MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC
10-Q, 1999-07-08
INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

               QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended May 29, 1999         Commission File No.: 1-14130

                         MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

       New York                                           11-3289165
(State of incorporation)                                (IRS Employer
                                                     Identification No.)

                                 75 Maxess Road
                               Melville, NY 11747
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

                                 (516) 812-2000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                                 Yes |X| No |_|

As of July 6, 1999, the registrant had 33,911,402 shares of Class A common
stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 34,138,778 shares of Class B common
stock, par value $0.001 per share, outstanding.
<PAGE>

                         MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC.

                                      INDEX

PART I.     FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                           Page

Item 1.     Consolidated Financial Statements

            Consolidated Balance Sheets
            May 29, 1999 and August 29, 1998                                  3

            Consolidated Statements of Income
            Thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended May 29, 1999
            and May 30, 1998                                                  4

            Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity
            Thirty-nine weeks ended May 29, 1999                              5

            Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
            Thirty-nine weeks ended May 29, 1999 and May 30, 1998             6

            Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                        7


Item 2.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
            and Results of Operations                                        10


Item 3.     Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk       14


PART II.    OTHER INFORMATION


Item 6.     Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                 15


SIGNATURES                                                                   16
<PAGE>

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements

                         MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC.

                           Consolidated Balance Sheets

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         May 29,    August 29,
                                                                                          1999        1998
                                                                                          ----        ----
(in thousands, except share data)                                                     (unaudited)   (audited)
<S>                                                                                     <C>         <C>
                                         ASSETS
Current Assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents                                                          $  4,743    $  8,630
     Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
         accounts of $6,149 and $3,717, respectively                                      82,863      72,940
     Inventories                                                                         207,339     158,050
     Due from officers, employees and affiliated companies                                   426         659
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                             2,754       2,865
     Current deferred income tax assets                                                    8,760      11,251
                                                                                        --------    --------
              Total current assets                                                       306,885     254,395
                                                                                        --------    --------
Property, plant and equipment, net                                                       104,222      77,493
                                                                                        --------    --------
Other Assets:
     Goodwill                                                                             65,758      58,574
     Other                                                                                 5,980      11,240
                                                                                        --------    --------
                                                                                          71,738      69,814
                                                                                        --------    --------
                                                                                        $482,845    $401,702
                                                                                        ========    ========

                          LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
     Accounts payable                                                                   $ 18,223    $ 14,670
     Accrued liabilities                                                                  49,103      55,175
     Current portion of long-term notes payable                                              186         800
                                                                                        --------    --------
              Total current liabilities                                                   67,512      70,645
Long-term notes payable                                                                   63,449       2,430
Other long-term liabilities                                                                   42          46
Deferred income tax liabilities                                                            6,420       6,802
                                                                                        --------    --------
              Total liabilities                                                          137,423      79,923
                                                                                        --------    --------
Shareholders' Equity:
     Preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none outstanding         --          --
     Class A common stock; $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized;
         33,884,287 and 33,683,407 shares issued, 32,731,287 and 33,508,407 shares
         outstanding, respectively                                                            34          33
     Class B common stock; $0.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized;
         34,138,778 and 34,142,028 shares, respectively, issued and outstanding               34          34
     Additional paid-in capital                                                          216,548     213,783
     Retained earnings                                                                   152,375     112,834
     Treasury stock, at cost; 1,153,000 and 175,000 shares
         of Class A common stock held                                                    (22,678)     (3,699)
     Deferred stock compensation                                                            (891)     (1,206)
                                                                                        --------    --------
              Total shareholders' equity                                                 345,422     321,779
                                                                                        --------    --------
                                                                                        $482,845    $401,702
                                                                                        ========    ========
</TABLE>

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                          consolidated balance sheets.


