Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC) announced today sales and earnings for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016. Sales for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016 were $3.90 billion compared to $3.94 billion for the same period in 2015. Net income for the second quarter was $191.4 million compared to $195.4 million recorded for the same period in the previous year. Earnings per share on a diluted basis were $1.28, equal to the earnings per share for the second quarter last year. Paul Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Total sales in the second quarter were down 1% from the prior year, inclusive of a 2% contribution from acquisitions less a currency headwind of 1%. Sales for the Automotive Group were down 0.7%, consisting of a 1% core sales decline, a 1.5% currency headwind and an approximate 2% contribution from acquisitions. Sales at Motion Industries, our Industrial Group, were down 1.7%, including a 3% underlying sales decrease and an approximate 0.5% currency headwind, offset by a 2% benefit from acquisitions. Sales at EIS, our Electrical/Electronic Group, were down approximately 5%, including a 1% negative impact of copper pricing. Sales for S. P. Richards, our Office Products Group, were up 1%, consisting of a 5% contribution from acquisitions offset by a 4% underlying sales decrease." Mr. Donahue stated, "This quarter our automotive sales along with our other distribution businesses were all impacted by the challenging sales environment. We offset some of this impact with key sales and gross margin initiatives as well as tight expense controls. Importantly, we also further improved the strength of our balance sheet and cash flows with effective working capital management. We expect the combination of these efforts to support stronger growth for the Company over the long-term." Sales for the six months ended June 30, 2016 were $7.62 billion compared to $7.68 billion for the same period in 2015. Net income for the six months was $349.4 million, down 2% from 2015, and earnings per share on a diluted basis were $2.33, equal to the same six month period of the prior year. 2016 Outlook For the full year 2016, the Company is maintaining its guidance for 1% to 2% total sales growth and is updating diluted earnings per share to $4.70 to $4.75 from $4.70 to $4.80. Conference Call Genuine Parts Company will hold a conference call today at 11:00 a.m. EDT to discuss the results of the quarter and the future outlook. Interested parties may listen to the call on the Company's website, www.genpt.com, by clicking "Investors", or by dialing 888-471-3831, conference ID 2490635. A replay will also be available on the Company's website or at 877-870-5176, conference ID 2490635, two hours after the completion of the call until 12:00 a.m. Eastern time on August 3, 2016. Forward Looking Statements Some statements in this report, as well as in other materials we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or otherwise release to the public and in materials that we make available on our website, constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Senior officers may also make verbal statements to analysts, investors, the media and others that are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may relate, for example, to future operations, prospects, strategies, financial condition, economic performance (including growth and earnings), industry conditions and demand for our products and services. The Company cautions that its forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and while we believe that our expectations for the future are reasonable in view of currently available information, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events may differ materially from those indicated as a result of various important factors. Such factors may include, among other things, the Company's ability to successfully implement its business initiatives in each of its four business segments; slowing demand for the Company's products; changes in general economic conditions, including, unemployment, inflation or deflation; volatile exchange rates; high energy costs; uncertain credit markets and other macro-economic conditions; competitive product, service and pricing pressures; the ability to maintain favorable vendor arrangements and relationships; disruptions in our vendors' operations; the Company's ability to successfully integrate its acquired businesses; the uncertainties and costs of litigation; disruptions caused by a failure or breach of the Company's information systems, as well as other risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2015 and from time to time in the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements are only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no duty to update its forward-looking statements except as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our subsequent Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and other reports to the SEC. About Genuine Parts Company Genuine Parts Company is a distributor of automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Australasia. The Company also distributes industrial replacement parts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico through its Motion Industries subsidiary. S. P. Richards Company, the Office Products Group, distributes business products in the U.S. and Canada. The Electrical/Electronic Group, EIS, Inc., distributes electrical and electronic components throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.