aap10k.htm

 

 
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 January 2, 2010
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, Virginia
(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 Regulation 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  ¨ No
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation 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 this
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 the definitions 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 17, 2009, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the 95,058,600 shares of Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $4,289,994,618, based on the last sales price of the Common Stock on July 17, 2009, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.

As of February 26, 2010, the registrant had outstanding 92,261,371 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the only class of common equity of the registrant outstanding).

Documents Incorporated by Reference:

Portions of the definitive proxy statement of the registrant to be filed within 120 days of January 2, 2010, pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, for the 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 19, 2010, are incorporated by reference into Part III.

 
 
 
     
Page
       
Part I.    
       
  Business
2
       
  Risk Factors
10
       
  Unresolved Staff Comments
13
       
  Properties
15
       
  Legal Proceedings
16
       
  Reserved
16
       
Part II.    
       
  Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
17
       
  Selected Consolidated Financial Data
18
       
  Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
20
       
  Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks
37
       
  Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
37
       
  Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
37
       
  Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
37
       
  Other Information
38
       
Part III.     
       
  Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
39
       
  Executive Compensation
39
       
 
39
       
  Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
39
       
  Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
39
       
 
 
       
  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
40
 
 
 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this report are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 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:
 
·  
deterioration in general economic conditions, including unemployment, inflation or deflation, consumer debt levels, high energy and fuel costs, uncertain credit markets and bankruptcies or other recessionary type conditions that could have a negative impact on our business, customers and suppliers;
·  
a decrease in demand for our products;
·  
our ability to develop and implement business strategies and achieve desired goals;
·  
our ability to expand our business, including locating available and suitable real estate for new store locations and the integration of any acquired businesses;
·  
competitive pricing and other competitive pressures;
·  
our relationships with our vendors;
·  
our ability to attract and retain qualified employees , or Team Members;
·  
the occurrence of natural disasters and/or extended periods of unfavorable weather;
·  
our ability to obtain affordable insurance against the financial impacts of natural disasters and other losses;
·  
regulatory and legal risks, such as environmental or OSHA 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;
·  
the impact of global climate change or legal and regulatory responses to such change;
·  
acts of terrorism; 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."
 
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.

1


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 31st of each year. Fiscal 2008 included 53 weeks of operations. All other fiscal years presented include 52 weeks of operations.

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.

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. Since 1996, we have aggressively expanded our sales to Commercial customers through our commercial delivery program. Our parent company, Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was incorporated in 2001 in conjunction with the acquisition of Discount Auto Parts, Inc., or Discount. At January 2, 2010, our 2009 fiscal year-end, we operated 3,420 total stores.

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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it 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

We operate 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 United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands which operate under the trade names “Advance Auto Parts,” “Advance Discount Auto Parts” and “Western Auto.” The AI segment consists solely of the operations of Autopart International, Inc., or Autopart International, which operates as an independent, wholly-owned subsidiary and primarily serves the Commercial market. We acquired Autopart International in September 2005.

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.

AAP Segment

At January 2, 2010, we operated 3,264 AAP stores within the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. We operated 3,238 stores throughout 39 states in the Northeastern, Southeastern and Midwestern regions of the United States. 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 proprietary automotive replacement parts, accessories, batteries and maintenance items for domestic and imported cars and light trucks. In addition, we operated 26 stores under the “Western Auto” and “Advance Auto Parts” trade names, located in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, or Offshore.

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We also provide our customers online shopping at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com and access to over 100,000 parts and accessories. Our new website was launched in October 2009 and is operated by our dedicated e-commerce team. Our online website allows our customers to pick up merchandise at a conveniently located store or have their purchases shipped directly to their home or business.

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 7,400 square feet with the size of our typical new stores approximating 6,000 to 7,000 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 9:00 p.m. on Sundays and most holidays to meet the needs of our DIY and Commercial customers. We offer extended hours in a limited number of our stores, including 24 hours per day in certain stores.

Our stores carry a standard product offering of approximately 16,000 stock keeping units, or SKUs. Certain stores carry slightly more SKUs within centralized market locations where there is demand for a more customized assortment of merchandise. Additionally, some of our stores carry an additional customized assortment of 11,000 SKUs for same-day or next-day delivery to other select stores within the respective service area. We refer to these stores as HUB stores. The standard SKU offering within each of our stores is replenished from one of our eight distribution centers once per week on average.

We also utilize a network of Parts Delivered Quickly, or PDQ®, facilities and one Master PDQ® facility to ensure our stores have the right product at the right time to meet our customers’ needs. Our PDQ® and Master PDQ® network of facilities provide our customers with an additional assortment of approximately 87,000 less common SKUs on a same-day or overnight basis. Lastly, our customers have access to over 340,000 SKUs by ordering directly from one of our vendors for delivery to a particular store or other destination as chosen by the customer.

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.  We strive to be the leader in the automotive aftermarket industry in serving our customers by providing quality products at the right price and backed by a solid warranty and outstanding customer service. We offer many of the products in our stores at a good, better or best recommendation differentiated by price and quality.

The primary categories of product we offer in our stores include:

·  
Parts, including alternators, batteries, chassis parts, clutches, engines and engine parts, radiators, starters, transmissions and water pumps;
·  
Accessories, including floor mats, mirrors, vent shades, MP3 and cell phone accessories, and seat and steering wheel covers;
·  
Chemicals, including antifreeze, freon, fuel additives and car washes and waxes;
·  
Oil and other automotive petroleum products; and
·  
Other miscellaneous offerings.

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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We also provide a variety of services free of charge to our customers including:

·  
Battery & wiper installation
·  
Battery charging
·  
Check engine light reading where allowed by law
·  
Electrical system testing, including batteries, starters, alternators and sensors
·  
“How-To” Video Clinics & Project Brochures
·  
Oil and battery recycling

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 managers have direct responsibility for store operations in a specific district, which typically consists on average of 15 stores. Depending on store size and sales volume, each store is staffed by 8 to 16 Team Members, under the leadership of a general manager. Store Team Members are comprised of full and part-time Team Members. Each store include a parts professional, or parts pro, who has 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 which includes formal classroom workshops, online seminars 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 Commercial customers, which represented approximately 29% of our AAP sales in Fiscal 2009. Since 1996, 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 customers’ place of business, including independent garages, service stations and auto dealers. Our stores are supported by a Commercial sales team who are dedicated to the development of our national, regional and local Commercial customers.

Under our Commercial Acceleration strategy, we are focused on increasing our Commercial sales at a faster rate in light of the favorable market dynamics.  During 2009, we increased the size of our sales force by approximately 45% for a greater emphasis on acquiring new Commercial customers and increasing our share of existing commercial customers’ purchases. We have added key product brands in our stores that are well recognized by our Commercial customers, as well as increased the parts knowledge of our store Team Members. We believe these initiatives will enable us to gain more Commercial customers as well as increase our sales from existing customers who will use us as their “first call” supplier. At January 2, 2010, 2,868 AAP stores, or 88% of total AAP stores, had Commercial delivery programs, which was up slightly from 85% at January 3, 2009.

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 profitably in both large, densely populated markets and small, less densely populated areas that would not otherwise support a national chain selling primarily to the retail automotive aftermarket. 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.
 
4

 
Our 3,264 AAP stores were located in the following states and territories at January 2, 2010:

Location
 
Number of
Stores
 
Location
 
Number of
Stores
 
Location
 
Number of
Stores
                     
Alabama
 
119
 
Maryland
 
74
 
Pennsylvania
 
163
Arkansas
 
29
 
Massachusetts
 
61
 
Puerto Rico
 
25
Colorado
 
44
 
Michigan
 
95
 
Rhode Island
 
9
Connecticut
 
37
 
Minnesota
 
14
 
South Carolina
 
126
Delaware
 
7
 
Mississippi
 
56
 
South Dakota
 
7
Florida
 
457
 
Missouri
 
43
 
Tennessee
 
139
Georgia
 
227
 
Nebraska
 
21
 
Texas
 
168
Illinois
 
82
 
New Hampshire
 
12
 
Vermont
 
7
Iowa
 
26
 
New Mexico
 
1
 
Virgin Islands
 
1
Indiana
 
101
 
New Jersey
 
55
 
Virginia
 
166
Kansas
 
24
 
New York
 
123
 
West Virginia
 
66
Kentucky
 
94
 
North Carolina
 
238
 
Wisconsin
 
46
Louisiana
 
62
 
Ohio
 
192
 
Wyoming
 
3
Maine
 
13
 
Oklahoma
 
31
       
 
The following table sets forth information concerning increases in the total number of our AAP stores during the past five years:

   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
 
Beginning Stores
    3,243       3,153       2,995       2,810       2,652  
New Stores (1)
    75       109       175       190       169  
Stores Closed
    (54 )     (19 )     (17 )     (5 )     (11 )
Ending Stores (2)
    3,264       3,243       3,153       2,995       2,810  
 
(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 2 and 7 stores not operating at December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively, primarily due to hurricane damage.

Store Technology.  Our store-based information systems, which are designed to improve the efficiency of our operations and enhance customer service, are comprised of a proprietary POS system and electronic parts catalog, or EPC, system.  Information maintained by our POS system is used to formulate pricing, marketing and merchandising strategies and to replenish inventory accurately and rapidly. Our POS system is fully integrated with our EPC system and enables our store Team Members to assist our customers in their parts selection and ordering based on year, make, model and engine type of their vehicles. 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.

Our EPC system also contains enhanced search engines and user-friendly navigation tools that enhance our Team Members’ ability to look up any needed parts as well as additional products the customer needs to complete their automotive repair project. If a hard-to-find part or accessory is not available at one of our stores, the EPC system can determine whether the part is carried and in-stock through our PDQÒ system. Available parts and accessories are then ordered electronically from another store, PDQÒ or Master PDQÒ with immediate confirmation of price, availability and estimated delivery time.

We also support our store operations with additional proprietary systems. Our store-level inventory management system provides real-time inventory tracking at the store level. With the store-level system, store Team Members can check the quantity of on-hand inventory for any SKU, adjust stock levels for select items for store
 
5

 
specific events, automatically process returns and defective merchandise, designate SKUs for cycle counts and track merchandise transfers. Our stores use radio frequency hand-held devices to help ensure the accuracy of our inventory. Our standard operating procedure, or SOP, system is a web-based, electronic data management system that provides our Team Members with instant and quick access to any of our standard operating procedures through a comprehensive on-line search function.  Additionally, we utilize a labor scheduling system known as management planning and training, or MPT. 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.
 
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 beginning in 2009.

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 2009, we purchased merchandise from approximately 400 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. The merchandising team continues to refine its category management process and has recently implemented the first phase of a category management system which consists of a multi-phase implementation of an Oracle system solution. 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 turns.

Our merchandising strategy, which generates DIY customer traffic and also appeals to Commercial customers, is to carry a broad selection of high quality brand name automotive parts and accessories such as Bosch®, Castrol®, Sylvania®, Prestone®, Monroe®, Wagner®, Purolator®, Dayco®, Trico® and Federal-Mogul Moog®, or Moog®. In addition to these branded products, we stock a wide selection of high quality proprietary products that appeal to value conscious customers. These lines of merchandise include everything from chemical and wash-and-wax products to tools, batteries, parts and interior automotive accessories under various private label names such as Wearever® and Autocraft®.

Supply Chain. Our supply chain consists of centralized inventory management and transportation functions which support a supply chain network of distribution centers, PDQ® warehouses and stores. Our inventory management team utilizes a replenishment system to monitor the distribution center, PDQ® warehouse 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. A significant portion of our purchase orders are sent via electronic data interchange, with the remainder being sent by computer generated e-mail or facsimile.

Our transportation team utilizes a transportation management system to efficiently manage incoming shipments to our distribution centers and from our distribution centers to our stores. Benefits from this system include (i) reduced vendor to distribution center freight costs, (ii) visibility of purchase orders and shipments for the entire
 
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supply chain, (iii) a reduction in distribution center inventory, or safety stock, due to consistent transit times, (iv) decreased third party freight and billing service costs, (v) decreased distribution center to store freight costs and (vi) higher store in-stock position. We utilize two reputable dedicated carriers to ship product from our distribution centers to our stores.
 
We currently operate eight distribution centers. All of these distribution centers are equipped with our distribution center management system, or DCMS. Our DCMS provides real-time inventory tracking through the processes of receiving, picking, shipping and replenishing inventory at our distribution centers. The DCMS, integrated with technologically advanced material handling equipment, significantly 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. Through the continued implementation of our supply chain initiatives such as engineered standards in our distribution centers, we expect to further increase the efficient utilization of our distribution capacity. We believe our current supply chain network, including a new distribution projected to open in Indiana in 2011, provides ample capacity for our projected growth in the foreseeable future.

We currently offer approximately 56,000 SKUs to support all of our retail stores via our 20 stand-alone PDQ® warehouses and/or our eight distribution centers (all of which stock PDQ® items). Stores have system visibility to inventory in their respective PDQÒ warehouses and distribution centers and can place orders to these facilities, or as an alternative, through an online ordering system to virtually any of the other facilities. 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. Store inventories are replenished from our eight distribution centers. In addition, we operate a Master PDQ® warehouse that stocks approximately 31,000 incremental SKUs of harder-to-find automotive parts and accessories and utilizes our existing PDQ® distribution infrastructure and/or third party arrangements to provide next day service to substantially all of our stores.

Marketing & Advertising.  We have an extensive marketing and advertising program designed to communicate our ability to meet consumers’ needs through our merchandise offerings, parts assortment and availability, competitive prices, free services and commitment to customer service. Our marketing and advertising program is focused on establishing Advance Auto Parts as the primary resource for a customer's automotive needs. We reinforce our brand image through a mix of media that includes television, radio, promotional signage, outdoor media, print, on-line advertising and our Internet site.

Our marketing and advertising plan is a brand-building program primarily built around television, direct marketing, radio advertising, and local marketing. The plan is supported by in-store signage, on-line advertising and print. Our television advertising is a combination of national and regional media in both sports and entertainment programming. Radio advertising generally airs during peak drive times. We use Spanish-language radio and television advertising to market to our Hispanic customers. Our advertising program is also supported through a new title sponsorship program for Monster Jam, a live family oriented motorsports event tour and television show highlighted by the racing and freestyle competition of monster trucks, and sponsorships of sporting events, racing teams and other grass-root level events intended to positively impact individual communities, including Hispanic and other ethnic communities, to create awareness and drive traffic for our stores. Since 2004, we have used an integrated consumer education program to build our image as not only the best source for parts, but also the best resource for vehicle information. Our goal with our consumer education initiative is to continue our long-term brand building success, increase customer loyalty and expand our customer base.

We continue to support our 2008 branding campaign, “Keep the wheels turning.” This campaign was developed based on a strategic review of our business as well as extensive research conducted with our customers and Team Members. We believe this campaign, which targets core DIY and Commercial customers, differentiates Advance Auto Parts in our industry by positioning us as (i) the brand that best understands customers’ needs, (ii) the source for brand name parts and products and (iii) the resource for expert advice and knowledge to help customers keep their vehicles running. The campaign includes creative and compelling television and radio commercials designed to drive sales and build an enduring, positive image of Advance Auto Parts with our targeted customers.

7


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 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. 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 quality parts, unsurpassed 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 18,000 SKUs with access to an additional 17,000 unique SKUs through its supply chain network.

AI has significantly increased its store count since our acquisition of AI in September 2005. At January 2, 2010, we operated 156 stores under the “Autopart International” trade name in the following states:

Location
 
Number of
Stores
 
Location
 
Number of
Stores
 
Location
 
Number of
Stores
                     
Connecticut
 
17
 
Massachusetts
 
32
 
Pennsylvania
 
20
Delaware
 
1
 
New Hampshire
 
8
 
Rhode Island
 
4
Florida
 
3
 
New Jersey
 
16
 
Vermont
 
1
Maine
 
4
 
New York
 
25
 
Virginia
 
12
Maryland
 
13
               
 
The following table sets forth information concerning increases in the total number of our AI stores:

   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
 
Beginning Stores
    125       108       87       62       -  
New Stores
    32       18       21       25       62  (1)
Stores Closed
    (1 )     (1 )     -       -       -  
Ending Stores
    156       125       108       87       62  
 
(1)  
Of the 62 new stores in 2005, 61 stores were acquired in September 2005 as part of our AI acquisition.

Seasonality

Our business is somewhat seasonal in nature, with the highest sales 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

At February 26, 2010, we employed approximately 29,000 full-time Team Members and approximately 20,000 part-time Team Members. Our workforce consisted of 90% of our Team Members employed in store-level operations, 7% employed in distribution and 3% employed in our corporate offices. We have never experienced any labor disruption and are not party to any collective bargaining agreements. We believe that our Team Member relations are good.

Intellectual Property

We own a number of trade names and own and have federally registered several service marks and trademarks, including “Advance Auto Parts,” “Western Auto,” “Parts America,” “Autopart International” and “PDQ®” for use in connection with the automotive parts retailing business. In addition, we own and have registered a number of
8

 
trademarks for our proprietary products. 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 and Carquest, (iv) independent operators and (v) automobile dealers that supply parts. 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 store location, product offerings, availability, quality, price and customer service.

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 recycling of automotive lead-acid batteries and used automotive oil, 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 or used automotive oil onto our properties. We currently provide collection and recycling programs for used lead-acid batteries and used oil at substantially all of our stores as a service to our customers. Pursuant to agreements with third party vendors, lead-acid batteries and used oil 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. Persons 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 and used oil as these costs are borne by the respective third parties.

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 has not had a material impact on our operations to date.


9


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.

Deterioration in general macro-economic conditions, including unemployment, inflation or deflation, consumer debt levels, high fuel and energy costs, uncertain credit markets or other recessionary type conditions 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) higher operating costs from higher energy prices, (ii) potential adverse effects from deteriorating and uncertain credit markets and (iii) the negative impact on our suppliers and customers.

Impact of Credit Market Uncertainty
 
Our overall credit rating may be negatively impacted by deteriorating and uncertain credit markets. The interest rates on our credit facilities 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 we pay on borrowed funds. Additionally, we may be limited in our ability to borrow additional funds to finance our operations. It is possible that one or more of the banks that provides us with financing under our credit facilities may fail to honor the terms of our existing credit facilities or be financially unable to provide the unused credit. An inability to obtain sufficient financing at cost-effective rates could have a materially adverse affect 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 or willingness to sell quality products to us at favorable prices and terms. Many factors outside of 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. This impact could reduce their 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 less parts failures and elective maintenance required to be completed.

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:
 
10

 
·  
the economy, because during periods of declining economic conditions, as mentioned above, 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;
·  
changing weather patterns along with increased frequency or duration of extreme weather conditions, as elective vehicle maintenance may be deferred during periods of unfavorable weather;
·  
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 decreases the need for maintenance and repair (while higher miles driven increases the need);
·  
the quality of vehicles manufactured, because vehicles that have low part failure rates will require less frequent repairs using aftermarket parts; 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 all 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 will suffer.

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 and (v) automobile dealers that supply parts. 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, store locations, store layouts, longer operating histories, greater name recognition, larger and more established customer bases, 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 current operating strategies. If we do not have the resources or expertise, 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 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. At February 26, 2010, we employed approximately 49,000 Team Members. We may not be able to retain our current qualified Team Members or attract and retain additional qualified Team Members that 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.

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 and cash flows.
 
11

 
We have implemented numerous initiatives as part of our business strategy, including four key strategies introduced in 2008, 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 and cash flows could be adversely affected.

Successful implementation of our business strategy also depends on factors specific to the retail automotive parts 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 affect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow:

·  
the competitive environment in the automotive aftermarket parts and accessories 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 at a more rapid pace than DIY and attain a 50/50 DIY and Commercial sales mix.

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 successful integration of any acquired businesses, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 
New Store Openings
 
We have increased our store count significantly from 814 stores at the end of Fiscal 1997 to 3,420 stores at January 2, 2010. 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. 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 potential 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 hire, train and retain qualified sales associates.

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.

 
Acquisitions, Investments or Strategic Alliances

We may acquire stores or businesses from, make investments in, or enter into strategic alliances with companies that have stores or distribution networks in our current markets or in areas into which we intend to expand our presence. Any future acquisitions, investments, strategic alliances or related efforts will be accompanied by risks, including but not limited to:

·  
the difficulty of identifying appropriate strategic partners or acquisition candidates;
·  
securing adequate financing on cost-effective terms for acquisition or post-acquisition expenditures;
·  
the potential disruption to our ongoing business and diversion of our management's attention;
·  
the inability or failure to discover liabilities prior to completion of an acquisition, including the assumption of legal liabilities;
·  
the difficulty of assimilating and integrating the operations of the respective entities to realize anticipated economic, operational or other favorable benefits;
 
12

 
·  
the inability to maintain uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies;
·  
the inability or failure to retain key personnel from the acquired business; and
·  
the impairment of relationships with Team Members and customers as a result of changes in management.

We are unsure whether we will be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered with any acquisitions, investments, strategic alliances or related efforts. If we fail to successfully open and operate new stores or make strategic acquisitions or alliances, then our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows may be negatively impacted.

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, employees or other third parties 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 discrimination, 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 affect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Additionally, we are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and governmental regulations relating to environmental protection, product quality standards, building and zoning requirements, as well as employment law matters. 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 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 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.
 
War or acts of terrorism, or the threat of either, may negatively impact the availability and cost of merchandise and our customers and adversely impact our sales and profitability.

War or acts of terrorism, or the threat of either, may have a negative impact on our ability to obtain merchandise available for sale in our stores. 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 shipping merchandise to our distribution centers and stores.

