WESCO INTERNATIONAL INC
10-K405, 1999-03-30
ELECTRICAL APPARATUS & EQUIPMENT, WIRING SUPPLIES
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<PAGE>   1
 
                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                                   FORM 10-K
 
(MARK ONE)
       [X]      ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
                  FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
 
                                       OR
 
       [ ]      TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
             FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM           TO
 
                        COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 333-43225
 
                           WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                        <C>
                      DELAWARE                                                  25-1723345
           (State or other jurisdiction of                                   (I.R.S. Employer
           incorporation or organization)                                  Identification No.)
 
                   COMMERCE COURT                                                 15219
           FOUR STATION SQUARE, SUITE 700                                       (Zip Code)
              PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
      (Address of principal executive offices)
</TABLE>
 
                                 (412) 454-2254
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

          SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
 
                                      None

          SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
 
                                      None
 
     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 at least the past 90 days.   Yes  X   No __
 
     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K.   X
 
     As of February 27, 1999, 520,964 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share ("Common Stock") and 80,504 shares of Class B Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share ("Class B Common Stock") of the registrant were issued and
outstanding. There is no public market for the registrant's Common Stock or
Class B Common Stock. Substantially all of the Common Stock and Class B Common
Stock is held by affiliates of the registrant.
 
                   DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: None
<PAGE>   2
 
                           WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        PAGE
                                                                        ----
<S>       <C>                                                           <C>
                                     PART I
Item 1.   Business....................................................    1
Item 2.   Properties..................................................   11
Item 3.   Legal Proceedings...........................................   11
Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.........   11
 
                                    PART II
Item 5.   Market for Registrant's Common Stock and Related Shareholder
            Matters...................................................   11
Item 6.   Selected Financial Data.....................................   12
Item 7.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
            and Results of Operations.................................   14
Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
            Risks.....................................................   22
Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.................   22
Item 9.   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting
            and Financial Disclosures.................................   22
 
                                    PART III
Item 10.  Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant..........   23
Item 11.  Executive Compensation......................................   25
Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
            Management................................................   34
Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions..............   35
 
                                    PART IV
Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form
            8-K.......................................................   37
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   3
 
                                     PART I
 
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
 
     In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, "WESCO" refers to WESCO International,
Inc., and its subsidiaries and its predecessors unless the context otherwise
requires. References to "we," "us," "our" and the "Company" refer to WESCO and
its subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries include WESCO Distribution, Inc. ("WESCO
Distribution") and WESCO Distribution -- Canada, Inc. ("WESCO Canada"), both of
which are wholly-owned by WESCO. We acquired our business, formerly the
Westinghouse Electric Supply division (the "Predecessor"), from Westinghouse
Electric Corporation, now know as CBS Corporation ("Westinghouse") in February
1994. In June 1998, we completed a recapitalization (the "Recapitalization"), as
more fully described in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations."
 
OVERVIEW
 
     With sales of over $3 billion in 1998, we are a leading provider of
electrical products and other industrial MRO supplies and services in North
America. We are the second largest distributor in the $72 billion U.S.
electrical distribution industry, which has grown at a compounded annual rate of
7% over the last 15 years. We are also a provider of Integrated Supply services.
Our Integrated Supply solutions and outsourcing services fulfill all of a
customer's industrial MRO procurement needs through a highly automated,
proprietary electronic procurement and inventory replenishment system. Demand
for Integrated Supply services has increased approximately 90% annually since
1994, and the total U.S. market potential, measured as all purchases of
industrial MRO supplies and services, is estimated to be $250 billion.
 
     We have over 330 branches and five distribution centers located in 48
states, nine Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico, Guam, Mexico, the United Kingdom
and Singapore. We serve over 130,000 customers worldwide, offering over
1,000,000 products from over 23,000 suppliers. Our diverse customer base
includes a wide variety of industrial companies; contractors for industrial,
commercial, and residential projects; utility companies; and commercial,
institutional and governmental customers.
 
