum performance levels will be interpolated.

(b) 50% of the performance-based SARs will vest based upon the Company’s average annual comparable store sales growth over the Performance Period, calculated in a manner consistent with the Company’s current comparable store sales policy, according to the schedule established by the Committee as shown in Exhibit 1 to this Agreement. Payout based on performance results between threshold and maximum levels will be interpolated.

With respect to the calculation of Operating Income, the Committee may make adjustments to exclude the impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, and/or the cumulative effects of accounting changes, each as defined by generally accepted accounting principles and as identified in the Company’s financial statements, notes to the financial statements or management’s discussion and analysis, and any other unusual or non-recurring items as identified in the Company’s financial statements, notes to the financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis or earnings releases.     
____________________________________________
1 For awards with an Award Date of December 12, [YEAR]. For awards with a later Award Date, throughout this Award “March 1, [YEAR 4]” means the later of March 1, [YEAR 4] or the third anniversary of the Award Date.





Your “Maximum Performance-based SARs” is 200% of the number of SARs indicated above in the box labeled “Performance-based SARs (at Target Level).”
2. SARs Duration and Exercise . You must retain all shares resulting from an exercise for a minimum of one year after the exercise date.

(a) Subject to the following, these SARs shall expire on the Expiration Date. However, if your employment or other association with the Company and its Affiliates ends before that date, these SARs shall expire on Expiration Date or, if earlier, the date specified in whichever of the following applies:

(i) If your employment or other association is terminated on account of Retirement, your Performance-based SARs will expire ninety (90) days after the date on which all of your SARs are exercisable. If all of your SARs are exercisable as of the date of your Retirement, your SARs will expire ninety (90) days after the date your employment or other association ends on account of Retirement. For all purposes of this Award, “on account of Retirement” means, except in the event of termination of employment or other service to the Company for cause as provided in Section 2(a)(v) below, termination of employment or other association following the attainment of at least 55 years of age and at least 10 years of service, of which the last three must be consecutive years of service with the Company, provided further that if you came to be employed by the Company in conjunction with or as a result of a merger with or acquisition by the Company, the last three consecutive years of service must occur following the effective date of such merger or acquisition. If, after termination of your employment or other association on account of Retirement and prior to March 1, [YEAR 4], you are employed by a competitor of the Company, defined for these purposes as AutoZone Inc., O'Reilly Automotive Inc., Pep Boys, Genuine Parts Company and/or NAPA Auto Parts, Fisher Auto Parts or Parts Depot Inc. (or any successor to any of these companies), all future vesting rights for SARs that have not yet vested as of the date of the commencement of such employment shall be immediately and irrevocably forfeited.

(ii) If the termination of your employment or other association is on account of Disability, then your Performance-based SARs will expire ninety (90) days after the date on which all of your SARs are exercisable. If all of your SARs are exercisable as of the date of the termination of your employment or other association on account of Disability, your SARs will expire ninety (90) days after the date your employment or other association ends. For all purposes of this Award, “Disability” shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in your employment agreement with the Company in effect as of the date of this Award Agreement.

(iii) If the termination of your employment or other association is on account of Death, or you die within ninety (90) days of the termination of your employment or other association (other than when terminated for cause), then your Performance-based SARs will expire on the date that is the later of twelve (12) months after your Death or ninety (90) days after the date on which all of your SARs are exercisable.

(iv) If your employment or other association is terminated prior to March 1, [YEAR 4], on account of your Retirement, Disability or Death, your Performance-based SARs will vest on March 1, [YEAR 4], in an amount based on the Company’s performance during the entire performance period, on a pro-rata basis for the time that you were employed during the performance period. Your Performance-based SARs will expire ninety (90) days after March 1, [YEAR 4], except for termination of employment on account of Death, which will be the later of twelve (12) months after the date of your Death or ninety (90) days after March 1, [YEAR 4]. The pro rata amount will be determined by multiplying the number of Performance-based SARs that you would have received if you had been employed by the Company on March 1, [YEAR 4], by a fraction whose numerator is the number of completed months that you were employed during the performance period and whose denominator is 36.

(v) If the termination of your employment or other association is for cause, as defined in your employment agreement, all of your Performance-based SARs (at Target Level or otherwise), will expire on the date your employment or other association ends.

(vi) If your employment or other association is terminated prior to March 1, [YEAR 4], by the Company other than for Due Cause, or by you for Good Reason, as those terms are defined in your Employment Agreement, your Performance-based SARs will vest immediately as of the date of the termination of your employment or other association on a pro-rata basis based on the Company’s performance for the time that you were employed during the performance period measured as of the most recently completed fiscal quarter and will expire ninety (90) days after your employment or other association ends.






(vii) In all other cases, all of your Performance-based SARs (at Target Level or otherwise), will expire on the date your employment or other association ends, and all of your SARs which have vested will expire ninety (90) days after your employment or other association ends.

(b) Upon a Change in Control the Company will determine the pro rata portion of your Performance-based SARs based on the Company’s performance during the performance period preceding the Change of Control measured as of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter prior to the Change in Control event.  The pro rata portion of your Performance-based SARs will continue to vest and become exercisable on March 1, [YEAR 4].  The pro rata portion of your Performance-based SARs as determined pursuant to this Section 2 will immediately become exercisable (i) upon the Change in Control in the event that the successor organization does not assume, convert, or replace the awards; or (ii) upon termination of your employment or other association in the event the successor organization assumes, converts or replaces the awards, and your employment or other association is terminated other than for cause within 24 months following the Change in Control.   Your SARs will expire ninety (90) days after the occurrence of the events described in subsections (b) (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.

(c) If within four months following the effective date of this Award you are determined to have unacceptable job performance based upon your performance evaluation for the fiscal year in which this Award was granted, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President who is responsible for Rewards may cancel this Award in its entirety.

(d) No shares of Common Stock shall be issued to you prior to the date on which the SARs are exercised in accordance with this Section 2. Upon exercise of the SARs, you shall be entitled to receive a number of Issued Shares for each share with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Rights are exercised equal to (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share on the date of exercise over the Grant Price, divided by (ii) the Fair Market Value of one share on the date of exercise. The Issued Shares shall be issued in book-entry form, registered in your name or in the name of your legal representatives, beneficiaries or heirs, as the case may be. The Company will not deliver any fractional share of Common Stock but will pay, in lieu thereof, cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such fractional share.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2, during any period that any of these SARs remain outstanding after your employment or other association with the Company and its Affiliates ends, you may exercise them only to the extent they were exercisable immediately prior to the end of your employment or other association. In no event may any of these SARs be exercised after they expire as determined in accordance with Section 2.

(f) At any time you may exercise these SARs by delivery to the Company (the date such delivery occurs is hereinafter referred to as the “Exercise Date”) a notice which shall state that you elect to exercise the SARs as to the number of shares specified in the notice as of the date specified in the notice. Such notice should be made to the stock administrator at the Company headquarters or its designee. All notices will be acknowledged and validated by the Company or its designee prior to actual exercise of a SAR.

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Award, as to any SARs which have not then become exercisable, the Company may cancel these SARs at any time and without prior notice, and as to SARs which are then exercisable the Company may cancel these SARs at any time on ninety (90) days prior notice to you, in response to actions taken by you that could be considered detrimental to the Company or any of its Affiliates. Whether any of your actions could be considered detrimental will be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) consistent with the definition of Cause as defined in your employment agreement.

3. Transfer of SARs . You may not transfer any or all of these SARs except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during your lifetime, only you (or in the event of your Disability, your legal guardian or representative) may exercise these SARs. Any attempt to sell, pledge, assign, hypothecate, transfer or otherwise dispose of the SARs granted by this Award in contravention of this Award or the Plan shall be void.

4. No Rights as a Stockholder . You shall have no rights as a stockholder of any Common Stock covered by these SARs until the Exercise Date and entry evidencing such ownership is made in the stock transfer books of the Company. Except as may be provided under Section 4(c) of the Plan, the Company will make no adjustment for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary and whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions of other rights for which the record date is prior to the Exercise Date.

5. Notices . Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Award shall be in writing, and if by telecopy, shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered when sent, or if by





personal delivery or messenger or courier service, shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered upon actual delivery (but in no event may notice be given by deposit in the United States mail), at the following addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers (or such other address(es), telephone and facsimile numbers a party may designate for itself by like notice):

If to the Company: Advance Auto Parts, Inc. located at 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, Virginia, 24012, Attention: General Counsel or by telephone at (540) 561-3225 or telecopy at (540) 561-1448;

With copy to: Advance Auto Parts, Inc. located at 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, Virginia, 24012, Attention: Vice President, Rewards and HR Services or by telephone at (540) 561-6818 or telecopy at (540) 561-6998;

If to you, the Participant, to your home address on record at Advance Auto Parts or your business address at Advance Auto Parts.

6. Income Tax Matters . The Company makes no representation or warranty as to the tax treatment of your receipt or exercise of these SARs or upon your sale or other disposition of the shares acquired through the exercise of the SARs. You should rely on your own tax advisors for such advice. In order to comply with all applicable federal or state income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal or state payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are your sole and absolute responsibility, are withheld or collected from you at the time of your exercise of the SARs. The Company will inform you of alternative methods to settle any applicable taxes due prior to the first vesting date of your Award.

7. Miscellaneous .

(a) This Award is made under the provisions of the Plan and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with it. To the extent that any provision in this Award is inconsistent with the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. The interpretation of the Committee of any provision of the Plan, the SARs or this Award, and any determination with respect thereto or hereto by the Committee, shall be binding on all parties.

(b) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall confer, intend to confer or imply any rights to an employment relationship or rights to a continued employment relationship with the Company or any Affiliate in your favor or limit the ability of the Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, to terminate, with or without cause, in its sole and absolute discretion, your employment relationship with the Company or such Affiliate, subject to the terms of any written employment agreement to which you are a party.

(c) Neither the Plan nor this Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.

(d) The Company shall not be required to deliver any shares of Common Stock upon exercise of any Stock Appreciation Rights until the requirements of any federal or state securities laws, rules or regulations or other laws or rules (including the rules of any securities exchange) as may be determined by the Company to be applicable are satisfied.

(e) An original record of this Award and all the terms hereof executed by the Company is held on file by the Company. To the extent there is any conflict between the terms contained in this Award and the terms contained in the original held by the Company, the terms of the original held by the Company shall control.

(f) This Award is intended to be consistent with your employment agreement with the Company in effect on the date first written above. To the extent that any provision of this Award Agreement is inconsistent with the terms of your employment agreement with the Company in effect as of the date first written above, the provisions of this Award Agreement shall control with respect to this Award.






In Witness Whereof, this Award has been executed by the Company as of the date first above written.


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.



By:                  
Mike Norona, EVP, Chief Financial Officer


Accepted and agreed, including specifically but without limitation as to the treatment of this Award in accordance with the terms of the Plan and this Award notwithstanding any terms of an Employment/ Loyalty Agreement between the Company and the undersigned to the contrary:



By:___________________________

            
________________________    






ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
2014 RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

Award Date
Time-based RSUs
Last
Vesting Date
[GRANT DATE]
##
[GRANT DATE + 3YRS]

THIS CERTIFIES THAT Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (the “Company”) has on the Award Date specified above granted to

Darren Jackson

(“Participant”) an award (the “Award”) of that number of Restricted Stock Units (the “RSUs”) representing the right to receive a like number of shares (“Shares”) of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Common Stock, $.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), indicated above in the box labeled “Time-based RSUs ,” subject to certain restrictions and on the terms and conditions contained in this Award and the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). A copy of the Plan is available on the Company’s Intranet site or upon request. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Plan and this Award, the terms of the Plan shall govern. Any terms not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

* * * * *

1.  Vesting . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Award, the Shares shall vest, and the restrictions with respect to the time-vested Shares shall lapse over three years from the Award Date according to the dates identified in the following table if you remain continuously employed by the Company until the respective vesting date. You must retain all shares delivered to you upon vesting for a minimum of one year after the vesting date.

The Time-based RSUs indicated in the table above shall vest over three years from the Award Date according to the dates identified in the following table if you remain continuously employed by the Company until the respective vesting date.

Number of Time-based RSUs in Each Installment
Vesting Date for RSUs in
Installment
##
[GRANT DATE + 1YR]
##
[GRANT DATE + 2YRS]
##
[GRANT DATE + 3YRS]

2. Duration .

(a) If, prior to vesting of the RSUs pursuant to Section 1 or this Section 2 of this Award, your employment or other association with the Company and its Affiliates ends for any reason (voluntary or involuntary), then your rights to unvested RSUs shall be immediately and irrevocably forfeited, except as follows:

i) If the termination of your employment or other association is on account of Retirement, then your rights with respect to the Time-based RSUs will continue under this Award. For purposes of this Award, “on account of Retirement” means, except in the event of termination of employment for cause as provided in Section 2(a)(iv) below, termination of employment or other association following the attainment of at least 55 years of age and at least 10 years of service, of which the last three must be consecutive years with the Company, provided further that if you came to be employed by the Company in conjunction with or as a result of a merger with or acquisition by the Company, the last three consecutive years must occur following the effective date of such merger or acquisition.. If, however, after termination of your employment or other association with the Company on account of Retirement and prior to December 12, [YEAR 3], you are employed by a competitor of the Company, defined for these purposes as AutoZone Inc., O'Reilly Automotive Inc., Pep Boys, Genuine Parts Company and/or NAPA Auto Parts, Fisher Auto Parts or Parts Depot Inc., any RSUs that have not vested as of the date of the commencement of such employment shall be immediately and irrevocably forfeited.

ii) If the termination of your employment or other association is on account of Disability, then any unvested Time-based RSUs will vest immediately. For all purposes of this Award, “Disability” shall have the same meaning as





that term is defined in your employment agreement with the Company in effect as of the date of this Award Agreement.

iii) If the termination of your employment or other association is on account of Death, then any unvested Time-based RSUs will vest immediately.

iv) If the termination of your employment or other association is for cause, as defined in your employment agreement, all of your Time-based RSUs will expire on the date your employment or other association with the Company ends.