                                     Page 3
<PAGE>

                         MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC.
                        Consolidated Statements of Income
                                   (unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          Thirteen Weeks Ended   Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
                                          --------------------   -----------------------
                                           May 29,     May 30,     May 29,     May 30,
(in thousands, except per share data)       1999        1998        1999        1998
                                          --------    --------    --------    --------
<S>                                       <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Net sales                                 $170,492    $155,098    $486,461    $433,227

Cost of goods sold                         101,732      91,508     287,783     256,113
                                          --------    --------    --------    --------

       Gross profit                         68,760      63,590     198,678     177,114

Operating expenses                          47,796      40,677     132,397     120,102
                                          --------    --------    --------    --------

       Income from operations               20,964      22,913      66,281      57,012
                                          --------    --------    --------    --------

Other Income (Expense):

    Interest income                             13         315          71         816

    Interest expense                          (717)         (6)     (1,419)        (49)

    Other income, net                          104         311         426         730
                                          --------    --------    --------    --------

                                              (600)        620        (922)      1,497
                                          --------    --------    --------    --------

       Income before provision
       for income taxes                     20,364      23,533      65,359      58,509

Provision for income taxes                   8,044       9,296      25,818      23,110
                                          --------    --------    --------    --------

       Net income                         $ 12,320    $ 14,237    $ 39,541    $ 35,399
                                          ========    ========    ========    ========

Per Share Information (Note 2):
  Net income per common share:

    Basic                                 $   0.18    $   0.21    $   0.59    $   0.52
                                          ========    ========    ========    ========

    Diluted                               $   0.18    $   0.21    $   0.58    $   0.51
                                          ========    ========    ========    ========

Common shares used in computing
per share amounts (Note 2):
    Basic                                   66,853      67,770      66,905      67,739
                                          ========    ========    ========    ========

    Diluted                                 68,151      69,215      68,627      68,924
                                          ========    ========    ========    ========
</TABLE>

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                            consolidated statements.


                                     Page 4
<PAGE>

                         MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC.
                 Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity
                                   (unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       Class A                  Class B
(in thousands)                                       Common Stock             Common Stock      Additional
                                                  ------------------      -------------------    Paid-In    Retained
                                                  Shares     Amount       Shares      Amount     Capital    Earnings
                                                  ------   ---------      ------    ---------   ---------   ---------
<S>                                               <C>      <C>            <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>
Thirty-nine weeks ended May 29, 1999:

Balance, August 29, 1998                          33,683   $      33      34,142    $      34   $ 213,783   $ 112,834

Exchange of Class B common stock for Class A
   common stock                                        3           1          (3)          --          --          --

Purchase of treasury stock                            --          --          --           --          --          --

Exercise of common stock options, including
related tax benefits                                 198          --          --           --       2,765          --

Net income                                            --          --          --           --          --      39,541

Amortization of deferred stock compensation           --          --          --           --          --          --
                                                  ------   ---------      ------    ---------   ---------   ---------
Balance, May 29, 1999                             33,884   $      34      34,139    $      34   $ 216,548   $ 152,375
                                                  ======   =========      ======    =========   =========   =========

<CAPTION>
                                                     Treasury Stock
(in thousands)                                     ------------------     Deferred
                                                            Amount at      Stock
                                                   Shares      Cost     Compensation    Total
                                                   ------   ---------   ------------  ---------
<S>                                                 <C>     <C>          <C>          <C>
Thirty-nine weeks ended May 29, 1999:

Balance, August 29, 1998                              175   $  (3,699)   $  (1,206)   $ 321,779

Exchange of Class B common stock for Class A
   common stock                                        --          --           --            1

Purchase of treasury stock                            978     (18,979)          --      (18,979)

Exercise of common stock options, including
related tax benefits                                   --          --           --        2,765

Net income                                             --          --           --       39,541

Amortization of deferred stock compensation            --          --          315          315
                                                    -----   ---------    ---------    ---------
Balance, May 29, 1999                               1,153   $ (22,678)   $    (891)   $ 345,422
                                                    =====   =========    =========    =========
</TABLE>

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                            consolidated statements.