Furthermore, terrorist attacks, war in the Middle East, or war within or between any oil producing country
 
13


would likely result in an abrupt increase in the price of crude oil, gasoline, diesel fuel and energy costs. 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.
 
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.


Item 2. Properties.

The following table sets forth certain information relating to our distribution and other principal facilities:

Facility
 
Opening
Date
 
Area Served
 
Size
(Sq. ft.)(1)
 
Nature of
Occupancy
                   
Main Distribution Centers:
               
 
Roanoke, Virginia
 
1988
 
Mid-Atlantic
 
     433,681
 
Leased
 
Lehigh, Pennsylvania
 
2004
 
Northeast
 
     655,991
 
Owned
 
Lakeland, Florida
 
1982
 
Southeast, Offshore
 
     552,796
 
Owned
 
Gastonia, North Carolina
 
1969
 
South
 
     634,472
 
Owned
 
Gallman, Mississippi
 
2001
 
West, Midwest
 
     388,168
 
Owned
 
Salina, Kansas
 
1971
 
Southwest, Midwest
 
     413,500
 
Owned
 
Delaware, Ohio
 
1972
 
North and South Carolina
 
     480,100
 
Owned
 
Thomson, Georgia
 
1999
 
Southeast
 
     374,400
 
Owned
                   
Master PDQ® Warehouse:
               
 
Andersonville, Tennessee
 
1998
 
All
 
     113,300
 
Leased
                   
PDQ® Warehouses:
               
 
Youngwood, Pennsylvania
 
1999
 
East
 
       48,320
 
Leased
 
Riverside, Missouri
 
1999
 
West
 
       43,912
 
Leased
 
Temple, Texas
 
1999
 
Southwest
 
       61,343
 
Leased
 
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
 
West Palm Beach, Florida
 
1998
 
Southeast Florida, South Alabama
       13,300
 
Leased
         
and Southeastern Mississippi
       
 
Mobile, Alabama
 
1998
 
Florida Panhandle
 
       10,000
 
Owned
 
Atlanta, Georgia
 
1999
 
Georgia
 
       16,786
 
Leased
 
Tallahassee, Florida
 
1999
 
Northwest Florida
 
       10,000
 
Owned
 
Fort Myers, Florida
 
1999
 
Southwest Florida
 
       14,330
 
Owned
 
Brooklyn Heights, Ohio
 
2008
 
Cleveland, Ohio
 
       22,000
 
Leased
 
Chicago, Illinois
 
2009
 
Mid-West
 
       42,600
 
Leased
 
Rochester, New York
 
2009
 
Northeast
 
       38,000
 
Leased
 
Leicester, Massachussetts
 
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
                   
Corporate/Administrative Offices:
               
 
Roanoke, Virginia
 
1995
 
All
 
       49,000
 
Leased
 
Roanoke, Virginia
 
2002
 
All
 
     202,293
 
Leased
 
Minneapolis, Minnesota
 
2008
 
All
 
       51,674
 
Leased
                   
AI Properties:
               
 
Norton, Massachusetts
 
2006
 
AI corporate office
 
       30,000
 
Leased
 
Norton, Massachusetts
 
2006
 
Primarily Northeast and
 
     317,500
 
Leased
         
Mid-Atlantic
       
 
(1)  
Square footage amounts exclude adjacent office space.

15


At January 2, 2010, we owned 666 of our stores and leased 2,754 stores. The expiration dates, including the exercise of renewal options, of the store leases are summarized as follows:

Years
 
AAP Stores
 
AI Stores
 
Total
2009-2010
 
                      22
 
                     6
 
                28
2011-2015
 
                    251
 
                   67
 
              318
2016-2020
 
                    626
 
                   44
 
              670
2021-2030
 
                    739
 
                   39
 
              778
2031-2040
 
                    836
 
                      -
 
              836
2041-2057
 
                    124
 
                      -
 
              124
   
                 2,598
 
                 156
 
           2,754

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 employees. 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 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 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. To date, these products have included brake and clutch parts and roofing materials. Many of the cases pending against us or our 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 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 our shareholders. We also believe that most 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 liquidity. 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 liquidity in future periods.

Item 4. Reserved.

None.


PART II

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, for the fiscal periods indicated, the high and low sale prices per share for our common stock, as reported by the NYSE.
   
High
   
Low
 
Fiscal Year Ended January 2, 2010
           
Fourth Quarter
  $ 41.77     $ 36.11  
Third Quarter
  $ 47.41     $ 37.31  
Second Quarter
  $ 45.59     $ 40.50  
First Quarter
  $ 44.64     $ 29.50  
Fiscal Year Ended January 3, 2009
               
Fourth Quarter
  $ 37.37     $ 24.17  
Third Quarter
  $ 44.61     $ 36.75  
Second Quarter
  $ 41.74     $ 33.57  
First Quarter
  $ 37.99     $ 31.20  
 
The closing price of our common stock on February 26, 2010 was $40.80. At February 26, 2010, there were 363 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 its inception in 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 for the information with respect to repurchases of our common stock for the quarter ended January 2, 2010 (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts);

Period
 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
   
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)(3)
 
                         
October 11, 2009, to November 7, 2009
    -     $ -       -     $ 139,381  
November 8, 2009, to December 5, 2009
    700       39.93       700       111,422  
December 6, 2009, to January 2, 2010
    542       40.59       542       89,406  
                                 
Total
    1,242     $ 40.22       1,242     $ 89,406  
 
(1)  
Average price paid per share excludes related expenses paid on previous repurchases.
(2)  
All of the above repurchases were made on the open market at prevailing market rates plus related expenses under our stock repurchase program, which authorized the repurchase of up to $250 million in common stock. Our stock repurchase program was authorized by our Board of Directors and publicly announced on May 15, 2008. Subsequent to January 2, 2010, our Board of Directors authorized a new $500 million stock repurchase program on February 16, 2010. The new program cancelled and replaced the remaining portion of our previous $250 million stock repurchase program.
(3)  
The maximum dollar value yet to be purchased under our stock repurchase program excludes related expenses paid on previous purchases or anticipated expenses on future purchases.


17


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 500 Specialty Retail Index. The graph assumes that the value of an investment in our common stock and in each such index was $100 on January 1, 2005, 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 500 SPECIALTY RETAIL INDEX
snpchart2009
 
Company / Index
Jan 1, 2005
Dec 31, 2005
Dec 30, 2006
Dec 29, 2007
Jan 3, 2009
Jan 2, 2010
Advance Auto Parts
100
149.24
122.91
132.77
119.57
142.62
S&P 500 Index
100
104.91
121.48
129.04
83.29
102.12
S&P 500 Specialty Retail Index
100
102.86
109.69
87.08
69.29
88.73

Item 6.                       Selected Consolidated Financial Data.

The following table sets forth our selected historical consolidated statement of operations, balance sheet 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 at January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009 and for the three years ended January 2, 2010 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 at December 29, 2007, December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 and for the years ended December 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005 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.

18

 
   
Fiscal Year (1)
 
                               
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
   
2005
 
   
(in thousands, except per share data and ratios)
 
                               
Statement of Operations Data:
                             
Net sales
  $ 5,412,623     $ 5,142,255     $ 4,844,404     $ 4,616,503     $ 4,264,971  
Cost of sales (2)(15)
    2,768,397       2,743,131       2,585,665       2,472,203       2,301,799  
Gross profit
    2,644,226       2,399,124       2,258,739       2,144,300       1,963,172  
Selling, general and administrative expenses (15)
    2,189,841       1,984,197       1,842,310       1,740,950       1,554,680  
Operating income
    454,385       414,927       416,429       403,350       408,492  
Interest expense
    (23,337 )     (33,729 )     (34,809 )     (35,992 )     (32,384 )
Gain on extinguishment of debt
    -       -       -       986       -  
Other income (expense), net
    607       (506 )     1,014       1,571       2,815  
Income from continuing operations before
                                       
     income taxes and loss on
                                       
     discontinued operations
    431,655       380,692       382,634       369,915       378,923  
Income tax expense
    161,282       142,654       144,317       138,597       144,198  
Net income
    270,373       238,038       238,317       231,318       234,725  
                                         
Per Share Data:
                                       
Net income per basic share
  $ 2.85     $ 2.51     $ 2.29     $ 2.18     $ 2.17  
Net income per diluted share
  $ 2.83     $ 2.49     $ 2.28     $ 2.16     $ 2.13  
Cash dividends declared per basic share
  $ 0.24     $ 0.24     $ 0.24     $ 0.24     $ -  
Weighted average basic shares outstanding
    94,459       94,655       103,826       106,129       108,318  
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding
    95,113       95,205       104,637       107,124       109,987  
                                         
Cash flows provided by (used in):
                                       
Operating activities
  $ 699,690     $ 478,739     $ 410,542     $ 333,604     $ 321,632  
Investing activities
    (185,539 )     (181,609 )     (202,143 )     (258,642 )     (302,780 )
Financing activities
    (451,491 )     (274,426 )     (204,873 )     (104,617 )     (34,390 )
                                         
Balance Sheet and Other Financial Data:
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 100,018     $ 37,358     $ 14,654     $ 11,128     $ 40,783  
Inventory
  $ 1,631,867     $ 1,623,088     $ 1,529,469     $ 1,463,340     $ 1,367,099  
Inventory turnover(3)
    1.70       1.74       1.73       1.75       1.79  
Inventory per store(4)
  $ 477     $ 482     $ 469     $ 475     $ 476  
Accounts payable to inventory ratio(5)
    61.2 %     57.2 %     55.1 %     53.2 %     54.8 %
Net working capital(6)
  $ 421,591     $ 442,632     $ 456,897     $ 498,553     $ 406,476  
Capital expenditures
  $ 192,934     $ 184,986     $ 210,600     $ 258,586     $ 216,214  
Total assets
  $ 3,072,963     $ 2,964,065     $ 2,805,566     $ 2,682,681     $ 2,542,149  
Total debt
  $ 204,271     $ 456,164     $ 505,672     $ 477,240     $ 438,800  
Total net debt(7)
  $ 113,781     $ 439,394     $ 521,018     $ 500,318     $ 448,187  
Total stockholders' equity
  $ 1,282,365     $ 1,075,166     $ 1,023,795     $ 1,030,854     $ 919,771  
                                         
Selected Store Data:
                                       
Comparable store sales growth (8)
    5.3 %     1.5 %     0.7 %     1.6 %     8.2 %
Number of stores at beginning of year
    3,368       3,261       3,082       2,872       2,652  
   New stores
    107       127       196       215       231  
   Closed stores
    (55 )     (20 )     (17 )     (5 )     (11 )
Number of stores, end of period
    3,420       3,368       3,261       3,082       2,872  
Relocated stores
    10       10       29       47       54  
Stores with commercial delivery program, end of period
    3,024       2,880       2,712       2,526       2,254  
Total commercial sales, as a percentage of total sales
    32.0 %     29.5 %     26.6 %     25.0 %     21.8 %
SG&A expenses per store (in 000s)(9)(10)(15)
  $ 645     $ 599     $ 581     $ 585     $ 585  
Operating income per team member (in 000s)(11)(15)
  $ 9.41     $ 9.02     $ 9.40     $ 9.29     $ 10.30  
Total store square footage, end of period
    24,973       24,711       23,982       22,753       21,246  
Average net sales per store (in 000s)(10)(12)
  $ 1,595     $ 1,551     $ 1,527     $ 1,551     $ 1,555  
Average net sales per square foot(10)(13)
  $ 218     $ 211     $ 207     $ 210     $ 209  
Gross margin return on inventory(14)
  $ 3.98     $ 3.47     $ 3.29     $ 3.29     $ 3.34  
 
(1)  
Our fiscal year consists of 52 or 53 weeks ending on the Saturday nearest to December 31st. All fiscal years presented are 52 weeks, with the exception of Fiscal 2008 which consisted of 53 weeks.
 
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(2)  
Cost of sales includes a non-cash inventory adjustment of $37.5 million recorded in Fiscal 2008 due to a change in our inventory management approach for slow moving inventory.
(3)  
Inventory turnover is calculated as cost of sales divided by the average of beginning and ending inventories.
(4)  
Inventory per store is calculated as ending inventory divided by ending store count.
(5)  
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.
(6)  
Net working capital is calculated by subtracting current liabilities from current assets.
(7)  
Net debt includes total debt and bank overdrafts, less cash and cash equivalents.
(8)  
Comparable store sales growth 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 growth from the original date of opening. Beginning in Fiscal 2008, we include in comparable store sales growth the net sales from stores operated Offshore and AI stores. The comparable periods have been adjusted accordingly. Fiscal 2008 comparable store sales growth excludes sales from the 53rd week.
(9)  
Selling, general and administrative, or SG&A, expense per store is calculated as total SG&A expenses divided by the average of beginning and ending store count. SG&A expenses per store for Fiscal 2009 were $638 excluding the $26.1 million impact of store divestitures. SG&A expenses per store for Fiscal 2008 were $590 excluding the impact of the 53rd week of Fiscal 2008 of approximately $28.4 million.
(10)  
The ending store count and/or store square footage used in the calculation of the 2005 ratios has been weighted for the period of the AI acquisition.
(11)  
Operating income per team member is calculated as operating income divided by an average of the beginning and ending number of team members. Operating income per team member for Fiscal 2009 was $9.94 excluding the $26.1 million impact of store divestitures. Excluding the operating income impact of the 53rd week of Fiscal 2008 of approximately $15.8 million and a $37.5 million non-cash inventory adjustment, operating income per team member in Fiscal 2008 was $9.49.
(12)  
Average net 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. Excluding the net sales impact of the 53rd week of Fiscal 2008 of approximately $88.8 million, average net sales per store in Fiscal 2008 was $1,524.
(13)  
Average net sales per square foot is calculated as net sales divided by the average of the beginning and ending total store square footage for the respective period. Excluding the net sales impact of the 53rd week of Fiscal 2008 of approximately $88.8 million, average net sales per square foot in Fiscal 2008 was $208. This measure is presented in whole dollars.
(14)  
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. Excluding the gross profit impact of the 53rd week of Fiscal 2008 of approximately $44.0 million and a $37.5 million non-cash inventory adjustment, gross margin return on inventory in Fiscal 2008 was $3.37.
(15)  
Effective first quarter 2009, we implemented a change in accounting principle for costs included in inventory. Accordingly, we have retrospectively applied the change in accounting principle to all prior periods presented herein related to cost of sales and SG&A.

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 (Fiscal 2008 contained 53 weeks). Our first quarter consists of 16 weeks, and the other three quarters consist of 12 weeks, with the exception of the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2008 which contained 13 weeks due to our 53-week Fiscal 2008.

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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. At January 2, 2010, we operated 3,420 stores throughout 39 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

We operate 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 United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands which operate under the trade names “Advance Auto Parts,” “Advance Discount Auto Parts” and “Western Auto.” At January 2, 2010, we operated 3,264 stores in the AAP segment, of which 3,238 stores operated under the trade names “Advance Auto Parts” and “Advance Discount Auto Parts” throughout 39 states in the Northeastern, Southeastern and Midwestern regions of the United States. These stores offer automotive replacement parts, accessories and maintenance items.  In addition, we operated 26 stores under the “Western Auto” and “Advance Auto Parts” trade names, located in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, or Offshore.

At January 2, 2010, we operated 156 stores in the AI segment under the “Autopart International” trade name. We acquired AI in September 2005. AI operates as an independent, wholly-owned subsidiary. AI’s business primarily serves the Commercial market from its store locations located primarily in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. In addition, its North American Sales Division services warehouse distributors and jobbers throughout North America.

Management Overview

During Fiscal 2009, we produced favorable financial results primarily due to top-line sales growth and strong gross profit improvement resulting in earnings per diluted share, or EPS, of $2.83 compared to $2.49 in Fiscal 2008. Although we have presented our financial results in this Form 10-K in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP), our financial results for Fiscal 2009 and Fiscal 2008 include the impact of the following significant items. Our Fiscal 2009 results were reduced by an EPS impact of $0.17 resulting from the closure of 45 stores in connection with our store divestiture plan. Our Fiscal 2008 financial results included an extra week of operations (53rd week) as well as a non-cash obsolete inventory write-down of $37.5 million due to a change in inventory management approach for slow moving inventory, or non-cash inventory adjustment. The impact of the Fiscal 2008 items was a net reduction in EPS of $0.15. We generated significant operating cash flow in Fiscal 2009 that allowed us to invest in business initiatives related to our four key strategies, repay a significant portion of our bank debt and repurchase shares of our common stock.

Fiscal 2009 Highlights

Highlights from our Fiscal 2009 include:

 Financial
·  
Total sales for Fiscal 2009 increased 5.3% over Fiscal 2008 to $5.41 billion. Excluding the impact of the 53rd week in Fiscal 2008, our total sales increased 7.1%. This growth was primarily due to a comparable store sales increase of 5.3% and sales from the net addition of 52 total stores opened within the last year.
 
·  
Our gross profit rate increased 220 basis points as compared to Fiscal 2008. Approximately 73 basis points of this increase is related to the non-cash inventory adjustment of $37.5 million in Fiscal 2008.
 
·  
Our selling, general and administrative expenses, or SG&A, rate increased 187 basis points as compared to Fiscal 2008 partially due to 48 basis points of store divestiture expenses. Excluding store divestitures, this increase in SG&A is primarily linked to the targeted investments we are making to support each of our four key strategies which have already begun to yield benefits in our sales and gross profit results.
 
·  
We generated operating cash flow of $699.7 million for the year, an increase of $221.0 million over Fiscal 2008, and used available operating cash to pay down $252.2 million of outstanding bank debt and
 
 
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repurchase 2.5 million shares of our common stock at a cost of $99.6 million.
 
General

·  
Our continuous improvements in customer satisfaction and Team Member engagement scores, renewed focus on core values and ongoing initiatives within each of our four key strategies – Commercial Acceleration, DIY Transformation, Availability Excellence and Superior Experience – were equally important in driving our favorable financial results for the year.
 
·  
We began our global sourcing operation in Taiwan which we expect will provide gross profit improvements and allow us to more quickly source products that our customers want and need.
 
·  
We launched our new AAP e-commerce website, which offers our customers online shopping and access to over 100,000 parts and accessories.
 
·  
We continued to make progress towards our goal of obtaining investment grade credit ratings based on our increased profitability and cash flow and strength of our balance sheet.

Key Strategies

Fiscal 2009 marked the end of the turnaround phase of our strategic plan. We made significant investments in each of our four key strategies with the ultimate focus on the customer and growth in our business. Our principal focus during this turnaround phase has been on Commercial Acceleration and Availability Excellence to accelerate our growth and profitability. We have made strategic choices to fund investments in each of these strategies and will continue to balance our investments between Commercial and DIY over the long term.  As we transition from our turnaround phase to a transformation phase, we expect to increase our focus on customer facing capabilities to ensure our customers have a superior experience with us.

Ø  
Commercial Acceleration

Our Commercial comparable store sales increase was 13.7% during Fiscal 2009. Our Commercial sales, as a percentage of total sales, increased 25 basis points to 32.0% for Fiscal 2009 as compared to Fiscal 2008. We believe our consistent growth in Commercial sales and market share is being driven in part by the investments we have made over the last year and continue to make under our Commercial Acceleration strategy.  As of the end of Fiscal 2009, we have made substantial investments in parts, key brands, and additional parts professionals, delivery trucks and drivers in approximately one-third of our stores. We have also increased our Commercial sales force by approximately 45% from the beginning of Fiscal 2009. We continue to make progress in redefining and realigning the roles and responsibilities of our operational teams in preparation for the continued growth in Commercial at a faster pace than DIY.  We plan to eventually generate closer to a 50/50 mix of Commercial and DIY sales as a result of the highly fragmented Commercial market.  Our current market share is less than 5% of the $40 billion Commercial market.

Ø  
DIY Transformation

Our Fiscal 2009 DIY comparable store sales increase of 1.7% marks our first positive increase for a full fiscal year since Fiscal 2005. The overall growth in DIY sales during Fiscal 2009 was impacted by the acceleration of store closings, the deceleration of new store openings, reduced marketing spend in the second and third quarters, and the absence of an E-commerce platform. The industry continues to benefit from increased customer traffic as consumers are saving money by maintaining their existing vehicles rather than replacing them and miles driven have started to increase again. Although industry data reported by The NPD Group indicates the market grew slightly faster than we did during Fiscal 2009, we believe we can maintain and eventually increase DIY market share based on our recently revamped marketing programs and other initiatives underway in our DIY Transformation.

We have initiatives underway to address both the conversion rate of our existing customers as well as the consideration rate of potential customers. Conversion rate initiatives include the installation of traffic counters and updated phone systems to provide valuable information about the customer experience, improved staffing and
 
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targeting certain stores with specific research and sales development efforts to help us better solve our customers’ problems and leverage the parts availability and merchandising improvements we are making in our stores. Regarding consideration rate, we have made significant changes to our marketing program during the second half of the year which includes a more targeted approach to attract our highest potential customers. We established a title sponsorship with Monster Jam, a live family oriented motorsports event tour and television show highlighted by the racing and freestyle competition of monster trucks. The Monster Jam tour destinations align closely with our store footprint.