(b) Upon a Change in Control, any remaining previously unvested Time-vesting RSUs will vest immediately (i) upon the Change in Control in the event that the successor organization does not assume, convert, or replace the awards; or (ii) upon the termination of your employment or other association with the Company in the event that the successor organization assumes, converts or replaces the awards, and your employment or other association with the Company is terminated without cause within 24 months following the Change in Control.

(c) If within four months following the effective date of this Award you are determined to have unacceptable job performance based upon your performance evaluation for the fiscal year in which this Award was granted, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President who is responsible for Rewards may cancel this Award in its entirety.

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Award, the Company may cancel this Award at any time on ninety (90) days prior notice to you in response to actions taken by you that could be considered detrimental to the Company or any of its Affiliates. Whether any of your actions could be considered detrimental will be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) in its sole discretion for Cause as defined in your employment agreement.

3.  Transfer of Award . Until the RSUs vest pursuant to Section 2 of this Award, the RSUs may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of or encumbered, and no attempt to transfer unvested RSUs, whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, shall vest the transferee with any interest or right in or with respect to the Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may, in the manner established by the Committee, designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise your rights to receive any property distributable with respect to the RSUs upon your death.

4. No Rights as a Stockholder . You shall have no rights of a shareholder of the Common Stock on and after the Award Date and until the date on which the RSUs vest and are converted to Shares and the restrictions with respect to the RSUs lapse in accordance with Section 1 or 2 of this Award, as described above. You will however receive dividends on the Time-based RSUs on or after the Award Date and until Shares are delivered on vesting of the Award, unless and until the RSUs are forfeited pursuant to Section 1 or 2 of this Award. Except as may be provided under Section 4(c) of the Plan, the Company will make no adjustment for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary and whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions of other rights for which the record date is prior to the Vesting Date of an RSU.

5.  Issuing Shares . On any of the RSUs vesting pursuant to Section 1 or 2 of this Award and payment of the applicable withholding taxes pursuant to Section 7 below, the Company shall cause the shares of Common Stock to be issued in book-entry form, registered in your name.

6. Notices . Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Award shall be in writing, and if by telecopy, shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered when sent, or if by personal delivery or messenger or courier service, shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered upon actual delivery (but in no event may notice be given by deposit in the United States mail), at the following addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers (or such other address(es), telephone and facsimile numbers a party may designate for itself by like notice):

If to the Company: Advance Auto Parts, Inc. located at 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, Virginia, 24012, Attention: General Counsel or by telephone at (540) 561-3225 or telecopy at (540) 561-1448;

With copy to: Advance Auto Parts, Inc. located at 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, Virginia, 24012, Attention: Vice President, Rewards and HR Services or by telephone at (540) 561-6818 or telecopy at (540) 561-6998;

If to you, the Participant, to your home address on record at Advance Auto Parts or your business address at Advance Auto Parts.






7.  Income Tax Matters .

(a) The Company makes no representation or warranty as to the tax treatment of your receipt or vesting of the RSUs or upon your sale or other disposition of the Shares received upon vesting of your RSUs. You should rely on your own tax advisors for such advice. In order to comply with all applicable federal or state income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal or state payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are your sole and absolute responsibility, are withheld or collected from you at the time of vesting. The Company will inform you of alternative methods to settle any applicable taxes due prior to the first vesting date of your Award.

(b) For the purposes determining when Shares otherwise issuable on account of your termination of employment or other association with Company will be issued, “termination of employment” or words of similar import, as used in this Agreement, shall mean the date as of which the Company and you reasonably anticipate that no further services will be performed by you, and shall be construed as the date that you first incur a “separation from service” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code on or following termination of employment or other association with the Company. Furthermore, if you are a “specified employee” of a public company as determined pursuant to Section 409A as of your termination of employment or other association with the Company, any Shares otherwise issuable on account of your termination of employment or other association with the Company which constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and which are otherwise payable during the first six months following your termination of employment or other association with the Company shall be issued to you on the earlier of (1) the date of your death and (2) the first business day of the seventh calendar month immediately following the month in which your termination of employment or other association with the Company occurs.

8.  Miscellaneous.

(a) This Award is made under the provisions of the Plan and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with it. To the extent that any provision in this Award is inconsistent with the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. The interpretation of the Committee of any provision of the Plan, the RSUs or this Award, and any determination with respect thereto or hereto by the Committee, shall be binding on all parties.

(b) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall confer, intend to confer or imply any rights to an employment relationship or rights to a continued employment relationship with the Company or any Affiliate in your favor or limit the ability of the Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, to terminate, with or without cause, in its sole and absolute discretion, your employment relationship with the Company or such Affiliate, subject to the terms of any written employment agreement to which you are a party.

(c) Neither the Plan nor this Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and You or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.

(d) The Company shall not be required to deliver any shares of Common Stock until the requirements of any federal or state securities laws, rules or regulations or other laws or rules (including the rules of any securities exchange) as may be determined by the Company to be applicable are satisfied.

(e) An original record of this Award and all the terms hereof, executed by the Company, is held on file by the Company. To the extent there is any conflict between the terms contained in this Award and the terms contained in the original held by the Company, the terms of the original held by the Company shall control.

(f) This Award is intended to be consistent with your employment agreement with the Company in effect on the date first written above. To the extent that any provision of this Award Agreement is inconsistent with the terms of your employment agreement with the Company in effect as of the date first written above, the provisions of this Award Agreement shall control with respect to this Award.






In Witness Whereof, this Award has been executed by the Company as of the date first above written.


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.





By:                      
Mike Norona, EVP, Chief Financial Officer

Accepted and agreed, including specifically but without limitation as to the treatment of this Award in accordance with the terms of the Plan and this Award notwithstanding any terms of an Employment/ Loyalty Agreement between the Company and the undersigned to the contrary:



By:___________________________________    


_______________________________    







Exhibit 10.48

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
2014 PERFORMANCE-BASED SARS AWARD AGREEMENT
(STOCK SETTLED)

Award Date
Performance-based SARs (at Target Level)
Grant Price
Expiration Date
[GRANT DATE]
##
##
[GRANT DATE + 7YRS]

THIS CERTIFIES THAT Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (the “Company”) has on the Award Date specified above granted to

Name

(“Participant”) Stock Appreciation Rights (the “SARs”) with respect to the number of Shares of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Common Stock, $.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), indicated above in the box labeled “Performance-based SARs (at Target Level)” (the “Target Award”). The initial fair market value of each underlying Share is indicated above in the box labeled “Grant Price.” The SARs that this Certificate represents shall vest and become exercisable in accordance with Sections 1 and 2 below, and upon vesting shall be fully exercisable until the Expiration Date except as otherwise provided in Section 2 below. This Award is subject to the terms and conditions set forth below and in the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). A copy of the Plan is available on the Company’s Intranet site or upon request. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Plan and this Award, the terms of the Plan shall govern. Any terms not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

* * * * *

1. Vesting. Subject to the remaining provisions of this Award:

Performance-based SARs shall vest, in an amount up to your maximum vesting schedule (defined below) on March 1, [YEAR 4], 1 subject to your continued employment or other association the Company to that date and except as otherwise provided in Section 2 below. The precise amount in which you may vest will be determined in accordance with the following rules, subject to certification by the Committee of the Company’s average annual comparable store sales growth and cumulative Operating Income over the [YEAR 1] through [YEAR 3] fiscal years:

(a) 50% of the performance-based SARs will vest according to the Company’s Cumulative Operating Income results (as expressed in dollars) during the Performance Period against the Company’s business plan, including results of General Parts International, Inc., according to the schedule established by the Committee as shown in Exhibit 1 to this Agreement. Payout based on performance results between the threshold and maximum performance levels will be interpolated.

(b) 50% of the performance-based SARs will vest based upon the Company’s average annual comparable store sales growth over the Performance Period, calculated in a manner consistent with the Company’s current comparable store sales policy, according to the schedule established by the Committee as shown in Exhibit 1 to this Agreement. Payout based on performance results between threshold and maximum levels will be interpolated.

With respect to the calculation of Operating Income, the Committee may make adjustments to exclude the impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, and/or the cumulative effects of accounting changes, each as defined by generally accepted accounting principles and as identified in the Company’s financial statements, notes to the financial statements or management’s discussion and analysis, and any other unusual or non-recurring items as identified in the Company’s financial statements, notes to the financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis or earnings releases.     
____________________________________________
1 For awards with an Award Date of December 12, [YEAR]. For awards with a later Award Date, throughout this Award “March 1, [YEAR 4]” means the later of March 1, [YEAR 4] or the third anniversary of the Award Date.





Your “Maximum Performance-based SARs” is 200% of the number of SARs indicated above in the box labeled “Performance-based SARs (at Target Level).”
2. SARs Duration and Exercise .

(a) Subject to the following, these SARs shall expire on the Expiration Date. However, if your employment or other association with the Company and its Affiliates ends before that date, these SARs shall expire on Expiration Date or, if earlier, the date specified in whichever of the following applies:

(i) If your employment or other association is terminated on account of Retirement, your Performance-based SARs will expire ninety (90) days after the date on which all of your SARs are exercisable. If all of your SARs are exercisable as of the date of your Retirement, your SARs will expire ninety (90) days after the date your employment or other association ends on account of Retirement. For all purposes of this Award, “on account of Retirement” means, except in the event of termination of employment or other service to the Company for cause as provided in Section 2(a)(v) below, termination of employment or other association following the attainment of at least 55 years of age and at least 10 years of service, of which the last three must be consecutive years of service with the Company, provided further that if you came to be employed by the Company in conjunction with or as a result of a merger with or acquisition by the Company, the last three consecutive years of service must occur following the effective date of such merger or acquisition. If, after termination of your employment or other association on account of Retirement and prior to March 1, [YEAR 4], you are employed by a competitor of the Company, defined for these purposes as AutoZone Inc., O'Reilly Automotive Inc., Pep Boys, Genuine Parts Company and/or NAPA Auto Parts, Fisher Auto Parts or Parts Depot Inc. (or any successor to any of these companies), all future vesting rights for SARs that have not yet vested as of the date of the commencement of such employment shall be immediately and irrevocably forfeited.

(ii) If the termination of your employment or other association is on account of Disability, then your Performance-based SARs will expire ninety (90) days after the date on which all of your SARs are exercisable. If all of your SARs are exercisable as of the date of the termination of your employment or other association on account of Disability, your SARs will expire ninety (90) days after the date your employment or other association ends. For all purposes of this Award, “Disability” shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in your employment agreement with the Company in effect as of the date of this Award Agreement.

(iii) If the termination of your employment or other association is on account of Death, or you die within ninety (90) days of the termination of your employment or other association (other than when terminated for cause), then your Performance-based SARs will expire on the date that is the later of twelve (12) months after your Death or ninety (90) days after the date on which all of your SARs are exercisable.

(iv) If your employment or other association is terminated prior to March 1, [YEAR 4], on account of your Retirement, Disability or Death, your Performance-based SARs will vest on March 1, [YEAR 4], in an amount based on the Company’s performance during the entire performance period, on a pro-rata basis for the time that you were employed during the performance period. Your Performance-based SARs will expire ninety (90) days after March 1, [YEAR 4], except for termination of employment on account of Death, which will be the later of twelve (12) months after the date of your Death or ninety (90) days after March 1, [YEAR 4]. The pro rata amount will be determined by multiplying the number of Performance-based SARs that you would have received if you had been employed by the Company on March 1, [YEAR 4], by a fraction whose numerator is the number of completed months that you were employed during the performance period and whose denominator is 36.

(v) If the termination of your employment or other association is for cause, as defined in your employment agreement, all of your Performance-based SARs (at Target Level or otherwise), will expire on the date your employment or other association ends.

(vi) If your employment or other association is terminated prior to March 1, [YEAR 4], by the Company other than for Due Cause, or by you for Good Reason, as those terms are defined in your Employment Agreement, your Performance-based SARs will vest immediately as of the date of the termination of your employment or other association on a pro-rata basis based on the Company’s performance for the time that you were employed during the performance period measured as of the most recently completed fiscal quarter and will expire ninety (90) days after your employment or other association ends.






(vii) In all other cases, all of your Performance-based SARs (at Target Level or otherwise), will expire on the date your employment or other association ends, and all of your SARs which have vested will expire ninety (90) days after your employment or other association ends.

(b) Upon a Change in Control the Company will determine the pro rata portion of your Performance-based SARs based on the Company’s performance during the performance period preceding the Change of Control measured as of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter prior to the Change in Control event.  The pro rata portion of your Performance-based SARs will continue to vest and become exercisable on March 1, [YEAR 4].  The pro rata portion of your Performance-based SARs as determined pursuant to this Section 2 will immediately become exercisable (i) upon the Change in Control in the event that the successor organization does not assume, convert, or replace the awards; or (ii) upon termination of your employment or other association in the event the successor organization assumes, converts or replaces the awards, and your employment or other association is terminated other than for cause within 24 months following the Change in Control.   Your SARs will expire ninety (90) days after the occurrence of the events described in subsections (b) (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.

(c) If within four months following the effective date of this Award you are determined to have unacceptable job performance based upon your performance evaluation for the fiscal year in which this Award was granted, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President who is responsible for Rewards may cancel this Award in its entirety.

