Trak Auto to Sell 80 California Stores

Trak Auto Corp., a chain of auto supply stores, said it will sell 80 stores in Southern California to CSK Auto Inc. of Phoenix for $38 million in cash. The stores will be converted into Kragen auto parts stores and will significantly boost CSK’s visibility in the Los Angeles area. “This will dramatically enhance our ability to serve do-it-yourself and commercial customers in the Los Angeles market, an area where we have long intended to establish a significant presence,” said Maynard Jenkins, chairman and chief executive of CSK Auto. CSK, which has annual sales of $900 million, operates stores under the trade names Checker, Schuck’s and Kragen in 12 Western states. The acquisition would increase its number of employees to 10,000 and store locations to 685. After the sale, Trak Auto, which is based in Landover, Md., and majority-owned by Dart Group Corp., will no longer have stores in California, but would continue to operate 196 stores in Washington, D.C.; Richmond, Va.; Pittsburgh; Chicago; and Milwaukee. Trak Auto’s stock was up 75 cents at $10.75 on the Nasdaq market. The deal is expected to be completed in early December, Trak Auto said.