     We have acquired 18 companies since August 1995, representing annual sales
of over $1.1 billion. Combining strong internal growth with acquisitions, our
sales and EBITDA increased at a compounded annual growth rate ("CAGR") of over
16% and over 42%, respectively, since 1994.
 
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
 
  Electrical Distribution
 
     With 1998 sales estimated at $72 billion, the U.S. industry is large and
growing. The industry is also stable with compounded annual growth of 7% since
1982, and it is projected to grow another 7% in 1999. The U.S. electrical
distribution industry is also highly fragmented. In 1997, the latest year for
which data is available, the four national distributors, including WESCO,
accounted for less than 15% of estimated total industry sales.
 
  Integrated Supply
 
     Demand for Integrated Supply services is growing rapidly, as more companies
realize they can lower costs by outsourcing their MRO procurement and related
services. Since the customers' costs of procuring MRO supplies can be over 50%
of the cost of the products, such improvements can be significant. The total
market for MRO industrial supplies is approximately $250 billion. Within that
market, Integrated Supply is projected to grow from approximately $5 billion in
sales from 1997 to $11 billion in 2000, or 30% per year.
 
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OUR BUSINESS STRATEGY
 
     Our objective is to be the leading provider of electrical products and
other MRO supplies and services to companies in North America and selected
international markets. In achieving this leadership position, our goal is to
grow earnings at a faster rate than sales by focusing on continuous productivity
improvement. Our growth strategy leverages our existing strengths and focuses on
developing new initiatives and programs.
 
     ENHANCE OUR LEADERSHIP POSITION IN ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION.  We are the
second largest electrical distributor in the U.S. and, through our value-added
products and services, we believe we have become the industry leader in serving
several important and growing markets. We intend to leverage our extensive
market presence and brand equity in the WESCO name to further our leadership
position in electrical distribution.
 
     GROW NATIONAL PROGRAMS.  Since 1994, revenue from our National Accounts
program has increased in excess of 20% annually. We will continue to invest in
the expansion of this program. Through our National Accounts program, we
coordinate electrical MRO procurement and purchasing activities primarily for
large industrial companies across multiple locations. We have well established
relationships with over 300 companies, providing us with a recurring base of
revenue through multi-year agreements.
 
     EXTEND OUR POSITION IN INTEGRATED SUPPLY.  We intend to build upon our
existing position as a provider of Integrated Supply services for MRO goods and
services in the United States. Our Integrated Supply and outsourcing services
replace the traditional multi-vendor, resource-intensive procurement process
with a single fully automated process capable of managing all MRO and related
service requirements. Our solutions range from just-in-time fulfillment to
taking over the entire procurement function. We believe we are advantaged as an
Integrated Supply provider due to our national branch system and low cost
structure. Our customers include some of the largest industrial companies in the
United States.
 
     GAIN SHARE IN KEY LOCAL MARKETS.  Significant opportunities exist to gain
local market share, since many local markets are highly fragmented. We intend to
increase our market share in key geographic markets through a combination of
increased sales and marketing efforts at existing branches, acquisitions to
expand our product and customer base and new branch openings.
 
     ACTIVELY PURSUE STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS.  We have completed 18 acquisitions
since August 1995, which represent annual sales of over $1.1 billion. We believe
that the highly fragmented nature of the electrical and industrial MRO
distribution industry will provide us with a significant number of acquisition
opportunities. We utilize a disciplined approach toward acquisitions which
includes well defined strategic criteria and established targets for return on
investment and earnings accretion.
 
     LEVERAGE OUR E-COMMERCE AND INFORMATION SYSTEM CAPABILITIES.  We conduct a
significant amount of business electronically. For example, 95% of our
Integrated Supply transactions are completed through EDI. We will continue to
make significant investments in information technology in order to conduct more
business electronically. Our e-commerce applications, including EDI, the
internet, CD-ROM catalogs and direct customer access, create tighter linkages
with both customers and suppliers and provide low cost, highly functional
processing of a full range of business transactions.
 