Ø  
Availability Excellence

Our Availability Excellence strategy represents our commitment to enhance the breadth and depth of our parts availability in our stores and improve the speed of our parts delivery, in order to help us better serve both our Commercial and DIY customers. In addition to our positive sales results, we believe our ongoing investments and initiatives under this strategy are driving our strong gross profit results. Our gross profit for Fiscal 2009 increased 149 basis points compared to Fiscal 2008, excluding the non-cash inventory adjustment and impact of the 53rd week in Fiscal 2008.

During Fiscal 2009, we made significant progress in capabilities to help drive our sales and gross profit growth, including the continued improvement in parts availability, the strengthening and development of a price optimization capability and implementation of the first phase of our core merchandising system. We also added six net PDQ® facilities and 80 larger stores which stock a wider selection and greater supply of inventory, or HUB stores, to our supply chain network and completed the implementation of engineered standards in all eight of our distribution centers to improve productivity, increase efficiency and ultimately reduce distribution expenses.

We disposed of substantially all of the nonproductive inventory we identified in Fiscal 2008 by the end of Fiscal 2009. We continue to manage our inventory productivity by removing unproductive inventory from our store assortments through utilizing markdown strategies and our vendor return privileges. We expect to manage more effectively the growth in our inventory as compared to our sales growth.

Ø  
Superior Experience

Superior Experience is centered around our store operations and providing superior customer service. The successful rollout and completion of Commercial and DIY initiatives in our stores is greatly dependent on the Superior Experience strategy. The feedback from our customer satisfaction surveys, coupled with our Team Member engagement surveys, provides the evidence of our continued focus and commitment to understand what our customers need and how to engage our Team Members to fulfill that goal. We have a dedicated team of field operations leaders who are leading the rollout of initiatives over our entire store chain in a very disciplined and focused way. These initiatives include improving staffing, structuring operations to more effectively serve both Commercial and DIY customers, providing sales development and coaching and driving gross profit improvements through new battery warranty procedures, better pricing decisions and improved shrink control.

Store Divestiture Plan

For Fiscal 2009, we divested a total of 45 stores that were delivering strategically or financially unacceptable results. These closures were in addition to 10 stores that we closed as part of our routine review and closure of underperforming stores at or near the end of their respective lease terms. During Fiscal 2009, we recognized expenses of $26.1 million related to our store divestiture plan. The majority of this expense was related to the estimated remaining lease obligations at the time of the closures. As of January 2, 2010, we had completed our store divestiture plan. Our total store closures for Fiscal 2010 are estimated at 10 to 15.

Change in Accounting Principle

We have retrospectively adjusted all comparable periods related to cost of sales and SG&A as a result of a change in accounting principle effective January 4, 2009. We changed our accounting for freight and other handling costs associated with transferring merchandise from our HUB stores and PDQ® facilities to our retail stores from recording such costs as SG&A to recording such costs in cost of sales. This change, which had no impact to operating income or cash flows, more accurately reflects the nature of the expense.

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The net adjustment increasing cost of sales and decreasing SG&A was $63.9 million and $62.3 million for Fiscal 2008 and 2007, respectively. For additional information regarding this change, see Note 3, Change in Accounting Principle, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Industry

Challenging macroeconomic conditions continue with the unemployment rate at 9.7%, the highest in over 25 years, and consumer confidence remaining low. Financial results from the leading automotive aftermarket companies suggest that the entire industry is benefiting from the economic downturn because consumers are keeping their vehicles longer, which in turn increases the average age of vehicles and the need to repair and complete routine maintenance on those vehicles. Recent statistics indicate miles driven have increased three straight quarters reversing a negative trend throughout 2008 and early 2009. In addition, gas prices remain well under the historic highs experienced throughout most of 2008 and the average vehicle age continues to rise and is slightly over 10 years.

In summary, the economic environment continues to present mixed results to our industry with opportunities to serve customers in need of parts and other required maintenance but other elective maintenance and accessory purchases being deferred until disposable income returns to higher levels. We believe we can maintain market share and eventually increase our market share in the less fragmented DIY market. We also believe we will continue to significantly increase our market share in the Commercial market where our current market share is less than 5% of the $40 billion Commercial market.

We are pleased with our Fiscal 2009 financial results.  We remain committed to making the necessary investments to help ensure our long-term profitability and the success of our transformation as we strive to become the industry leader.

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 2009, 2008 and 2007. We lease approximately 81% of our stores.

AAP
 
   
Fiscal Year
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Number of stores at beginning of year
    3,243       3,153       2,995  
   New stores
    75       109       175  
   Closed stores
    (54 )     (19 )     (17 )
Number of stores, end of period
    3,264       3,243       3,153  
Relocated stores
    6       10       29  
Stores with commercial delivery programs
    2,868       2,755       2,604  
                         
AI
 
   
Fiscal Year
 
      2009       2008       2007  
Number of stores at beginning of year
    125       108       87  
   New stores
    32       18       21  
   Closed stores
    (1 )     (1 )     -  
Number of stores, end of period
    156       125       108  
Relocated stores
    4       -       -  
Stores with commercial delivery programs
    156       125       108  
 
During Fiscal 2010, we anticipate adding approximately 110 AAP and 40 AI stores and closing 10 to 15 total stores.

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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). Both cooperative advertising allowances and volume rebates 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 since these payments do not represent reimbursements for specific, incremental and identifiable costs. Total deferred vendor incentives included in inventory was $46.3 million at January 2, 2010.

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. Our margins could be impacted positively or negatively if actual purchases or results from any one year differ from our estimates; however, the impact over the life of the agreement would be the same. 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.

Inventory Reserves

Our inventory reserves consist of reserves for projected losses related to shrink and for potentially excess and obsolete inventory. An increase (or decrease) to our inventory reserves is recorded as an increase (or decrease) to our cost of sales.

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 based on results of completed independent physical inventories, results from recent cycle counts and historical and current loss trends. We perform cycle counts in the distribution facilities throughout the year to measure actual shrink and to estimate reserve requirements.  If estimates of our shrink reserves are inaccurate based on the inventory counts, we may be exposed to losses or gains that could be material.
 
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. We also provide reserves when less than full credit is expected from a vendor or when liquidating product will result in retail prices below recorded costs. At the end of Fiscal 2008, we reviewed our inventory productivity and changed our inventory management approach for slow moving inventory. As a result, we increased our reserve for excess and obsolete inventories by $34.1 million, excluding a LIFO and warehousing cost impact of $3.4 million. This non-cash expense was presented as an increase to cost of goods sold in our consolidated statement of operations. With this change in inventory management approach, we intend to more effectively manage slow moving inventory and continue to utilize vendor
 
25

 
return privileges when necessary.
 
Our total inventory reserves decreased by $34.4 million in Fiscal 2009 compared to Fiscal 2008 primarily related to the entire utilization of our reserve for slow moving inventory established in Fiscal 2008 in connection with the change in approach for slow moving inventory. 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 lifecycle 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 January 3, 2009 would have affected net income by approximately $1.8 million for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2010.

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 January 2, 2010 would have affected net income by approximately $1.9 million for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2010.

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 program started in 2001. Our self-insurance reserves for fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007 were $93.7 million, $90.6 million and $85.5 million, respectively.

Each year, our reserve for self-insurance increases over the prior year because each year adds an additional layer of reserves without an equal amount of prior year reserves being fully relieved. Generally, claims have historically taken several years to settle and thus are not relieved at the same rate as additional reserves are added each year. We have experienced an increase in overall claims during the last three years which is generally reflective of our overall growth, including an increase in total stores, team members and Commercial delivery vehicles. While we have seen the severity and frequency of worker’s compensation and general liability claims moderate, the severity and frequency of automobile liability claims have increased primarily due to the significant increase in the number of our commercial delivery vehicles.

Our reserve for claims filed, claims incurred but not yet reported, projected future claims using actuarial methods followed in the insurance industry and our historical claims experience. 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 January 2, 2009 would have affected net income by approximately $5.9 million for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2010.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

We evaluate goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment annually during 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
 
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independent valuation firm.  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.
 
It is our policy to conduct impairment testing based on our current business strategy in light of present industry and economic conditions, as well as our future expectations. 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 that 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. A 10% change in our total goodwill and intangible assets outstanding at January 2, 2010 would have affected net income by approximately $3.8 million for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2010.

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.

These tax reserves contain uncertainties because 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 January 2, 2010 would have affected net income by approximately $1.0 million for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2010.

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. 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 opened for 13 complete accounting periods (approximately one year). We include sales from relocated stores in comparable store sales from the original date of opening. Beginning in Fiscal 2008, we began including in comparable store sales the net sales from the Offshore and AI stores. The comparable periods have been adjusted accordingly. Fiscal 2008 comparable store sales exclude the effect of the 53rd week.

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
 
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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 (v) 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 requirements, 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 to our consolidated financial statements elsewhere in this report for additional discussion of these costs and Note 3 for additional discussion of a change in accounting principle for freight and other handling costs associated with transferring merchandise from HUB stores and PDQ® facilities to our retail stores from recording such costs as SG&A to recording such costs in cost of sales.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

SG&A consists of store payroll, store occupancy (including rent and depreciation), advertising 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 expense, store support center administrative office expenses, data processing, professional expenses, self-insurance costs, closed store expense, impairment charges, if any, and other related expenses. See Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements for additional discussion of these costs and Note 3 for additional discussion of a change in accounting principle.

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
 
   
January 2,
2010
   
January 3,
2009
   
December 29,
2007
 
                   
Net sales
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Cost of sales
    51.1       53.3       53.4  
Gross profit
    48.9       46.7       46.6  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    40.5       38.6       38.0  
Operating income
    8.4       8.1       8.6  
Interest expense
    (0.4 )     (0.7 )     (0.7 )
Other income, net
    0.0       (0.0 )     0.0  
Income tax expense
    3.0       2.8       3.0  
Net income
    5.0       4.6       4.9  
 
 
Fiscal 2009 Compared to Fiscal 2008
 
Net Sales

Net sales for Fiscal 2009 were $5,412.6 million, an increase of $270.4 million, or 5.3%, over net sales for Fiscal 2008. Excluding the $88.8 million impact of the 53rd week in Fiscal 2008, our sales increase was 7.1%. This growth was primarily due to an increase in comparable store sales of 5.3% and sales from the net addition of 52 new AAP and AI stores opened within the last year.
 
AAP produced sales of $5,218.3 million, an increase of $241.7 million, or 4.9%, over Fiscal 2008. Excluding the $86.5 million impact of the 53rd week in Fiscal 2008, AAP’s sales increase was 6.7%. This growth was primarily due to a 5.1% comparable store sales increase and sales from the net addition of 21 new stores opened within the last year. The AAP comparable store sales increase was driven by an increase in average ticket sales and overall customer traffic. AI produced sales of $202.6 million, an increase of $36.9 million, or 22.3%, over Fiscal 2008. Excluding the $2.3 million impact of the 53rd week in Fiscal 2008, AI’s sales increase was 24.0%.  This growth was primarily reflective of a 9.9% comparable store sales increase and sales from the net addition of 31 new stores opened within the last year.

 
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Gross Profit

Gross profit for Fiscal 2009 was $2,644.2 million, or 48.9% of net sales, as compared to $2,399.1 million, or 46.7% of net sales, in Fiscal 2008, or an increase of 220 basis points. Excluding the impacts of the $37.5 million non-cash inventory adjustment and the 53rd week in Fiscal 2008, the increase in gross profit rate was 149 basis points. This increase in gross profit as a percentage of net sales was primarily due to continued investments in pricing and merchandising capabilities (including global sourcing), increased parts availability resulting in the sale of more parts which generally contribute a higher gross profit and improved store execution partially offset by decreased inventory shrink.

SG&A

SG&A expenses for Fiscal 2009 were $2,189.8 million, or 40.5% of net sales, as compared to $1,984.2 million, or 38.6% of net sales, for Fiscal 2008, or an increase of 187 basis points. Store divestiture expenses comprised 48 basis points of the increase in SG&A as a percentage of net sales. The remaining increase was primarily due to:

·  
increased investments in store labor and Commercial sales force;
·  
higher incentive compensation driven by the favorable financial results in fiscal 2009; and
·  
continued investments to improve our gross profit rate and to operate our new e-commerce operation.

These increases were partially offset by lower advertising expenses and occupancy expense leverage. Excluding store divestitures, this increase in SG&A is primarily linked to the targeted investments we are making to support each of our four key strategies which have already begun to yield benefits in our sales and gross profit results. While our transformation will require continued investments in areas such as Commercial, e-commerce and global sourcing, management plans to balance increases in fixed and variable SG&A relative to our sales growth.

Operating Income

Operating income for Fiscal 2009 was $454.4 million, or 8.4% of net sales, as compared to $414.9 million, or 8.1% of net sales, in Fiscal 2008, or an increase of 33 basis points. This increase in operating income, as a percentage of net sales, reflects an increase in gross profit partially offset by higher SG&A. The increase in SG&A reflects many of the investments we are making in our business with short-term benefits already being realized in net sales and gross profit resulting in an overall net increase in profitability. The Fiscal 2009 increase in our operating income also benefited from the $37.5 million non-cash inventory adjustment, partially offset by the approximately $15.8 million impact from the 53rd week, in Fiscal 2008.

AAP produced operating income of $446.8 million, or 8.6% of net sales, for Fiscal 2009 as compared to $410.7 million, or 8.3% of net sales, in Fiscal 2008. AI generated operating income for Fiscal 2009 of $7.6 million as compared to $4.2 million in Fiscal 2008. AI’s operating income increased primarily due to its positive sales results for the year and leverage of supply chain costs as a percentage of net sales.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for Fiscal 2009 was $23.3 million, or 0.4% of net sales, as compared to $33.7 million, or 0.7% of net sales, in Fiscal 2008. The decrease in interest expense as a percentage of sales is primarily a result of lower outstanding borrowings and increased sales during Fiscal 2009.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense for Fiscal 2009 was $161.3 million, as compared to $142.7 million for Fiscal 2008. Our effective income tax rate was 37.4% and 37.5% for Fiscal 2009 and Fiscal 2008, respectively.

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Net Income

Net income for Fiscal 2009 was $270.4 million, or $2.83 per diluted share, for Fiscal 2009, as compared to $238.0 million, or $2.49 per diluted share, for Fiscal 2008. As a percentage of net sales, net income for Fiscal 2009 was 5.0%, as compared to 4.6% for Fiscal 2008. The increase in diluted earnings per share was primarily due to growth in our operating income.

Fiscal 2008 Compared to Fiscal 2007
 
Net Sales

Net sales for Fiscal 2008 were $5,142.3 million, an increase of $297.9 million, or 6.1%, over net sales for Fiscal 2007. The net sales increase was due to contributions from the 107 net new AAP and AI stores opened within Fiscal 2008, $88.8 million in sales from the 53rd week and an increase in comparable store sales of 1.5%.

AAP produced sales of $4,976.6 million, an increase of $267.2 million, or 5.7%, over Fiscal 2007. AAP’s sales increase was primarily driven by a 1.3% comparable store sales increase, $86.5 million in sales from the 53rd week and sales from the 90 net new stores opened within Fiscal 2008. The AAP comparable store sales increase was driven by (i) an increase in average ticket sales and customer traffic in our Commercial business and (ii) an increase in average ticket sales by our DIY customers offset by a decrease in DIY customer count. AI produced sales of $165.7 million, an increase of $30.6 million, or 22.7%, over Fiscal 2007. AI’s sales increase was primarily driven by a 9.2% comparable store sales increase, $2.3 million in sales from the 53rd week and sales from 17 net new stores opened within Fiscal 2008.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for Fiscal 2008 was $2,399.1 million, or 46.7% of net sales, as compared to $2,258.7 million, or 46.6% of net sales, in Fiscal 2007, increasing slightly from an implemented change in accounting principle for costs included in inventory beginning in the first quarter of Fiscal 2009 and retrospectively applied to all prior periods presented herein related to gross profit. Gross profit for Fiscal 2008 reflects a reduction of $37.5 million, or 73 basis points resulting from a non-cash inventory adjustment. Offsetting this reduction in gross profit as a percentage of net sales were improvements in gross profit from more effective pricing, decreased inventory shrink, and higher sales from AI, which generated a higher gross profit rate. The impact on gross profit from the 53rd week was approximately $44.0 million and did not materially affect our gross profit rate.

SG&A

SG&A expenses for Fiscal 2008 were $1,984.2 million, or 38.6% of net sales, as compared to $1,842.3 million, or 38.0% of net sales, for Fiscal 2007, or an increase of 56 basis points. The increase in SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales was driven primarily by investments in strategic initiatives, increased incentive compensation and legal settlement costs partially offset by favorable medical costs. Our SG&A rate for Fiscal 2008 was favorably impacted by approximately 14 basis points from the 53rd week as a result of not including an additional week of fixed expenses that are typically expensed in a 52-week year.

Operating Income

Operating income for Fiscal 2008 was $414.9 million, or 8.1% of net sales, as compared to $416.4 million, or 8.6% of net sales, in Fiscal 2007, or a decrease of 53 basis points. AAP produced operating income of $410.7 million, or 8.3% of net sales, for Fiscal 2008 as compared to $417.2 million, or 8.9% of net sales, in Fiscal 2007. AI generated operating income for Fiscal 2008 of $4.2 million as compared to an operating loss of $0.8 million in Fiscal 2007. Operating income for AI increased primarily due to its positive sales results for the year and a decrease in payroll expense as a percentage of sales. Our overall operating income was reduced by a non-cash inventory adjustment of $37.5 million while results from the 53rd week contributed approximately $15.8 million to our operating income.

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Interest Expense

Interest expense for Fiscal 2008 was $33.7 million, or 0.7% of net sales, as compared to $34.8 million, or 0.7% of net sales, in Fiscal 2007. The decrease in interest expense was a result of lower average borrowing rates partially offset by higher average outstanding borrowings as compared to Fiscal 2007.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense for Fiscal 2008 was $142.7 million, as compared to $144.3 million for Fiscal 2007. Our effective income tax rate was 37.5% and 37.7% for Fiscal 2008 and Fiscal 2007, respectively.

Net Income

Net income for Fiscal 2008 was $238.0 million, or $2.49 per diluted share, as compared to $238.3 million, or $2.28 per diluted share, for Fiscal 2007. As a percentage of net sales, net income for Fiscal 2008 was 4.6%, as compared to 4.9% for Fiscal 2007. The increase in diluted earnings per share was primarily due to a reduced share count as a result of the shares repurchased during Fiscal 2007. Net income and diluted earnings per share for Fiscal 2008 were reduced by the non-cash inventory adjustment of $23.7 million (net of tax) and $0.25, respectively. Our results from the 53rd week contributed approximately $9.6 million of net income and earnings per diluted share of $0.10.

Quarterly Consolidated Financial Results (in thousands, except per share data)

   
16-Weeks
Ended
4/19/2008
   
12-Weeks
Ended
7/12/2008
   
12-Weeks
Ended
10/4/2008
   
13-Weeks
Ended
1/3/2009
   
16-Weeks
Ended
4/25/2009
   
12-Weeks
Ended
7/18/2009
   
12-Weeks
Ended
10/10/2009
   
12-Weeks
Ended
1/2/2010
 
Net sales
  $ 1,526,132     $ 1,235,783     $ 1,187,952     $ 1,192,388     $ 1,683,636     $ 1,322,844     $ 1,262,576     $ 1,143,567  
Gross profit (1)
    724,854       586,282       562,175       525,813       821,988       652,650       621,459       548,129  
Net income
    82,086       75,386       56,155       24,411       93,585       80,330       61,979       34,479  
                                                                 
Net income per share:
                                                               
        Basic
  $ 0.86     $ 0.79     $ 0.59     $ 0.26     $ 0.99     $ 0.84     $ 0.65     $ 0.37  
        Diluted (2)
  $ 0.86     $ 0.78     $ 0.58     $ 0.26     $ 0.98     $ 0.83     $ 0.65     $ 0.36  
 
(1)  
Effective first quarter of Fiscal 2009, we implemented a change in accounting principle for costs included in inventory. Accordingly, we have retrospectively applied the change in accounting principle to all prior periods presented herein related to gross profit.
(2)  
Our diluted earnings per share reported for the second and third quarters of Fiscal 2008 have been reduced by $0.01, respectively, as a result of the adoption of the two-class method. Refer to Footnote 14 of our consolidated financial statements for further discussion of this adoption.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview of Liquidity

Our primary cash requirements to maintain our current operations include payroll and benefits, the purchase of inventory, contractual obligations and capital expenditures as well as the payment of quarterly cash dividends and estimated income taxes. In addition, we have used available funds to repay borrowings under our revolving credit facility and periodically repurchase shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase program. We have funded these requirements primarily through cash generated from operations, supplemented by borrowings under our credit facilities as needed. We believe funds generated from our expected results of operations, available cash and cash equivalents, and available borrowings under our revolving credit facility will be sufficient to fund our primary obligations for the next fiscal year.

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At January 2, 2010, our cash and cash equivalents balance was $100.0 million, an increase of $62.7 million compared to January 3, 2009 (the end of Fiscal 2008). This increase resulted from additional cash flows from operating activities (including higher net income, slower growth in inventory, net of our accounts payable ratio, and increase in deferred income taxes) and a decrease in repurchases of our common stock partially offset by an increase in the net repayment of debt. Additional discussion of our cash flow results is set forth in the Analysis of Cash Flows section.

At January 2, 2010, our outstanding indebtedness was $251.9 million lower when compared to January 3, 2009 and consisted of borrowings of $200.0 million under our term loan, $3.3 million outstanding on an economic development note and $1.0 million outstanding under other financing arrangements. Additionally, we had $99.8 million in letters of credit outstanding, which reduced our total availability under the revolving credit facility to $650.2 million. The letters of credit serve as collateral for our self-insurance policies and routine purchases of imported merchandise.
 