                                     Page 5
<PAGE>

                         MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC.
                      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                                   (unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(in thousands)                                                         Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
                                                                       -----------------------
                                                                         May 29,     May 30,
                                                                          1999        1998
                                                                        --------    --------
<S>                                                                     <C>         <C>
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

Net income                                                              $ 39,541    $ 35,399
                                                                        --------    --------
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
   activities:

     Depreciation and amortization                                         6,640       5,234
     Amortization of deferred stock compensation                             315         375
     Provision for doubtful accounts                                       1,988       1,525
     Deferred income taxes                                                 2,109      (1,521)

     Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect from
     acquisitions:

         Accounts receivable                                              (8,233)    (13,237)
         Inventories                                                     (45,126)      9,666
         Prepaid expenses and other current assets                           353         328
         Other assets                                                      5,260       1,866
         Accounts payable and accrued liabilities                         (3,422)      7,091
         Other long-term liabilities                                          (4)         (3)
                                                                        --------    --------

                                                                         (40,120)     11,324
                                                                        --------    --------

              Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities           (579)     46,723
                                                                        --------    --------

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
   Expenditures for property, plant and equipment                        (31,327)    (23,290)
   Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired                      (13,003)    (18,741)
                                                                        --------    --------

              Net cash used in investing activities                      (44,330)    (42,031)
                                                                        --------    --------

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

   Purchase of treasury stock                                            (21,790)       (388)
   Net proceeds from exercise of common stock options                      2,174         761
   Net proceeds from (repayments of) notes payable                        60,405        (424)
   Net repayments from (advances to) affiliates                              233          78
                                                                        --------    --------

              Net cash provided by financing activities                   41,022          27
                                                                        --------    --------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                      (3,887)      4,719

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period                            8,630      13,418
                                                                        --------    --------

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period                               $  4,743    $ 18,137
                                                                        ========    ========
</TABLE>

              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                            consolidated statements.


                                     Page 6
<PAGE>

                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
                      (in thousands, except per share data)
                                   (unaudited)

1.    MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. ("MSC") was incorporated in the State of
      New York on October 24, 1995. MSC and its subsidiaries, including its
      principal operating subsidiary, Sid Tool Co., Inc., are hereinafter
      referred to collectively as the "Company."

      Reference is made to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
      contained within the Company's audited financial statements included in
      the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 29,
      1998. In the opinion of management, the interim unaudited financial
      statements included herein reflect all adjustments necessary, consisting
      of normal recurring adjustments, for a fair presentation of such data in
      accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The results of
      operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the
      results to be expected for a full year.

      The Company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest August 31 of each
      year.

2.    Effective December 1997, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting
      Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No.
      128, Earnings per Share. SFAS No. 128 requires the Company to present
      basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) on the face of the income
      statement. Basic earnings per common share were computed based on the
      weighted average number of common shares issued and outstanding during the
      relevant periods. Diluted earnings per common share were computed based on
      the weighted average number of common shares issued and outstanding plus
      additional shares assumed to be outstanding to reflect the diluted effect
      of common stock equivalents using the treasury stock method.

      A reconciliation between the numerator and denominator of the basic and
      diluted EPS calculation is as follows:


                                     Page 7
<PAGE>

                                 Thirteen Weeks Ended    Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
                                 --------------------    -----------------------

                                  May 29,    May 30,        May 29,    May 30,
                                   1999       1998           1999       1998
                                  -------    -------        -------    -------

Net income for EPS
  computation                     $12,320    $14,237        $39,541    $35,399
                                  =======    =======        =======    =======

Basic EPS:
   Weighted average
   common shares                   66,853     67,770         66,905     67,739
                                  =======    =======        =======    =======

Basic EPS                           $0.18      $0.21          $0.59      $0.52
                                    =====      =====          =====      =====

Diluted EPS:
Weighted average
common shares                      66,853     67,770         66,905     67,739

Shares issuable from
assumed conversion of
common stock equivalents            1,298      1,445          1,722      1,185
                                  -------    -------        -------    -------

