Company Update

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 August 16, 2021 Date of Report (date of earliest event reported) GENUINE PARTS CO MPANY (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) GA 001-05690 58-0254510 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 2999 WILDWOOD PARKWAY,   ATLANTA, GA 30339 (Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code) ( 678 ) 934-5000 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below): ☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) ☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CF.14a-12) ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share GPC New York Stock Exchange Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company ☐ If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ Item 8.01 Other Events On August 16, 2021, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of eighty-one and one-half cents ($0.815) per share on the Company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on October 1, 2021 to shareholders of record on September 3, 2021. The Company also announced that Kristy G. Whitehurst was appointed Vice President of Employee Benefits. Ms. Whitehurst has served the Company for 14 years, most recently as Senior Director for Retirement, Disability and Rewards for the last four years. In her expanded role, Ms. Whitehurst will lead the Company’s comprehensive employee benefits programs and drive our long-term benefits strategy. A copy of the press release is furnished with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1. Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits. (d) Exhibits Exhibit Number Description 99.1 Press Release dated August 16, 2021 104 The cover page from this current report on Form 8-K, formatted in inline XBRL SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.               Genuine Parts Company            August 16, 2021   By:   /s/ Carol B. Yancey         Name: Carol B. Yancey         Title: Executive Vice President and CFO