Earnings per diluted share increase 17.4% to $0.81

MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC. (NYSE: MSM), “MSC” or the “Company,” one of the premier distributors of Metalworking and Maintenance, Repair and Operations (“MRO”) supplies to industrial customers throughout the United States, today reported financial results for its third quarter of fiscal 2008 ended May 31, 2008.

For the fiscal 2008 third quarter, net sales rose 6.1% to $457.2 million from $431.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2007, or 7.7% based on average daily sales, as the Company’s fiscal 2008 third quarter had 64 business days as compared to 65 business days in the corresponding prior year period. Operating income increased 12.5% in the fiscal 2008 third quarter to $84.8 million, or 18.5% of net sales, from $75.4 million, or 17.5% of net sales, in the third quarter of fiscal 2007. Net income for the fiscal 2008 third quarter was $51.4 million, an increase of 12.3% over net income of $45.8 million in the year ago period. Diluted earnings per share were $0.81 in the fiscal 2008 third quarter (based on 63.7 million diluted shares outstanding), versus $0.69 per diluted share (based on 66.7 million diluted shares outstanding) a year ago, an increase of 17.4%. The Company’s results for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 include pre-tax charges totaling $1.5 million, or $0.01 per diluted share on an after-tax basis, for costs related to the integration of the June 2006 J&L acquisition.

Net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2008 increased 7.6% to $1.331 billion from $1.238 billion a year ago, or 8.1% based on average daily sales, as the Company’s first nine months of fiscal 2008 had 189 business days as compared to 190 business days in the corresponding prior year period. Operating income for the first nine months of fiscal 2008 was $241.4 million, or 18.1% of net sales, versus $214.2 million, or 17.3% of net sales, in the first nine months of fiscal 2007, an increase of 12.7%. For the first nine months of fiscal 2008, net income rose 15.1% to $145.7 million from $126.6 million in the year ago period. Diluted earnings per share for the first nine months of fiscal 2008 were $2.23 (based on 65.2 million diluted shares outstanding), versus $1.89 per diluted share (based on 67.1 million diluted shares outstanding) a year ago, an increase of 18.0%. The Company’s results for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 include pre-tax charges totaling $4.8 million, or $0.04 per diluted share on an after-tax basis, for costs related to the integration of the June 2006 J&L acquisition.

“MSC continued to execute its operating strategy and generate solid performance in the third quarter,” said David Sandler, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Driven by the value proposition we provide to our customers, we continued to grow sales and take share. We reported solid growth in profitability resulting from our increased revenue and focus on operating cost controls. Growth initiatives including our Large Account Customer program and investments in our West Coast operations also contributed to our results and represent excellent opportunities for the Company moving forward.”

“Our financial performance in the quarter reflected excellent execution in a challenging economic environment,” said Chuck Boehlke, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “While gross margins in the period were slightly lower than anticipated due to a combination of factors, our tight expense controls contributed to a 100 basis point improvement in operating margins to an all time high of 18.5% of sales from 17.5% of sales a year ago. At the same time, we continue to manage the business from a position of financial strength. On a year-to-date basis, we have converted nearly 100% of the Company’s net income into net cash provided by operating activities, and free cash flow (see Note 1) for the first nine months of the fiscal year increased 28.2% from the prior year’s level to $133.2 million. We have utilized this strong cash performance to return further value to shareholders through the recently announced increase in the Company’s dividend to $0.20 per share and share buybacks under the Company’s share repurchase plan, while also making investments to support our growth initiatives and ensure MSC maintains its leadership position in the marketplace.”

Mr. Sandler concluded, “Our customers have become more cautious about the outlook for their businesses, as the effect of a slowing economy is increasingly felt across our customer base. In such an environment, customers are very careful about managing and reducing their own inventories, and are looking to cost savings solutions that can help them achieve their goals. As a partner dedicated to lowering our customers’ overall procurement costs for MRO supplies, we believe we are well positioned to take share during these times and deliver significant revenue growth when the business environment improves.”

Based on current market factors, the Company expects net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 to be between $443.0 million and $449.0 million. The Company expects diluted earnings per share for the fiscal 2008 fourth quarter to be between $0.74 and $0.76. The Company noted that there will be 64 business days in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 compared to 68 business days in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, which is estimated to reduce fourth quarter fiscal 2008 net sales by $28.0 million based on expected average daily sales.

Note 1 – Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less expenditures for property, plant and equipment as shown on the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. Net cash provided by operating activities during the first nine months of fiscal 2008 was $144.4 million. Expenditures for property, plant and equipment during the first nine months of fiscal 2008 was $11.2 million. Management considers free cash flow to be an important indicator of the Company’s financial strength and the ability to generate liquidity because it reflects cash generated from operations that can be used for strategic initiatives, dividends, debt repayment and repurchases of the Company’s stock. Free cash flow is not a measure determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and may not be defined and calculated by other companies in the same manner. Free cash flow should not be considered a substitute for “Operating income,” “Net income,” “Net cash flows provided by operating activities” or any other measure determined in accordance with GAAP.

About MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.

MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. is one of the premier distributors of Metalworking and Maintenance, Repair and Operation (“MRO”) supplies to industrial customers throughout the United States. MSC distributes in excess of 550,000 industrial products from approximately 3,000 suppliers to approximately 379,000 customers. In-stock availability is approximately 99%, with next day, standard ground delivery to the majority of the industrial United States. MSC reaches its customers through a combination of approximately 30 million direct-mail catalogs and CD-ROMs, 98 branch sales offices, 875 sales people, the Internet and associations with some of the world's most prominent B2B e-commerce portals. For more information, visit the Company's website at http://www.mscdirect.com.