     CONTINUE TO IMPROVE PROFIT MARGINS.  We have more than doubled our EBITDA
margins since 1994 and are committed to seeking continuous improvement in
productivity and profitability. We operate with one of the lowest cost
structures in our industry and will utilize this low cost advantage to continue
to offer our customers competitive pricing while improving our overall
profitability.
 
     EXPAND OUR INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS.  Our international sales, the majority
of which are in Canada, accounted for 10% of sales in 1998. We believe that
there is significant additional demand for
 
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<PAGE>   5
 
our products and services outside the U.S. and Canada. Many of our multinational
domestic customers are seeking distribution, Integrated Supply and project
management solutions globally.
 
ACQUISITION AND INTEGRATION PROGRAM
 
     Our strategic acquisition program is an important element in our objective
to be the leader in the markets we serve. Our philosophy towards growth includes
a continuous evaluation to determine whether a particular opportunity,
capability, or customer need is best developed internally or purchased through a
strategic acquisition. We believe that the highly fragmented nature of the
electrical distribution industry will continue to provide us with a significant
number of acquisition opportunities. We continue to evaluate potential
acquisitions, including those in the electrical distribution industry, the
Integrated Supply market and other non-electrical distributors that would
complement our customers' overall supply needs. We have completed 18
acquisitions representing total annual sales of over $1.1 billion.

                           WESCO ACQUISITION HISTORY
                             (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR                         ACQUISITIONS    BRANCH LOCATIONS    ANNUAL SALES(1)
- ----                         ------------    ----------------    ----------------
<S>                          <C>             <C>                 <C>
1995.......................        2                 2                $   47
1996.......................        7                67                   418
1997.......................        2                 9                    52
1998.......................        6                21                   608
1999 to date...............        1                 3                    25
                                  --               ---                ------
     Total:................       18               102                $1,150
</TABLE>
 
        ---------------------------------
 
        (1) Represents our estimate of annual sales of acquired businesses at
            the time of acquisition, based on our review of internal and/or
            audited statements of the acquired business.
 
     Our business development department consists of a dedicated team of
professionals who locate, evaluate, and negotiate all aspects of any
acquisition, with particular emphasis on compatibility of management philosophy
and strategic fit. Since 1995 we have considered over 250 potential
acquisitions. We initially evaluate potential acquisitions based on their
ability to:
 
     - better serve our existing customers;
     - offer expansion into key growth markets;
     - add new product or service capabilities;
     - support new National Account customers; and
     - strengthen relationships with important manufacturers.
 
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
 
     PRODUCTS.  Our network of branches and distribution centers stock over
215,000 product stock keeping units ("SKUs"). Each branch tailors its inventory
to meet the needs of the customers in its local market, typically stocking
approximately 4,000 to 8,000 SKUs. Our Integrated Supply business allows our
customers to access over 1,000,000 products for direct shipment.
 
     Representative products that we sell include:
 
     - Supplies: Fuses, terminals, connectors, boxes, fittings, tools, lugs,
       tape and other MRO supplies
     - Distribution Equipment: Circuit breakers, transformers, switchboards,
       panelboards and busway
     - Lighting: Lamps (light bulbs), fixtures and ballasts
     - Wire and Conduit: Wire, cable, metallic and non-metallic conduit
 
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<PAGE>   6
 
     - Control, Automation and Motors: Motor control devices, drives,
       programmable logic controllers, pushbuttons and operator interfaces
     - Data Communications: Premise wiring, patch panels, terminals, connectors
 
     We purchase products from a diverse group of over 23,000 suppliers. In
1998, the ten largest suppliers accounted for approximately 38% of our
purchases. The largest of these was Eaton Corporation, through its Cutler-Hammer
division, accounting for approximately 15% of total purchases. No other supplier
accounted for more than 6%.
 