(d) No shares of Common Stock shall be issued to you prior to the date on which the SARs are exercised in accordance with this Section 2. Upon exercise of the SARs, you shall be entitled to receive a number of Issued Shares for each share with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Rights are exercised equal to (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share on the date of exercise over the Grant Price, divided by (ii) the Fair Market Value of one share on the date of exercise. The Issued Shares shall be issued in book-entry form, registered in your name or in the name of your legal representatives, beneficiaries or heirs, as the case may be. The Company will not deliver any fractional share of Common Stock but will pay, in lieu thereof, cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such fractional share.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2, during any period that any of these SARs remain outstanding after your employment or other association with the Company and its Affiliates ends, you may exercise them only to the extent they were exercisable immediately prior to the end of your employment or other association. In no event may any of these SARs be exercised after they expire as determined in accordance with Section 2.

(f) At any time you may exercise these SARs by delivery to the Company (the date such delivery occurs is hereinafter referred to as the “Exercise Date”) a notice which shall state that you elect to exercise the SARs as to the number of shares specified in the notice as of the date specified in the notice. Such notice should be made to the stock administrator at the Company headquarters or its designee. All notices will be acknowledged and validated by the Company or its designee prior to actual exercise of a SAR.

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Award, as to any SARs which have not then become exercisable, the Company may cancel these SARs at any time and without prior notice, and as to SARs which are then exercisable the Company may cancel these SARs at any time on ninety (90) days prior notice to you, in response to actions taken by you that could be considered detrimental to the Company or any of its Affiliates. Whether any of your actions could be considered detrimental will be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) consistent with the definition of Cause as defined in your employment agreement.

3. Transfer of SARs . You may not transfer any or all of these SARs except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during your lifetime, only you (or in the event of your Disability, your legal guardian or representative) may exercise these SARs. Any attempt to sell, pledge, assign, hypothecate, transfer or otherwise dispose of the SARs granted by this Award in contravention of this Award or the Plan shall be void.

4. No Rights as a Stockholder . You shall have no rights as a stockholder of any Common Stock covered by these SARs until the Exercise Date and entry evidencing such ownership is made in the stock transfer books of the Company. Except as may be provided under Section 4(c) of the Plan, the Company will make no adjustment for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary and whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions of other rights for which the record date is prior to the Exercise Date.

5. Notices . Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Award shall be in writing, and if by telecopy, shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered when sent, or if by





personal delivery or messenger or courier service, shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered upon actual delivery (but in no event may notice be given by deposit in the United States mail), at the following addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers (or such other address(es), telephone and facsimile numbers a party may designate for itself by like notice):

If to the Company: Advance Auto Parts, Inc. located at 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, Virginia, 24012, Attention: General Counsel or by telephone at (540) 561-3225 or telecopy at (540) 561-1448;

With copy to: Advance Auto Parts, Inc. located at 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, Virginia, 24012, Attention: Vice President, Rewards and HR Services or by telephone at (540) 561-6818 or telecopy at (540) 561-6998;

If to you, the Participant, to your home address on record at Advance Auto Parts or your business address at Advance Auto Parts.

6. Income Tax Matters . The Company makes no representation or warranty as to the tax treatment of your receipt or exercise of these SARs or upon your sale or other disposition of the shares acquired through the exercise of the SARs. You should rely on your own tax advisors for such advice. In order to comply with all applicable federal or state income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal or state payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are your sole and absolute responsibility, are withheld or collected from you at the time of your exercise of the SARs. The Company will inform you of alternative methods to settle any applicable taxes due prior to the first vesting date of your Award.

7. Miscellaneous .

(a) This Award is made under the provisions of the Plan and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with it. To the extent that any provision in this Award is inconsistent with the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. The interpretation of the Committee of any provision of the Plan, the SARs or this Award, and any determination with respect thereto or hereto by the Committee, shall be binding on all parties.

(b) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall confer, intend to confer or imply any rights to an employment relationship or rights to a continued employment relationship with the Company or any Affiliate in your favor or limit the ability of the Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, to terminate, with or without cause, in its sole and absolute discretion, your employment relationship with the Company or such Affiliate, subject to the terms of any written employment agreement to which you are a party.

(c) Neither the Plan nor this Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.

(d) The Company shall not be required to deliver any shares of Common Stock upon exercise of any Stock Appreciation Rights until the requirements of any federal or state securities laws, rules or regulations or other laws or rules (including the rules of any securities exchange) as may be determined by the Company to be applicable are satisfied.

(e) An original record of this Award and all the terms hereof executed by the Company is held on file by the Company. To the extent there is any conflict between the terms contained in this Award and the terms contained in the original held by the Company, the terms of the original held by the Company shall control.

(f) This Award is intended to be consistent with your employment agreement with the Company in effect on the date first written above. To the extent that any provision of this Award Agreement is inconsistent with the terms of your employment agreement with the Company in effect as of the date first written above, the provisions of this Award Agreement shall control with respect to this Award.






In Witness Whereof, this Award has been executed by the Company as of the date first above written.


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.


By:         
Mike Norona, EVP, Chief Financial Officer


Accepted and agreed, including specifically but without limitation as to the treatment of this Award in accordance with the terms of the Plan and this Award notwithstanding any terms of an Employment/ Loyalty Agreement between the Company and the undersigned to the contrary:



By:_______________________________    


__________________________    






ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
2014 RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

Award Date
Time-based RSUs
Last
Vesting Date
[GRANT DATE]
##
[GRANT DATE + 3YRS]

THIS CERTIFIES THAT Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (the “Company”) has on the Award Date specified above granted to

Name

(“Participant”) an award (the “Award”) of that number of Restricted Stock Units (the “RSUs”) representing the right to receive a like number of shares (“Shares”) of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Common Stock, $.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), indicated above in the box labeled “Time-based RSUs ,” subject to certain restrictions and on the terms and conditions contained in this Award and the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). A copy of the Plan is available on the Company’s Intranet site or upon request. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Plan and this Award, the terms of the Plan shall govern. Any terms not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

* * * * *

1.  Vesting . Subject to the remaining provisions of this Award:

The Time-based RSUs indicated in the table above shall vest over three years from the Award Date according to the dates identified in the following table if you remain continuously employed by the Company until the respective vesting date.

Number of Time-based RSUs in Each Installment
Vesting Date for RSUs in
Installment
##
[GRANT DATE + 1YR]
##
[GRANT DATE + 2YRS]
##
[GRANT DATE + 3YRS]

2. Duration .

(a) If, prior to vesting of the RSUs pursuant to Section 1 or this Section 2 of this Award, your employment or other association with the Company and its Affiliates ends for any reason (voluntary or involuntary), then your rights to unvested RSUs shall be immediately and irrevocably forfeited, except as follows:

i) If the termination of your employment or other association is on account of Retirement, then your rights with respect to the Time-based RSUs will continue under this Award. For purposes of this Award, “on account of Retirement” means, except in the event of termination of employment for cause as provided in Section 2(a)(iv) below, termination of employment or other association following the attainment of at least 55 years of age and at least 10 years of service, of which the last three must be consecutive years with the Company, provided further that if you came to be employed by the Company in conjunction with or as a result of a merger with or acquisition by the Company, the last three consecutive years must occur following the effective date of such merger or acquisition.. If, however, after termination of your employment or other association with the Company on account of Retirement and prior to December 12, [YEAR 3], you are employed by a competitor of the Company, defined for these purposes as AutoZone Inc., O'Reilly Automotive Inc., Pep Boys, Genuine Parts Company and/or NAPA Auto Parts, Fisher Auto Parts or Parts Depot Inc., any RSUs that have not vested as of the date of the commencement of such employment shall be immediately and irrevocably forfeited.

ii) If the termination of your employment or other association is on account of Disability, then any unvested Time-based RSUs will vest immediately. For all purposes of this Award, “Disability” shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in your employment agreement with the Company in effect as of the date of this Award Agreement.






iii) If the termination of your employment or other association is on account of Death, then any unvested Time-based RSUs will vest immediately.

iv) If the termination of your employment or other association is for cause, as defined in your employment agreement, all of your Time-based RSUs will expire on the date your employment or other association with the Company ends.

(b) Upon a Change in Control, any remaining previously unvested Time-vesting RSUs will vest immediately (i) upon the Change in Control in the event that the successor organization does not assume, convert, or replace the awards; or (ii) upon the termination of your employment or other association with the Company in the event that the successor organization assumes, converts or replaces the awards, and your employment or other association with the Company is terminated without cause within 24 months following the Change in Control.

(c) If within four months following the effective date of this Award you are determined to have unacceptable job performance based upon your performance evaluation for the fiscal year in which this Award was granted, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President who is responsible for Rewards may cancel this Award in its entirety.

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Award, the Company may cancel this Award at any time on ninety (90) days prior notice to you in response to actions taken by you that could be considered detrimental to the Company or any of its Affiliates. Whether any of your actions could be considered detrimental will be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) in its sole discretion for Cause as defined in your employment agreement.

3.  Transfer of Award . Until the RSUs vest pursuant to Section 2 of this Award, the RSUs may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of or encumbered, and no attempt to transfer unvested RSUs, whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, shall vest the transferee with any interest or right in or with respect to the Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may, in the manner established by the Committee, designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise your rights to receive any property distributable with respect to the RSUs upon your death.

4. No Rights as a Stockholder . You shall have no rights of a shareholder of the Common Stock on and after the Award Date and until the date on which the RSUs vest and are converted to Shares and the restrictions with respect to the RSUs lapse in accordance with Section 1 or 2 of this Award, as described above. You will however receive dividends on the Time-based RSUs on or after the Award Date and until Shares are delivered on vesting of the Award, unless and until the RSUs are forfeited pursuant to Section 1 or 2 of this Award. Except as may be provided under Section 4(c) of the Plan, the Company will make no adjustment for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary and whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions of other rights for which the record date is prior to the Vesting Date of an RSU.

5.  Issuing Shares . On any of the RSUs vesting pursuant to Section 1 or 2 of this Award and payment of the applicable withholding taxes pursuant to Section 7 below, the Company shall cause the shares of Common Stock to be issued in book-entry form, registered in your name.

6. Notices . Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Award shall be in writing, and if by telecopy, shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered when sent, or if by personal delivery or messenger or courier service, shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered upon actual delivery (but in no event may notice be given by deposit in the United States mail), at the following addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers (or such other address(es), telephone and facsimile numbers a party may designate for itself by like notice):

If to the Company: Advance Auto Parts, Inc. located at 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, Virginia, 24012, Attention: General Counsel or by telephone at (540) 561-3225 or telecopy at (540) 561-1448;

With copy to: Advance Auto Parts, Inc. located at 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, Virginia, 24012, Attention: Vice President, Rewards and HR Services or by telephone at (540) 561-6818 or telecopy at (540) 561-6998;

If to you, the Participant, to your home address on record at Advance Auto Parts or your business address at Advance Auto Parts.






7.  Income Tax Matters .

(a) The Company makes no representation or warranty as to the tax treatment of your receipt or vesting of the RSUs or upon your sale or other disposition of the Shares received upon vesting of your RSUs. You should rely on your own tax advisors for such advice. In order to comply with all applicable federal or state income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal or state payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are your sole and absolute responsibility, are withheld or collected from you at the time of vesting. The Company will inform you of alternative methods to settle any applicable taxes due prior to the first vesting date of your Award.

(b) For the purposes determining when Shares otherwise issuable on account of your termination of employment or other association with Company will be issued, “termination of employment” or words of similar import, as used in this Agreement, shall mean the date as of which the Company and you reasonably anticipate that no further services will be performed by you, and shall be construed as the date that you first incur a “separation from service” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code on or following termination of employment or other association with the Company. Furthermore, if you are a “specified employee” of a public company as determined pursuant to Section 409A as of your termination of employment or other association with the Company, any Shares otherwise issuable on account of your termination of employment or other association with the Company which constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and which are otherwise payable during the first six months following your termination of employment or other association with the Company shall be issued to you on the earlier of (1) the date of your death and (2) the first business day of the seventh calendar month immediately following the month in which your termination of employment or other association with the Company occurs.

8.  Miscellaneous.

(a) This Award is made under the provisions of the Plan and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with it. To the extent that any provision in this Award is inconsistent with the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. The interpretation of the Committee of any provision of the Plan, the RSUs or this Award, and any determination with respect thereto or hereto by the Committee, shall be binding on all parties.

(b) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall confer, intend to confer or imply any rights to an employment relationship or rights to a continued employment relationship with the Company or any Affiliate in your favor or limit the ability of the Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, to terminate, with or without cause, in its sole and absolute discretion, your employment relationship with the Company or such Affiliate, subject to the terms of any written employment agreement to which you are a party.

(c) Neither the Plan nor this Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and You or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.

(d) The Company shall not be required to deliver any shares of Common Stock until the requirements of any federal or state securities laws, rules or regulations or other laws or rules (including the rules of any securities exchange) as may be determined by the Company to be applicable are satisfied.

(e) An original record of this Award and all the terms hereof, executed by the Company, is held on file by the Company. To the extent there is any conflict between the terms contained in this Award and the terms contained in the original held by the Company, the terms of the original held by the Company shall control.

(f) This Award is intended to be consistent with your employment agreement with the Company in effect on the date first written above. To the extent that any provision of this Award Agreement is inconsistent with the terms of your employment agreement with the Company in effect as of the date first written above, the provisions of this Award Agreement shall control with respect to this Award.






In Witness Whereof, this Award has been executed by the Company as of the date first above written.


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.