We have 15 lenders participating in our revolving credit facility, each with a commitment of not more than 15% of the total $750 million commitment. All of these lenders have met their contractual funding commitments to us through January 2, 2010. An inability to obtain sufficient financing at cost-effective rates could have a materially adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
 
Capital Expenditures

Our primary capital requirements have been the funding of our continued store expansion program, including new store openings and store acquisitions, store relocations, maintenance of existing stores, the construction and upgrading of distribution centers, and the development of proprietary information systems and purchased information systems. Our capital expenditures were $192.9 million in Fiscal 2009, or $7.9 million more than Fiscal 2008, primarily due to routine spending on our existing stores and information technology investments, partially offset by fewer stores opened and the timing of store development expenditures. During Fiscal 2009, we opened 75 AAP and 32 AI stores, remodeled 13 AAP stores and relocated 6 AAP and 4 AI stores.

Our future capital requirements will depend in large part on the number of and timing for new stores we open or acquire within a given year and the investments we make in information technology and supply chain networks. During Fiscal 2010, we anticipate adding 110 new AAP and 40 new AI stores. We expect to relocate and remodel existing stores only in the normal course of business.

We also plan to make continued investments in the maintenance of our existing stores and supply chain network and to invest in new information systems to support our turnaround strategies, including the multi-year implementation of a merchandising system. In Fiscal 2010, we anticipate that our capital expenditures will be approximately $220.0 million to $240.0 million.

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 Securities and Exchange Commission.

During Fiscal 2009, we repurchased 2.5 million shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $99.6 million, or an average price of $40.36 per share, leaving $89.4 million remaining under our $250 million stock repurchase program, excluding related expenses.

Subsequent to January 2, 2010, our Board of Directors authorized a new $500 million stock repurchase program on February 16, 2010. The new program cancelled and replaced the remaining portion of our previous $250 million stock repurchase program, which was authorized on May 15, 2008. As of February 26, 2010, we have repurchased 1.4 million shares of our common stock at an aggregate cost of $56.2 million, or an average price of $40.40 per share, under our $500 million stock repurchase program.

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Dividend

Our Board of Directors have paid quarterly dividends of $0.06 per share to stockholders of record since fiscal 2006. Subsequent to January 2, 2010, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share to be paid on April 9, 2010 to all common stockholders of record as of March 26, 2010.

Other Liquidity

During the last two years, we have transitioned certain of our merchandise vendors from a vendor financing program to a customer-managed services arrangement, or vendor program. Under this vendor program, a third party provides an accounts payable tracking system which facilitates the participating suppliers’ ability to finance our payment obligations with designated third-party financial institutions. Participating suppliers may, at their sole discretion, make offers to participating financial institutions to finance one or more of our payment obligations prior to their scheduled due dates at a discounted price. Our obligations to suppliers, including amounts due and scheduled payment dates, are not impacted by suppliers’ decisions to finance our accounts payable due to them under this arrangement. Our goal in entering into this arrangement is to capture overall supply chain savings in the form of pricing, payment terms or vendor funding, created by facilitating our suppliers’ ability to finance payment obligations at more favorable discount rates, while providing them with greater working capital flexibility.

Any deterioration in the credit markets could adversely impact our ability to secure funding for any of these programs, which would reduce our anticipated savings, including but not limited to, causing us to increase our borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Analysis of Cash Flows

A summary and analysis of our cash flows for Fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007 is reflected in the table and following discussion.

   
Fiscal Year
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(in millions)
 
Cash flows from operating activities
  $ 699.7     $ 478.7     $ 410.5  
Cash flows from investing activities
    (185.5 )     (181.6 )     (202.1 )
Cash flows from financing activities
    (451.5 )     (274.4 )     (204.9 )
Net increase in cash and
                       
   cash equivalents
  $ 62.7     $ 22.7     $ 3.5  

Operating Activities

For Fiscal 2009, net cash provided by operating activities increased $221.0 million to $699.7 million. This net increase in operating cash was driven primarily by:

·  
a $32.3 million increase in net income, $23.6 million of which represented a non-cash inventory adjustment in Fiscal 2008 (net of tax);
·  
a $69.3 million increase in deferred income taxes;
·  
a $194.5 million increase in cash flows from inventory, net of accounts payable, reflective of our slow down in inventory growth combined with the addition of vendors to our new vendor program (this increase is partially offset by the reduction of financed vendor account payable included under Financing Activities as a result of our vendor program transition); and
·  
a $56.6 million decrease in cash flows resulting from an increase in other working capital, including a $64.0 million decrease in cash flows resulting from the timing of the payment of accrued operating expenses.

For Fiscal 2008, net cash provided by operating activities increased $68.2 million to $478.7 million. This net increase in operating cash was driven primarily by:
 
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·  
a $23.4 million increase in net income exclusive of a $23.6 million non-cash inventory adjustment (net of tax) as a result of our favorable operating income during Fiscal 2008 (inclusive of the approximate $9.6 million impact of the 53rd week); and
·  
a $29.5 million increase in cash flows resulting from the timing of the payment of accrued operating expenses.

Investing Activities

For Fiscal 2009, net cash used in investing activities increased by $3.9 million to $185.5 million. The increase in cash used was primarily due to an increase in routine spending on our existing stores and information technology investments, partially offset by fewer stores opened and the timing of store development expenditures.

For Fiscal 2008, net cash used in investing activities decreased by $20.5 million to $181.6 million.  The decrease in cash used was primarily due to:

·  
a $25.6 million decrease in capital expenditures reflective of a reduction in store development; and
·  
the absence of $6.6 million in insurance proceeds received in Fiscal 2007.

Financing Activities

For Fiscal 2009, net cash used in financing activities increased by $177.1 million to $451.5 million. Cash flows from financing activities increased as a result of a decrease of $119.4 million in repurchases of common stock under our stock repurchase program. Cash flows from financing activities decreased as result of:

·  
a $202.0 million increase in net debt repayments, primarily under our revolving credit facility; and
·  
a $87.1 million decrease in financed vendor accounts payable driven by the transition of our vendors from our vendor financing program to our vendor program.

For Fiscal 2008, net cash used in financing activities increased by $69.6 million to $274.4 million. Cash flows from financing activities increased as a result of a $63.5 million decrease in the repurchase of common stock under our stock repurchase program. Cash flows from financing activities decreased as result of:

·  
a $5.2 million cash outflow resulting from the timing of bank overdrafts;
·  
a $43.2 million decrease in financed vendor accounts payable driven by the transition of our vendors from our vendor financing program to our vendor program;
·  
a reduction of $78.6 million in net borrowings primarily under our credit facilities; and
·  
a $7.3 million decrease in additional tax benefits associated with the decreased number of stock options exercised.

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements

As of January 2, 2010, 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 credit facility and letters of credit outstanding.

Contractual Obligations

In addition to our 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 at January 2, 2010 were as follows:
 
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Contractual Obligations
 
Total
   
Fiscal
2010
   
Fiscal
2011
   
Fiscal
2012
   
Fiscal
2013
   
Fiscal
2014
   
Thereafter
 
(in thousands)
 
Long-term debt (1)
  $ 204,271     $ 1,344     $ 200,972     $ 742     $ 689     $ 524     $ -  
Interest payments
  $ 26,203     $ 14,813     $ 11,310     $ 44     $ 24     $ 12     $ -  
Operating leases(2)
  $ 2,072,671     $ 287,320     $ 250,396     $ 227,551     $ 202,104     $ 171,743     $ 933,557  
Other long-term liabilities(3)
  $ 121,644     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -  
 
(1)  
Long-term debt represents primarily the principal amounts due under our term loan and revolving credit facility, which become due in October 2011.
(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. In accordance with SFAS No. 13, “Accounting for Leases,” as amended by SFAS No. 29, “Determining Contingent Rental” (collectively now under ASC Topic 840), any lease payments that are based upon an existing index or rate, are included in our minimum lease payment calculations.
(3)  
Primarily includes employee benefits accruals, closed store liabilities, unrecognized tax benefits and deferred income taxes for which no contractual payment schedule exists and we expect the payments to occur beyond 12 months from January 2, 2010. During the next 12 months, it is possible that we could conclude on approximately $1 to $2 million of the contingencies associated with these tax uncertainties, a portion of which may be settled in cash and is reflected as a current liability. We do not anticipate any significant impact on our liquidity and capital resources due to the conclusion of these tax matters.

Long Term Debt

Bank Debt

We have a $750 million unsecured five-year revolving credit facility with our wholly-owned subsidiary, Advance Stores Company, Incorporated, or Stores, serving as the borrower. The revolving credit facility also provides for the issuance of letters of credit with a sub limit of $300 million, and swingline loans in an amount not to exceed $50 million. We may request, subject to agreement by one or more lenders, that the total revolving commitment be increased by an amount not exceeding $250 million (up to a total commitment of $1 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 matures on October 5, 2011.

As of January 2, 2010, we had no amount outstanding under our revolving credit facility, and letters of credit outstanding of $99.8 million, which reduced the availability under the revolving credit facility to $650.2 million. (The letters of credit generally have a term of one year or less.) A commitment fee is charged on the unused portion of the revolver, payable in arrears. The current commitment fee rate is 0.150% per annum.

In addition to the revolving credit facility, we had borrowed $200 million under our unsecured four-year term loan as of January 2, 2010. We entered into the term loan with Stores serving as borrower. The proceeds from the term loan were used to repurchase shares of our common stock under our stock repurchase program during Fiscal 2008. The term loan matures on October 5, 2011.

The interest rate on borrowings under the revolving credit facility is based, at our option, on an adjusted LIBOR rate, plus a margin, or an alternate base rate, plus a margin. The current margin is 0.75% and 0.0% per annum for the adjusted LIBOR and alternate base rate borrowings, respectively. Under the terms of the revolving credit facility, the interest rate and commitment fee are based on our credit rating. The interest rate on the term loan is based, at our option, on an adjusted LIBOR rate, plus a margin, or an alternate base rate, plus a margin. The current margin is 1.0% and 0.0% 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. We have elected to use the 90-day adjusted LIBOR rate and have the ability and intent to continue to use this rate on our hedged borrowings. At January 2, 2010, the
 
35


entire portion of our bank debt was hedged through the use of interest rate swaps which effectively fixed our LIBOR at rates ranging from 4.01% to 4.98%.
 
Other

As of January 2, 2010, we had $4.3 million outstanding under an economic development note and other financing arrangements.


Guarantees and Covenants

The term loan and revolving credit facility are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Our debt agreements collectively contain covenants restricting our ability to, among other things:  (1) create, incur or assume additional debt (including hedging arrangements), (2) incur liens or engage in sale-leaseback transactions, (3) make loans and investments, (4) guarantee obligations, (5) engage in certain mergers, acquisitions and asset sales, (6) change the nature of our business and the business conducted by our subsidiaries and (7) change our status as a holding company. 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 these covenants at January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009. Our term loan and revolving credit facility also provide for customary events of default, covenant defaults and cross-defaults to our other material indebtedness.

Credit Ratings

At January 2, 2010, we had credit ratings from Standard & Poor’s of BB+ and from Moody’s Investor Service of Ba1, both of which are unchanged from January 3, 2009. The current outlooks by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s are stable and positive, respectively. The current pricing grid used to determine our borrowing rates under our term loan and revolving credit facility is based on our credit ratings, irrespective of the rating agencies’ outlooks. If these credit ratings decline, our interest expense may increase. Conversely, if these credit ratings improve, our interest expense may decrease. In addition, if our credit ratings decline, our access to financing may become more limited.

Recent Accounting Developments

We adopted several new accounting pronouncements as of the beginning of Fiscal 2009.

Earnings per Share

Earnings per share is determined using the two-class method and is computed by dividing net income attributable to our 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 securities 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. Upon adoption of the two-class method, prior-period earnings per share data presented were adjusted retrospectively if applicable. As a result, our diluted earnings per share decreased by $0.01 for Fiscal 2008 and basic earnings per share decreased by $0.01 for Fiscal 2007. For a complete discussion of our adoption of the two-class method, see Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Report on Form 10-K.

Other

Effective as of the first quarter of Fiscal 2009, we added the expanded disclosures on fair value and hedging activities as provided in Note 8, Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, and Note 9, Fair Value Measurements, respectively, to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Report on Form 10-K.
 

36


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.

We are exposed to cash flow risk due to changes in interest rates with respect to our long-term bank debt as a result of the movements in LIBOR. Our long-term bank debt consists of borrowings under a revolving credit facility and a term loan. While we cannot predict the impact interest rate movements will have on our bank debt, exposure to rate changes is managed through the use of hedging activities.

Our future exposure to interest rate risk is mitigated by utilizing interest rate swaps. At January 2, 2010, our outstanding swaps fixed our LIBOR on an aggregate of $275 million of hedged debt at interest rates ranging from 4.01% to 4.98%. All of the swaps expire in October 2011.

The table below presents principal cash flows and related weighted average interest rates on our long-term bank debt outstanding at January 2, 2010, by expected maturity dates. Additionally, the table includes (i) the notional amounts of our hedged debt, and (ii) the impact of the anticipated average pay and receive rates of our interest rate swaps through their maturity dates. Expected maturity dates approximate contract terms. Weighted average variable rates are based on implied forward rates in the yield curve at January 2, 2010. Implied forward rates should not be considered a predictor of actual future interest rates.

   
Fiscal
2010
   
Fiscal
2011
   
Fiscal
2012
   
Fiscal
2013
   
Fiscal
2014
   
Thereafter
   
Total
   
Fair
Market
Liability
 
Long-term bank debt:
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
                                                 
Variable rate
  $ -     $ 200,000     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 200,000     $ 195,000 (1)
Weighted average
                                                               
    interest rate
    1.7%       3.0%       -       -       -       -       2.1%       -  
                                                                 
Interest rate swap:
                                                               
                                                                 
Variable to fixed(2)
  $ 275,000     $ 275,000     $ -     $ -       -       -       275,000     $ 17,344  
Weighted average pay rate
  4.1%       2.8%       -       -       -       -       3.5%       -  
Weighted average receive rate
  -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
 
(1) The fair value of our bank debt is approximated based on similar issues available to us as of January 2, 2010.
(2) Amounts presented may not be outstanding for the entire year.

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.

37

 
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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 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 January 2, 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information.

None.



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 2010 annual meeting of stockholders to be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended January 2, 2010 (the “2010 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 Interlocks and Insider Participation,” “Compensation Committee Report” and “Executive Compensation” in the 2010 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” and "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" in the 2010 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 "Related-Party Transactions,” and “Corporate Governance” in the 2010 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

See the information set forth in the section entitled “2009 and 2008 Audit Fees” in the 2010 Proxy Statement, which is incorporated herein by reference.


 
 
PART IV

Item 15.   Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
     
 
 
(a) (1)  Financial Statements
 
       
 
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Subsidiaries for the years ended January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007:
 
F-1
 
F-2
 
F-4
 
F-5
 
F-6
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
F-7
  Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
F-9
       
  (2)  Financial Statement Schedules
 
       
  Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 
F-44
  Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of the Registrant
F-45
  Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts 
F-52
       
  (3)  Exhibits
 
       
  The Exhibit Index following the signatures for this report is incorporated herein by reference.  
 
 
 
 

 

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER
FINANCIAL REPORTING


Management of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively the “Company”) 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 accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

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 accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, 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.

As of January 2, 2010, 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 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 January 2, 2010 is effective. 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.

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 January 2, 2010 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
    
March 2, 2010



F-1


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 January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 2, 2010. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements 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 January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 2, 2010, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

As discussed in Notes 2, 14 and 15 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its methods of accounting for computing earnings per share when there are participating securities in 2009 and retrospectively applied it to the periods ended January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007 and for uncertain tax positions in 2007.  As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company implemented a change in accounting principle for costs included in inventory on January 4, 2009 and retrospectively applied it to the consolidated statements of operations, for the periods ended January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007.

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 January 2, 2010, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 2, 2010 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Richmond, Virginia
March 2, 2010





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 January 2, 2010 based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework 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 January 2, 2010, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework 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 as of and for the year ended January 2, 2010 of the Company and our report dated March 2, 2010 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and included an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s adoption of new accounting standards and change in accounting principle for costs included in inventory.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
 
Richmond, Virginia
March 2, 2010
 
 
F-3

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009
(in thousands, except per share data)
 

   
January 2,
   
January 3,
 
Assets
 
2010
   
2009
 
             
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 100,018     $ 37,358  
Receivables, net
    92,560       97,203  
Inventories, net
    1,631,867       1,623,088  
Other current assets
    63,173       49,977  
          Total current assets
    1,887,618       1,807,626  
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of
               
$914,045 and $817,428
    1,100,338       1,071,405  
Assets held for sale
    1,492       2,301  
Goodwill
    34,387       34,603  
Intangible assets, net
    26,419       27,567  
Other assets, net
    22,709       20,563  
    $ 3,072,963     $ 2,964,065  
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
Bank overdrafts
  $ -     $ 20,588  
Current portion of long-term debt
    1,344       1,003  
Financed vendor accounts payable
    32,092       136,386  
Accounts payable
    966,274       791,330  
Accrued expenses
    393,060       372,510  
Other current liabilities
    73,257       43,177  
          Total current liabilities
    1,466,027       1,364,994  
Long-term debt
    202,927       455,161  
Other long-term liabilities
    121,644       68,744  
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;
               
   104,251 shares issued and 93,623 outstanding at January 2, 2010
               
   and 103,000 shares issued and 94,852 outstanding at January 3, 2009
    10       10  
Additional paid-in capital
    392,962       335,991  
Treasury stock, at cost, 10,628 and 8,148 shares
    (391,176 )     (291,114 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (6,699 )     (9,349 )
Retained earnings
    1,287,268       1,039,628  
          Total stockholders' equity
    1,282,365       1,075,166  
    $ 3,072,963     $ 2,964,065  
 
 
The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
are an integral part of these statements.
 
 

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Years Ended January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 

   
Fiscal Years
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(52 weeks)
   
(53 weeks)
   
(52 weeks)
 
                   
Net sales
  $ 5,412,623     $ 5,142,255     $ 4,844,404  
Cost of sales, including purchasing and warehousing costs
    2,768,397       2,743,131       2,585,665  
         Gross profit
    2,644,226       2,399,124       2,258,739  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    2,189,841       1,984,197       1,842,310  
         Operating income
    454,385       414,927       416,429  
Other, net:
                       
     Interest expense
    (23,337 )     (33,729 )     (34,809 )
     Other income (expense), net
    607       (506 )     1,014  
         Total other, net
    (22,730 )     (34,235 )     (33,795 )
Income before provision for income taxes
    431,655       380,692       382,634  
Provision for income taxes
    161,282       142,654       144,317  
Net income
    270,373       238,038       238,317  
                         
Basic earnings per share
  $ 2.85     $ 2.51     $ 2.29  
                         
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 2.83     $ 2.49     $ 2.28  
                         
Average common shares outstanding
    94,459       94,655       103,826  
                         
Average common shares outstanding - assuming dilution
    95,113       95,205       104,637  

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

 
F-5

 
 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
For the Years Ended January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands)
 
   
Preferred Stock
   
Common Stock
   
Additional
Paid-in
   
Trasury Stock,
at cost
   
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
   
Retained
   
Total
Stockholders'
 
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Income (Loss)
   
Earnings
   
Equity
 
Balance, December 30, 2006
    -     $ -       105,351     $ 11     $ 414,153       -     $ -     $ 3,472     $ 613,218     $ 1,030,854  
Net income
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       238,317       238,317  
Changes in net unrecognized other postretirement benefit costs, net of $414 tax
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       636       -       636  
Unrealized loss on hedge arrangement, net of $3,087 tax
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (4,809 )     -       (4,809 )
   Comprehensive income
                                                                            234,144  
Issuance of shares upon the exercise of stock options
    -       -       1,867       -       40,468       -       -       -       -       40,468  
Tax benefit from share-based compensation
    -       -       -       -       11,088       -       -       -       -       11,088  
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures
    -       -       130       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Amortization of restricted stock balance
    -       -       -       -       1,341       -       -       -       -       1,341  
Share-based compensation
    -       -       -       -       16,755       -       -       -       -       16,755  
Stock issued under employee stock purchase plan
    -       -       53       -       1,888       -       -       -       -       1,888  
Treasury stock purchased
    -       -       -       -       -       8,341       (285,869 )     -       -       (285,869 )
Treasury stock retired
    -       -       (6,329 )     (1 )     (211,225 )     (6,329 )     211,225       -       -       (1 )
Cash dividends
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (24,789 )     (24,789 )
Adoption of unrecognized tax position guidance
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (2,275 )     (2,275 )
Other
    -       -       -       -       191       -       -       -       -       191  
Balance, December 29, 2007
    -     $ -       101,072     $ 10     $ 274,659       2,012     $ (74,644 )   $ (701 )   $ 824,471     $ 1,023,795  
Net income
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       238,038       238,038  
Changes in net unrecognized other postretirement benefit costs, net of $52 tax
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       81       -       81  
Unrealized loss on hedge arrangement, net of $5,605 tax
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (8,729 )     -       (8,729 )
   Comprehensive income
                                                                            229,390  
Issuance of shares upon the exercise of stock options
    -       -       1,421       -       31,989       -       -       -       -       31,989  
Tax benefit from share-based compensation
    -       -       -       -       8,405       -       -       -       -       8,405  
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures
    -       -       427       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Amortization of restricted stock balance
    -       -       -       -       4,661       -       -       -       -       4,661  
Share-based compensation
    -       -       -       -       13,046       -       -       -       -       13,046  
Stock issued under employee stock purchase plan
    -       -       80       -       2,801       -       -       -       -       2,801  
Treasury stock purchased
    -       -       -       -       -       6,136       (216,470 )     -       -       (216,470 )
Cash dividends
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (22,881 )     (22,881 )
Other
    -       -       -       -       430       -       -       -       -       430  
Balance, January 3, 2009
    -     $ -       103,000     $ 10     $ 335,991       8,148     $ (291,114 )   $ (9,349 )   $ 1,039,628     $ 1,075,166  
Net income
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       270,373       270,373  
Changes in net unrecognized other postretirement benefit costs, net of $246 tax
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (384 )     -       (384 )
Unrealized gain on hedge arrangement, net of $1,815 tax
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       3,034       -       3,034  
   Comprehensive income
                                                                            273,023  
Issuance of shares upon the exercise of stock options
    -       -       1,090       -       32,723       -       -       -       -       32,723  
Tax benefit from share-based compensation
    -       -       -       -       1,887       -       -       -       -       1,887  
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures
    -       -       110       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Amortization of restricted stock balance
    -       -       -       -       7,287       -       -       -       -       7,287  
Share-based compensation
    -       -       -       -       12,395       -       -       -       -       12,395  
Stock issued under employee stock purchase plan
    -       -       51       -       2,010       -       -       -       -       2,010  
Treasury stock purchased
    -       -       -       -       -       2,480       (100,062 )     -       -       (100,062 )
Cash dividends
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (22,733 )     (22,733 )
Other
    -       -       -       -       669       -       -       -       -       669  
Balance, January 2, 2010
    -     $ -       104,251     $ 10     $ 392,962       10,628     $ (391,176 )   $ (6,699 )   $ 1,287,268     $ 1,282,365  

 
 
The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
are an integral part of these statements.
 
