SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- O’Reilly Automotive received written notification from the NASDAQ Stock Market on May 19 that as a result of the death on May 8 of Joseph Greene, an independent director and chairman of the company’s Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee, the company’s board of directors is no longer comprised of a majority of independent directors as required by NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605.

The company currently has eight directors, only four of which qualify as independent directors. In accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605, the company has a “cure period” until the next annual shareholders’ meeting or May 8, 2010 to regain compliance.

The board of directors has selected Paul Lederer, an existing independent director, to fill Greene’s position as chairman of the Corporate Governance/Nominating Committee. The board intends to identify candidates to replace Greene and appoint a new director who satisfies the independence requirements of the NASDAQ Listing Rules prior to the expiration of the cure period.