By:                      
Mike Norona, EVP, Chief Financial Officer

Accepted and agreed, including specifically but without limitation as to the treatment of this Award in accordance with the terms of the Plan and this Award notwithstanding any terms of an Employment/ Loyalty Agreement between the Company and the undersigned to the contrary:



By:__________________________

______________________    







Exhibit 10.49

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) dated as of January 2, 2014 between General Parts International, Inc., a North Carolina corporation, with its principal place of business in Raleigh, North Carolina (“GPII”), and its subsidiaries, parents and affiliated or related entities, including, but not limited to, Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a Delaware corporation, its subsidiaries, predecessors, successors, affiliated corporations, companies and partnerships, and its current and former officers, directors, and agents (collectively, the “Company”) and O. Temple Sloan, III (the “Executive”).

The Company and the Executive agree as follows:

1.
Position; Term of Employment . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive agrees to serve the Company, as the President of General Parts International, Inc. (“Executive’s Position”). The parties intend that the Executive shall continue to so serve in this capacity throughout the Employment Term (as such term is defined below).

The term of Executive’s employment by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall commence on January 2, 2014 (“Commencement Date”) and shall end on the day prior to the first anniversary of the Commencement Date, unless sooner terminated under the provisions of Paragraph 4 below (“Employment Term”); provided, however, that commencing on the first anniversary of the Commencement Date (“Anniversary Date”) the Employment Term shall be automatically extended for an additional period of one year unless, not later than 60 days prior to the Anniversary Date, either party shall have given notice to the other that it does not wish to extend the Employment Term (a “Non-Renewal”), in which case the Employment Term shall end on the day prior to the Anniversary Date; and on each Anniversary Date thereafter the Employment Term shall be automatically extended for an additional period of one year unless, not later than 60 days prior to such Anniversary Date, either party shall have given notice to the other that it does not wish to extend the Employment Term, in which case the Employment Term shall end 60 days following such notice.
2.
Duties.

(a)      Duties and Responsibilities . The Executive shall have such duties and responsibilities of the Executive’s Position, including but not limited to, assisting in the retention of GPII’s senior management team, assisting in the retention of GPII Independent Customers, oversight of select corporate office functions in Raleigh, North Carolina as determined by Advance, assisting with growth and development plans of WorldPac and CarQuest Canada business operations as deemed necessary by the Company, assisting with the overall integration of GPII into Advance’s business, assisting with identifying industry and competitive trends and potential growth opportunities, and such other duties and responsibilities that are reasonably consistent with the Executive’s Position as the Company may request from time to time Executive shall perform such duties and carry out such responsibilities to the best of the Executive’s ability for the purpose of advancing the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, if any (jointly and severally, “Related Entities”). The Executive shall observe and conform to the applicable policies and directives promulgated from time to time by the Company and its Board of Directors or by any superior officer(s) of the Company. Subject to the provisions of Subsection 2(b) below, the Executive shall devote the Executive’s full time, skill and attention during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and its Related Entities, except for holidays and vacations consistent with applicable Company policy and except for illness or




incapacity. The services to be performed by the Executive hereunder may be changed from time to time at the discretion of the Company. The Company shall retain full direction and control of the means and methods by which the Executive performs the Executive’s services and of the place or places at which such services are to be rendered.

(b)     Other Activities. During the Term of this Agreement, it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to, and the Executive shall be entitled to (i) serve on corporate, civic, charitable, retail industry association or professional association boards or committees within the limitations of the Company’s Guidelines on Significant Governance Issues, (ii) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and (iii) manage personal investments, so long as the activities set forth in (i), (ii), and (iii) above (x) do not significantly interfere with the performance of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities as required by this Agreement and do not involve a conflict of interest with the Executive’s duties or responsibilities hereunder, (y) are in compliance with the Company’s policies and procedures in effect from time to time, including the Code of Ethics & Business Conduct and the Guidelines on Significant Governance Issues , in each case as may be amended periodically, and (z) do not violate Section 18 of this Agreement.

1.
Compensation .

(a) Base Salary . During the Employment Term, the Company shall pay to the Executive a salary of $550,000.00 per annum, payable consistent with the Company’s standard payroll practices then in effect (“Base Salary”). Such Base Salary shall be reviewed by the Compensation Committee of Advance’s Board of Directors (hereinafter the “Compensation Committee”) at least annually, with any changes taking into account, among other factors, Company and individual performance.

(b) Bonus . The Executive shall receive a bonus in such amounts and based upon achievement of such corporate and individual performance and other criteria as shall be approved by the Compensation Committee from time to time, with a target amount, if such performance and other criteria are achieved, of ninety percent ( 90 %) of the Base Salary (the “Target Bonus Amount”), with a maximum payout of one hundred and eighty percent (180%) of the Base Salary during the initial Term of this Agreement, which bonus shall be paid in a manner consistent with the Company’s bonus practices then in effect. The Target Bonus Amount and the maximum payout for any subsequent renewal Term of the Agreement shall be determined by the Compensation Committee. To be eligible to receive a bonus, the Executive must be employed by the Company on the date the bonus is paid.

(c)     Incentive Compensation Clawback . Any compensation provided by the Company to the Executive, excepting only compensation pursuant to Section 3(a) above, shall be subject to the Company’s Incentive Compensation Clawback Policy as such policy shall be adopted, and from time to time amended, by the Board or the Compensation Committee.
(d) Benefit Plans . During the Employment Term, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all retirement and employment benefit plans and programs of the Company that are generally available to senior executives of the Company. Such participation shall be pursuant to the terms and conditions of such plans and programs, as the same shall be amended from time to time. The Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks paid vacation annually.
(e)     Business Expenses . During the Employment Term, the Company shall, in accordance with policies then in effect with respect to payments of business expenses, pay or reimburse the Executive for all reasonable out-of-pocket travel and other expenses (other than ordinary commuting expenses) incurred by

2



the Executive in performing services hereunder; provided, however, that, with respect to reimbursements, if any, not otherwise excludible from the Executive’s gross income, to the extent required to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), no reimbursement of expenses incurred by the Executive during any taxable year shall be made after the last day of the following taxable year, and the right to reimbursement of such expenses shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. All such expenses shall be accounted for in such reasonable detail as the Company may require.

2.
Termination of Employment .

(a)     Death . In the event of the death of the Executive during the Employment Term, the Executive’s employment shall be automatically terminated as of the date of death and a lump sum amount, equivalent to the Executive’s annual Base Salary and Target Bonus then in effect, shall be paid, within 60 days after the date of the Executive’s death, to the Executive’s designated beneficiary, or to the Executive’s estate or other legal representative if no beneficiary was designated at the time of the Executive’s death. In the event of the death of the Executive during the Employment Term, the restrictions and deferral limitations applicable to any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Unit, Deferred Stock Unit, Dividend Equivalent or any Other Stock Unit Awards (collectively “Awards”), as such Awards are defined in the 2004 LTIP (or any applicable successor plan of the Company), granted to the Executive shall be subject to the provisions regarding vesting and transferability in those circumstances as are set forth in the applicable award agreement or grant. The foregoing benefit will be provided in addition to any death, disability or other benefits provided under the Company’s benefit plans and programs in which the Executive was participating at the time of his death. Except in accordance with the terms of the Company’s benefit programs and other plans and programs then in effect, after the date of the Executive’s death, the Executive shall not be entitled to any other compensation or benefits from the Company or hereunder.

(b)     Disability . In the event of the Executive’s Disability as hereinafter defined, the employment of the Executive may be terminated by the Company, effective upon the Disability Termination Date (as defined below). In such event, the Company shall pay the Executive an amount equivalent to thirty percent (30%) of the Executive’s Base Salary for a one year period, which amount shall be paid in one lump sum within 45 days following the Executive’s “separation from service,” as that term is defined in Section 409A of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder, from the Company (his “Separation From Service”), provided that the Executive or an individual duly authorized to execute legal documents on the Executive’s behalf executes and does not revoke within any applicable revocation period the release described in Section 4(k)(ii)(B). The foregoing benefit will be provided in addition to any disability or other benefits provided under the Company’s benefit plans in which the Executive participates. For the avoidance of doubt, participation by the Executive in the Company’s long-term and/or short-term disability insurance benefit plans is voluntary on the part of the Executive and is made available by the Company at the sole cost of the Executive. The purpose and intent of the preceding three sentences is to ensure that the Executive receives a combination of insurance benefits and Company payments following the Disability Termination Date equal to 100% of his then-applicable Base Salary for such one-year period. In the event that Executive does not elect to participate in the Company’s long-term and/or short-term disability insurance benefit plans, the Company shall not be obligated to pay the Executive any amount in excess of thirty percent (30%) of the Executive’s Base Salary. In the event of the Disability of the Executive during the Employment Term, the restrictions and deferral limitations applicable to any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Unit, Deferred Stock Unit, Dividend Equivalent or any Other Stock Unit Awards (collectively “Awards”), as such Awards are defined in the 2004 LTIP (or any applicable successor plan of the Company), granted to the Executive shall be subject to the provisions regarding vesting and transferability in those circumstances as are set forth in the applicable award agreement or grant. The Company shall also pay to

3



the Executive a lump sum amount equivalent to the Executive’s Target Bonus Amount then in effect, which amount shall be paid in one lump sum within 45 days following the Executive’s Separation from Service, provided that the Executive or an individual duly authorized to execute legal documents on the Executive’s behalf executes and does not revoke within any applicable revocation period the release described in Section 4(j)(ii)(B). Otherwise, after the Disability Termination Date, except in accordance with the Company’s benefit programs and other plans then in effect, the Executive shall not be entitled to any compensation or benefits from the Company or hereunder.

“Disability,” for purposes of this Agreement, shall mean the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness causing the Executive’s complete and full-time absence from the Executive’s duties, as defined in Paragraph 2, for either a consecutive period of more than six months or at least 180 days within any 270-day period.

(c)     Termination by the Company for Due Cause . Nothing herein shall prevent the Company from terminating the Executive’s employment at any time for “Due Cause” (as hereinafter defined). The Executive shall continue to receive the Base Salary provided for in this Agreement only through the period ending with the date of such termination. Any rights and benefits the Executive may have under employee benefit plans and programs of the Company shall be determined in accordance with the terms of such plans and programs. Except as provided in the two immediately preceding sentences, after termination of employment for Due Cause, the Executive shall not be entitled to any compensation or benefits from the Company or hereunder.

    

4



For purposes of this Agreement, “Due Cause” shall mean:

(i)     a material breach by the Executive of the Executive’s duties and obligations under this Agreement or violation in any material respect of any code or standard of conduct generally applicable to the officers of the Company, including, but not limited to, the Company’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, which, if curable, has not been cured by the Executive within 15 business days after the Executive’s receipt of notice to the Executive specifying the nature of such breach or violations;

(ii)     a material violation by the Executive of the Executive’s Loyalty Obligations as provided in Paragraph 18 of this Agreement, including without limitation the obligations set forth in the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Company, Generator Purchase, Inc., GPII and Shareholder Representative Services LLC dated October 15, 2013 (“2013 Merger Agreement”);(iii)the commission by the Executive or indictment for a crime of moral turpitude or a felony involving fraud, breach of trust, or misappropriation;

(iv)     the Executive’s willfully engaging in bad faith conduct that is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise; or
(v)     a determination by the Company that the Executive is in violation of the Company’s Substance Abuse Policy.

(d)     Termination by the Company Other than for Due Cause, Death or Disability or by Either Party by Non-Renewal . The foregoing notwithstanding, the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment for any or no reason, as it may deem appropriate in its sole discretion and judgment; provided , however , that in the event such termination is not due to Death, Disability or Due Cause, the Executive shall (i) be entitled to a Termination Payment as hereinafter defined and (ii) be sent written notice stating the termination is not due to Death, Disability or Due Cause. In the event of such termination by the Company, the Executive shall receive certain payments and benefits as set forth in this Subsection 4(d). In addition, either the Company or the Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment pursuant to a Non-Renewal of the Employment Term in accordance with Section 1. In the event of such Non-Renewal by either party, the Executive shall be entitled to the Termination Payment and other benefits as set forth in this Subsection 4(d).

(i)      Termination Payment . If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for other than Death, Disability or Due Cause prior to the expiration of the Employment Term or upon a Non-Renewal of the Employment Term by either party, the term “Termination Payment” shall mean a cash payment equal to the sum of:

    (A)     an amount equal to the Executive’s annual Base Salary, as in effect immediately prior to such termination (unless the termination is in connection with an action that would have enabled the Executive to terminate his employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 4(e)(i)(A), in which case, it shall be the Base Salary in effect prior to any such material diminution of the Base Salary) (the “Termination Salary Payment”), and

(B)    an amount equal to the average value of the annual bonuses pursuant to Section 3(b) paid to Executive after the effective date of this Agreement for the three completed fiscal years immediately prior to the date of such termination; provided, however, that if Executive has been employed by the Company for fewer than three complete fiscal years prior to the

5



date of such termination, Executive shall receive an amount equal to the average value of the annual bonuses pursuant to Section 3(b) that the Executive has earned after the effective date of this Agreement for any completed fiscal years.

(ii)      Outplacement Services . The Company shall make outplacement services available to the Executive, at a cost to the Company not to exceed $12,000, for a period of time not to exceed 12 months following the date of termination pursuant to the Company’s Executive outplacement program with the Company’s selected vendor, to include consulting, search support and administrative services.

(iii)      Medical Coverage . In addition, the Company shall provide the Executive with medical, dental and vision insurance benefits (which may also cover, if applicable, the Executive’s spouse and eligible dependents) for three hundred sixty-five (365) days from the date of the Executive’s termination of employment or until such time as the Executive is eligible for group health coverage under another employer’s plan, whichever occurs first. In order to trigger the Company’s obligation to provide health care continuation benefits, the Executive must elect continuation coverage pursuant to the Consolidation Omnibus Budget Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), upon such eligibility. The Company’s obligation shall be satisfied solely through the payment of the Executive’s COBRA premiums during the 365-day period, but only to the extent that such premiums exceed the amount that would otherwise have been payable by the Executive for coverage of the Executive and the Executive’s eligible dependents that were covered by the Company’s medical, dental, and vision insurance programs at the time of the Executive’s termination of employment had the Executive continued to be employed by the Company.

