SPRINGFIELD, MO -- O'Reilly Automotive today announced it will buy all of the outstanding stock of W.E. Lahr Co. and its subsidiary Midwest Auto Parts Distributors and affiliates, headquartered in St. Paul, Minn.

O'Reilly will purchase all of the outstanding stock of Midwest for $61 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close May 31.

Midwest operates 71 stores in Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming that receive nightly deliveries from one of its distribution centers located in St. Paul, Minn., and Billings, Mont. The company recorded $98.7 million in sales for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004. W.E. Lahr Co. has been in business for 70 years as a major warehouse distributor, local jobber and retailer of automotive aftermarket parts.

Commenting on the acquisition Greg Henslee, CEO of O'Reilly, said: "We are very excited about the growth opportunities and the great new markets that the acquisition of Midwest will bring. We view Midwest as a good fit both geographically and operationally."

COO Ted Wise noted that the acquisition will add 71 new stores in 5 new states, as well as 700 new employees to the company. Wise said the new Midwest team members' knowledge and customer relationships "will be a key to our success in those markets." "In addition we are excited about the opportunity to continue serving the needs of the 108 independent jobber customers currently served by Midwest," he said.

The purchase will expand O'Reilly's presence to twenty-four contiguous states.

Midwest's owner, the late Bill Lahr, was said to have admired the O'Reilly family and business, according to Jim Bartholomew, CEO of Midwest.

"We believe the synergistic benefits of this combination will greatly enhance our program offering to our customers and provide expanded growth opportunities for our employees," said Bartholomew. "Midwest's owner, Bill Lahr, passed away last fall. Bill had great respect for the O'Reilly family and their business model, and had Midwest adopt many of their strategies."

In addition to the Midwest acquisition, O'Reilly said it will add approximately 160 new stores in 2005.

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