     Our supplier relationships are important to us, providing access to a wide
range of products, technical training and sales and marketing support. We have
preferred supplier agreements with approximately 150 of our suppliers and
purchase approximately 60% of our stock inventory pursuant to these agreements.
Consistent with industry practice, most of our agreements with suppliers,
including both distribution agreements and preferred supplier agreements, are
terminable by either party on no more than 60 days notice. See "Business -- Risk
Factors and Cautionary Statements -- Maintenance of Our Product Supply Present
Certain Risks."
 
     SERVICES.  In conjunction with product sales, we offer customers a wide
range of services and procurement solutions that draw on our product and supply
management expertise and systems capabilities. These services include National
Accounts programs, Integrated Supply programs and Major Project programs. We are
responding to the needs of our customers, particularly those in processing and
manufacturing industries. To more efficiently manage the MRO process on behalf
of our customers, we offer a range of supply management services, including:
 
     - outsourcing of the entire MRO purchasing process;
     - providing manufacturing process improvements using state-of-the-art
       automated solutions;
     - implementing inventory optimization programs;
     - participating in joint cost savings teams;
     - assigning our employees as on-site support personnel;
     - recommending energy-efficient product upgrades; and
     - offering safety and product training for customer employees.
 
     NATIONAL ACCOUNTS PROGRAMS.  The typical National Accounts customer is a
Fortune 500 industrial company, a large utility or other major customer, in each
case with multiple locations. Our National Accounts programs provide customers
with total supply chain cost reductions by coordinating purchasing activity for
MRO supplies across multiple locations. Comprehensive implementation plans
establish jointly-managed teams at the local and national level to prioritize
activities, identify key performance measures and track progress against
objectives. We involve our preferred suppliers early in the implementation
process, where they can contribute expertise and product knowledge to accelerate
program implementation and the achievement of cost savings and process
improvements.
 
     INTEGRATED SUPPLY PROGRAMS.  Our Integrated Supply programs offer customers
a variety of services to support their objectives for improved supply chain
management. We integrate our personnel, product and distribution expertise,
electronic technologies and service capabilities with the customer's own
internal resources to meet particular service requirements. Each Integrated
Supply program is uniquely configured to deliver a significant reduction in the
number of MRO suppliers, reduce total procurement costs, improve operating
controls and lower administrative expenses. Our solutions range from
just-in-time fulfillment to taking over the entire procurement function for all
indirect purchases. We believe that customers will increasingly seek to utilize
us as an "integrator," responsible for selecting and managing the supply of a
wide range of MRO and OEM products.
 
     MAJOR PROJECTS.  We have established a Major Projects Group, comprised of
our most experienced personnel, which focuses on serving the complex needs of
the top 50 U.S. electrical contractors on a
 
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<PAGE>   7
 
multi-regional basis. These contractors typically specialize in building
industrial sites, water treatment plants, airport expansions, healthcare
facilities, correctional institutions and new sports stadiums.
 
MARKETS AND CUSTOMERS
 
     We have a large base of approximately 130,000 customers diversified across
our principal markets. With no customer accounting for more than 3% of 1998
sales, we are not dependent on any single customer.
 
     INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS.  Sales to industrial customers, which include
numerous manufacturing and process industries, and original equipment
manufacturers ("OEMs") accounted for approximately 40% of our sales in 1998.
 
     MRO products are needed to maintain and upgrade the electrical and
communications networks at all industrial sites. Expenditures are greatest in
the heavy process industries, such as pulp and paper and petrochemical.
Typically, electrical MRO is the first or second ranked product category by
purchase value for total MRO requirements for an industrial site. Other MRO
product categories include, among other things, lubricants; pipe, valves and
fittings; fasteners; and power transmission products.
 
     OEM customers incorporate electrical components and assemblies into their
own products. OEMs typically require a reliable, high volume supply of a narrow
range of electrical items. Customers in this segment are particularly service
and price sensitive due to the volume and the critical nature of the product
used, and they also expect value-added services such as design and technical
support, just-in-time supply and electronic commerce.
 
     ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS.  Sales to electrical contractors accounted for
approximately 39% of our sales in 1998. These customers range from large
contractors for major industrial and commercial projects, the customer types we
principally serve, to small residential contractors which represent a small
portion of our sales. Electrical products purchased by contractors typically
account for approximately 40% to 50% of the total installed project cost, and,
therefore, accurate cost estimates and competitive material costs are critical
to a contractor's success in obtaining profitable projects.
 
     UTILITIES.  Sales to utilities accounted for approximately 15% of our sales
in 1998. This market includes large investor-owned utilities, rural electric
cooperatives and municipal power authorities. We provide our utility customers
with an extensive range of supplies to meet their MRO and capital projects
needs. Integrated Supply arrangements are also important in this market as cost
pressures and deregulation cause utility customers to streamline procurement
practices.
 
     COMMERCIAL, INSTITUTIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL CUSTOMERS.  Sales to CIG
customers accounted for approximately 5% of our sales in 1998. This fragmented
market includes schools, hospitals, property management firms, retailers and
government agencies of all types. Through a recent acquisition, we now have a
platform to sell integrated lighting control and distribution equipment in a
single package for multi-site specialty retailers, restaurant chains and
department stores.
 
DISTRIBUTION NETWORK
 
     BRANCH NETWORK.  We have over 330 branches, of which approximately 275 are
located in the U.S., approximately 50 are located in Canada and the remainder
are located in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Over
the last three years we have opened approximately 15 branches per year,
principally to service National Accounts customers. In addition to
consolidations in connection with acquisitions, we occasionally close or
consolidate existing branch locations to improve operating efficiency.
 
     DISTRIBUTION CENTERS.  To support our branch network, we have five
distribution centers located near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, serving the
Northeast and Midwest U.S.; near Reno, Nevada, serving the
 
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<PAGE>   8
 
Western U.S.; near Memphis, Tennessee, serving the Southeast and Central U.S.;
near Montreal, Quebec, serving Eastern and Central Canada; and near Vancouver,
British Columbia, serving Western Canada. Our distribution centers provide our
branches and customers with a combination of a broad and deep selection of
inventory, on-line ordering, same day shipment and central order handling and
fulfillment.
 
SALES ORGANIZATION
 
     GENERAL SALES FORCE.  Our general sales force is based at the local
branches and comprises approximately 2,200 of our employees, almost half of whom
are outside sales representatives and the remainder are inside sales personnel.
Outside sales representatives, who have an average of more than eight years of
experience with us, are paid under a compensation structure which is heavily
weighted towards commissions. They are responsible for making direct customer
calls, performing on-site technical support, generating new customer relations
and developing existing territories. The inside sales force is a key point of
contact for responding to routine customer inquiries such as price and
availability requests and for entering and tracking orders.
 
     NATIONAL ACCOUNTS.  Our National Accounts sales force is comprised of an
experienced group of sales executives who negotiate and administer contracts,
coordinate branch participation and identify sales and service opportunities.
National Accounts managers' efforts are aligned by targeted customer industries,
including automotive, pulp and paper, petrochemical, steel, mining and food
processing.
 
     DATA COMMUNICATIONS.  Sales of data communications products are supported
by a dedicated group of outside and inside sales representatives who focus
primarily on the premise wiring systems market. This team is supported by
additional resources in the purchasing, inventory management, product training,
product management and regional sales areas. We also operate a training facility
where customers and the general sales force can receive industry-recognized
certification in data communications product installation.
 
     MAJOR PROJECTS.  Since 1995 our group of experienced sales managers target,
on a national basis, the market for large construction projects with electrical
material valued in excess of $1 million. Through the Major Projects Group, we
can meet the needs of contractors for complex construction projects such as new
sports stadiums, industrial sites, water treatment plants, airport expansions,
healthcare facilities and correctional institutions.
 