(iv)      Timing of Payments . The Termination Salary Payment and Termination Bonus Payment shall be paid in one lump sum within 45 days following the date of the Executive’s Separation From Service, provided that the Executive executes and does not revoke within any applicable revocation period the release described in Section 4(j)(ii)(B) below.

(v)      Entire Obligation . Except as provided in Subsection 4(j) of this Agreement, following the Executive’s termination of employment under this Subsection 4(d), the Executive will have no further obligation to the Company pursuant to this Agreement (other than under Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 18, 19 (to the extent such policies, guidelines and codes by their terms apply post-employment) and 20). Except for the Termination Payment and as otherwise provided in accordance with the terms of the Company’s benefit programs and plans then in effect or as expressly required under applicable law, after termination by the Company of employment for other than Death, Disability or Due Cause, the Executive shall not be entitled to any other compensation or benefits from the Company or hereunder.

(e)     Resignation from Employment by the Company for Good Reason . Termination by the Company without Due Cause under Subsection 4(d) shall be deemed to have occurred if the Executive elects to terminate the Executive’s employment for Good Reason.

(i)      Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean:

(A)     a material diminution in the Executive’s “Total Direct Compensation,” which shall mean the value of the total of the Executive’s Base Salary, Target Bonus opportunity, and annual equity award taken together;

6




(B) a material diminution in the Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities as the President of GPII after the Commencement Date of Executive’s employment with Advance;

(C)     the Company’s requiring the Executive to be based more than 60 miles from the Company’s office in Raleigh, North Carolina at which the Executive was principally employed immediately prior to the date of the relocation; or

(D)    delivery by the Company of a notice discontinuing the automatic extension of the Term of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement; or


(E) any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach by the Company of the terms of this Agreement.

(ii)     Notice of Good Reason Condition. In order to be considered a resignation for Good Reason for purposes of this Agreement, the Executive must provide the Company with written notice and description of the existence of the Good Reason condition within 60 days of the initial discovery by the Executive of the existence of said Good Reason condition and the Company shall have 30 business days to cure such Good Reason condition.
(iii)     Effective Date of Resignation. The effective date of the Executive’s resignation for Good Reason must occur no longer than six (6) months following the expiration of the cure period set forth in Section 4(e)(ii), above. If Executive has not resigned for Good Reason effective within six (6) months following the expiration of the cure period set forth in Section 4(e)(ii), above the Executive shall be deemed to have waived said Good Reason condition.
(f)     Termination by the Company Other Than For Due Cause, Death or Disability (including a Non-Renewal) or by the Executive by Resignation from Employment for Good Reason or by a Non-Renewal Within Twelve Months After a Change In Control . If the Company terminates the Executive’s employment for other than Death, Disability or Due Cause prior to the expiration of the Employment Term, or pursuant to the Company’s Non-Renewal of the Employment Term , in each case, within twelve (12) months after a Change In Control (as defined below), or if the Executive elects to terminate the Executive’s employment pursuant to his Non-Renewal of the Employment Term or for Good Reason prior to the expiration of the Employment Term, in each case, within twelve (12) months after a Change In Control, then (i) the Executive shall be entitled to a Change In Control Termination Payment as hereinafter defined in lieu of the Termination Payment set forth in Subsection 4(d)(i) above, (ii)the Executive shall receive benefits as defined in Subsections 4(d)(ii) and (iii) above, and (iii) either the Company or the Executive, as the case may be, shall provide Notice of Termination pursuant to Subsection 4(k) other than in the case of a Non-Renewal, which shall be communicated in accordance with Section 1.
(i) Change In Control Termination Payment . The term “Change In Control Termination Payment” shall mean a cash payment equal to the sum of:

(A) an amount equal to two times the Executive’s annual Base Salary, as in effect immediately prior to such termination (unless the termination is due to Section 4(e)(i)(A), in which case, it shall be two times the Executive’s annual Base Salary in effect prior to any

7



such material diminution of the Base Salary) (the “Change In Control Termination Salary Payment”), and
(B) an amount equal to two times the Executive’s Target Bonus Amount, as in effect immediately prior to such termination (unless the termination is due to Sections 4(e)(i)(A) or (E), in which case, it shall be two times the Executive’s Target Bonus in effect prior to any such material diminution of the Target Bonus or termination of the bonus plan, respectively) (the “Change In Control Termination Bonus Payment”).,

(ii) Timing of Payments . The Change In Control Termination Salary Payment and the Change In Control Termination Bonus Payment shall be paid in lump sum payments within 45 days following the date of the Executive’s Separation From Service, provided that the Executive executes and does not revoke within any applicable revocation period the release described in Section 4(j)(ii)(B) below.

(iii)     Entire Obligation . Except as provided in Subsection 4(i) of this Agreement, following the Executive’s termination of employment under this Subsection 4(f), the Executive will have no further obligation to the Company pursuant to this Agreement (other than under Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 18, 19 (to the extent such policies, guidelines and codes by their terms apply post-employment) and 20). Except for the Change In Control Termination Payment and as otherwise provided in accordance with the terms of the Company’s benefit programs and plans then in effect or as expressly required under applicable law, within twelve (12) months after a Change In Control, after termination by the Company of employment for other than Death, Disability or Due Cause or after termination, by a Non-Renewal by either party or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive shall not be entitled to any other compensation or benefits from the Company or hereunder.

(iii) Change In Control . For purposes of this Agreement, “Change In Control” shall mean the happening of any of the following events occurring after the completion of the transaction contemplated by the 2013 Merger Agreement:

(A) an acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (an “Entity”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 25% or more of either (x) the then outstanding shares of the common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (y) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); excluding, however, the following: (1) any acquisition directly from the Company, other than an acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege unless the security being so converted was itself acquired directly from the Company, (2) any acquisition by the Company, (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with clauses (x), (y) and (z) of Section 4(f)(iv)(C);

(B) a change in the composition of the Board on the effective date of this Agreement such that the individuals who, as of the effective date, constitute the Board (such Board shall be hereinafter referred to as the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that for purposes of this definition, any individual who becomes a member of the Board subsequent to the effective date, whose election, or nomination for election, by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a

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majority of those individuals who are members of the Board and who were also members of the Incumbent Board (or deemed to be such pursuant to this proviso) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board; and provided further, however, that any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of or in connection with either an actual or threatened solicitation with respect to the election of directors (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-12(c) of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an Entity other than the Board shall not be so considered as a member of the Incumbent Board;

(C) the consummation of a merger, reorganization or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (each, a “Corporate Transaction”), excluding however, any Corporate Transaction pursuant to which (x) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who are the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock, and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction (including, without limitation, a corporation or other Person that as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries (a “Parent Company”)) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (y) no Entity (other than the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, such corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction or, if reference was made to equity ownership of any Parent Company for purposes of determining whether clause (x) above is satisfied in connection with the applicable Corporate Transaction, such Parent Company) will beneficially own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively, the outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction or the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors unless such ownership resulted solely from ownership of securities of the Company prior to the Corporate Transaction, and (z) individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board will immediately after the consummation of the Corporate Transaction constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Corporate Transaction (or, if reference was made to equity ownership of any Parent Company for purposes of determining whether clause (x) above is satisfied in connection with the applicable Corporate Transaction, of the Parent Company); or

(D) the approval by the stockholders of the Company of the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
(v)      IRC 280G “Net-Best” . Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that (A) any payment, award, benefit or distribution (or any acceleration of any payment, award, benefit or distribution) by the Company (or any of its affiliated entities) or any entity which effectuates a Change in Control (or any of its affiliated entities) to or for the benefit of Executive (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise) (the “Payments”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Excise Tax”), and (B) the reduction of the amounts payable to Executive to the maximum

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amount that could be paid to Executive without giving rise to the Excise Tax (the “Safe Harbor Cap”) would provide Executive with a greater after tax amount than if such amounts were not reduced, then the amounts payable to Executive shall be reduced (but not below zero) to the Safe Harbor Cap. If the reduction of the amounts payable would not result in a greater after tax result to Executive, no amounts payable under this Agreement shall be reduced pursuant to this provision.
(A) Reduction of Payments. The reduction of the amounts payable hereunder, if applicable, shall be made by reducing first cash amounts payable under this Agreement (in contrast to benefit amounts), and applying any reduction to amounts payable in the following order: (A) first, any cash amounts payable to Executive as a Termination Payment or Change in Control Termination Payment under this Agreement, as applicable; (B) second, any cash amounts payable by Company for Outplacement Services on behalf of Executive under the terms of this Agreement; (C) third, any amounts payable by Company on behalf of Executive under the terms of this Agreement for continued Medical Coverage; (D) fourth, any other cash amounts payable by Company to or on behalf of Executive under the terms of this Agreement: (E) fifth, outstanding performance-based equity grants to the extent that any such grants would be subject to the Excise Tax; and (F) finally, any time-vesting equity grants to the extent that any such grants would be subject to the Excise Tax.
(B) Determinations by Accounting Firm. All determinations required to be made under this Section 4(f)(v) shall be made by the public accounting firm that is retained by the Company as of the date immediately prior to the Change in Control (the “Accounting Firm”) which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and Executive within fifteen (15) business days of the receipt of notice from the Company or Executive that there has been a Payment, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event (A) the Board shall determine prior to the Change in Control that the Accounting Firm is precluded from performing such services under applicable auditor independence rules or (B) the Audit Committee of the Board determines that it does not want the Accounting Firm to perform such services because of auditor independence concerns or (C) the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the person(s) effecting the Change in Control, the Board shall appoint another nationally recognized public accounting firm reasonably acceptable to Executive to make the determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All fees, costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, the costs of retaining experts) of the Accounting Firm shall be borne by the Company. If Payments are reduced to the Safe Harbor Cap or the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by Executive without a reduction in Payments, the Accounting Firm shall provide a written opinion to Executive to the effect that the Executive is not required to report any Excise Tax on the Executive’s federal income tax return, and that the failure to report the Excise Tax, if any, on Executive’s applicable federal income tax return will not result in the imposition of a negligence or similar penalty. The determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and Executive (except as provided in paragraph 4(f)(v)(C) below).

(C) Excess Payment/Underpayment. If it is established pursuant to a final determination of a court or an Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) proceeding which has been finally and conclusively resolved, that Payments have been made to, or provided for the benefit of, Executive, which are in excess of the limitations provided in this Section (referred to hereinafter as an “Excess Payment”), Executive shall repay the Excess Payment to the

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Company on demand, together with interest on the Excess Payment at the applicable federal rate (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code) from the date of Executive’s receipt of such Excess Payment until the date of such repayment. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the determination, it is possible that Payments which will not have been made by the Company should have been made (an “Underpayment”), consistent with the calculations required to be made under this Section. In the event that it is determined (i) by the Accounting Firm, the Company (which shall include the position taken by the Company, or together with its consolidated group, on its federal income tax return) or the IRS or (ii) pursuant to a determination by a court, that an Underpayment has occurred, the Company shall pay an amount equal to such Underpayment to Executive within ten (10) days of such determination together with interest on such amount at the applicable federal rate from the date such amount would have been paid to Executive until the date of payment. Executive shall cooperate, to the extent the Executive’s reasonable expenses are reimbursed by the Company, with any reasonable requests by the Company in connection with any contests or disputes with the IRS in connection with the Excise Tax or the determination of the Excess Payment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that amounts payable under this Agreement were reduced pursuant to paragraph 4(f)(v)(A) and the value of stock options is subsequently re-determined by the Accounting Firm within the context of Treasury Regulation §1.280G-1 Q/A 33 that reduces the value of the Payments attributable to such options, the Company shall promptly pay to Executive any amounts payable under this Agreement that were not previously paid solely as a result of paragraph 4(f)(v)(A) up to the Safe Harbor Cap.

(g)     Voluntary Termination Without Good Reason . In the event that the Executive terminates the Executive’s employment at the Executive’s own volition prior to the expiration of the Employment Term (except as provided in Subsection 4(e) above and except for Executive’s Non-Renewal in accordance with Section 1), such termination shall constitute a “Voluntary Termination” and in such event the Executive shall be limited to the same rights and benefits as provided in connection with a termination for Due Cause under Subsection 4(c) above.
(h)     Compliance With Code Section 409A . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement is intended to be interpreted and operated so that the payment of the benefits set forth herein either shall either be exempt from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or shall comply with the requirements of such provision; provided however that in no event shall the Company be liable to the Executive for or with respect to any taxes, penalties or interest which may be imposed upon the Executive pursuant to Section 409A. To the extent that any amount payable pursuant to Subsections 4(b), (d)(i), (d)(iii) or (f) constitutes a “deferral of compensation” subject to Section 409A (a “409A Payment”), then, if on the date of the Executive’s “separation from service,” as such term is defined in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(h)(1), from the Company (his “Separation from Service”), the Executive is a “specified employee,” as such term is defined in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409-1(i), as determined from time to time by the Company, then such 409A Payment shall not be made to the Executive earlier than the earlier of (i) six (6) months after the Executive’s Separation from Service; or (ii) the date of his death. The 409A Payments under this Agreement that would otherwise be made during such period shall be aggregated and paid in one lump sum, without interest, on the first business day following the end of the six (6) month period or following the date of the Executive’s death, whichever is earlier, and the balance of the 409A Payments, if any, shall be paid in accordance with the applicable payment schedule provided in this Section 4. To the extent any 409A Payment is conditioned on the Executive (or his legal representative) executing a release of claims, which 409A Payment would be made in a later taxable year of the Executive than the taxable year in which his Separation from Service occurs if such release were executed and delivered and became irrevocable at the last possible

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date allowed under this Agreement, such 409A Payment will be paid no earlier than such later taxable year. In applying Section 409A to compensation paid pursuant to this Agreement, any right to a series of installment payments under this Agreement shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments. The Executive hereby acknowledges that he has been advised to seek and has sought the advice of a tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences to the Executive of all payments pursuant to this Agreement, including any adverse tax consequences or penalty taxes under Code Section 409A and applicable State tax law. Executive hereby agrees to bear the entire risk of any such adverse federal and State tax consequences and penalty taxes in the event any payment pursuant to this Agreement is deemed to be subject to Code Section 409A, and that no representations have been made to the Executive relating to the tax treatment of any payment pursuant to this Agreement under Code Section 409A and the corresponding provisions of any applicable State income tax laws.