Weighted average common
and common equivalent shares       68,151     69,215         68,627     68,924
                                  =======    =======        =======    =======

Diluted EPS                         $0.18      $0.21          $0.58      $0.51
                                    =====      =====          =====      =====

3.    In the first quarter of fiscal 1999, the Company early-adopted the
      American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' SOP 98-1, "Accounting
      for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal
      Use." SOP 98-1 provides guidance on accounting for the costs of computer
      software developed or obtained for internal use. The effect of adopting
      this standard was not material to the results of operations or the
      Company's consolidated financial statements.

4.    In the first quarter of fiscal 1999, the Company adopted the Financial
      Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
      (SFAS) No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income." SFAS No. 130 establishes
      standards for the reporting and display of comprehensive income and its
      components in a full set of financial statements. The effect of adopting
      this standard was not material to the Company's consolidated financial
      statements, as the Company's net income is the same as comprehensive net
      income.

5.    In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
      SFAS No. 133 "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
      Activities." This statement establishes accounting and reporting standards
      for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments
      embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. SFAS No. 133 is
      effective for all fiscal quarters of fiscal years beginning after June 15,
      1999 and will not require retroactive restatement of prior period
      financial statements. Furthermore, the


                                     Page 8
<PAGE>

      FASB has issued an exposure draft which proposes to delay the effective
      date of this new standard by one year. This statement requires the
      recognition of all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities
      in the balance sheet measured at fair value. Derivative instruments will
      be recognized as gains or losses in the period of change. If certain
      conditions are met where the derivative instrument has been designated as
      a fair value hedge, the hedged item may also be marked to market through
      earnings thus creating an offset. If the derivative is designed and
      qualifies as a cash flow hedge, the changes in fair value of the
      derivative instrument may be recorded in comprehensive income. While the
      Company periodically engages in certain international transactions, it
      does not presently make material use of derivative instruments.


                                     Page 9
<PAGE>

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
        of Operations

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains or incorporates certain
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the
Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe
harbors created thereby. Such forward-looking statements involve known and
unknown risks and uncertainties and include, but are not limited to, statements
regarding future events and our plans, goals and objectives. Such statements are
generally accompanied by words such as "believe," "anticipate," "think,"
"intend," "estimate," "expect," or similar terms. Our actual results may differ
materially from such statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such
differences include, without limitation, changing market conditions, competitive
and regulatory matters, general economic conditions in the markets in which the
Company operates and availability of acquisition opportunities. Although the
Company believes that the assumptions underlying its forward-looking statements
are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove inaccurate and, therefore,
the Company cannot make any assurances that the results contemplated in such
forward-looking statements will be realized. The inclusion of such
forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by the
Company or any other person that the future events, plans or expectations
contemplated by the Company will be achieved. Furthermore, past performance is
not necessarily an indicator of future performance.

Overview

MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. ("MSC") was formed in October 1995 as a holding
company to hold all of the outstanding capital stock of Sid Tool Co., Inc. (the
"Operating Subsidiary"), which has conducted business since 1941. MSC and its
subsidiaries, including the Operating Subsidiary, are hereinafter referred to
collectively as the "Company."

The Company is one of the largest direct marketers of a broad range of
industrial products to small and mid-sized industrial customers throughout the
United States. The Company distributes a full line of industrial products, such
as cutting tools, abrasives, measuring instruments, machine tool accessories,
safety equipment, fasteners, welding supplies and electrical supplies, intended
to satisfy its customers' maintenance, repair and operations ("MRO") supplies
requirements. The Company's 4,459 page master catalog offers approximately
372,000 stock keeping units ("SKUs") and is supplemented by weekly, monthly and
quarterly specialty and promotional catalogs, newspapers and brochures. The
products are distributed through the Company's three distribution centers and
105 customer service locations. Most of the products are carried in stock, and
orders for these products are typically fulfilled on the day the order is
received.

