ATLANTA — Tom Gallagher, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Genuine Parts Co. announced that the company has increased the number of shares of its common stock authorized for repurchase by 15 million shares.
    
The company’s share repurchase program originally authorized the repurchase of 15 million shares in August 1994, April 1999 and August 2006, for a total authorization of 45 million shares. Through the current date, the company has purchased approximately 41.4 million shares under this program and remains authorized to complete the purchase of the approximately 3.6 million shares outstanding.