(i)     Cooperation . During the term of the Executive’s employment by the Company and for a period of one (1) year immediately following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive agrees to be reasonably available to assist the Company and its representatives and agents with any business and/or litigation (or potential litigation) matters affecting or involving the Company. The Company will reimburse the Executive for all associated reasonable costs of travel.
(j)     Notice of Termination, Resignation and Release . Any termination under Subsection 4(b) by the Company for Disability or Subsection 4(c) for Due Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason under Subsection 4(e) or by the Company or the Executive within twelve (12) months after a Change in Control under Subsection 4(f) or by the Executive by Voluntary Termination under Subsection 4(g) shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party thereto given in accordance with Paragraph 10.

(i)      Notice of Termination . For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) if the termination date is other than the date of receipt of such Notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall not be prior to the date of such notice or more than 15 days after the giving of such Notice).
(ii)      Resignation and Release . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, unless the Company provides otherwise, upon termination of employment for any reason, Executive shall be deemed to have resigned as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company, if applicable, and as an officer, director, manager and employee of the Company and its Related Entities and shall execute any documents and take any actions to effect the foregoing as requested by the Company. In order to be eligible to receive any payments or benefits hereunder as a result of the termination of the Executive’s employment, in addition to fulfilling all other conditions precedent to such receipt, the Executive or the Executive’s legal representative must within 21 days (or such other period as required under applicable law) after presentation of a release in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and its legal counsel, execute said release, and within 7 days (or such other period as required under applicable law) after such execution not revoke said release, on behalf of the Executive and the Executive’s estate, heirs and representatives, releasing the Company, its Related Entities and each of the Company’s and such Related Entities’ respective officers, directors, employees, members, managers, agents, independent contractors, representatives, shareholders, successors and assigns (all of which persons and entities shall be third party beneficiaries of such release with full power to enforce the provisions thereof) from any and all claims related to the Executive’s employment with the Company; termination of the Executive’s employment; all matters alleged or which could have been alleged in a charge or complaint against the Company; any and all injuries, losses or damages to Executive, including any claims for attorney’s fees; any and all

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claims relating to the conduct of any employee, servant, officer, director or agent of the Company; and any and all matters, transactions or things occurring prior to the date of said release, including any and all possible claims, known or unknown, which could have been asserted against the Company or the Company’s employees, agents, servants, officers or directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the form of release shall except out therefrom, and acknowledge the Executive’s continuing rights with respect to, the following: (i) all vested rights that the Executive may have under all welfare, retirement and other plans and programs of the Company in which the Executive was participating at the time of his employment termination, including all equity plans and programs of the Company with respect to which equity awards were made to the Executive, (ii) all continuing rights that the Executive may have under this Agreement, and (iii) all rights that the Executive may have following the termination of his employment under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, any applicable Company insurance and any indemnity agreements to which the Executive is a party which provide for indemnification, insurance or other, similar coverage for the Executive with respect to his actions or inactions as an officer, employee and/or member of the Board. For clarification, unless and until the Executive executes and does not, within any applicable revocation period, revoke the release, the Company shall have no obligation to make any Termination Payment to the Executive, and, even if the Executive does not execute the release, the Executive shall be bound by the post-termination provisions of this Agreement, including without limitation Section 18.
(k)     Earned and Accrued Payments . The foregoing notwithstanding, upon the termination of the Executive’s employment at any time, for any reason, the Executive shall be paid all amounts that had already been earned and accrued as of the time of termination, including but not limited to (i) pay for unused vacation accrued in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy; (ii) any bonus that had been earned but not yet paid; and (iii) reimbursement for any business expenses accrued in accordance with Subsection 3(d).
(l)     Employment at Will. The Executive hereby agrees that the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment under this Paragraph 4 at will, without regard to: (i) any general or specific policies (written or oral) of the Company relating to the employment or termination of employment of its employees; (ii) any statements made to the Executive, whether oral or in any document, pertaining to the Executive’s relationship with the Company; or (iii) without a determination of Due Cause by the Company.

5.     Treatment of Equity Awards Upon Change In Control . In the event of a Change in Control as defined hereinabove, the restrictions and deferral limitations applicable to any Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, Performance Unit, Deferred Stock Unit, Dividend Equivalent or any Other Stock Unit Awards (collectively “Awards”) as such Awards are defined in the 2004 LTIP (or any applicable successor plan of the Company), granted to the Executive shall be subject to such provisions regarding vesting and transferability in those circumstances as are set forth in the applicable award agreement or grant.

6.     Successors and Assigns .

(a) Assignment by the Company . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company or any corporation or other entity to which the Company may transfer all or substantially all of its assets and business and to which the Company may assign this Agreement, in which case the term “Company,” as used herein, shall mean such corporation or other entity, provided that no such assignment shall relieve the Company from any obligations hereunder, whether arising prior to or after such assignment.

(b) Assignment by the Executive . The Executive may not assign this Agreement or any part hereof without the prior written consent of the Company; provided , however , that nothing herein shall preclude the Executive from designating one or more beneficiaries to receive any amount that may be payable following

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occurrence of the Executive’s legal incompetency or Death and shall not preclude the legal representative of the Executive’s estate from assigning any right hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereto under the Executive’s will or, in the case of intestacy, to the person or persons entitled thereto under the laws of intestacy applicable to the Executive’s estate. The term “beneficiaries,” as used in this Agreement, shall mean a beneficiary or beneficiaries so designated to receive any such amount or, if no beneficiary has been so designated, the legal representative of the Executive (in the event of the Executive’s incompetency) or the Executive’s estate.
7.     Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
8.     Entire Agreement . This Agreement, which shall include the Exhibits hereto, contains all of the understandings and representations between the parties hereto pertaining to the matters referred to herein, and supersedes all undertakings and agreements, whether oral or in writing, previously entered into by them with respect thereto, including without limitation any previous employment, severance or separation agreements (including any severance or change in control benefits contained therein); provided that the obligations set forth in Section 18 of this Agreement are in addition to any similar obligations Executive has to the Company or its affiliates, including without limitation, any non-competition, non-solicitation, non-interference and non-disclosure obligations entered into by the Executive in connection with the 2013 Merger Agreement. This Agreement may only be modified by an instrument in writing signed by both parties hereto.
9.     Waiver of Breach . The waiver by any party of a breach of any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall not operate or be construed to be a waiver of a similar or dissimilar provision or condition at the same or any prior or subsequent time.
10.     Notices . Any notice to be given hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, or sent by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed to the party concerned at the address indicated below or to such other address as such party may subsequently give notice of hereunder in writing:
If to the Company :
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
5008 Airport Road
Roanoke, VA 24012
Attn: General Counsel

With a copy to:
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
5008 Airport Road
Roanoke, VA 24012
Attn: Chief Executive Officer

If to the Executive:
3604 Williamsborough Court
Raleigh, NC 27609
11.     Arbitration . Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or any breach thereof, excepting only the enforcement of any Loyalty Obligations arising under Paragraph 18 of this Agreement, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect in the Commonwealth of Virginia and judgment upon such award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The board of arbitrators shall consist of one arbitrator

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to be appointed by the Company, one by the Executive, and one by the two arbitrators so chosen. The arbitration shall be held at such place as may be agreed upon at the time by the parties to the arbitration. The cost of arbitration shall be borne as determined by the arbitrators.
12.     Withholding . Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, all payments required to be made by the Company hereunder to the Executive or the Executive’s estate or beneficiaries shall be subject to the withholding of such amounts relating to taxes as the Company may reasonably determine it should withhold pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. In lieu of withholding such amounts, in whole or in part, the Company may, in its sole discretion, accept other provisions for payment of taxes and withholdings as required by law, provided it is satisfied that all requirements of law affecting its responsibilities to withhold have been satisfied.
13.     Severability . In the event that any provision or portion of this Agreement shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions or portions of this Agreement shall be unaffected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.
14.     Titles . Titles to the paragraphs and subsections in this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and no provision of this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the title of any paragraph or subsection.
15.     Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
16.     Amendment . Except as provided in Paragraph 13 above, this Agreement may not be modified or amended except by written instrument signed by all parties hereto.
17.     Counsel . This Agreement has been prepared by the Company with the assistance of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, as counsel to the Company (“Counsel”), after full disclosure of its representation of the Company and with the consent and direction of the Company and the Executive. The Executive has reviewed the contents of this Agreement and fully understands its terms. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive is fully aware of the Executive’s right to the advice of counsel independent from that of the Company, that the Company has advised him of such right and disclosed to him the risks in not seeking such independent advice, and that the Executive fully understands the potentially adverse interests of the parties with respect to this Agreement. The Executive further acknowledges that neither the Company nor its Counsel has made representations or given any advice with respect to the tax or other consequences of this Agreement or any transactions contemplated by this Agreement to him and that the Executive has been advised of the importance of seeking independent counsel with respect to such consequences. By executing this Agreement, the Executive represents that the Executive has, after being advised of the potential conflicts between him and the Company with respect to the future consequences of this Agreement, either consulted independent legal counsel or elected, notwithstanding the advisability of seeking such independent legal counsel, not to consult with such independent legal counsel.

18.     Loyalty Obligations . The Executive agrees that the following obligations (“Loyalty Obligations”) shall apply in consideration of the Executive’s employment by or continued employment with the Company:     
(a)     Confidential Information .

(i)     Company Information . The Executive agrees at all times during the term of the Executive’s employment and thereafter, to hold any Confidential Information of the Company or its Related Entities in strictest confidence, and not to use (except for the benefit of the Company to fulfill the Executive’s employment obligations) or to disclose to any person, firm or corporation other than

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the Company or those designated by it said Confidential Information without the prior authorization of the Company, except as may otherwise be required by law or legal process. The Executive agrees that “Confidential Information” means any proprietary information prepared or maintained in any format, including technical data, trade secrets or know-how in which the Company or Related Entities have an interest, including, but not limited to, business records, contracts, research, product or service plans, products, services, customer lists and customers (including, but not limited to, vendors to the Company or Related Entities on whom the Executive called, with whom the Executive dealt or with whom the Executive became acquainted during the term of the Executive’s employment), pricing data, costs, markets, expansion plans, summaries, marketing and other business strategies, software, developments, inventions, processes, formulas, technology, designs, drawings, engineering, hardware configuration or marketing, financial or other business information obtained by the Executive or disclosed to the Executive by the Company or Related Entities or any other person or entity during the term of the Executive’s employment with the Company either directly or indirectly electronically, in writing, orally, by drawings, by observation of services, systems or other aspects of the business of the Company or Related Entities or otherwise. Confidential Information does not include information that: (A) was available to the public prior to the time of disclosure, whether through press releases, SEC filings or otherwise; or (B) otherwise becomes available to the public through no act or omission of the Executive.

(ii)     Third Party Information . The Executive recognizes that the Company and Related Entities have received and in the future will receive from third parties their confidential or proprietary information subject to a duty on the part of the Company or Related Entities to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes. The Executive agrees at all times during the Executive’s employment and thereafter to hold all such confidential or proprietary information in the strictest confidence and not to disclose it to any person, firm or corporation or to use it except as necessary in carrying out the Executive’s work for the Company consistent with the obligations of the Company or Related Entities with such third party.

(b)     Conflicting Employment . The Executive agrees that, during the term of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive will not engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity directly related to the business in which the Company or Related Entities are now involved or become involved during the term of the Executive’s employment. Nor will the Executive engage in any other activities that conflict with the business of the Company or Related Entities. Furthermore the Executive agrees to devote such time as may be necessary to fulfill the Executive’s obligations to the Company.

(c)     Returning Company Property . The Executive agrees that any and all devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals, lists, correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials, equipment, other documents or property, or reproductions of any aforementioned items developed by the Executive or others pursuant to or during the Executive’s employment with the Company or otherwise shall be the property of the Company or its Related Entities and their respective successors or assigns. At the time of leaving the employ of the Company, the Executive will deliver all material Company property to the Company or to the Company’s designee and will not keep in the Executive’s possession, recreate or deliver said property to anyone else. In the event of the termination of the Executive’s employment and upon request by the Company, the Executive agrees to sign and deliver the “Termination Certification” attached hereto as Exhibit A .

(d)     Notification of New Employer . In the event that the Executive leaves the employ of the Company, the Executive hereby grants consent to notification by the Company to the Executive’s new

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employer (whether the Executive is employed as an employee, consultant, independent contractor, director, partner, officer, advisor, Executive, volunteer or manager) about the Executive’s Loyalty Obligations specified under this Agreement.

(e)     Non-Interference . By entering into this Agreement, the Executive hereby affirms Executive’s obligations agreed to in connection with the 2013 Merger Agreement, including without limitation the non-interference and non-solicitation obligations thereunder. In addition, Executive covenants and agrees that while the Executive is employed by the Company and for a period of two (2) years immediately following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive shall not, without the prior written approval of the Company, directly or indirectly, either on behalf of the Executive or any other person or entity, Interfere with the Company or any of its Related Entities.