 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Years Ended January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands)
 
   
Fiscal Years
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(52 weeks)
   
(53 weeks)
   
(52 weeks)
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
                 
Net income
  $ 270,373     $ 238,038     $ 238,317  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
                       
operating activities:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
    150,917       146,580       147,264  
Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs
    360       360       236  
Share-based compensation
    19,682       17,707       18,096  
Loss on property and equipment, net
    8,975       2,232       11,066  
Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes
    66,622       (2,702 )     (20,535 )
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation
    (3,219 )     (9,047 )     (11,841 )
Inventory write-down for change in inventory management approach
    -       37,484       -  
Net (increase) decrease in:
                       
Receivables, net
    4,643       (11,943 )     5,951  
Inventories, net
    (8,779 )     (130,657 )     (66,129 )
Other assets
    (15,694 )     (6,178 )     (10,709 )
Net increase in:
                       
Accounts payable
    174,944       102,360       37,383  
Accrued expenses
    20,778       84,806       55,256  
Other liabilities
    10,088       9,699       6,187  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    699,690       478,739       410,542  
Cash flows from investing activities:
                       
Purchases of property and equipment
    (192,934 )     (184,986 )     (210,600 )
Insurance proceeds related to damaged property
    -       -       6,636  
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment
    7,395       6,790       1,821  
Other
    -       (3,413 )     -  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (185,539 )     (181,609 )     (202,143 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
                       
Decrease in bank overdrafts
    (11,060 )     (9,412 )     (4,206 )
(Decrease) increase in financed vendor accounts payable
    (104,294 )     (17,163 )     26,006  
Dividends paid
    (22,803 )     (23,181 )     (25,152 )
Borrowings on note payable
    -       -       4,232  
Payments on note payable
    (685 )     (666 )     -  
Borrowings under credit facilities
    173,400       438,600       495,400  
Payments on credit facilities
    (424,900 )     (488,100 )     (471,200 )
Payment of debt related costs
    -       -       (821 )
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, primarily exercise
                       
of stock options
    35,402       35,220       42,547  
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation
    3,219       9,047       11,841  
Repurchase of common stock
    (100,062 )     (219,429 )     (282,910 )
Other
    292       658       (610 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (451,491 )     (274,426 )     (204,873 )
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    62,660       22,704       3,526  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    37,358       14,654       11,128  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 100,018     $ 37,358     $ 14,654  
 
 
 
The accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements
are an integral part of these statements.

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - (Continued)
For the Years Ended January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands)
 
   
Fiscal Years
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
                   
   
(52 weeks)
   
(53 weeks)
   
(52 weeks)
 
Supplemental cash flow information:
                 
Interest paid
  $ 18,935     $ 27,224     $ 26,112  
Income tax payments, net
    126,391       106,715       158,314  
Non-cash transactions:
                       
Accrued purchases of property and equipment
    28,838       26,299       30,523  
Repurchases of common stock not settled
    -       -       2,959  
Retirement of common stock
    -       -       211,225  
Changes in other comprehensive income (loss)
    2,650       (8,648 )     (4,173 )
Adoption of unrecognized tax position guidance
    -       -       2,275  
Declared but unpaid cash dividends
    5,587       5,657       5,957  

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

 
F-8


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(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”).  The Company operates 3,264 stores within the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Company operates 3,238 stores throughout 39 states in the Northeastern, Southeastern and Midwestern regions of the United States. These stores operate 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’s Commercial customers consist of both walk-in and delivery customers. For Commercial delivery sales, the Company utilizes a fleet of vehicles to deliver product from its 2,868 store locations with delivery service to Commercial customers’ places of business, including independent garages, service stations and auto dealers. In addition, the Company operates 26 stores located in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands under the “Western Auto” and “Advance Auto Parts” trade names.

Autopart International (“AI”) is an independently run subsidiary of Stores and operates 156 stores under the “Autopart International” trade name located primarily throughout the Northeastern region 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. Accordingly, our fiscal year ended January 3, 2009, or Fiscal 2008, included 53 weeks of operations. All other fiscal years presented included 52 weeks of operations.

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 accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 at January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009 were $24,308 and $18,800, 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 $9,528 are included in Other current liabilities at January 2, 2010.




F-9

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
Receivables

       Receivables, net consist primarily of accounts receivables from vendors and commercial customers.  Vendor receivables are recorded based on amounts owed by the Company’s suppliers as provided in incentive agreements and other overall terms of the Company’s purchase agreements. The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts based upon factors related to the credit risk of specific customers or vendors, historical payment trends, current economic conditions and other relevant information regarding the debtor’s ability to pay.  The Company also extends credit to certain Commercial customers through a third-party provider of private label credit cards. Receivables under the private label credit card program are transferred to a third-party provider generally with no recourse.

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). Both cooperative advertising allowances and volume rebates 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 since these payments do not represent reimbursements for specific, incremental and identifiable costs. Total deferred vendor incentives included in Inventory, net was $46,294 and $50,527 at January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009, respectively.

Similarly, the Company recognizes 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. The Company's margins could be impacted positively or negatively if actual purchases or results from any one year differ from its estimates; however, the impact over the life of the agreement would be the same. 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. Total deferred revenue was $11,695 and $12,266 at January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009, respectively. 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.

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

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(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.

On December 31, 2006, the Company adopted the authoritative guidance under ASC Topic 740 for uncertainty in income taxes and upon adoption recorded an increase of $2,275 to the liability for unrecognized tax benefits and a corresponding decrease in its balance of retained earnings.  Accordingly, the Company accounts for uncertainties in income taxes pursuant to this guidance, which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements. 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 derecognition of benefits, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.  Refer to Note 15 for a further discussion of income taxes.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Gross advertising expense incurred was approximately $65,431, $75,321 and $78,823 in Fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

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 and (ii) claims incurred but not yet reported using actuarial methods followed in the insurance industry as well as the Company’s historical claims experience.

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 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 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.
 
 
 
F-11

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue at the time the sale is made, and 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. 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 on a specific product basis. The Company’s reserve for sales returns and allowances was not material at January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009.

Share-Based Payments

The Company provides share-based compensation to its employees 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 uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to value all share-based awards at the date of grant and 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 includes 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 currently holds derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate risk. The Company has designated these derivative instruments as cash flow hedges. The derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value and are included in Other current liabilities and Other long-term liabilities. On a quarterly basis, the Company measures the effectiveness of the derivative financial instruments by comparing the present value of the cumulative change in the expected future interest to be paid or received on the variable leg of the instruments against the expected future interest payments on the corresponding variable rate debt. In addition, the Company compares the critical terms, including notional amounts, underlying indexes and reset dates of the derivative financial instruments with the respective variable rate debt to ensure all terms agree. Any ineffectiveness would be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to other income (expense).
 
Historically, the Company has utilized forward commodity contracts to manage the risk of fluctuating fuel prices. The Company elected to apply the normal purchase election allowed and therefore did not account for these contracts at fair value. The Company does not have any forward commodity contracts outstanding as of January 2, 2010.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The purpose of reporting Accumulated 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 comprehensive income are reported as other comprehensive income and refer to revenues, expenses, gains, and losses that are included in other comprehensive income but excluded from net income.
 
F-12

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
 
The Company’s Accumulated other comprehensive loss is comprised of the effective portion of fair value adjustments of interest rate swap transactions 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.

Testing for impairment is a two-step process. The first step is a review for potential impairment, while the second step measures the amount of impairment, if any. Under the first step, the Company compares the fair value of its reporting units with their respective carrying amounts, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired and the second step of the impairment test is unnecessary. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the impairment test must be performed to measure the amount of impairment loss to be recognized, if any. An impairment loss is recognized when the fair value of goodwill or other intangible asset is below its carrying value.

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. Management utilizes an expected present value technique, which uses a risk-free interest rate and multiple cash flow scenarios reflecting a range of possible outcomes, to estimate the fair value of its long-lived assets. Actual useful lives and cash flows could differ from those estimated by management using these techniques, which could have a material effect on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

F-13

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
Financed Vendor Accounts Payable

The Company is party to a short-term financing program with a bank allowing it to extend its payment terms on certain merchandise purchases. The substance of the program is for the Company to borrow money from the bank to finance purchases from vendors. The Company records any discount given by the vendor to its inventory and accretes this discount to the resulting short-term payable to the bank through interest expense over the extended term. At January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009, $32,092 and $136,386, respectively, was payable to the bank by the Company under this program and is included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as Financed vendor accounts payable.

Earnings per Share

The Company adopted FASB Staff Position, or FSP, EITF 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities,” effective January 4, 2009 (now included in overall earnings per share guidance under ASC Topic 260). FSP EITF 03-6-1 addresses whether instruments granted in share-based payment awards are participating securities prior to vesting, and therefore, need to be included in the earnings allocation when computing 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 participating securities and shall be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. Certain of the Company’s shares granted to employees 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.

Accordingly, earnings per share is determined using the two-class method and 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”).  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 such that renewals are reasonably assured, in which case the Company would 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. 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.

F-14

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. 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 30 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. The term of the lease is generally the initial term of the lease unless external economic factors exist such that renewals are reasonably assured, in which case the renewal period would be included in the lease term for purposes of establishing an amortization period.

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 selling, general and administrative expenses, or 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.

Cost of Sales and Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

The following table illustrates the primary costs classified in each major expense category:
 
F-15

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
Cost of Sales
   
SG&A
 
               
Total cost of merchandise sold including:
 
Payroll and benefit costs for retail and corporate
 
Freight expenses associated with moving
   
team members;
   
merchandise inventories from our vendors to
 
Occupancy costs of retail and corporate facilities;
   
our distribution center,
 
Depreciation related to retail and corporate assets;
 
Vendor incentives, and
 
Advertising;
 
Cash discounts on payments to vendors;
 
Costs associated with our commercial delivery
Inventory shrinkage;
   
program, including payroll and benefit costs,
Defective merchandise and warranty costs;
   
and transportation expenses associated with moving
Costs associated with operating our distribution
   
merchandise inventories from our retail stores to
 
network, including payroll and benefit costs,
   
our customer locations;
 
occupancy costs and depreciation; and
 
Self-insurance costs;
Freight and other handling costs associated with
 
Professional services;
 
moving merchandise inventories through our
 
Other administrative costs, such as credit card
 
supply chain
   
service fees, supplies, travel and lodging;
 
From our distribution centers to our retail
 
Closed store expenses; and
   
store locations, and
 
Impairment charges, if any.
 
From certain of our larger stores which stock a
       
   
wider variety and greater supply of inventory, or
       
   
HUB stores, and Parts Delivered Quickly warehouses,
     
   
or PDQ®s, to our retail stores after the customer
       
   
has special-ordered the merchandise.
       

New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, approved the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, as the single source of authoritative nongovernmental GAAP. All existing accounting standard guidance issued by the FASB, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Emerging Issues Task Force and related literature, excluding guidance from the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, has been superseded by the ASC. All other non-grandfathered, non-SEC accounting literature not included in the ASC has become non-authoritative. The ASC did not change GAAP, but instead introduced a new structure that combines all authoritative standards into a comprehensive, topically organized online database. The ASC was effective for interim or annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.

Accordingly, the Company adopted the ASC as of October 10, 2009 as provided by Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2009-01, “Topic 105 – Generally Accepted Accounting Principles – amendments based on Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification TM and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.” As a result of this adoption, previous references to new accounting standards and literature are no longer applicable. The Company has provided references to both new and old guidance to assist in understanding the impacts of recently adopted accounting literature, particularly for guidance adopted since the beginning of the current fiscal year but prior to the ASC.

Effective October 10, 2009, the Company adopted ASU No. 2009-05, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC Topic 820): Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value.” This ASU provides amendments to ASC Topic 820-10, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures – Overall,” for the fair value measurement of liabilities. It provides clarification that in circumstances in which a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability is not available, a reporting entity is required to measure fair value using (a) a valuation technique that uses the quoted price of the identical liability when traded as an asset or quoted prices for similar liabilities and/or (b) an income approach valuation technique or a market approach valuation technique, consistent with the principles of ASC Topic 820.  The adoption had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

F-16

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
Effective July 18, 2009 (the Company’s second quarter), the Company adopted FSP No. FAS 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly” (currently included in ASC Topic 820-10-65-4). This FSP provides guidance for estimating the fair value of an asset or liability when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased, as well as guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. It also requires disclosure in interim and annual periods of the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value and a discussion of changes in valuation techniques and related inputs, if any, during the period. The adoption had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Effective July 18, 2009 (the Company’s second quarter), the Company adopted FSP No. FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments” (currently included in ASC Topic 825-10-65-1). This FSP amends SFAS No. 107, “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” to require disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods as well as in annual financial statements. This FSP also requires disclosure about the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments and changes in those methods and significant assumptions, if any, during the period. The adoption had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements other than the additional disclosures.

Effective July 18, 2009 (the Company’s second quarter), the Company adopted SFAS No. 165, “Subsequent Events” (currently ASC Topic 855-10).  This statement sets forth general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued.  The Company evaluated all activity through March 2, 2010 (the issuance date of the financial statements) and concluded that no subsequent events have occurred, other than the Company’s subsequent repurchase of its common stock as discussed in Note 13, that would require recognition in the consolidated financial statements or disclosure in the related notes to the consolidated financial statements.
 
In June 2008, the FASB Issued EITF No. 08-3, “Accounting by Lessees for Nonrefundable Maintenance Deposits” (currently ASC Topic 840). EITF 08-3 requires that nonrefundable maintenance deposits paid by a lessee under an arrangement accounted for as a lease be accounted for as a deposit asset until the underlying maintenance is performed. When the underlying maintenance is performed, the deposit may be expensed or capitalized in accordance with the lessee’s maintenance accounting policy. Upon adoption entities must recognize the effect of the change as a change in accounting principle. The adoption of EITF 08-3 had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets” (currently ASC Topic 350), which amends the factors that must be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life over which to amortize the cost of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” The FSP requires an entity to consider its own assumptions about renewal or extension of the term of the arrangement, consistent with its expected use of the asset, and is an attempt to improve consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS 142 and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under SFAS 141, “Business Combinations” (collectively now under ASC Topic 805). The Company adopted the provisions of FSP FAS 142-3 effective January 4, 2009. The adoption of the FSP had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combinations” (collectively now under ASC Topic 805), which replaces SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations.”  SFAS No. 141R, among other things, establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer entity recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any controlling interests in the acquired entity; recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. Costs of the acquisition will be recognized separately from the business combination. SFAS No. 141R applies to business combinations for fiscal years beginning after December
 
F-17

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
15, 2008. The Company will consider this standard when evaluating potential future transactions to which it would apply.

In December 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-16, “Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860) Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets,” which amends the ASC for the issuance of SFAS No. 166, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140.” The amendments in this ASU clarifies the requirements for isolation and limitations on portions of financial assets that are eligible for sale accounting and requires enhanced disclosures about the risks that a transferor continues to be exposed to because of its continuing involvement in transferred financial assets. ASU 2009-16 is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2009. The Company does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

3. Change in Accounting Principle:

Effective January 4, 2009, the Company implemented a change in accounting principle for costs included in inventory. Under the Company’s historical accounting policy, freight and other handling costs (collectively “handling costs”) associated with moving merchandise inventories from our distribution centers to our retail stores and handling costs associated with moving our merchandise inventories from our vendors to our distribution centers were capitalized as inventory and expensed in cost of sales as inventory was sold. However, handling costs associated with moving merchandise inventories from our HUB stores and PDQ®s to our retail stores after a customer had special-ordered the merchandise were expensed as incurred in SG&A.

The change relates to capitalizing handling costs associated with moving merchandise inventories from our HUB stores and PDQ®s to our retail stores, which are now treated as inventory product costs. Such costs are includable in inventory and expensed in cost of sales as inventory is sold because they relate to the acquisition of goods for resale by the Company. The Company has determined that it is preferable to capitalize such handling costs into inventory because it better represents the costs incurred to prepare inventory for sale to the customer and it is consistent with the Company’s treatment of other handling costs associated with moving merchandise inventories from our distribution centers to our retail stores.

The change in accounting principle has been retrospectively applied to all prior periods presented herein related to cost of sales and SG&A. However, because the inventory transferred is typically at the retail store for only one or two days until customer pick-up, the current and historical impact of this change on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, consolidated net income, earnings per share, and consolidated statements of cash flows is not material and, as a result, Inventories, net was not adjusted. Accordingly, there is no impact on any financial statement line items other than cost of sales and SG&A, and there was no cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle on retained earnings. The change in accounting principle was initially reported in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the first quarter of Fiscal 2009. The table below represents the impact of the accounting change on the current period presented and comparable periods presented, respectively:
 
F-18

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
   
Fifty-Two week period ended January 2, 2010
 
   
Prior to Effect
             
   
of Accounting
             
   
Change
   
Adjustments
   
As Reported
 
Cost of sales, including purchasing
                 
and warehousing costs
  $ 2,698,907     $ 69,490     $ 2,768,397  
                         
Gross profit
  $ 2,713,716     $ (69,490 )   $ 2,644,226  
                         
Selling, general and administrative expenses
  $ 2,259,331     $ (69,490 )   $ 2,189,841  
                         
   
Fifty-Three week period ended January 3, 2009
 
   
As Previously
                 
   
Reported
   
Adjustments
   
As Adjusted
 
Cost of sales, including purchasing
                       
and warehousing costs
  $ 2,679,191     $ 63,940     $ 2,743,131  
                         
Gross profit
  $ 2,463,064     $ (63,940 )   $ 2,399,124  
                         
Selling, general and administrative expenses
  $ 2,048,137     $ (63,940 )   $ 1,984,197  
                         
   
Fifty-Two week period ended December 29, 2007
 
   
As Previously
                 
   
Reported
   
Adjustments
   
As Adjusted
 
Cost of sales, including purchasing
                       
and warehousing costs
  $ 2,523,435     $ 62,230     $ 2,585,665  
                         
Gross profit
  $ 2,320,969     $ (62,230 )   $ 2,258,739  
                         
Selling, general and administrative expenses
  $ 1,904,540     $ (62,230 )   $ 1,842,310  

4. Store Closures and Impairment:

During Fiscal 2009, the Company closed 55 stores and relocated 10 stores, 45 of which were designated under the store divestiture plan. The remaining store closures were part of the Company’s routine review and closure of underperforming stores at or near the end of their respective lease terms. The store divestiture plan consisted of a review of operating stores to identify locations for potential closing based on both financial and operating factors. These factors included cash flow, profitability, strategic market importance, store full potential and current lease rates.

During Fiscal 2009, the Company recognized $27,725 of total expense associated with its closed store activities, $26,057 of which was divestiture related, or divestiture expense.  For Fiscal 2009, divestiture expense included closed store exit costs of $21,121. The closed store exit costs primarily included the establishment of the liability for future lease obligations as well as severance. 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 (reduced by the present value of estimated revenues from subleases and lease buyouts). New provisions are established by a charge to SG&A in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations at the time the facilities actually close.