Results of Operations -
Thirteen weeks ended May 29, 1999 and May 30, 1998

Net sales increased by $15.4 million, or 9.9%, to $170.5 million in the third
quarter of fiscal 1999 from $155.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 1998.
This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in sales to the
Company's existing customers, an increase in the number of active customers and
the effect of acquisitions made in fiscal 1998 and fiscal 1999. The increase in
sales to existing customers was principally derived from an increase in the
number of SKUs offered, as well as from more focused marketing efforts.

Gross profit increased by $5.2 million, or 8.2%, to $68.8 million in the third
quarter of fiscal 1999 from $63.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 1998.
The increase in gross profit was primarily attributable to increased sales. As a
percentage of sales, gross profit decreased from 41.0% to 40.3%. The decrease
resulted primarily from the mix of products being sold and as a


                                    Page 10
<PAGE>

result of lower margins realized from customers and product lines gained through
the Company's acquisitions.

Operating expenses increased by $7.1 million, or 17.5%, to $47.8 million in the
third quarter of fiscal 1999 from $40.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal
1998. As a percentage of sales, operating expenses increased from 26.2% to
28.0%. This increase was primarily the result of personnel costs needed to
support higher sales volumes, expenses required to prepare the Company's new
distribution center for operations, additional costs of the Company's new
headquarters, and expenditures for future growth initiatives.

Income from operations decreased by $1.9 million, or 8.3%, to $21.0 million in
the third quarter of fiscal 1999 from $22.9 million in the third quarter of
fiscal 1998. The decrease was primarily attributable to an increase in operating
expenses, offset in part by an increase in sales and gross profit.

Net income decreased by $1.9 million or 13.4%, to $12.3 million in the third
quarter of fiscal 1999 from $14.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 1998.
This decrease was primarily the result of previously mentioned increases in
sales and gross profit, offset by the increase in operating expenses necessary
in order to support the increase in volume and to invest in future growth.

Results of Operations -
Thirty-nine weeks ended May 29, 1999 and May 30, 1998

Net sales increased by $53.3 million, or 12.3%, to $486.5 million during the
first nine months of fiscal 1999 from $433.2 million in the first nine months of
fiscal 1998. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in sales to
the Company's existing customers, an increase in the number of active customers
and the effect of acquisitions made during fiscal 1998 and fiscal 1999. The
increase in sales to existing customers was principally derived from an increase
in the number of SKUs offered, as well as from more focused marketing efforts.

Gross profit increased by $21.6 million, or 12.2%, to $198.7 million during the
first nine months of fiscal 1999 from $177.1 million in the first nine months of
fiscal 1998, primarily attributable to increased sales. As a percentage of
sales, gross profit decreased slightly from 40.9% to 40.8%.

Operating expenses increased by $12.3 million, or 10.3%, to $132.4 million
during the first nine months of fiscal 1999 from $120.1 million in the first
nine months of fiscal 1998. As a percentage of sales, operating expenses
decreased from 27.7% to 27.2%. The decline in operating expenses as a percentage
of sales was primarily attributable to leveraging fixed costs over a larger
revenue base, offset in part by the costs of future growth initiatives.

Income from operations increased by $9.3 million, or 16.3%, to $66.3 million
during the first nine months of fiscal 1999 from $57.0 million in the first nine
months of fiscal 1998. The increase was primarily attributable to increased
sales and gross profit offset by an increase in operating expenses.

Net income increased by $4.1 million, or 11.6%, to $39.5 million during the
first nine months of fiscal 1999 from $35.4 million in the first nine months of
fiscal 1998. This increase was primarily the result of previously mentioned
increases in sales and gross profit, offset by the increase in operating
expenses necessary in order to support the increase in volume and to invest in
future growth.


                                    Page 11
<PAGE>

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company's primary use of capital has been to fund the working capital
requirements necessitated by its sales growth, acquisitions and facilities
expansions. The Company's sources of financing have primarily been from
operations, supplemented by bank borrowings under its revolving credit facility,
and a portion of the proceeds from a fiscal 1997 public offering of Class A
common stock.

