UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )*
MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC.
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
(Title of Class of Securities)
553530106
(CUSIP Number)
Is a fee being paid with this statement: ( ) Yes ( X ) No
*The remainder of this page shall be filled out for a
reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect
to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent
amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page
shall be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise
subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but
shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act
(however, see the Notes).
13G
CUSIP No. 553530106
1. Name of Reporting Person
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of above person
STEIN ROE & FARNHAM INCORPORATED
36-3447638
2. Check the appropriate box if a member of a group
(a) -----
(b) -----
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. Citizenship or place of organization
Delaware Corporation
Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person
with
5. Sole voting power -0-
6. Shared voting power -0-
7. Sole dispositive power -0-
8. Shared dispositive power 848,000 shares
9. Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting
person 848,000 shares
10. Check box if the aggregate amount in Row (9) excludes
certain shares not applicable
11. Percent of class represented by amount in Row 9 5.08%
12. Type of Reporting Person IA
13G
CUSIP No. 550819106
1. Name of Reporting Person
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of above person
STEIN ROE CAPITAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
36-6101801
2. Check the appropriate box if a member of a group
(a) -----
(b) -----
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. Citizenship or place of organization
Massachusetts, USA
Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person
with
5. Sole voting power 840,000 shares
6. Shared voting power -0-
7. Sole dispositive power -0-
8. Shared dispositive power -0-
9. Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting
person 840,000 shares
10. Check box if the aggregate amount in Row (9) excludes
certain shares not applicable
11. Percent of class represented by amount in Row 9 5.03%
12. Type of Reporting Person IV
Item 1(a). Name of Issuer: MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC.
Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Office:
151 Sunnyside Blvd.
Plainview, NY 11803
Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing:
Stein Roe & Farnham Incorporated
Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office:
One South Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
Item 2(c). Citizenship: Delaware Corporation
Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock
Item 2(e). CUSIP Number 553530106
Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-
1(b), or 13d-2(b), check whether person filing is a:
(e) [XX] Investment Adviser registered under
Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
Item 4. Ownership:
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 848,000 shares
(b) Percent of Class: 5.08%
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
840,000 shares
(Stein Roe Capital Opportunities Fund)
(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the
vote: -0-
(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the
disposition: 848,000 shares
(Stein Roe & Farnham Incorporated)
(iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the
disposition: -0-
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:
Not Applicable
Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of
Another Person:
Stein Roe Capital Opportunities Fund, which
possesses sole power to vote 840,000 shares, is a portfolio
series of Stein Roe Investment Trust, a Massachusetts
business trust, which is a registered open-end investment
company of which Stein Roe & Farnham Incorporated is
investment adviser.
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary
which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent
Holding Company:
Not Applicable
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the
Group:
Not Applicable
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group:
Not Applicable
Item 10. CERTIFICATION:
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my
knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above
were acquired in the ordinary course of business and
were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the
effect of changing or influencing the control of the
issuer of such securities and were not acquired in
connection with or as a participant in any transaction
having such purposes or effect.
SIGNATURE: After reasonable inquiry and to the best of
my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information
set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
Date: February 11, 1998
By: /s/ Kenneth J. Kozanda
Kenneth J. Kozanda
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
AGREEMENT WITH REGARD TO JOINT FILING OF SCHEDULE 13G
made this 3rd day of February, 1998, by and between STEIN
ROE & FARNHAM INCORPORATED, a Delaware Corporation ("SR&F")
and STEIN ROE INVESTMENT TRUST, a Massachusetts business
trust, on behalf of its series, STEIN ROE CAPITAL
OPPORTUNITIES FUND ("Capital Opportunities Fund")
WITNESSETH:
Whereas, SR&F has investment discretion with respect to the
portfolio investments of Capital Opportunities Fund, and may
therefore be considered a "beneficial owner" of such
portfolio investments pursuant to Regulation 13D-G (the
"Regulation") of the Securities and Exchange Commission;
and,
Whereas, Capital Opportunities Fund retains voting authority
with regard to its portfolio investments and may therefore
also be considered a "beneficial owner" of such portfolio
investments pursuant to the Regulation; and,
Whereas, due to such multiple definitions of beneficial
ownership, both SR&F and Capital Opportunities Fund may be
deemed to have incurred an obligation to report beneficial
ownership of certain of Capital Opportunities Fund's
portfolio holdings as of December 31, 1997; and,
Whereas, the Regulation authorizes "joint" filing of a
single Schedule 13G when two or more eligible persons incur
an obligation to report with respect to the same securities;
NOW THEREFORE, Stein Roe Investment Trust on behalf of
Capital Opportunities Fund and SR&F agree that SR&F shall be
authorized to file a single Schedule 13G, and any necessary
amendments thereto, on behalf of itself and on behalf of
Capital Opportunities Fund, with respect to each of Capital
Opportunities Fund's holdings as to which such a report must
be made.
STEIN ROE INVESTMENT TRUST
/s/ Stacy H. Winick, Vice President and Secretary
Attest:
/s/ Nicolette D. Parrish, Assistant Secretary
STEIN ROE & FARNHAM INCORPORATED
/s/ Kenneth J. Kozanda, Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
/s/ Scott P. Pedersen, Vice President