A summary of the Company’s closed store liabilities, which are recorded in Accrued expenses (current portion) and Other long-term liabilities (long-term portion) in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet, are presented in the following table:
 
F-19

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
   
Lease
Obligations
   
Severance and
Other Exit
   
Total
 
For the fifty-three weeks ended January 3, 2009:
                 
                   
Closed Store Liabilities, December 29, 2007
  $ 2,485     $ -     $ 2,485  
Reserves established
    4,650       -       4,650  
Change in estimates
    638       -       638  
Reserves utilized
    (2,706 )     -       (2,706 )
Closed Store Liabilities, January 3, 2009
  $ 5,067     $ -     $ 5,067  
                         
For the fifty-two weeks ended January 2, 2010:
                       
                         
Closed Store Liabilities, January 3, 2009
  $ 5,067     $ -     $ 5,067  
Reserves established
    20,739       777       21,516  
Change in estimates
    (365 )     -       (365 )
Reserves utilized
    (5,070 )     (777 )     (5,847 )
Closed Store Liabilities, January 2, 2010
  $ 20,371     $ -     $ 20,371  
 
The Company’s ending closed store liabilities at January 2, 2010 included $18,050 related to the store divestiture plan.

The Company also included impairment charges of $4,936 in its total divestiture expense during Fiscal 2009.  These charges primarily consisted of the impairment of certain store assets contained in leased store locations of the AAP segment identified as part of the store divestiture plan.  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. Accordingly, the Company determined that the carrying amounts of the assets were considered to not be recoverable based on the stores’ closure and /or projected inability to produce sufficient cash flows.

The impairment was determined based on the excess of the assets’ carrying value as compared to their fair value as determined by the income approach.  Under this approach, the Company utilized internal cash flow projections over the life of the underlying lease agreements discounted based on a risk-free rate of return.  This impairment charge is included in SG&A of the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

5. Inventories, net:

Merchandise Inventory

The Company uses the LIFO method of accounting for approximately 95% of inventories at January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009, respectively. The Company’s overall costs to acquire inventory for the same or similar products have generally decreased historically due to the Company’s significant growth and execution of merchandise strategies. As a result of utilizing LIFO, the Company recorded a reduction to cost of sales of $16,040 and $11,055 for Fiscal 2009 and Fiscal 2007, respectively. The Company recorded an increase to cost of sales of $12,555 for Fiscal 2008 primarily due to commodity inflation experienced in Fiscal 2008.

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.


F-20

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
Inventory Overhead Costs

Purchasing and warehousing costs included in inventory, at FIFO, at January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009, were $104,761 and $104,594, respectively.

Inventory Balances and Inventory Reserves

Inventory balances at year-end for Fiscal 2009 and Fiscal 2008 were as follows:
 
   
January 2,
   
January 3,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Inventories at FIFO, net
  $ 1,534,610     $ 1,541,871  
Adjustments to state inventories at LIFO
    97,257       81,217  
Inventories at LIFO, net
  $ 1,631,867     $ 1,623,088  

Inventory quantities are tracked through a perpetual inventory system. The Company uses a cycle counting program in all distribution centers and PDQ®s to ensure the accuracy of the perpetual inventory quantities of both merchandise and product core inventory. For our retail stores, the Company completes physical inventories in addition to periodic cycle counts to ensure the accuracy of the perpetual inventory quantities of both merchandise and core inventory in these locations. The Company establishes reserves for estimated shrink based on results of completed physical inventories, results from recent cycle counts and historical and current loss trends.

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 provides reserves when less than full credit is expected from a vendor or when liquidating product will result in retail prices below recorded costs. At the end of Fiscal 2008, the Company reviewed its inventory productivity and changed its inventory management approach for slow moving inventory. As a result, the Company increased its reserve for excess and obsolete inventories by $34,084, excluding a LIFO and warehousing cost impact of $3,400. With this change in inventory management approach, the Company intends to more effectively manage slow moving inventory and utilize vendor return privileges when necessary. During Fiscal 2009, the Company utilized substantially all of the reserve established in Fiscal 2008 for its change in approach for slow moving inventory.

The following table presents changes in the Company’s inventory reserves for years ended January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007:
 
   
January 2,
   
January 3,
   
December 29,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2007
 
                   
Inventory reserves, beginning of period
  $ 62,898     $ 35,565     $ 31,376  
Additions to inventory reserves
    63,133       113,605       106,387  
Reserves utilized
    (97,545 )     (86,272 )     (102,198 )
Inventory reserves, end of period
  $ 28,486     $ 62,898     $ 35,565  


F-21


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
6. Goodwill and Intangible Assets:

Goodwill

The following table reflects the carrying amount of goodwill pertaining to the Company’s two segments, and the changes in goodwill carrying amounts, for the years ended January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009, respectively:

   
AAP Segment
   
AI Segment
   
Total
 
                   
Balance at December 29, 2007
  $ 16,093     $ 17,625     $ 33,718  
Fiscal 2008 activity
    -       885       885  
Balance at January 3, 2009
  $ 16,093     $ 18,510     $ 34,603  
Fiscal 2009 activity
    -       (216 )     (216 )
Balance at January 2, 2010
  $ 16,093     $ 18,294     $ 34,387  
 
During Fiscal 2008, AI recorded goodwill in the amount of $885 and a subsequent reduction of $216 in Fiscal 2009 in connection with an acquisition of a small retail chain.

 Intangible Assets Other Than Goodwill

The carrying amount and accumulated amortization of acquired intangible assets as of January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009 are comprised of the following:

   
Acquired intangible assets
       
               
Not Subject
       
   
Subject to Amortization
   
to Amortization
       
   
Customer
         
Trademark and
   
Intangible
 
   
Relationships
   
Other
   
Tradenames
   
Assets, net
 
Gross:
                       
Gross carrying amount at December 29, 2007
  $ 9,600     $ 885     $ 18,800     $ 29,285  
Additions
    200       -       1,750       1,950  
Gross carrying amount at January 3, 2009
  $ 9,800     $ 885     $ 20,550     $ 31,235  
Additions
    -       -       -       -  
Gross carrying amount at January 2, 2010
  $ 9,800     $ 885     $ 20,550     $ 31,235  
                                 
Net:
                               
Net carrying amount at December 29, 2007
  $ 7,464     $ 580     $ 18,800     $ 26,844  
Additions
    200       -       1,750       1,950  
2008 amortization
    (1,098 )     (129 )     -       (1,227 )
Net carrying amount at January 3, 2009
  $ 6,566     $ 451     $ 20,550     $ 27,567  
Additions
    -       -       -       -  
2009 amortization
    (1,023 )     (125 )     -       (1,148 )
Net carrying amount at January 2, 2010
  $ 5,543     $ 326     $ 20,550     $ 26,419  
 
During the second quarter of Fiscal 2008, AI acquired certain customer relationships for $200 in connection with an acquisition of a small retail chain.

During the first quarter of Fiscal 2008, the Company acquired from a Kentucky entity for $1,750 the limited territorial rights the Kentucky entity had in the “Advance Auto Parts” trademark, ownership of certain websites and
 

 
F-22

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
access to the Louisville, Kentucky market. This acquisition improved the Company’s trademark rights, opened a new metropolitan market for the Company and is expected to increase traffic to the Company’s website.

   
FY 2009
   
FY 2008
   
FY 2007
 
Amortization expense
  $ 1,148     $ 1,227     $ 1,082  
 
Future Amortization Expense

The table below shows expected amortization expense for the next five years for acquired intangible assets recorded as of January 2, 2010:

Fiscal Year
 
Amount
2010
 
 $           1,054
2011
 
                 967
2012
 
                 967
2013
 
                 967
2014
 
                 967
 
7. Receivables, net:
 
Receivables consist of the following:
 
   
January 2,
   
January 3,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
             
Trade
  $ 16,389     $ 17,843  
Vendor
    79,006       81,265  
Other
    2,801       3,125  
Total receivables
    98,196       102,233  
Less:  Allowance for doubtful accounts
    (5,636 )     (5,030 )
Receivables, net
  $ 92,560     $ 97,203  
 

8.  Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities:

Current outstanding interest rate swaps have fixed the Company’s interest rate on an aggregate of $275,000 of hedged debt at rates ranging from 4.01% to 4.98%. The Company elects to receive interest payments based on the 90-day adjusted LIBOR interest rate and has the intent and ability to continue to use this rate on its hedged borrowings. Accordingly, the Company does not recognize any ineffectiveness on the swaps. All of the Company’s interest rate swaps expire in October 2011.

The fair value of these interest rate swaps are determined based on a forward yield curve and the contracted interest rates stated in the interest rate swap agreements. The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swaps was an unrecognized loss of $17,344 and $21,979, at January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009, respectively, which is reflected in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Any amounts received or paid under these hedges are recorded in the consolidated statement of operations during the accounting period the interest on the hedged debt is paid. Based on the estimated current and future fair values of the hedge arrangements at January 2, 2010, the Company estimates amounts currently included in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) pertaining to the interest rate swaps that will be reclassified and recorded in the consolidated statement of operations in the next 12 months will consist of a net loss of $10,700.

F-23

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as well as their classification on the consolidated balance sheets as of January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009:
 
 
Liability Derivatives
 
 
Balance Sheet
 
Fair Value as of
   
Fair Value as of
 
 
Location
 
January 2, 2010
   
January 3, 2009
 
Derivatives designated as hedging
             
instruments:
             
Interest rate swaps
Accrued expenses
  $ 10,700     $ 9,222  
Interest rate swaps
Other long-term liabilities
    6,644       12,757  
      $ 17,344     $ 21,979  
 
The table below presents the effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments on the statement of operations for Fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively:

Derivatives in
Cash Flow
Hedging
Relationships
 
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)
 
                       
2009
                     
                       
Interest rate swaps
  $ 3,034  
Interest expense
  $ (6,618 )
Other income (expense), net
  $ (130 )
                             
2008
                           
                             
Interest rate swaps
  $ (8,729 )
Interest expense
  $ (2,152
Interest expense
  $ -  
                             
2007
                           
                             
Interest rate swaps
  $ (4,809 )
Interest expense
  $ 523  
Interest expense
  $ -  
 
The Company reclassified $213 from accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings during fiscal 2009 in connection with the $75,000 repayment of the Company’s revolver.  The amount reclassified to earnings represents an estimate of the forecasted interest that will not be paid as a result of the revolver repayment. The Company intends to reborrow $75,000 on its revolver subsequent to January 2, 2010 and will redesignate the applicable interest rate swap at that time.

Forward Contracts

During Fiscal 2009 and 2008, the Company hedged approximately 50% and 70%, respectively, of its diesel fuel consumption. All of these agreements expired during 2009.


F-24


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
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, 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.

The following table sets forth the Company’s financial liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis during the 2009 fiscal year, including at January 2, 2010:
 
 
       
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
         
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
 
                         
         
Quoted Prices in
         
Significant
 
   
Fair Value at
   
Active Markets for
   
Significant Other
   
Unobservable
 
   
January 2, 2010
   
Identical Assets
   
Observable Inputs
   
Inputs
 
                         
Interest rate swaps
  $ 17,344     $ -     $ 17,344     $ -  
 
The fair value of these interest rate swaps at January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009, respectively, was an unrecognized loss of $17,344 and $21,979. The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swaps is mainly based on observable interest rate yield curves for similar instruments.

The carrying amount of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, bank overdrafts, financed vendor accounts payable, 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. As of January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009, the fair value of the Company’s long-term debt with a carrying value of $202,927 and $455,161, respectively, was approximately $195,000 and $374,000, respectively, and was based on similar long-term debt issues available to the Company as of that date. The fair value of the Company’s fixed rate debt was determined by using an assumed market interest rate commensurate with the Company’s credit risk.


F-25

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
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). The Company recorded an impairment charge of $4,936 during Fiscal 2009 to reduce certain store assets in its store divestiture plan to their estimated fair value of zero.  The fair values were determined based on the income approach, in which the Company utilized internal cash flow projections over the life of the underlying lease agreements discounted based on a risk-free rate of return.  These measures of fair value, and related inputs, are considered a level 3 approach under the fair value hierarchy.  There were no other changes related to level 3 assets.

10.  Long-term Debt:

Long-term debt consists of the following:

   
January 2, 
2010
   
January 3, 
2009
 
Senior Debt:
           
Revolving credit facility at variable interest rates
           
(4.81% at January 3, 2009) due October 2011
  $ -     $ 251,500  
Term loan at variable interest rates
               
(1.31% and 3.02% at January 2, 2010 and January 3,
               
2009, respectively) due October 2011
    200,000       200,000  
Other
    4,271       4,664  
      204,271       456,164  
Less: Current portion of long-term debt
    (1,344 )     (1,003 )
Long-term debt, excluding current portion
  $ 202,927     $ 455,161  

Bank Debt

The Company has a $750,000 unsecured five-year revolving credit facility with Stores serving as the borrower. The 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 exceeding $250,000 (up to a total commitment of $1,000,000) 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 matures on October 5, 2011.

As of January 2, 2010, the Company had no amount outstanding under its revolving credit facility, and letters of credit outstanding of $99,805, which reduced the availability under the revolving credit facility to $650,195. (The letters of credit generally have a term of one year or less.) A commitment fee is charged on the unused portion of the revolver, payable in arrears. The current commitment fee rate is 0.150% per annum.

As January 2, 2010, the Company had $200,000 outstanding under its unsecured four-year term loan. The Company entered into the term loan in Fiscal 2007 with Stores serving as borrower. The term loan matures on October 5, 2011.

The interest rate on borrowings under the revolving credit facility is based, at the Company’s option, on an adjusted LIBOR rate, plus a margin, or an alternate base rate, plus a margin. The current margin is 0.75% and 0.0% per annum for the adjusted LIBOR and alternate base rate borrowings, respectively. The Company has elected to use the 90-day adjusted LIBOR rate and has the ability and intent to continue to use this rate on its hedged borrowings. Under the terms of the revolving credit facility, the interest rate and commitment fee are based on the Company’s credit rating.

F-26

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
The interest rate on the term loan is based, at the Company’s option, on an adjusted LIBOR rate, plus a margin, or an alternate base rate, plus a margin. The current margin is 1.0% and 0.0% per annum for the adjusted LIBOR and alternate base rate borrowings, respectively. The Company has elected to use the 90-day adjusted LIBOR rate and has the ability and intent to continue to use this rate on its hedged borrowings. Under the terms of the term loan, the interest rate is based on the Company’s credit rating.

Other

As of January 2, 2010, the Company had $4,271 outstanding under an economic development note and other financing arrangements.

Guarantees and Covenants

The term loan and revolving credit facility are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Advance. The Company’s debt agreements collectively contain covenants restricting its ability to, among other things:  (1) create, incur or assume additional debt (including hedging arrangements), (2) incur liens or engage in sale-leaseback transactions, (3) make loans and investments, (4) guarantee obligations, (5) engage in certain mergers, acquisitions and asset sales, (6) change the nature of the Company’s business and the business conducted by its subsidiaries and (7) change Advance’s status as a holding company. 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 these covenants at January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009. The Company’s term loan and revolving credit facility also provide for customary events of default, covenant defaults and cross-defaults to its other material indebtedness.

At January 2, 2010, the aggregate future annual maturities of long-term debt instruments are as follows:
 
Fiscal Year
 
Amount
 
2010
  $ 1,344  
2011
    200,972  
2012
    742  
2013
    689  
2014
    524  
Thereafter
    -  
    $ 204,271  

 
11.  Property and Equipment:

Property and equipment consists of the following:
 
 
 
F-27

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
 
 
 
Original
Useful Lives
 
January 2,
2010
   
January 3,
2009
 
Land and land improvements
0 - 10 years
  $ 313,938     $ 289,682  
Buildings
30 years
    363,992       351,603  
Building and leasehold improvements
3 - 30 years
    245,137       229,372  
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
2 - 10 years
    972,817       897,778  
Vehicles
2 - 10 years
    24,424       25,545  
Construction in progress
      82,837       90,195  
Other
      11,238       4,658  
        2,014,383       1,888,833  
Less - Accumulated depreciation
      (914,045 )     (817,428 )
Property and equipment, net
    $ 1,100,338     $ 1,071,405  
 
Depreciation expense was $149,769, $145,353 and $146,182 for Fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The Company capitalized approximately $4,657, $2,388 and $2,274 incurred for the development of internal use computer software during Fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, 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.

12.  Accrued Expenses:

Accrued expenses consist of the following:
   
January 2,
   
January 3,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Payroll and related benefits
  $ 90,493     $ 75,471  
Warranty reserves
    30,387       28,662  
Capital expenditures
    28,838       26,299  
Self-insurance reserves
    93,706       90,554  
Taxes payable
    54,861       69,714  
Other
    94,775       81,810  
Total accrued expenses
  $ 393,060     $ 372,510  
 
Additional information appears below regarding the Company’s accrued expenses for warranty reserves and self-insurance reserves.

Warranty Reserves

The following table presents changes in the Company’s warranty reserves:
 
   
January 2,
   
January 3,
   
December 29,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2007
 
                   
Warranty reserves, beginning of period
  $ 28,662     $ 17,757     $ 13,069  
Additions to warranty reserves
    36,440       38,459       24,722  
Reserves utilized
    (34,715 )     (27,554 )     (20,034 )
Warranty reserves, end of period
  $ 30,387     $ 28,662     $ 17,757  
 
 
 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
Effective December 30, 2007, the Company began including in its warranty reserve the warranty obligation on certain other products sold in addition to batteries. A portion of this obligation is funded by the Company’s vendors.

Self-insurance Reserves

The following table presents changes in the Company’s self-insurance reserves:

   
January 2,
   
January 3,
   
December 29,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2007
 
                   
Self-insurance reserves, beginning of period
  $ 90,554     $ 85,523     $ 71,519  
Additions to self-insurance reserves
    102,571       89,315       102,641  
Reserves utilized
    (99,419 )     (84,284 )     (88,637 )
Self-insurance reserves, end of period
  $ 93,706     $ 90,554     $ 85,523  

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 Securities and Exchange Commission.

During Fiscal 2009, the Company repurchased 2,467 shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $99,567, or an average price of $40.36 per share, under its $250,000 stock repurchase program leaving $89,406 remaining under this program, excluding related expenses. Since the inception of the $250,000 stock repurchase program, the Company has repurchased 4,040 shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $160,594, or an average price of $39.75, excluding related expenses. Additionally, the Company repurchased 12 shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $495 in connection with the net settlement of shares issued from the lapse of restricted stock.

During Fiscal 2008, the Company repurchased 6,136 shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $216,470, or an average price of $35.28 per share, of which 4,563 shares of common stock were repurchased under the previous $500,000 stock repurchase program. Additionally, the Company settled $2,959 on shares repurchased at the end of Fiscal 2007.

Subsequent to January 2, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new $500,000 stock repurchase program on February 16, 2010. The new program cancelled and replaced the remaining portion of its previous $250,000 stock repurchase program, which was authorized on May 15, 2008. As of February 26, 2010, the Company has repurchased 1,392 shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $56,236, or an average price of $40.40 per share, under its $500,000 stock repurchase program.

14.  Earnings per Share:

Certain of the Company’s shares granted to employees 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 2009, 2008 and 2007, earnings of $1,382, $875 and $225, respectively, were allocated to the participating securities exclusive of any cash dividends already reflected in net income.

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”). Diluted earnings per share are calculated by including the effect of dilutive securities. Share-based awards to purchase approximately 1,224, 2,747 and 2,549 shares of common stock that had an exercise price in excess of the average market price of the common stock during Fiscal 2009, 2008 and
 
 
 
F-29

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
2007, respectively, were not included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share because they are anti-dilutive.

The following table illustrates the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for Fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively:
 
   
Fiscal Year Ended
 
   
January 2,
   
January 3,
   
December 29,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2007
 
Numerator
 
(52 weeks)
   
(53 weeks)
   
(52 weeks)
 
Net income applicable to common shares
  $ 270,373     $ 238,038     $ 238,317  
Participating securities' share in earnings
    (1,382 )     (875 )     (225 )
Net income applicable to common shares
  $ 268,991     $ 237,163     $ 238,092  
Denominator
                       
Basic weighted average common shares
    94,459       94,655       103,826  
Dilutive impact of share based awards
    654       550       811  
Diluted weighted average common shares
    95,113       95,205       104,637  
                         
Basic earnings per common share
                       
Net income applicable to common stockholders
  $ 2.85     $ 2.51     $ 2.29  
Diluted earnings per common share
                       
Net income applicable to common stockholders
  $ 2.83     $ 2.49     $ 2.28  
 
Earnings per share for Fiscal 2008 and 2007 were adjusted retrospectively due to the application of the two-class method rather than the treasury method for the earnings per share calculation. As a result, diluted earnings per share were decreased by $0.01 for Fiscal 2008 and basic earnings per share were decreased by $0.01 for Fiscal 2007.

15. Income Taxes:

Provision for Income Taxes

Provision (benefit) for income taxes from continuing operations for Fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007 consists of the following:

     
Current
   
Deferred
   
Total
 
2009-            
 
Federal
  $ 87,198     $ 58,085     $ 145,283  
 
State
    7,462       8,537       15,999  
      $ 94,660     $ 66,622     $ 161,282  
2008-                
 
Federal
  $ 128,952     $ (1,435 )   $ 127,517  
 
State
    16,404       (1,267 )     15,137  
      $ 145,356     $ (2,702 )   $ 142,654  
2007-                
 
Federal
  $ 143,726     $ (17,444 )   $ 126,282  
 
State
    21,126       (3,091 )     18,035  
      $ 164,852     $ (20,535 )   $ 144,317  


F-30

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
The provision (benefit) for income taxes differed from the amount computed by applying the federal statutory income tax rate due to:
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes
                 
  at statutory U.S. federal income tax rate (35%)
  $ 151,079     $ 133,242     $ 133,922  
State income taxes, net of federal
   income tax benefit
    10,400       9,839       11,723  
Non-deductible expenses
    3,077       2,177       1,181  
Valuation allowance
    (614 )     491       221  
Other, net
    (2,660 )     (3,095 )     (2,730 )
 
  $ 161,282     $ 142,654     $ 144,317  
 
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:

   
January 2,
   
January 3,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Deferred income tax assets
  $ 104,078     $ 100,177  
Valuation allowance
    (1,273 )     (1,887 )
Deferred income tax liabilities
    (209,658 )     (136,942 )
Net deferred income tax liabilities
  $ (106,853 )   $ (38,652 )
 
At January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009, the Company had cumulative net deferred income tax liabilities of $106,853 and $38,652, respectively. The deferred income tax assets also include state net operating loss carry-forwards, or NOLs, of approximately $2,057 and $2,581, respectively. These NOLs may be used to reduce future taxable income and expire periodically through Fiscal 2027. Due to uncertainties related to the realization of certain deferred tax assets for NOLs in certain jurisdictions, the Company recorded a valuation allowance of $1,273 as of January 2, 2010 and $1,887 as of January 3, 2009. The amount of deferred income tax assets realizable, however, could change in the future if projections of future taxable income change.