Net cash used in operating activities was $579,000 for the 39 week period ended
May 29, 1999 and net cash provided by operating activities for the 39 week
period ended May 30, 1998 was $46.7 million. The decrease in net cash provided
by operations resulted from increases in inventory commensurate with the
Company's sales growth, the introduction of new products, and inventory for the
Company's new distribution center, offset in part by higher net income.

Net cash used in investing activities for the 39 week periods ended May 29, 1999
and May 30, 1998 was $44.3 million and $42.0 million, respectively. The net
usage of cash in the first nine months of fiscal 1999 was primarily attributable
to cash paid for construction at the Company's new headquarters, expenditures
related to the construction of a new distribution center and cash paid for
acquisitions. The net usage of cash in the first nine months of fiscal 1998 was
primarily attributable to cash paid for acquisitions and to the purchase of a
building in Long Island, New York, which began serving as the new corporate
headquarters in fiscal 1999.

Net cash provided by financing activities for the 39 week periods ended May 29,
1999 and May 30, 1998 was $41.0 million and $27,000, respectively. The increase
of approximately $41.0 million is primarily attributable to proceeds received
from notes payable, offset by the purchase in the open market of approximately
978,000 shares of Class A common stock.

During the 39 week period ended May 29, 1999, the Company purchased in the open
market approximately 978,000 shares of its Class A common stock at an average
price of $19.41 per share for an aggregate purchase price of approximately
$18,979,000.

The Company has an aggressive growth strategy that has involved, and is expected
to continue to involve, the acquisition of companies in similar lines of
business. The Company anticipates that its cash flow from operations and
revolving credit facility will be adequate to support its strategic acquisition
plan in the near future.

Year 2000 Compliance Plan

      Year 2000 Problem. The Year 2000 problem arises from the historic use of
only two digits (rather than four) for the designation of a year in date
information within computer programs. If not corrected, any of the Company's
equipment or software programs that perform time sensitive calculations may
incorrectly identify the year `00' as 1900 instead of 2000 or not recognize it
at all. This could result in miscalculations or a major failure of certain
systems. MSC may also be vulnerable to the Year 2000 problems of its customers,
suppliers and service vendors and of other companies with which MSC conducts
business (e.g., utility companies, shippers and telecommunications companies).

      State of Readiness. During calendar year 1997 and 1998, MSC developed and
began to implement a Year 2000 compliance plan using internal and external
resources in an effort to


                                    Page 12
<PAGE>

ensure that its business is not interrupted by the Year 2000 problem. MSC's Year
2000 compliance plan is broken into four components:

      1.    Renovating internal systems and applications. The Company's internal
            systems and applications include Order Entry, Purchasing and
            Warehouse Management. The applications used in the Order Entry
            system have been re-written and implemented in the Company's call
            center and branch locations. The applications for the Purchasing and
            Warehouse Management systems are in the process of being modified
            and completion of Year 2000 compliance work is scheduled for the
            fourth quarter of fiscal 1999. Many of the Company's applications
            are already Year 2000 compliant as they were written using a
            compliant code generator.

      2.    Ensuring compliance of peripheral third party systems. MSC uses a
            number of third party package systems to supplement its internally
            developed programs. Major systems in this area are its Financial and
            Inventory Replenishment systems. The Company's Financial systems are
            being replaced with a new package, with a scheduled implementation
            date of July 1999. Two of MSC's subsidiaries, Enco and Primeline,
            are already running on this software. The Inventory Replenishment
            system has been tested and appears to be Year 2000 compliant. All of
            the Company's material hardware, including its AS/400 computers,
            telephone systems, networks, PCs, security systems and time clocks
            at all MSC locations have been tested as Year 2000 compliant.