(i)     For purposes of this Agreement, “Interfere” shall mean, except in the performance of the Executive’s duties and responsibilities on behalf of and for the benefit of the Company, (A) to solicit, entice, persuade, induce, influence or attempt to influence, directly or indirectly, customers or prospective customers, suppliers or prospective suppliers, employees, agents or independent contractors of the Company or any of its Related Entities to restrict, reduce, sever or otherwise alter their relationship with the Company or any of its Related Entities, or (B) to hire on the Executive’s own behalf or on behalf of any other person or entity, directly or indirectly, any current or former employee or independent contractor of the Company who at any time was supervised (1) directly by the Executive or (2) by another person who was supervised directly by the Executive, or (C) whether as a direct solicitor or provider of such services, or in a direct management or direct supervisory capacity over others who solicit or provide such services, to solicit or provide services that fall within the definition of Restricted Activities as defined in Subsection 18(f)(ii) below to any customer of the Company or its Related Entities.

(ii)    After termination of the Executive’s employment, this provision shall only apply to those current or former employees, independent contractors, customers or suppliers of the Company or Related Entities who were such at any time within 12 months prior to the date of such termination.
 
(f)     Covenants Not to Compete

(i)      Non-Competition . By entering into this Agreement, the Executive hereby affirms Executive’s obligations agreed to in connection with the 2013 Merger Agreement, including without limitation the non-competition obligations thereunder. In addition, the Executive covenants and agrees that during the period from the date hereof until, two (2) years immediately following the termination, for any reason, of the Executive’s employment with the Company (the “Non-Compete Period”), the Executive will not, directly or indirectly:

(A)     own or hold, directly or beneficially, as a shareholder (other than as a shareholder with less than 5% of the outstanding common stock of a publicly traded corporation), option holder, warrant holder, partner, member or other equity or security owner or holder of any company or business that derives more than 15% of its revenue from the Restricted Activities (as defined below) within the Restricted Area (as defined below), or any company or business controlling, controlled by or under common control with any company or business directly engaged in such Restricted Activities within the Restricted Area (any of the foregoing, a “Restricted Company”) or


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(B)     engage or participate as an employee, director, officer, manager, Executive, partner, independent contractor, consultant or technical or business advisor (or any foreign equivalents of the foregoing) with any Restricted Company in the Restricted Activities within the Restricted Area.

(ii)     Restricted Activities/Restricted Area . For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Restricted Activities” means the retail, wholesale or commercial sale of aftermarket auto parts and accessories. The term “Restricted Area” means the United States of America and Canada, including their territories and possessions.

(iii)     Association with Restricted Company . In the event that the Executive intends to associate (whether as an employee, consultant, independent contractor, officer, manager, advisor, partner, Executive, volunteer or director) with any Restricted Company during the Non-Compete Period, the Executive must provide information in writing to the Company relating to the activities proposed to be engaged in by the Executive for such Restricted Company. All such current associations are set forth on Exhibit B to this Agreement. In the event that the Company consents in writing to the Executive’s engagement in such activity, the engaging in such activity by the Executive shall be conclusively deemed not to be a violation of this Subsection 18(f). Such consent is not intended and shall not be deemed to be a waiver or nullification of the covenant of non-competition of the Executive or other similarly bound Executives. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that Executive undertakes an operational role in one or more of the Restricted Companies set forth on Exhibit B, then the Company and the Executive will negotiate, in good faith, revised terms and conditions to Executive’s non-competition obligations pursuant to this Subsection 18(f) appropriate in light of Executive’s operational role.

(g)     Non-Disparagement . The Executive agrees that while the Executive is employed by the Company and at all times following the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive will not take any action or make any statement which disparages the Company or its practices or which disrupts or impairs its normal operations, such that it causes a material adverse impact to the Company.

(h)     Effect of Non-Payment of Benefits; Clawback . The Executive’s post-termination of employment obligations under this Paragraph 18 shall cease upon the Company’s failure to make any payments or benefits hereunder as a result of the termination of the Executive’s employment when due if within 15 days after written notice from the Executive to the Company of such failure, the Company does not make the required payment. In the event that the Executive materially violates Subsection 18(e), 18(f), or 18(g), and does not cure such violation (if it can be cured) within five (5) days after written notice of such failure, the Executive agrees that calculation of the harm to the Company from such violation would be uncertain and not capable of being readily ascertained, and that as a reasonable estimation of the harm to the Company from such violation the Executive shall repay to the Company a portion of the Termination Payment paid to the Executive pursuant to Section 4(d)(i) equal to a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days left in the applicable period under Subsection 18(e), 18(f), or 18(g), and the denominator of which is the total number of days in the applicable period under such Section. In the event that the Executive materially violates Subsection 18(a) or 18(c), and does not cure such violation (if it can be cured) within five days after written notice of such failure, the Executive agrees that calculation of the harm to the Company from such violation would be uncertain and not capable of being readily ascertained, and that as a reasonable estimation of the harm to the Company from such violation the Executive shall repay to the Company a portion of the Termination Payment paid to the Executive pursuant to Section 4(d)(i) equal to a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days left in the one (1) year period immediately following the termination

18



and the denominator of which is 365. The Executive further agrees that such repayment obligation shall constitute liquidated damages and that the Company shall have no other right to damages under this Agreement or at law with respect to breaches of Subsection 18(a), 18(c), 18(e), 18(f), or 18(g), but the Company shall have the right to seek equitable relief pursuant to Subsection 18(i) hereunder.

(i)     Specific Enforcement; Remedies Cumulative; Attorney Fees . The Executive acknowledges that the Company and Related Entities, as the case may be, will be irreparably injured if the provisions of Subsections 18(a), 18(b), 18(c), 18(e), 18(f) and 18(g) hereof are not specifically enforced and the Executive agrees that the terms of such provisions (including without limitation the periods set forth in Subsections 18(e), 18(f) and 18(g)) are reasonable and appropriate. If the Executive commits, or the Company has evidence based on which it reasonably believes the Executive threatens to commit, a material breach of any of the provisions of Subsections 18(a), 18(b), 18(c), 18(e), 18(f) or 18(g) hereof, the Company and/or Related Entities, as the case may be, shall have the right and remedy, in addition to and not in limitation of any other remedy that may be available at law or in equity, to have the provisions of Subsections 18(a), 18(b), 18(c), 18(e), 18(f) or 18(g) hereof specifically enforced by any court having jurisdiction through immediate injunctive and other equitable relief, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach will cause irreparable injury to the Company and/or Related Entities and that money damages will not provide an adequate remedy therefore. Such injunction shall be available without the posting of any bond or other security, and the Executive hereby consents to the issuance of such injunction.

(j)     Re-Set of Period for Non-Competition and Non-Interference . In the event that a legal or equitable action is commenced with respect to any of the provisions of Subsections 18(e), 18(f) or 18(g) hereof and the Executive has not complied, in all material respects, with the provisions in such subsections with respect to which such action has been commenced, then the two-year period, as described in such subsections not so complied with by the Executive, shall be extended from its original expiration date, day-for-day, for each day that the Executive is found to have not complied, in all material respects, with such subsections.


(k)     Jurisdiction and Venue. WITH RESPECT TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY AND ALL LOYALTY OBLIGATIONS ARISING UNDER PARAGRAPH 18, THE SUBSECTIONS 18(k) AND 18(l) OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL APPLY. THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY CONSENT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE FOLLOWING COURTS IN MATTERS RELATED TO THIS PARAGRAPH 18 AND AGREE NOT TO COMMENCE ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING THERETO EXCEPT IN ANY OF SUCH COURTS: THE STATE COURTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, THE COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, OR THE STATE COURTS OR THE COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN ANY MUNICIPALITY WHEREIN AN OFFICE OF THE COMPANY IS LOCATED, IN WHICH OFFICE THE EXECUTIVE WAS PHYSICALLY PRESENT WHILE RENDERING SERVICES FOR THE COMPANY AT ANY TIME DURING THE 12 MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE COMMENCEMENT OF SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING OR IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE TERMINATION OF EXECUTIVE’S EMPLOYMENT, IF TERMINATED.

(l)     Waiver of Jury Trial. EXECUTIVE AGREES TO WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING BASED UPON, OR RELATED TO, ANY LOYALTY OBLIGATIONS. THIS WAIVER IS KNOWINGLY, INTENTIONALLY, AND VOLUNTARILY MADE BY EXECUTIVE, AND EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, EXCEPT FOR THE COMPANY’S AGREEMENT TO LIKEWISE WAIVE ITS RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY (WHICH THE COMPANY

19



HEREBY MAKES), THE COMPANY HAS NOT MADE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OF FACTS TO INDUCE THIS WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY OR IN ANY WAY TO MODIFY OR NULLIFY ITS EFFECT. EXECUTIVE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT EXECUTIVE HAS BEEN REPRESENTED (OR HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE REPRESENTED) IN THE SIGNING OF THIS AGREEMENT AND IN THE MAKING OF THIS WAIVER BY INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL, SELECTED OF EXECUTIVE’S OWN FREE WILL, AND THAT EXECUTIVE HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS WAIVER WITH COUNSEL. EXECUTIVE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT EXECUTIVE HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THE MEANING AND RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER AND AS EVIDENCE OF THIS FACT SIGNS THIS AGREEMENT BELOW.

20.     Adherence to Company Policies . The Executive agrees to adhere diligently to all established Company policies and procedures, including but not limited to the Company’s Guidelines on Significant Governance Issues, Code of Ethics and Business Conduct and, if applicable, the Code of Ethics for Financial Professionals. The Executive agrees that if the Executive does not adhere to any of the provisions of such Guidelines and Codes, the Executive will be in breach of the provisions hereof.

21.     Representations . The Executive agrees to execute any proper oath or verify any proper document required to carry out the terms of this Agreement. The Executive represents that Executive’s performance of all the terms of this Agreement will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence proprietary information acquired by the Executive in confidence or in trust prior to the Executive’s employment by the Company. The Executive has not entered into, and the Executive agrees the Executive will not enter into, any oral or written agreement in conflict herewith and the Executive’s employment by the Company and the Executive’s services to the Company will not violate the terms of any oral or written agreement to which the Executive is a party.

22.     Binding Effect of Execution . The Company and the Executive agree that this Agreement shall not bind or be enforceable by or against either party until this Agreement has been duly executed by both the Executive and the Company.


[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]



20



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.


Advance Auto Parts, Inc.

By:
 
 
 
(SEAL)
Print Name:
 
 
Title:
 
 
 
Address: 5008 Airport Road
Roanoke, VA 24012
 
 
 
 
 
Executive
Print Name:
 
 
Signature:
 
 
Address:
 
 




21



EXHIBIT A

TERMINATION CERTIFICATION


This is to certify that I do not have in my possession, nor have I failed to return, any material devices, records, data, notes, reports, proposals, lists, correspondence, specifications, drawings, blueprints, sketches, materials, equipment, other documents or property, or reproductions of any aforementioned items belonging to the Company.

I further certify that I have, to the best of my knowledge, complied in all material respects with all the terms of my Employment Agreement with the Company.

Date:________________________________


____________________________________
Executive’s Signature


____________________________________
Executive’s Name (Print)





EXHIBIT B


LIST OF ASSOCIATIONS WITH RESTRICTED COMPANIES

"NCS Companies"
1. National Coatings & Supplies, Inc., a North Carolina corporation,
2. National Coatings & Supplies (Canada) Inc., a Canadian corporation,
3. NCS-Alabama LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company,
4. NCS-Georgia LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company, and
5. Kline's Auto, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation

"AWG Companies"
1. American Welding & Gas, Inc., a North Carolina corporation,
2. Canadian Cryogenic Gases & Cylinders, Ltd., a Canadian corporation,
3. Industrial Gas Distributors, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company,
4. Aspen Air Corporation, a Canadian corporation, and
5. Independent Bulk Liquid Products LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company

The parties agree that Section 18(f) shall not restrict the activities of Executive acting in a consulting capacity or serving as a director with respect to the foregoing entities (the “Existing Entities”) so long as such activities do not interfere with the duties and responsibilities of the Executive’s Position and such entities are not: (A) selling or offering for sale products and/or product lines not offered for sale by such entities as of October 15,2013 and which are substantially similar to (i) those sold or offered for sale by GPII as of October 15, 2013 or (ii) by the Company as of the Commencement Date of this Agreement or any time during the Employment Term; (B) using any confidential and proprietary information relating to customers of the Company in connection with sales of products and/or product lines offered for sale by the Existing Entities at any time to any customers; (C) directly and knowingly soliciting customers of GPII as of October 15, 2013 or customers of the Company as of the Commencement Date or at any time during the Employment Term with respect to products and/or product lines which are substantially similar to those sold or offered for sale by GPII as of October 15, 2013 unless such customers were existing customers of the NCS Companies or the AWG Companies, as the case may be, as of October 15, 2013 or were actively targeted by the NCS Companies or the AWG Companies, as the case may be, as prospective customers prior to October 15, 2013; or (D) directly and knowingly soliciting employees of GPII as of October 15, 2013 or employees of the Company as of the Commencement Date or at any time during the Employment Term unless such employee was terminated by the Company without Executive’s involvement and six months have elapsed from the date of such termination; provided, that the restrictions set forth in Section 18(f) shall not be interpreted to constitute a violation or restrict the NCS Companies from delivering auto parts to customers solely to the extent such activities are (1) ancillary to a delivery to such customer in the course of the NCS Companies' main business, (2) conducted in the ordinary course of the NCS Companies' main business and (3) consistent with the NCS Companies' past practices prior to October 15, 2013 (it being understood and agreed that this exception shall not authorize the NCS or AWG Companies to stock an inventory of automotive application parts).

