Acquisitions

RALEIGH, N.C. AND WASHINGTON, D.C. — Advance Auto Parts Inc. (NYSE: AAP) has agreed to sell Worldpac, the Raleigh-based company’s automotive parts wholesale distribution business, to funds managed by global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) for $1.5 billion in cash.  Advance Auto Parts operated 321 Worldpac locations primarily within the United States as of the end of the second quarter. These warehouses, 135 of which are branded Autopart International, are generally larger than the company’s retail locations, averaging approximately 26,000 square feet. Worldpac offers over 293,000 parts for domestic and import vehicles and primarily serves professional customers such as vehicle repair shops, with services including same-day delivery of automotive parts through a fleet of company-owned vehicles. Over the past 12 months, these locations generated approximately $2.1 billion in revenue and $100 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). Advance expects to close the transaction before the end of the year, with Advance expecting net proceeds of approximately $1.2 billion after taxes and transaction fees.  These proceeds will be used to strengthen the company’s balance sheet and invest in its core retail business, said Shane O’Kelly, president and CEO of Advance Auto Parts, during an earnings call earlier …