      3.    Ensuring Year 2000 compliance by external companies that conduct
            business with the Company. The Company has contacted all of its
            major customers, suppliers and vendors to inquire about Year 2000
            compliance. The Company has not received responses from all those
            contacted, but those who have responded do not indicate any problems
            at this time. For those business partners with which the Company
            currently conducts business electronically, the Company will be
            conducting tests in fiscal 1999 to determine Year 2000 compliance.

      4.    Implementing standards and conducting testing in an effort to ensure
            that the Company's existing and future systems are Year 2000
            compliant. All new systems, whether hardware or software, are tested
            before implementation in an effort to ensure Year 2000 compliance.

      Cost of Compliance. MSC believes that the total cost of its Year 2000
compliance plan will be approximately $900,000, not including the replacement of
the Financial systems. These costs are expensed as incurred and, to date, the
Company has incurred $740,000 of such expenses. The Financial systems
replacement is a separate project which is estimated to cost approximately
$4,000,000 and will be capitalized pursuant to SOP 98-1.

      Risks. Although MSC believes it will have its own systems compliant prior
to January 1, 2000, there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so nor
can there be any assurance that, even if the Company completes timely its Year
2000 compliance plan, the systems, when actually implemented in full, will work
properly independently or in conjunction with the systems of any business
partner. In addition, the Company would continue to bear the risk of a material
adverse affect if any of its business partners does not appropriately address
its own Year 2000 compliance issues. Although MSC believes that its major
customers are Year 2000 compliant, the Company is still in the process of
reviewing the compliance programs of suppliers and service vendors. MSC's
current estimates of the impact of the Year 2000 problem on its


                                    Page 13
<PAGE>

operations and financial results do not include costs and time that may be
incurred as a result of other companies' failure to become Year 2000 compliant
on a timely basis, which costs could be material. There can be no assurance that
such other companies will achieve Year 2000 compliance or that any conversions
by such companies to become Year 2000 compliant will be compatible with MSC's
computer systems. The inability of MSC or any of its principal suppliers,
service vendors or customers to become Year 2000 compliant in a timely manner
could have a material adverse effect on MSC's financial condition or results of
operation.

      Contingency Plans. If MSC's suppliers are not Year 2000 compliant, MSC may
have to arrange for alternative sources of supply and the stockpiling of
inventory in the fall of 1999 in preparation for the Year 2000. The Company
cannot estimate at this time the cost or effect on the Company's financial
condition of any stockpiling of inventory. The Company does not have any other
contingency plans with respect to other problems that could arise in its
business as a result of the Year 2000 problem. Any of these could have a
material adverse effect on MSC's financial condition or results of operation.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk.

The Company's market risk sensitive instruments do not subject the Company to
material market risk exposures.


                                    Page 14
<PAGE>

PART II.    OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.     Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

            (a)   Exhibits

                  27    Financial data schedule for the quarter ended May 29,
                        1999.

            (b)   Reports on Form 8-K

                  No reports on Form 8-K have been filed during the quarter for
                  which this report is filed.


                                    Page 15
<PAGE>

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 thereunto duly authorized.


                                         MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC.
                                                   (Registrant)


Dated:     July 7, 1999          By:         /s/ Mitchell Jacobson
      ------------------------       -------------------------------------------
                                     President and Chief Executive Officer


Dated:     July 7, 1999          By:         /s/ Shelley M. Boxer
      ------------------------       -------------------------------------------
                                     Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                                    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


                                    Page 16

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-28-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             FEB-28-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-29-1999
<CASH>                                           4,743
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   89,012
<ALLOWANCES>                                     6,149
<INVENTORY>                                    207,339
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               306,885
<PP&E>                                         132,315
<DEPRECIATION>                                  28,093
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 482,845
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           67,512
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                            68
<OTHER-SE>                                     345,354
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   482,845
<SALES>                                        170,492
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               170,492
<CGS>                                          101,732
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   47,796
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   117
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   653
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 717
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 20,364
<INCOME-TAX>                                     8,044
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             12,320
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    12,320
<EPS-BASIC>                                      .18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .18



</TABLE>


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