Temporary differences which give rise to significant deferred income tax assets (liabilities) are as follows:

F-31

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
   
January 2,
   
January 3,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Current deferred income tax assets (liabilities):
           
Inventory valuation differences
  $ (114,510 )   $ (94,373 )
Accrued medical and workers compensation
    30,015       28,527  
Accrued expenses not currently deductible for tax
    26,674       28,394  
Net operating loss carryforwards
    445       510  
Other, net
    5,168       3,606  
Total current deferred income tax assets (liabilities)
  $ (52,208 )   $ (33,336 )
                 
Long-term deferred income tax assets (liabilities):
               
Property and equipment
    (95,148 )     (42,569 )
Postretirement benefit obligation
    3,042       3,612  
Share-based compensation
    19,872       17,562  
Closed store related
    5,428       -  
Net operating loss carryforwards
    1,612       2,071  
Valuation allowance
    (1,273 )     (1,887 )
Other, net
    11,822       15,895  
Total long-term deferred income tax assets (liabilities)
  $ (54,645 )   $ (5,316 )
 
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 January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007:
 
   
January 2,
   
January 3,
   
December 29,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2007
 
Unrecognized tax benefits, beginning of period
  $ 13,797     $ 14,145     $ 16,453  
Increases related to prior period tax positions
    896       514       1,279  
Decreases related to prior period tax positions
    (711 )     (1,280 )     (1,853 )
Increases related to current period tax positions
    1,475       1,882       5,340  
Settlements
    (3,527 )     (317 )     (539 )
Expiration of statute of limitations
    (817 )     (1,147 )     (271 )
Unrecognized tax benefits, end of period
  $ 11,113     $ 13,797     $ 20,409  
 
As of January 2, 2010, the entire amount of unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would reduce the Company’s annual effective tax rate.

The Company has chosen to provide for potential interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as a part of income tax expense. During Fiscal 2009, the Company recorded potential interest and penalties of $1,066 and $18, respectively, related to these unrecognized tax benefits. During Fiscal 2008, the Company recorded potential interest and penalties of $1,550 and $207, respectively. During Fiscal 2007, the Company recorded potential interest and penalties of $1,827 and $709. As of January 2, 2010, the Company had recorded a liability for potential interest and penalties of $3,918 and $442, respectively. As of January 3, 2009, the Company had recorded a liability for potential interest and penalties of $5,022 and $1,743, respectively. As of December 29, 2007, the Company had recorded a liability for potential interest and penalties of $4,421 and $1,843, respectively, which was included in the above table. The Company has not provided for any penalties associated with tax contingencies unless considered probable of assessment. The Company does not expect its unrecognized tax benefits to change
 
 
F-32

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
significantly over the next 12 months.

During the next 12 months, it is possible the Company could conclude on approximately $1,000 to $2,000 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. The Internal Revenue Service completed an examination of the Company’s 2006 and 2007 tax return. The 2008 and 2009 tax years remain open to exam by the Internal Revenue Service. The Company has no state examinations open for tax years prior to 2005. With limited exceptions, the 2006 and subsequent years remain subject to examination by state tax authorities.

16.  Lease Commitments:

At January 2, 2010, future minimum lease payments due under non-cancelable operating leases with lease terms ranging from 1 year to 30 years through the year 2039 for all open stores are as follows:
 
Fiscal Year
 
Amount
 
2010
  $ 287,320  
2011
    250,396  
2012
    227,551  
2013
    202,104  
2014
    171,743  
Thereafter
    933,557  
    $ 2,072,671  
 
The Company anticipates its future minimum lease payments will be partially off-set by future minimum sub-lease income. At January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009, future minimum sub-lease income to be received under non-cancelable operating leases is $4,266 and $5,042, respectively.

Net Rent Expense

Net rent expense for Fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007 was as follows:

   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Minimum facility rentals
  $ 272,686     $ 261,315     $ 245,135  
Contingent facility rentals
    729       642       730  
Equipment rentals
    4,738       4,338       5,490  
Vehicle rentals
    21,403       17,202       14,572  
      299,556       283,497       265,927  
Less:  Sub-lease income
    (3,652 )     (3,940 )     (4,038 )
    $ 295,904     $ 279,557     $ 261,889  
 
Rent expense associated with closed locations is included in SG&A.


F-33

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)

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.
 
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 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. To date, these products have included brake and clutch parts and roofing materials. 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 most 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 was 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 affect on its operating results, financial position and liquidity. 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 employees.  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.

      The Company has entered into employment agreements with certain Team Members that provide severance pay benefits under certain circumstances, including termination of employment of the Team Member by the Company. The maximum contingent liability under these employment agreements is approximately $12,872 and $11,850 at January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009, respectively, for which no amount has been accrued.

18.  Benefit Plans:

401(k) Plan

The Company maintains a defined contribution Team Member 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 $9,277, $9,117 and $8,234 in Fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
 
F-34

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
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. At January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009 these liabilities were $6,966 and $4,097, respectively.
 
Postretirement Plan

The Company provides certain health and life insurance benefits for eligible retired Team Members through a postretirement plan, or Plan. These 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.

Funded Status of Benefit Obligations

The following table provides a reconciliation of the accrued postretirement benefit obligation recorded, included in Other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, and the funded status of the Plan as of January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009:

   
2009
   
2008
 
Change in benefit obligation:
           
Benefit obligation at beginning of the year
  $ 7,750     $ 8,763  
Interest cost
    456       581  
Benefits paid
    (1,047 )     (767 )
Actuarial gain
    (47 )     (827 )
Benefit obligation at end of the year
    7,112       7,750  
Change in plan assets:
               
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of the year
    -       -  
Employer contributions
    1,047       767  
Participant contributions
    743       868  
Benefits paid
    (1,790 )     (1,635 )
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
    -       -  
Funded status of plan
  $ (7,112 )   $ (7,750 )
 
Net periodic postretirement benefit cost is as follows:
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
                   
Service cost
  $ -     $ -     $ -  
Interest cost
    456       581       550  
Amortization of the prior service cost
    (581 )     (677 )     (581 )
Amortization of recognized net gains
    (96 )     (16 )     -  
    $ (221 )   $ (112 )   $ (31 )
 
The health care cost trend rate was assumed to be 9.1% for 2010, 8.7% for 2011, 8.4% for 2012, 8.0% for 2013, 7.7% for 2014, 7.3% for 2015 and 6.9% to 4.5% for 2016 and thereafter. If the health care cost were increased 1% for all future years the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation would have increased by $161 as of January 2, 2010. The effect of this change on the combined service and interest cost would have been an increase of $11 for Fiscal 2009. If the health care cost were decreased 1% for all future years the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation would have decreased by $146 as of January 2, 2010. The effect of this change on the combined service
 
 
 
F-35

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
and interest cost would have been a decrease of $10 for Fiscal 2009.

The postretirement benefit obligation and net periodic postretirement benefit cost was computed using the following weighted average discount rates as determined by the Company’s actuaries for each applicable year:
 
 
2009
 
2008
       
Postretirement benefit obligation
6.25%
 
6.00%
Net periodic postretirement benefit cost
5.00%
 
6.25%
 
The Company expects plan contributions to completely offset benefits paid. The following table summarizes the Company's expected benefit payments (net of retiree contributions) to be paid for each of the following fiscal years:

   
Amount
2010
 
 $          789
2011
 
             811
2012
 
             816
2013
 
             806
2014
 
             819
2015-2019
 
          2,931
 
At January 2, 2010, the net unrealized gain on the Plan consists of an unrealized gain of $4,112 related to prior service cost and an unrealized net gain of $1,799 related to actuarial gains. Approximately $581 of the unrealized gain related to prior service cost and $103 related to the actuarial gain are expected to be recognized as a component of Net periodic postretirement benefit cost in Fiscal 2010.

The Company reserves the right to change or terminate the employee benefits or Plan contributions at any time. Any changes in the Plan or revisions to assumptions that affect the amount of expected future benefits may have a material impact on the amount of the reported obligation, annual expense and projected benefit payments.

19.  Share-Based Compensation:

Overview

The Company grants share-based compensation awards to its employees and members of its Board of Directors as provided for under the Company’s 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan, or LTIP. Prior to Fiscal 2007, the Company granted equity compensation to its employees in the form of fixed stock options and deferred stock units, or DSUs, that vested over time. Beginning in Fiscal 2007, the Company phased out the granting of stock options by primarily granting stock appreciation rights, or SARs, and restricted stock (considered nonvested stock under ASC Topic 718), which also vest over time.

During the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2008, the Company shifted its annual LTIP grant cycle from the first quarter to the fourth quarter of the fiscal year, which will enable performance targets and awards to be put in place prior to the commencement of the performance period. Therefore, the Company made two annual share-based grants during Fiscal 2008.

General Terms of Awards

Time Vested Awards
 
The terms of the SARs granted are similar in several respects to the stock options previously granted. The SARs generally vest over a three-year period in equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date, with the exception of SARs granted to the Company’s Chief Executive
 
 
F-36

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
Officer, or CEO, and Chief Financial Officer, or CFO, hired in early Fiscal 2008. The 2008 grants to the Company’s CEO and CFO awarded at their initial date of employment provide for 25% of the SARs to vest immediately with exercise restrictions during the first year, and the remainder of the award to vest in equal installments over a three-year period, consistent with all other Company SARs granted. 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.
 
Restricted stock granted during Fiscal 2007 vests at the end of a three-year period. During this period, holders of restricted stock are entitled to receive dividends and voting rights. The shares are restricted until they vest and cannot be sold by the recipient until the restriction has lapsed at the end of the three-year period. Beginning in Fiscal 2008, all restricted stock generally granted vests over a three-year period in equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date (with the exception of certain shares of restricted stock granted to the Company’s CEO and CFO hired in early Fiscal 2008, which vest at the end of a three-year period following the grant date).
 
Performance-Based Awards
 
Beginnin in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2008, each grant of share-based compensation is comprised of SARs and restricted stock, including a 75% time-service portion and 25% performance-based portion which collectively represent the target award. Each performance award may vest following a three-year period subject to the Company’s achievement of certain financial goals. The performance 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 0% to 200% of the target shares.

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 upon the exercise of stock options, as well as when employees purchase stock under the employee stock purchase plan, or ESPP. 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 January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007 as follows:    
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Share-based compensation expense
  $ 19,682     $ 17,707     $ 18,096  
Deferred income tax benefit
    7,361       6,640       6,822  
                         
Cash received upon exercise and from ESPP
    35,402       35,220       42,547  
Excess tax benefit share-based compensation
    3,219       9,047       11,841  
 
As of January 2, 2010, there was $29,180 of unrecognized compensation expense related to all share-based awards that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.0 years.

Time-Based Share Awards

Stock Appreciation Rights and Stock Options
 
The fair value of each SAR and stock option was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:
 
 
F-37

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
Black-Scholes Option Valuation Assumptions (1)
 
2009
 
2008
 
2007
             
Risk-free interest rate (2)
 
1.6%
 
2.5%
 
4.8%
Expected dividend yield
 
0.6%
 
0.8%
 
0.6%
Expected stock price volatility (3)
 
39.2%
 
32.3%
 
29.0%
Expected life of awards (in months) (4)
 
                50
 
              50
 
              51
 
(1)  
Forfeitures are based on historical experience.
(2)  
The risk-free interest rate is based on a U.S. Treasury constant maturity interest rate whose term is consistent with the expected life of the Company’s awards.
(3)  
Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock for the period consistent with the expected life of the Company’s awards.
(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.

The following table summarizes the time-vested fixed stock option and time-vested SARs activity for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2010:

 
   
Number of
Awards
   
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
   
Weighted-
Average
Remaining Contractual
Term (in years)
   
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
 
                         
Outstanding at January 3, 2009
    6,254     $ 33.95              
Granted
    519       40.79              
Exercised
    (1,249 )     31.38              
Forfeited
    (248 )     33.96              
Outstanding at January 2, 2010
    5,276     $ 35.20       4.33     $ 28,313  
                                 
Vested and expected to vest
    5,076     $ 35.22       4.26     $ 27,098  
                                 
Outstanding and exercisable
    3,132     $ 35.60       3.47     $ 15,379  
 
The weighted average fair value of SARs and stock options granted during the fiscal years ended January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007, was $12.98, $8.66 and $11.39 per share, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value reflected in the table is based on the Company’s closing stock price of $40.48 as of the last trading day of the period ended January 2, 2010. The aggregate intrinsic value of options and SARs (the amount by which the market price of the stock on the date of exercise exceeded the exercise price) exercised during the fiscal years ended January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007, was $12,704, $25,890 and $33,179, respectively.






F-38


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
Restricted Stock

The following table summarizes the restricted stock activity for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2010:

   
Number of
Awards
   
Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
   
 
   
 
 
                         
Nonvested at January 3, 2009
    555     $ 33.28              
Granted
    148       39.53              
Vested
    (107 )     37.86              
Forfeited
    (37 )     34.50              
Nonvested at January 2, 2010
    559     $ 35.40      
 
         
 
The fair value of each 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 shares granted during Fiscal 2009 and 2008 was $39.53 and $32.21 per share, respectively. The total grant date fair value of shares vested during Fiscal 2009 and 2008 was approximately $3,238 and $53, respectively.

Performance-Based Awards

Performance-Based SARs

The following table summarizes the performance-based SARs activity for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2010:

   
Number of
Awards
   
Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
   
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Terms (in years)
   
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
 
                         
Outstanding at January 3, 2009
    271     $ 25.81              
Granted
    172       40.79              
Change in units based on performance      842        25.87              
Vested
    -        -              
Forfeited
    (74 )     26.29              
Outstanding at January 2, 2010
    1,211     $ 29.13       6.06     $ 14,946  
                                 
Expected to vest      824     $ 27.56       5.95     $ 10,852  
 
The weighted average fair value of performance-based SARs granted during the fiscal years ended January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009 was $12.98 and $8.66 per share, respectively. There were no exercisable performance SARs at January 2, 2010.



F-39


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
The fair value of performance-based SARs was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
 
Black-Scholes Option Valuation Assumptions (1)
 
2009
     
Risk-free interest rate (2)
 
1.6%
Expected dividend yield
 
0.6%
Expected stock price volatility (3)
 
39.2%
Expected life of awards (in months) (4)
 
                50

(1)  
Forfeitures are based on historical experience.
(2)  
The risk-free interest rate is based on a U.S. Treasury constant maturity interest rate whose term is consistent with the expected life of the Company’s performance-based SARs.
(3)  
Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock for the period consistent with the expected life of the Company’s performance-based SARs.
(4)  
The expected life of the Company’s performance-based SARs represents the estimated period of time until exercise and is based on historical experience of previously granted awards.

Performance-Based Restricted Stock

The following table summarizes the performance-based restricted stock activity for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2010:

   
Number of
Awards
   
Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
   
 
   
 
 
                         
Nonvested at January 3, 2009
    49     $ 25.81              
Granted
    35       40.52              
Change in units based on performance       183        26.07              
Vested
    -       -              
Forfeited
    (13 )     26.71              
Nonvested at January 2, 2010
    254     $ 29.08      
 
         
 
Compensation expense associated with performance-based SARs and performance-based restricted stock for Fiscal 2009 and 2008 was calculated using management’s current estimate of performance targets under its 2004 Plan. During Fiscal 2008, the Company did not recognize compensation expense for performance-based awards since vesting was not considered probable as of January 3, 2009. Compensation expense for anticipated performance-based awards based on results achieved versus performance goals was $4,276 in Fiscal 2009.

Deferred Stock Units

The Company grants share-based awards annually to its Board of Directors in connection with its annual meeting of stockholders. The Company grants 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 vest evenly over a twelve-month period following the grant date.  Prior to Fiscal 2009, the DSUs vested immediately upon issuance.  The DSUs are held on behalf of the director until he or she ceases to be a director. The DSUs are then distributed to the director following his or her last date of service. 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 employees of the Company. These deferred stock units are settled in common stock with the participants at a future date, or over a specified time period
 
 
 
F-40

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
as elected by the participants in accordance with the DSU Plan.

The Company granted 19 DSUs in Fiscal 2009. The weighted average fair value of DSUs granted during Fiscal 2009, 2008, and 2007 was $44.18, $38.94, and $41.64, 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 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively, the Company recognized a total of $850, $480, and $344 on a pre-tax basis, in compensation expense for these DSU grants.

LTIP Availability

At January 2, 2010, there were 2,252 shares of common stock currently available for future issuance under the 2004 Plan. The Company issues new shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options and SARs.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company also offers an ESPP. Eligible Team Members may purchase the Company’s common stock at 95% of its fair market value on the date of purchase. There are annual limitations on Team Member elections of either $25 per Team Member or ten percent of compensation, whichever is less. Under the plan, Team Members acquired 51, 80 and 53 shares in Fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. At January 2, 2010, there were 1,277 shares available to be issued under the plan.

20.  Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
 
Comprehensive income is computed as net earnings plus certain other items that are recorded directly to shareholders’ 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 2007, 2008 and 2009 consisted of the following:
 
   
Unrealized Gain
(Loss) on Hedging
Arrangements
   
Unrealized Gain (Loss)
on Postretirement
Plan
   
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
Balance, December 30, 2006
  $ 156     $ 3,316     $ 3,472  
Fiscal 2007 activity
    (4,809 )     636       (4,173 )
Balance, December 29, 2007
  $ (4,653 )   $ 3,952     $ (701 )
Fiscal 2008 activity
    (8,729 )     81       (8,648 )
Balance, January 3, 2009
  $ (13,382 )   $ 4,033     $ (9,349 )
Fiscal 2009 activity
    3,034       (384 )     2,650  
Balance, January 2, 2010
  $ (10,348 )   $ 3,649     $ (6,699 )
 
21.  Segment and Related Information:
 
The Company has the following two reportable segments: AAP and AI. The AAP segment is comprised of store operations within the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands which operate 3,264 stores under the trade names “Advance Auto Parts,” “Advance Discount Auto Parts” and “Western Auto.” 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 AI segment consists solely of the operations of Autopart International, which operates as an independent, wholly-owned subsidiary and operates stores under the “Autopart International” trade name. AI mainly serves the Commercial market from its 156 store locations primarily throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. In
 
 
F-41

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
addition, its North American Sales Division services warehouse distributors and jobbers throughout North America.

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 the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies in Note 2.

The following table summarizes financial information for each of the Company's business segments for the years ended January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009, respectively.
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Net Sales
                 
AAP
  $ 5,218,317     $ 4,976,603     $ 4,709,390  
AI
    202,575       165,652       135,014  
Eliminations (1)
    (8,269 )     -       -  
Total net sales
  $ 5,412,623     $ 5,142,255     $ 4,844,404  
                         
Percentage of Sales, by Product Group
                       
in AAP Segment (2)
                       
Parts and Batteries
    60%       58%       57%  
Accessories
    15%       17%       18%  
Chemicals
    11%       12%       12%  
Oil
    10%       9%       9%  
Other
    4%       4%       4%  
Total
    100%       100%       100%  
                         
Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for
                       
 income taxes
                       
AAP
  $ 424,075     $ 376,464     $ 383,392  
AI
    7,580       4,228       (758 )
Total income (loss) before provision (benefit) for
                       
 income taxes
  $ 431,655     $ 380,692     $ 382,634  
                         
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
                       
AAP
  $ 158,386     $ 140,838     $ 144,579  
AI
    2,896       1,816       (262 )
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes
  $ 161,282     $ 142,654     $ 144,317  
                         
Segment assets
                       
AAP
  $ 2,902,646     $ 2,807,486     $ 2,663,791  
AI
    170,317       156,579       141,775  
Total segment assets
  $ 3,072,963     $ 2,964,065     $ 2,805,566  
                         
Depreciation and amortization
                       
AAP
  $ 145,506     $ 141,202     $ 142,194  
AI
    5,411       5,378       5,070  
Total depreciation and amortization
  $ 150,917     $ 146,580     $ 147,264  
                         
Capital expenditures
                       
AAP
  $ 186,607     $ 180,623     $ 203,486  
AI
    6,327       4,363       7,114  
Total capital expenditures
  $ 192,934     $ 184,986     $ 210,600  


 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
(1)  
For Fiscal 2009, eliminations represent net sales of $3,764 from AAP to AI and $4,505 from AI to AAP.
(2)  
Sales by product group are not available for the AI segment.

22. Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited):

The following table summarizes quarterly financial data for Fiscal 2009 and 2008:

2009
 
First
   
Second
   
Third
   
Fourth
 
   
(16 weeks)
   
(12 weeks)
   
(12 weeks)
   
(12 weeks)
 
Net sales
  $ 1,683,636     $ 1,322,844     $ 1,262,576     $ 1,143,567  
Gross profit
    821,988       652,650       621,459       548,129  
Net income
    93,585       80,330       61,979       34,479  
                                 
Basic earnings per share
    0.99       0.84       0.65       0.37  
Diluted earnings per share
    0.98       0.83       0.65       0.36  
                                 
2008
 
First
   
Second
   
Third
   
Fourth
 
   
(16 weeks)
   
(12 weeks)
   
(12 weeks)
   
(13 weeks)
 
Net sales
  $ 1,526,132     $ 1,235,783     $ 1,187,952     $ 1,192,388  
Gross profit (1)
    724,854       586,282       562,175       525,813  
Net income
    82,086       75,386       56,155       24,411  
                                 
Basic earnings per share
    0.86       0.79       0.59       0.26  
Diluted earnings per share (2)
    0.86       0.78       0.58       0.26  
 
(1)  
Effective first quarter 2009, the Company implemented a change in accounting principle for costs included in inventory. Accordingly, the Company has retrospectively applied the change in accounting principle to all prior periods presented herein related to gross profit. Refer to Footnote 3 of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for further discussion of this change.
(2)  
The Company’s diluted earnings per share reported for the second and third quarters of Fiscal 2008 have been reduced by $0.01, respectively, as a result of the adoption of the two-class method. Refer to Footnote 14 of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for further discussion of this adoption.

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 round to per share amounts for the year.



F-43

 
 
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 consolidated financial statements of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009, and for each of the three years in the period ended January 2, 2010, and the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2010, and have issued our reports thereon dated March 2, 2010 (which expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and includes an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s adoption of new accounting standards and change in accounting principle for costs included in inventory); such consolidated financial statements and reports are included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. These consolidated financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, such consolidated 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.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
 
Richmond, Virginia
March 2, 2010








F-44


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
Condensed Parent Company Balance Sheets
January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
   
January 2,
   
January 3,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 23     $ 23  
Other current assets
    6,321       -  
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation
    8       37  
Other assets, net
    1,086       5  
Investment in subsidiary
    2,212,221       1,927,219  
Total assets
  $ 2,219,659     $ 1,927,284  
                 
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
               
Accrued expenses
  $ 8,107     $ 120  
Dividends payable
    5,587       5,657  
Intercompany payable, net
    923,600       846,341  
Total liabilities
    937,294       852,118  
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; 104,251 shares issued and 93,623 outstanding
               
in 2009 and 103,000 issued and 94,852 outstanding in 2008
    10       10  
Additional paid-in capital
    392,962       335,991  
Treasury stock, at cost, 10,628 and 8,148 shares
    (391,176 )     (291,114 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (6,699 )     (9,349 )
Retained earnings
    1,287,268       1,039,628  
Total stockholders' equity
    1,282,365       1,075,166  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 2,219,659     $ 1,927,284  
                 
 
The accompanying notes to the condensed parent company financial information
are an integral part of this schedule.
 
 
 
 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
Condensed Parent Company Statements of Operations
For the Years Ended January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
   
Fiscal Years
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(52 Weeks)
   
(53 Weeks)
   
(52 Weeks)
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
  $ 30,228     $ 23,761     $ 166  
Other income, net
    31,438       24,551       -  
Income (loss) before (benefit) provision for income taxes
    1,210       790       (166 )
Income tax (benefit) provision
    (208 )     714       (60 )
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of subsidiaries
    1,418       76       (106 )
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
    268,955       237,962       238,423  
Net income
  $ 270,373     $ 238,038     $ 238,317  
                         
Basic earnings per share
  $ 2.85     $ 2.51     $ 2.29  
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 2.83     $ 2.49     $ 2.28  
                         
Average common shares outstanding
    94,459       94,655       103,826  
Average common shares outstanding - assuming dilution
    95,113       95,205       104,637  
                         
 
 
The accompanying notes to the condensed parent company financial information
are an integral part of this schedule.
 
 
 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
Condensed Parent Company Statements of Cash Flows
For the Years Ended January 2, 2010, January 3, 2009 and December 29, 2007
(in thousands)
 
   
Fiscal Years
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(52 Weeks)
   
(53 Weeks)
   
(52 Weeks)
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
                 
Net income
  $ 270,373     $ 238,038     $ 238,317  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
                       
  provided (used in) by operations:
                       
Equity in earnings of subsidiary
    (268,955 )     (237,962 )     (238,423 )
Depreciation
    29       30       -  
Net decrease (increase) in working capital
    585       85       (24 )
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    2,032       191       (130 )
Cash flows from investing activities:
                       
Change in net intercompany with subsidiaries
    (2,032 )     (191 )     130  
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
    (2,032 )     (191 )     130  
Cash flows from financing activities:
    -       -       -  
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    -       -       -  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    23       23       23  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $ 23     $ 23     $ 23  
                         
Supplemental cash flow information:
                       
Interest paid
  $ -     $ -     $ -  
Income taxes paid, net
    -       -       -  
Noncash transactions:
                       
Repurchase of Parent's common stock by Stores
  $ 100,062     $ 219,429     $ 282,910  
Retirement of common stock
    -       -       211,225  
Proceeds received by Stores from stock transactions under the
                       
Parent's stock subscription plan and Stores' stock option plan
    35,402       35,220       42,547  
Cash dividends paid by Stores on behalf of Parent
    22,803       23,181       25,152  
Declared but unpaid cash dividends
    5,587       5,657       5,957  
Changes in other comprehensive income (loss)
    2,650       (8,648 )     (4,173 )
Adoption of unrecognized tax position guidance
    -       -       2,275  

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

F-47


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
Notes to the Condensed Parent Company Statements
January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009
(in thousands, except per share data)

1. Presentation

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.

2. Organization

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (“the Company”) is a holding company, which is the 100% shareholder of Advance Stores Company, Incorporated and its subsidiaries ("Stores") during the periods presented. The parent/subsidiary relationship between the Company and Stores includes certain related party transactions. These transactions consist primarily of 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. Effective Fiscal 2008, the Company and its subsidiaries realigned duties and responsibilities within its overall organization that resulted in certain operating expenses being included in and recognized at the parent company level.

The Company fully and unconditionally guarantees the term loan and revolving credit facility of Stores. These debt agreements do 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 January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009.

3. 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. Accordingly, our fiscal year ended January 3, 2009, or Fiscal 2008, included 53 weeks of operations. All other fiscal years presented included 52 weeks of operations.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 provides share-based compensation to its employees 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 uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to value all share-based awards at the date of grant and the straight-line method to amortize this fair value as compensation cost over the requisite service period.
 
 
See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for Additional Disclosures.
 
 
F-48

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
Notes to the Condensed Parent Company Statements
January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009
(in thousands, except per share data)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The purpose of reporting Accumulated 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 comprehensive income are reported as other comprehensive income and 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 loss is comprised of the effective portion of fair value adjustments of interest rate swap transactions and the net unrealized gain associated with the Company’s postretirement benefit plan.

Earnings per Share

The Company adopted FASB Staff Position, or FSP, EITF 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities,” effective January 4, 2009 (now included in overall earnings per share guidance under ASC Topic 260). FSP EITF 03-6-1 addresses whether instruments granted in share-based payment awards are participating securities prior to vesting, and therefore, need to be included in the earnings allocation when computing 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 participating securities and shall be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. Certain of the Company’s shares granted to employees 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.

Accordingly, earnings per share is determined using the two-class method and 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”).  Diluted earnings per share are calculated by including the effect of dilutive securities.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. 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 30 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. The term of the lease is generally the initial term of the lease unless external economic factors exist such that renewals are reasonably assured, in which case the renewal period would be included in the lease term for purposes of establishing an amortization period.
 
 
See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for Additional Disclosures.
 
 
F-49

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
Notes to the Condensed Parent Company Statements
January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009
(in thousands, except per share data)
New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, approved the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, as the single source of authoritative nongovernmental GAAP. All existing accounting standard guidance issued by the FASB, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Emerging Issues Task Force and related literature, excluding guidance from the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, has been superseded by the ASC. All other non-grandfathered, non-SEC accounting literature not included in the ASC has become non-authoritative. The ASC did not change GAAP, but instead introduced a new structure that combines all authoritative standards into a comprehensive, topically organized online database. The ASC was effective for interim or annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.

Accordingly, the Company adopted the ASC as of October 10, 2009 as provided by Accounting Standards Update, or ASU, No. 2009-01, “Topic 105 – Generally Accepted Accounting Principles – amendments based on Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification TM and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.” As a result of this adoption, previous references to new accounting standards and literature are no longer applicable. In the current quarter financial statements, the Company has provided references to both new and old guidance to assist in understanding the impacts of recently adopted accounting literature, particularly for guidance adopted since the beginning of the current fiscal year but prior to the ASC.

Effective October 10, 2009, the Company adopted ASU No. 2009-05, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (ASC Topic 820): Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value.” This ASU provides amendments to ASC Topic 820-10, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures – Overall,” for the fair value measurement of liabilities. It provides clarification that in circumstances in which a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability is not available, a reporting entity is required to measure fair value using (a) a valuation technique that uses the quoted price of the identical liability when traded as an asset or quoted prices for similar liabilities and/or (b) an income approach valuation technique or a market approach valuation technique, consistent with the principles of ASC Topic 820.  The adoption did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Effective July 18, 2009 (the Company’s second quarter), the Company adopted FSP No. FAS 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly” (currently included in ASC Topic 820-10-65-4). This FSP provides guidance for estimating the fair value of an asset or liability when the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability have significantly decreased, as well as guidance on identifying circumstances that indicate a transaction is not orderly. It also requires disclosure in interim and annual periods of the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value and a discussion of changes in valuation techniques and related inputs, if any, during the period. The adoption had no significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Effective July 18, 2009 (the Company’s second quarter), the Company adopted FSP No. FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments” (currently included in ASC Topic 825-10-65-1). This FSP amends SFAS No. 107, “Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” to require disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods as well as in annual financial statements. This FSP also requires disclosure about the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments and changes in those methods and significant assumptions, if any, during the period. The adoption had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements other than the additional disclosures.
 
Effective July 18, 2009 (the Company’s second quarter), the Company adopted SFAS No. 165, “Subsequent Events” (currently ASC Topic 855-10).  This statement sets forth general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued.  The Company evaluated
 
See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for Additional Disclosures.
 
F-50

 
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT
Notes to the Condensed Parent Company Statements
January 2, 2010 and January 3, 2009
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
all activity through March 2, 2010 (the issuance date of the financial statements) and concluded that no subsequent events have occurred, other than the Company’s subsequent repurchase of its common stock, that would require recognition in the consolidated financial statements or disclosure in the related notes to the consolidated financial statements.
 
In June 2008, the FASB Issued EITF No. 08-3, “Accounting by Lessees for Nonrefundable Maintenance Deposits” (currently ASC Topic 840). EITF 08-3 requires that nonrefundable maintenance deposits paid by a lessee under an arrangement accounted for as a lease be accounted for as a deposit asset until the underlying maintenance is performed. When the underlying maintenance is performed, the deposit may be expensed or capitalized in accordance with the lessee’s maintenance accounting policy. Upon adoption entities must recognize the effect of the change as a change in accounting principle. The adoption of EITF 08-3 had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets” (currently ASC Topic 350), which amends the factors that must be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life over which to amortize the cost of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” The FSP requires an entity to consider its own assumptions about renewal or extension of the term of the arrangement, consistent with its expected use of the asset, and is an attempt to improve consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS 142 and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under SFAS 141, “Business Combinations” (collectively now under ASC Topic 805). The Company adopted the provisions of FSP FAS 142-3 effective January 4, 2009. The adoption of the FSP had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combinations” (collectively now under ASC Topic 805), which replaces SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations.”  SFAS No. 141R, among other things, establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer entity recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any controlling interests in the acquired entity; recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. Costs of the acquisition will be recognized separately from the business combination. SFAS No. 141R applies to business combinations for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company will consider this standard when evaluating potential future transactions to which it would apply.

In December 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-16, “Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860) Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets,” which amends the ASC for the issuance of SFAS No. 166, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140.” The amendments in this ASU clarifies the requirements for isolation and limitations on portions of financial assets that are eligible for sale accounting and requires enhanced disclosures about the risks that a transferor continues to be exposed to because of its continuing involvement in transferred financial assets. ASU 2009-16 is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2009. The Company does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
 
See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for Additional Disclosures.


F-51


ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
 
 
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable:
 
Balance at
Beginning of
Period
   
Charges to
Expenses
   
Deductions
     
Other
   
Balance at
End of
Period
 
December 29, 2007
  $ 4,640     $ 996     $ (1,649 ) (1)   $ -     $ 3,987  
January 3, 2009
    3,987       3,340       (2,297 ) (1)     -       5,030  
January 2, 2010
    5,030       3,444       (2,838 ) (1)     -       5,636  
____________________________________
(1)  
Accounts written off during the period. These amounts did not impact the Company’s statement of operations for any year presented.


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-52

 
 
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: March 2, 2010      
       
     
 
 
 
 
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
March 2, 2010
Darren R. Jackson
 
   and Director (Principal
 
   
   Executive Officer)
 
       
/s/ Michael A. Norona
 
Executive Vice President and Chief
March 2, 2010
Michael A. Norona
 
   Financial Officer (Principal
 
   
   Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
       
/s/ John C. Brouillard
 
Chairman and Director
March 2, 2010
John C. Brouillard
     
       
/s/ John F. Bergstrom
 
Director
March 2, 2010
John F. Bergstrom
     
       
/s/ Fiona Dias
 
Director
March 2, 2010
Fiona Dias
     
       
/s/ Frances X. Frei
 
Director
March 2, 2010
Frances X. Frei
     
       
/s/ William S. Oglesby
 
Director
March 2, 2010
William S. Oglesby
     
       
/s/ Gilbert T. Ray
 
Director
March 2, 2010
Gilbert T. Ray
     
       
/s/ J. Paul Raines   Director 
March 2, 2010
 J. Paul Raines      
       
/s/ Carlos A. Saladrigas
 
Director
March 2, 2010
Carlos A. Saladrigas
     
       
/s/ Francesca Spinelli
 
Director
March 2, 2010
Francesca Spinelli
     
       

 
EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit
Number
Description
   
3.1(6)
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (“Advance Auto”)(as amended on May 19, 2004).
3.2 (14)
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Advance Auto. (effective August 12, 2009).
10.1(11)
Credit Agreement dated as of October 5, 2006 among Advance Auto, Advance Stores Company, Incorporated (“Advance Stores”), as borrower, the lenders party hereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent.
10.2(11)
Guarantee Agreement dated as of October 5, 2006 among Advance Auto and JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A., as administrative agent.
10.3(3)
Indemnity, Subrogation and Contribution Agreement dated as of November 28, 2001 among Advance Auto, Advance Stores, the Guarantors listed therein and JP Morgan Chase, as collateral agent.
10.4(1)
Lease Agreement dated as of January 1, 1997 between Nicholas F. Taubman and Advance Stores for the distribution center located at 1835 Blue Hills Drive, N.E., Roanoke, Virginia, as amended.
10.5(2)
Advance Auto 2001 Senior Executive Stock Option Plan.
10.6(2)
Form of Advance Auto 2001 Senior Executive Stock Option Agreement.
10.7(2)
Advance Auto 2001 Executive Stock Option Plan.
10.8(2)
Form of Advance Auto 2001 Stock Option Agreement.
10.9(6)
Form of Indemnity Agreement between each of the directors of Advance Auto and Advance Auto, as successor in interest to Advance Holding.
10.10(2)
Form of Advance Auto 2001 Stock Option Agreement for holders of Discount Auto Parts, Inc. (“Discount”) fully converted options.
10.11(2)
Purchase Agreement dated as of October 31, 2001 among Advance Stores, Advance Trucking Corporation, LARALEV, INC., Western Auto Supply Company, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and Lehman Brothers Inc.
10.12(3)
Joinder to the Purchase Agreement dated as of November 28, 2001 by and among Advance Aircraft Company, Inc., Advance Merchandising Company, Inc., WASCO Insurance Agency, Inc., Western Auto of Puerto Rico, Inc., Western Auto of St. Thomas, Inc., Discount, DAP Acceptance Corporation, J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc., Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and Lehman Brothers Inc.
10.13(4)
Form of Master Lease dated as of February 27, 2001 by and between Dapper Properties I, II and III, LLC and Discount.
10.14(3)
Form of Amendment to Master Lease dated as of December 28, 2001 between Dapper Properties I, II and III, LLC and Discount.
10.15(4)
Form of Sale-Leaseback Agreement dated as of February 27, 2001 by and between Dapper Properties I, II and III, LLC and Discount.
10.16(3)
Substitution Agreement dated as of November 28, 2001 by and among GE Capital Franchise Finance Corporation, Washington Mutual Bank, FA, Dapper Properties I, II and III, LLC, Autopar Remainder I, II and III, LLC, Discount and Advance Stores.
10.17(3)
First Amendment to Substitution Agreement dated as of December 28, 2001 by and among GE Capital Franchise Finance Corporation, Washington Mutual Bank, FA, Dapper Properties I, II and III, LLC, Autopar Remainder I, II and III, LLC, Discount, Advance Stores and Western Auto Supply Company.
10.18(7)
Reaffirmation Agreement dated as of November 3, 2004 among Advance Auto, Advance Stores, the lenders party thereto and JP Morgan Chase, as administrative agent and collateral agent.
10.19(17)
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended April 17, 2008).
10.20(5)
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan Stock Option Agreement.
10.21(5)
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan Award Notice.
10.22(16)
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Deferred Stock Unit Plan for Non-Employee Directors and Selected Executives (as amended January 1, 2008).
10.23(8)
Amended Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
10.24(16)
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (as amended January 1, 2008).
10.25(8)
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2006 Executive Bonus Plan.
10.26(9)
Form of Employment Agreement among Advance Auto and Advance Stores and Michael N. Coppola, Paul W. Klasing, Michael O. Moore and David B. Mueller.
 
 
 
Exhibit
Number
Description
   
10.27(10)
Release and Termination Agreement dated as of October 5, 2006, among Advance Auto, Advance Stores Company, Incorporated and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent.
10.28(11)
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2007 Restricted Stock Award.
10.29(11)
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. 2007 Stock Appreciation Right Award.
10.30(12) 
Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of December 4, 2007 among Advance Auto Parts, Inc., Advance Stores Company, Incorporated, as borrower, the lenders party hereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent.
10.31(12) 
Guarantee Agreement dated as of December 4, 2007 among Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders.
10.32(13) 
Employment Agreement effective January 7, 2008 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc., and Darren R. Jackson (as amended on June 4, 2008).
10.33(15) 
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan.
10.34(13) 
Form of Employment Agreement effective June 4, 2008 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc., and Kevin P. Freeland, Elwyn G. Murray III, Michael A. Norona, and Jimmie L. Wade.
10.35(13) 
Attachment C to Employment effective June 4, 2008 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc., and Kevin P. Freeland.
10.36(13) 
Attachment C to Employment Agreement effective June 4, 2008 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc., and Michael A. Norona.
10.37(13) 
Attachment C to Employment Agreement effective June 4, 2008 between Advance Auto Parts, Inc., and Jimmie L. Wade.
10.38(18) 
Form of Senior Vice President Loyalty Agreements.
10.39(19) 
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Stock Appreciation Rights Award Agreement dated November 17, 2008.
10.40(19) 
Form of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Restricted Stock Award Agreement dated November 17, 2008.
10.41 First Amendment to the Advance Auto Parts, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (as amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2009).
10.42 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).
18(20) Letter regarding change in accounting principles. 
21.1
Subsidiaries of Advance Auto.
23.1
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 
(1)
Filed on June 4, 1998 as an exhibit to Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-56013) of Advance Stores Company, Incorporated.
(2)
Furnished on November 6, 2001 as an exhibit to Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-68858) of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
(3)
Filed on January 22, 2002 as an exhibit to Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-81180) of Advance Stores Company, Incorporated.
(4)
Filed on April 2, 2001 as an exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Discount.
(5)
Filed on August 16, 2004 as an exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
(6)
Filed on May 20, 2004 as an exhibit to Current Report on Form 8-K of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
(7)
Filed on November 9, 2004 as an exhibit to Current Report on Form 8-K of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
(8)
Filed on March 16, 2006 as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
(9)
Filed on April 6, 2006 as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 8-K of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
(10)
Filed on October 12, 2006 as an exhibit to Current Report on Form 8-K of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
(11)
Filed on February 26, 2007 as an exhibit to Current Report on Form 8-K of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
(12)
Filed on December 10, 2007 as an exhibit to Current Report on Form 8-K of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
(13) 
Filed on June 4, 2008 as an exhibit to Current Report on Form 8-K of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
(14) 
Filed on August 17, 2009 as an exhibit to Current Report on Form 8-K of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
(15) 
Filed on April 11, 2007 as an exhibit to the Definitive Proxy Statement of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
(16) 
Filed on February 27, 2008 as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
(17) 
Filed on May 29, 2008 as an exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
 
 
 
(18) 
Filed on November 12, 2008 as an exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
(19) 
Filed on November 21, 2008 as an exhibit to Current Report on Form 8-K of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
(20) Filed on June 4, 2009 as an exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Advance Auto Parts, Inc.