Posted: Dec. 1, 2005, 2 pm, EST

PHOENIX-- CSK Auto Corp., parent company of CSK Auto, announced today it has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Murray's Inc. and its subsidiary, Murray's Discount Auto Stores. Murray's is a majority-owned investment of J.W. Childs Associates, L.P., a leading Boston-based private equity firm.

As part of the merger agreement, CSK will purchase all outstanding Murray's stock for approximately $170 million in cash (which includes amounts to repay existing indebtedness of Murray's). The company intends to finance a portion of the acquisition and said it is presently exploring various financing alternatives. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in December.

A private company headquartered in Belleville, MI, Murray's operates 109 automotive parts and accessories retail stores in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana -- states in which CSK currently has no real market presence. Murray's is expected to generate sales (consisting of approximately 1 percent in commercial sales and the balance in retail sales) in excess of $235 million for its 2005 fiscal year ending December 25. CSK said this acquisition will compliment the company's existing operations, expand the company's market presence to 22 states in the western and Midwestern U.S. and facilitate future growth into additional, new market areas.

Commenting on the purchase, Maynard Jenkins, CSK chairman and CEO said, "We are very excited about the opportunity to gain a presence in new, contiguous markets. This acquisition will provide us with additional opportunities to accelerate our new store growth. We also expect the company to achieve significant synergies as a result of this acquisition, which we believe will result in increased retail and commercial sales growth potential and efficiencies and increased value to our shareholders. We expect that the acquired stores will retain the Murray's brand name and operating model, which has proven to be very successful in the Midwestern states."

The company anticipates that this transaction will be accretive to its earnings for fiscal 2006.

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