[End of Exhibit B]




ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
2014 PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

Award Date
Value of Performance-based RSUs (at Target Level)
Grant Price
Performance-based RSUs (at Target Level)
Vesting Date
February 10, 2014
$XX
$123.32
XX
March 1, 2017

THIS CERTIFIES THAT Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (the “Company”) has on the Award Date specified above granted to

Temple Sloan

(“Participant”) an award (the “Award”) of that number of Performance-based Restricted Stock Units (the “RSUs”) representing the right to receive a like number of shares (“Shares”) of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Common Stock, $.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), indicated above in the box labeled “Performance-based RSUs (at Target Level),” subject to certain restrictions and on the terms and conditions contained in this Award and the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). A copy of the Plan is available on the Company’s Intranet site or upon request. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Plan and this Award, the terms of the Plan shall govern. Any terms not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

* * * * *

1.  Vesting . Subject to the remaining provisions of this Award:

Performance-based RSUs shall vest in an amount up to your Performance-based RSUs (at Target Level) on March 1, 2017, subject to your continued employment to that date and except as otherwise provided in Section 2 below. The precise amount in which you may vest will be determined in accordance with the following rules, subject to certification by the Committee of the Company’s Cumulative Operating Income during its 2014 to 2016 fiscal years (the “Performance Period”).

(a) 50% of the performance-based RSUs will vest according to the Company’s Cumulative Operating Income results (as expressed in dollars) during the Performance Period against the Company’s business plan, including results of General Parts International, Inc., according to the schedule established by the Committee as shown in Exhibit 1 to this Agreement. Payout based on performance results between the threshold and maximum performance levels will be interpolated.

(b) 50% of the performance-based RSUs will vest based upon the Company’s average annual comparable store sales growth over the Performance Period, calculated in a manner consistent with the Company’s current comparable store sales policy, according to the schedule established by the Committee as shown in Exhibit 1 to this Agreement. Payout based on performance results between threshold and maximum levels will be interpolated.

With respect to the calculation of Operating Income, the Committee may make adjustments to exclude the impact of charges for restructurings, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, and/or the cumulative effects of accounting changes, each as defined by generally accepted accounting principles and as identified in the Company’s financial statements, notes to the financial statements or management’s discussion and analysis, and any other unusual or non-recurring items as identified in the Company’s financial statements, notes to the financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis or earnings releases.     
Your “Maximum Performance-based RSUs” is 100% of the number of RSUs indicated above in the box labeled “Performance-based RSUs (at Target Level).
2. Duration .

(a) If, prior to vesting of the Performance-based RSUs pursuant to Section 1 or this Section 2 of this Award, your employment or other association with the Company and its Affiliates ends for any reason (voluntary or involuntary), then your rights to Performance-based RSUs shall be immediately and irrevocably forfeited, except as follows:






(i) If your employment or other association is terminated prior to March 1, 2017, on account of your Retirement, Death, or Disability, your Performance-based RSUs will vest on March 1, 2017, based on the Company’s performance during the performance period, on a pro-rata basis for the time that you were employed during the performance period. The pro rata amount will be determined by multiplying the number of Performance-based RSUs that you would have received if you had been employed by the Company on March 1, 2017, by a fraction whose numerator is the number of completed months that you were employed during the performance period and whose denominator is 36. For purposes of this Award, “on account of Retirement” means termination of employment or other association following the attainment of at least 55 years of age and at least 10 years of service, of which the last three must be consecutive years with the Company, provided further that if you came to be employed by the Company in conjunction with or as a result of a merger with or acquisition by the Company, the last three consecutive years must occur following the effective date of such merger or acquisition. For purposes of this Award, “Disability” shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in your employment agreement with the Company in effect as of the date of this Award Agreement.

(ii) If the termination of your employment or other association is for cause, as defined in your employment agreement, all of your Performance-based RSUs, will expire on the date your employment ends.

(iii) If your employment or other association is terminated prior to March 1, 2017, by the Company other than for Due Cause, or by you for Good Reason, as those terms are defined in your Employment Agreement, your performance-vesting RSUs will vest on March 1, 2017, based on the Company’s performance during the performance period, on a pro-rata basis for the time that you were employed during the performance period. The pro rata amount will be determined by multiplying the number of Performance-based RSUs that you would have received if you had been employed by the Company on March 1, 2017, by a fraction whose numerator is the number of completed months that you were employed during the performance period and whose denominator is 36.

(b) Immediately prior to a Change in Control event, the Company will convert your Performance-based RSUs to time-vesting RSUs, at target level and prorated based on the number of completed months worked during the performance period preceding the Change of Control divided by 36. The pro rata portion of the time-vesting RSUs will continue to vest and will be converted to shares on March 1, 2017, and the remaining Performance-based unconverted RSUs will expire. The pro rata portion of your time-vesting RSUs as determined pursuant to this Section 2 will vest immediately (i) upon the Change in Control in the event that the successor organization does not assume, convert, or replace the awards; or (ii) upon the termination of your employment in the event that the successor organization assumes, converts or replaces the awards, and your employment is terminated without cause within 24 months following the Change in Control.

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Award, the Company may cancel this Award at any time on ninety (90) days prior notice to you in response to actions taken by you that could be considered detrimental to the Company or any of its Affiliates. Whether any of your actions could be considered detrimental will be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) in its sole discretion for Cause as defined in your employment agreement.

3.  Transfer of Award . Until the Performance-based RSUs vest pursuant to Section 2 of this Award, the Performance-based RSUs may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of or encumbered, and no attempt to transfer Performance, vesting RSUs, whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, shall vest the transferee with any interest or right in or with respect to the Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may, in the manner established by the Committee, designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise your rights to receive any property distributable with respect to the Performance-based RSUs upon your death.

4. No Rights as a Stockholder . You shall have no rights of a shareholder of the Common Stock on and after the Award Date and until the date on which the Performance-based RSUs vest and are converted to Shares and the restrictions with respect to the Performance-based RSUs lapse in accordance with Section 1 or 2 of this Award, as described above.

5.  Issuing Shares . Upon vesting of any RSUs pursuant to Section 1 or 2 of this Award and payment of the applicable withholding taxes pursuant to Section 7 below, the Company shall cause shares of Common Stock to be issued in book-entry form, registered in your name.

6. Notices . Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Award shall be in writing, and if by telecopy, shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered when sent, or if by personal delivery or messenger or courier service, shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered upon actual





delivery (but in no event may notice be given by deposit in the United States mail), at the following addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers (or such other address(es), telephone and facsimile numbers a party may designate for itself by like notice):

If to the Company: Advance Auto Parts, Inc. located at 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, Virginia, 24012, Attention: General Counsel or by telephone at (540) 561-3225 or telecopy at (540) 561-1448;

With copy to: Advance Auto Parts, Inc. located at 5008 Airport Road, Roanoke, Virginia, 24012, Attention: Vice President, Rewards & HR Services or by telephone at (540) 561-6818 or telecopy at (540) 561-6998;

If to you, the Participant, to your home address on record at Advance Auto Parts or your business address at Advance Auto Parts.

7.  Income Tax Matters .

(a) The Company makes no representation or warranty as to the tax treatment of your receipt or vesting of the Performance-based RSUs or upon your sale or other disposition of the Shares received upon vesting of your Performance-based RSUs. You should rely on your own tax advisors for such advice. In order to comply with all applicable federal or state income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal or state payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are your sole and absolute responsibility, are withheld or collected from you at the time of vesting. The Company will inform you of alternative methods to settle any applicable taxes due prior to the first vesting date of your Award.

(b) For the purposes determining when Shares otherwise issuable on account of your termination of employment will be issued, “termination of employment” or words of similar import, as used in this Agreement, shall mean the date as of which the Company and you reasonably anticipate that no further services will be performed by you, and shall be construed as the date that you first incur a “separation from service” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code on or following termination of employment. Furthermore, if you are a “specified employee” of a public company as determined pursuant to Section 409A as of your termination of employment, any Shares otherwise issuable on account of your termination of employment which constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and which are otherwise payable during the first six months following your termination of employment shall be issued to you on the earlier of (1) the date of your death and (2) the first business day of the seventh calendar month immediately following the month in which your termination of employment occurs.

8.  Miscellaneous.

(a) This Award is made under the provisions of the Plan and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with it. To the extent that any provision in this Award is inconsistent with the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. The interpretation of the Committee of any provision of the Plan, the RSUs or this Award, and any determination with respect thereto or hereto by the Committee, shall be binding on all parties.

(b) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall confer, intend to confer or imply any rights to an employment relationship or rights to a continued employment relationship with the Company or any Affiliate in your favor or limit the ability of the Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, to terminate, with or without cause, in its sole and absolute discretion, your employment relationship with the Company or such Affiliate, subject to the terms of any written employment agreement to which you are a party.

(c) Neither the Plan nor this Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and You or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.

(d) The Company shall not be required to deliver any shares of Common Stock until the requirements of any federal or state securities laws, rules or regulations or other laws or rules (including the rules of any securities exchange) as may be determined by the Company to be applicable are satisfied.

(e) An original record of this Award and all the terms hereof, executed by the Company, is held on file by the Company. To the extent there is any conflict between the terms contained in this Award and the terms contained in the original held by the Company, the terms of the original held by the Company shall control.






(f) This Award is intended to be consistent with your employment or loyalty agreement with the Company in effect on the date first written above. To the extent that any provision of this Award Agreement is inconsistent with the terms of your employment or loyalty agreement with the Company in effect as of the date first written above, the provisions of this Award Agreement shall control with respect to this Award.

(g) If any provision in this Agreement is determined to be invalid, void or unenforceable by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, which determination is not appealed or appealable for any reason whatsoever, the provision in question shall not be deemed to affect or impair the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement and such invalid or unenforceable provision or portion thereof shall be severed from the remainder of this Agreement.


In Witness Whereof, this Award has been executed by the Company as of the date first above written.


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.





By:                      
Mike Norona, EVP, Chief Financial Officer


Accepted and agreed, including specifically but without limitation as to the treatment of this Award in accordance with the terms of the Plan and this Award notwithstanding any terms of an Employment or Loyalty Agreement between the Company and the undersigned to the contrary:





By: ________________________________                 ___________________________________
     Name                                   Date






Exhibit 12.1


Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
Statement Regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
In Thousands, Except Ratio Data

 
 
Fiscal Year (1)
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
2009
Earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings Before Income Taxes
 
626,398

 
624,074

 
633,236

 
557,055

 
431,655

Add: Fixed Charges
 
195,327

 
170,426

 
187,812

 
177,045

 
165,557

Less: Capitalized Interest
 
(2,077
)
 
(2,064
)
 
(2,191
)
 
(854
)
 
(186
)
Adjusted Earnings
 
819,648

 
792,436

 
818,857

 
733,246

 
597,026

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed Charges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Expense (2)
 
38,694

 
35,905

 
33,140

 
27,715

 
23,523

Portion of rent estimated to represent interest
 
156,633

 
134,521

 
154,672

 
149,330

 
142,034

Total Fixed Charges
 
195,327

 
170,426

 
187,812

 
177,045

 
165,557

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
 
4.2

 
4.6

 
4.4

 
4.1

 
3.6


(1)  
Our fiscal year consists of 52 or 53 weeks ending on the Saturday nearest December 31st. All fiscal years presented are 52 weeks. The next 53 week fiscal year is 2014.
(2)  
Including amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs.




Exhibit 21.1

Subsidiaries

Advance Stores Company, Incorporated
Virginia
Advance Trucking Corporation
Virginia
Western Auto Supply Company (Western Auto Supply Company
operates through two wholly-owned subsidiaries
organized in Delaware)
Delaware
Discount Auto Parts, LLC
Florida
Advance Auto Innovations, LLC
Virginia
Advance Aircraft Company, Inc.
Virginia
Advance Auto of Puerto Rico, Inc.
Delaware
Advance Patriot, Inc.
Delaware
Autopart International, Inc.
Massachusetts
Advance Auto Business Support, LLC
Virginia
E-Advance, LLC
Virginia
Crossroads Global Trading Corporation
Virginia
Advance e-Service Solutions, Inc. (Advance e-Service Solutions, Inc.,
operates through two wholly-owned subsidiaries
organized in Delaware)
Virginia
AAP Financial Services, Inc.
Virginia
B.W.P. Distributors, Inc.
New York






Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333-192526 on Form S-3ASR and Registration Statement Nos. 333-178572, 333-155449 and 333-89154 on Form S-8 of our reports dated February 25, 2014 , relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”), and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 28, 2013 .

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Richmond, Virginia
February 25, 2014





Exhibit 31.1
 
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Darren R. Jackson, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s)and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e)and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.


Date: February 25, 2014



/s/ Darren R. Jackson
Darren R. Jackson
Chief Executive Officer and Director





Exhibit 31.2
 
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Michael A. Norona, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s)and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e)and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
(a)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b)
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c)
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d)
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b)
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.


Date: February 25, 2014



/s/ Michael A. Norona
 
Michael A. Norona
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer





Exhibit 32.1
 
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Darren R. Jackson, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge, the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. for the year ended December 28, 2013 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in such Annual Report on Form 10-K fairly presents in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. The foregoing certification is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the accompanying report on Form 10-K . A signed original of this statement has been provided to Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and will be retained by Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 
Date:
February 25, 2014
By: 
/s/ Darren R. Jackson
 
 
Name: Darren R. Jackson
   Title: Chief Executive Officer and Director


I, Michael A. Norona, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge, the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. for the year ended December 28, 2013 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in such Annual Report on Form 10-K fairly presents in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. The foregoing certification is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the accompanying report on Form 10-K . A signed original of this statement has been provided to Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and will be retained by Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.


Date:
February 25, 2014
By: 
/s/ Michael A. Norona
 
 
Name: Michael A. Norona
   Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer