Genuine Parts Company

Genuine Parts Company (GPC) is a United States-based distributor serving the automotive aftermarket and industrial supply markets. Founded in Atlanta in 1928 by brothers Carlyle and Malcolm Fraser, the company built its business around sourcing, warehousing, and distributing replacement parts and related products to professional customers, repair businesses, industrial operators, and retail channels. Rather than functioning primarily as a consumer manufacturer, GPC operates as a large-scale distribution platform whose value comes from breadth of inventory, logistics, technical support, local availability, and relationships with independent distributors and commercial customers. GPC's two principal operating businesses are NAPA Auto Parts and Motion. NAPA is the company's automotive aftermarket platform, primarily serving North America. Its network includes company-operated locations as well as a large number of independently owned and operated stores. NAPA's range covers replacement and maintenance parts, accessories, tools, and other products used by vehicle owners, repair shops, and fleet customers. The brand's distribution model combines national scale with local market coverage, allowing independent automotive businesses to access a broad catalog without relying solely on direct manufacturer channels. Motion is GPC's industrial distribution business. It began as a distributor of bearings and industrial supplies and expanded into automation, conveyance, hydraulics, fluid power, robotics, and other industrial technologies. Motion serves industrial manufacturers, maintenance departments, original equipment manufacturers, and other business customers. Its offering includes components and engineered solutions used to maintain equipment, improve plant operations, and support industrial production. The business is therefore more technically oriented and commercially focused than GPC's consumer-facing automotive activities. GPC expanded beyond its original United States base through acquisitions and international operations. Important transactions included the acquisition of Motion in 1976, the purchase of Canadian automotive distributor UAP in 1998, and the acquisition of Australian automotive supplier Exego Group in 2013. The company also acquired Alliance Automotive Group and other businesses in Europe, took a minority stake in Inenco Group, and acquired Kaman Distribution Group in 2022. These moves broadened GPC's geographic reach and strengthened its presence in both automotive aftermarket distribution and industrial supply. The company formerly operated S.P. Richards, a distributor of office products, technology accessories, furniture, janitorial and sanitation products, and safety supplies. GPC ultimately exited that business through transactions completed in 2020, concentrating its portfolio more clearly on automotive and industrial distribution. GPC also combined or reorganized certain industrial and electrical operations over time, including the merger of EIS with Motion in 2018 and the subsequent sale of EIS in 2019. GPC has been publicly traded under the ticker symbol GPC and has maintained its headquarters in the Atlanta area for much of its history. Its headquarters moved from the Circle 75 area to Wildwood Office Park after plans announced in 2014. William P. Stengel II is identified as president and chief executive officer. He joined GPC in 2019 as its first chief transformation officer, became president in 2021, and assumed the chief operating officer role in 2023 before becoming CEO. Paul Donahue, who became CEO in 2016, later moved into executive-chairman responsibilities. In February 2026, GPC announced a plan to separate its activities into two publicly traded companies; the cited material does not establish the final structure or completion status of that plan.

Genuine Parts Company was established in Atlanta in 1928 by brothers Carlyle and Malcolm Fraser. Its original development followed the model of a broadline parts distributor: the company assembled supplier relationships and inventory, then made replacement and maintenance components available through distribution channels serving automotive and industrial customers. This model positioned GPC between manufacturers and thousands of downstream businesses that needed reliable access to parts rather than direct sourcing from numerous individual producers. A major stage in GPC's industrial expansion came in 1976, when it acquired Motion. Motion had originated as a distributor of bearings and industrial supplies and subsequently broadened its portfolio to include automation, conveyance, hydraulics, fluid power, robotics, and related products. The acquisition gave GPC a substantial industrial platform alongside its automotive activities and established a business capable of serving maintenance, repair, and production requirements in industrial facilities. GPC also developed its automotive aftermarket presence through NAPA Auto Parts. NAPA was established before GPC's founding and became the company's principal automotive brand in North America. The NAPA network includes both GPC-operated locations and independently owned stores. This combination allowed the brand to extend its market reach through local operators while retaining the purchasing and distribution advantages of a national organization. By 2020, the NAPA network was reported to include approximately 6,000 stores. The company expanded internationally through acquisitions and operating units. GPC acquired Canadian automotive distributor UAP in 1998 and Australian automotive parts supplier Exego Group in 2013. In 2016, the company and its four business units acquired nineteen companies. In 2017, GPC acquired Alliance Automotive Group and purchased a 35 percent interest in Inenco Group. These transactions expanded the company's European and broader international presence and diversified its automotive and industrial distribution capabilities. GPC's portfolio was not always limited to automotive and industrial products. In 1975, it acquired S.P. Richards, a distributor of office products, technology products and accessories, office furniture, janitorial and sanitation supplies, and safety products. In 2018, GPC explored combining S.P. Richards with Essendant after a proposed spin-off, but the proposed transaction did not close. Essendant instead accepted an acquisition by Sycamore Partners. GPC then sold S.P. Richards through transactions beginning with the Canadian division in January 2020; the U.S. operations and Supply Source Enterprise activities were subsequently sold to other buyers. The divestitures reflected a narrowing of strategic focus toward automotive and industrial distribution. The company's headquarters were located in the Circle 75 area of Cobb County from 1979. The site contained approximately 115,000 square feet and housed about 400 employees. In 2014, GPC announced plans to relocate to Wildwood Office Park near an existing operational support facility. Leadership transitioned during the 2010s and 2020s. Paul Donahue became chief executive officer in 2016, succeeding Tom Gallagher, who initially remained chairman. Donahue was elected chairman by the board in 2019 and later became executive chairman in 2024. William P. Stengel II joined GPC in 2019 as its first chief transformation officer, became president in 2021, and became chief operating officer in 2023. He is identified in the cited material as GPC's president and CEO. On February 17, 2026, GPC announced a plan to separate into two publicly traded companies. The available reference describes the announcement but does not establish whether the separation had been completed, what businesses would be assigned to each company, or the definitive transaction terms.

1. 2026Planned separation announced

   GPC announced a plan to separate into two publicly traded companies.

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2. 2022Kaman Distribution Group acquired

   GPC acquired Kaman Distribution Group, expanding its industrial distribution capabilities.

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3. 2020S.P. Richards divested

   GPC completed a series of transactions selling S.P. Richards businesses.

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4. 2019EIS sold and Stengel joins GPC

   GPC sold EIS and appointed William P. Stengel II as its first chief transformation officer.

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5. 2018EIS merged with Motion

   GPC merged its electrical-products division, EIS, with Motion.

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6. 2017Alliance Automotive Group acquired and Inenco stake purchased

   GPC acquired Alliance Automotive Group and took a 35 percent stake in Inenco Group.

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7. 2016Leadership change and acquisition expansion

   Paul Donahue became CEO, while GPC and its business units acquired nineteen companies during the year.

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8. 2014Headquarters relocation announced

   GPC announced plans to relocate its headquarters to Wildwood Office Park.

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9. 2013Exego Group acquired

   GPC acquired Australian automotive supplier Exego Group.

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10. 1998UAP acquired

    GPC acquired Canadian automotive parts distributor UAP.

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11. 1979Headquarters established at Circle 75

    GPC's headquarters moved to the Circle 75 area in Cobb County, where they remained for decades.

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12. 1976Motion acquired

    GPC acquired Motion, strengthening its industrial distribution business.

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13. 1975S.P. Richards acquired

    GPC acquired S.P. Richards, expanding into office products, technology accessories, furniture, janitorial supplies, and safety products.

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14. 1928Company founded in Atlanta

    Brothers Carlyle and Malcolm Fraser founded Genuine Parts Company in Atlanta, Georgia.

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A multi-channel B2B distributor combining national procurement and logistics scale with local automotive and industrial market coverage.

• NAPA Auto PartsAutomotive aftermarket distribution

  NAPA Auto Parts is GPC's principal automotive aftermarket brand in North America. Its network distributes replacement and maintenance parts, accessories, tools, and related products to professional repair businesses, fleet operators, and retail customers. Locations may be operated by GPC or by independent owners. The network model combines local store-level service with centralized purchasing, inventory, and distribution capabilities.

• MotionIndustrial parts and solutions distribution1976

  Motion is GPC's industrial distribution business. It supplies bearings, power-transmission components, automation products, conveyance equipment, hydraulics, fluid-power products, robotics-related equipment, and other industrial supplies. Motion serves industrial customers, manufacturers, maintenance organizations, and original equipment manufacturers, combining product distribution with technical and engineered support.

• S.P. RichardsOffice and workplace supplies1975

  S.P. Richards was a former GPC business distributing office products, technology accessories, office furniture, janitorial and sanitation products, and safety supplies. GPC explored combining it with Essendant in 2018, but that transaction was not completed. The business was divested through multiple transactions beginning in 2020.

• 2026Plan to separate the company into two public companiesStrategy

  GPC announced a corporate separation plan affecting its publicly traded structure.

  What changed. The company announced its intention to split into two publicly traded companies.

  Aftermath. The available reference does not provide final transaction terms or confirm completion.

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• 2022Acquisition of Kaman Distribution GroupM&A

  GPC sought to expand its industrial distribution portfolio in areas including automation, conveyance, and fluid power.

  What changed. GPC acquired Kaman Distribution Group.

  Aftermath. The acquisition broadened GPC's Motion-related industrial capabilities.

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• 2018Attempted S.P. Richards and Essendant combinationStrategy

  GPC sought to reorganize its workplace-essentials activities by proposing a combination of S.P. Richards with Essendant after a planned spin-off.

  What changed. The proposed combination was not completed after Essendant rejected the deal and accepted a buyout by Sycamore Partners.

  Aftermath. GPC subsequently sold S.P. Richards through a series of transactions in 2020 and continued focusing on Motion and NAPA Auto Parts.

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• 2026Genuine Parts Company announces plan to separate into two publicly traded companies

  GPC announced a plan to split its business into two publicly traded companies. The cited material does not specify the final legal structure, transaction timetable, or completion status.

  Other
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• 2022Genuine Parts Company acquires Kaman Distribution Group

  GPC acquired Kaman Distribution Group, an industrial distributor associated with automation, conveyance, and fluid-power products and solutions.

  M&A
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• 2020Genuine Parts Company sells S.P. Richards operations

  GPC sold S.P. Richards through a series of transactions, including the Canadian division, U.S. operations, and the Supply Source Enterprise business.

  M&A
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• 2019EIS is sold after integration with Motion

  GPC sold EIS after the electrical-products business had been merged with Motion in 2018.

  M&A
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• 2014Genuine Parts Company announces headquarters relocation

  The company announced plans to move its headquarters from the Circle 75 area to Wildwood Office Park, beside an existing operational support facility.

  Other
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