     E-COMMERCE.  We have recently entered into a strategic alliance with
Datastream Systems, Inc. to unite their customer base, the largest in the
maintenance software market, with our nationwide distribution network. The
initiative is part of Datastream's overall electronic commerce effort, called
e-MRO(SM), which enables customers to search, select and purchase from a broad
selection of MRO supplies through the Internet.
 
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
 
     To serve the Canadian market, we operate a network of approximately 50
branches in nine provinces. Branch operations are supported by two distribution
centers located near Montreal and Vancouver. With sales of approximately US$272
million, Canada represented 9% of our total sales in 1998. The Canadian market
for electrical distribution is considerably smaller than the U.S. market, with
roughly US$2.4 billion in total sales in 1997, according to industry sources.
 
     We sell internationally through domestic export sales offices located
within North America and sales offices in international locations. We have
recently opened offices in Aberdeen, Scotland and London, England to support our
sales efforts in Europe, Africa and the former Soviet Union, and an office in
Singapore to support our sales in Asia. We also recently opened two branches in
the Mexico City area.
 
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<PAGE>   9
 
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
 
     Our corporate information system, WESCOM, provides processing for a full
range of our business operations, such as customer service, inventory and
logistics management, accounting and administrative support. The system has been
upgraded with decision support, executive information system analysis and
retrieval capabilities to provide detailed income statement and balance sheet
variance and trend reporting at the branch level. The system also provides
activity-based costing capabilities for analyzing profitability by customer,
sales representative and shipment type. Sales and margin trends and variances
can be analyzed by branch, customer, product category, supplier or account
representative.
 
     The WESCOM system is fully distributed within WESCO, and every branch
(other than EESCO and certain newly acquired branches) utilizes its own computer
system to support local business activities. Telecommunication links through a
central system give each branch access to information on inventory status in our
distribution centers as well as other branches and an increasing number of
on-line suppliers. We are developing an upgraded version of the WESCOM system to
be released in 1999. This new version, WESNET, will link all branch operations
through an intranet technology. EESCO operates its own system which is linked to
our central system. We intend to integrate EESCO into the WESNET system over the
next 12 months which is expected to reduce costs associated with operating dual
systems.
 
     We routinely process customer orders, shipping notices, suppliers purchase
orders, and funds transfer via EDI transactions with our trading partners. Our
electronic commerce strategy calls for tighter linkages to both customers and
suppliers through greater use of technological advances, including Internet and
CD-ROM catalogs, bar-coding, enhanced EDI and other innovative improvements.
 
     Our Integrated Supply services are supported by our proprietary procurement
and inventory management systems. These systems provide a fully integrated,
flexible supply chain platform that currently handles over 95% of our Integrated
Supply customers' transactions electronically. Our configuration options for a
customer range from on-line linkages to the customer's business and purchasing
systems, to total replacement of a customer's procurement and inventory
management system for MRO supplies.
 
COMPETITION
 
     We compete directly with national, regional and local providers of
electrical and other industrial MRO supplies. Competition is primarily focused
on the local service area, and is generally based on product line breadth,
product availability, service capabilities and price. Another source of
competition is buying groups formed by smaller distributors to increase
purchasing power and provide some cooperative marketing capability. While
increased buying power may improve the competitive position of buying groups
locally, we believe these groups have not been able to compete effectively with
us for National Accounts customers due to the difficulty in coordinating a
diverse ownership group.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
     As of December 31, 1998, we had approximately 5,450 employees worldwide, of
which approximately 4,700 were located in the U.S. and approximately 750 in
Canada and our other foreign locations. Less than 5% of our employees are
represented by unions. We believe our labor relations are generally good.
 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
 
     Our trade and service mark, composed of the words "WESCO the extra effort
people(R)," together with the running man design, is registered in the United
States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trademark Office and the
Mexican Instituto de la Propriedad Industrial.
 
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<PAGE>   10
 
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
 
     We believe that we are in compliance in all material respects with
applicable environmental laws. There are no significant capital expenditures for
environmental control matters either estimated in the current year or expected
in the near future. See "Risk Factors -- Our Operations Are Subject to Certain
Environmental Risks."
 
FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
 
     This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains various "forward looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. These statements involve certain unknown risks and uncertainties,
including, among others, those discussed under the caption "Risk Factors and
Cautionary Statements" below. When used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the
words "anticipates," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "intends," "expects,"
"projects" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements,
although not all forward-looking statements contain such words. Such statements,
including, but not limited to, our statements regarding business strategy,
growth strategy, productivity and profitability enhancement, new product and
service introductions and liquidity and capital resources are based on
management's beliefs, as well as on assumptions made by, and information
currently available to, management, and involve various risks and uncertainties,
certain of which are beyond our control. Our actual results could differ
materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by or on
our behalf. In light of these risks and uncertainties there can be no assurance
that the forward-looking information will in fact prove to be accurate. We have
undertaken no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
 
RISK FACTORS AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
 
     WE OPERATE IN A COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY. The distribution industry for
electrical products and other industrial MRO supplies and services is very
competitive. We compete directly with national and regional broad-based
companies, niche companies carrying only specialized products, and small, local
companies with one or a few locations. Another source of competition in this
industry is buying groups formed by smaller distributors to increase purchasing
power and provide some cooperative marketing capability. Outside this industry,
manufacturers employ, and may increase the use of, direct sales representatives.
In addition, some manufacturers with sufficient size, geographic scope and
financial and marketing resources may be in a position to offer customers their
national accounts services. Finally, the development of alternative distribution
channels, such as internet-based catalogs, do-it-yourself retail outlets, or a
shift to direct sales and service by manufacturers, could have a material
adverse effect on our markets and, as a result, our operating performance.
 
     Some of our existing competitors have, and new market entrants may have,
greater financial and marketing resources than we do. To the extent existing or
future competitors seek to gain or retain market share by reducing prices, we
may be required to lower our prices, thereby adversely affecting financial
results. Existing or future competitors also may seek to compete with us for
acquisitions, which could have the effect of increasing the price and reducing
the number of suitable acquisitions. In addition, it is possible that
competitive pressures resulting from the industry trend toward consolidation
could affect growth and profit margins. See "Business -- Competition."
 
     WE HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF DEBT WHICH IMPOSES CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS. We
had $595.8 million of indebtedness as of December 31, 1998. Accordingly, we have
significant debt service obligations. We may incur additional indebtedness in
the future to fund our growth strategy and for general corporate purposes,
subject to certain limitations contained in the instruments governing our
indebtedness.
 
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<PAGE>   11
 
     Our debt agreements contain numerous financial and operating covenants that
limit our discretion with respect to certain business matters. These covenants
place significant restrictions on, among other things, our ability to incur
additional indebtedness, to pay dividends and other distributions, to repay our
obligations, to enter into sale and leaseback transactions, to create liens or
other encumbrances, to make certain payments and investments, to engage in
certain transactions with affiliates, to sell or otherwise dispose of assets and
to merge or consolidate with other entities and will otherwise restrict
corporate activities.
 
     Our debt agreements also require that we meet certain financial ratios and
tests. Our ability to comply with these and other provisions may be affected by
changes in economic or business conditions or other events beyond our control. A
failure to comply with our debt obligations could result in an event of default
which could result in acceleration of the related debt and the acceleration of
debt under other instruments evidencing indebtedness that may contain
cross-acceleration or cross-default provisions. If outstanding debt were to be
accelerated, there can be no assurance that our assets would be sufficient to
repay in full such indebtedness. Our obligations under the bank credit
facilities are collateralized by a first priority pledge of and security
interest in substantially all of our assets, except for accounts receivable
which are subject to our Receivables Facility. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Liquidity and Capital
Resources."
 
     WE ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH GENERAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.
Changes in economic conditions outside our control, including international,
national, regional and local declines in industrial and construction activity,
can affect projected growth rates and our operating results may be adversely
affected. Increases in interest rates may lead to a decline in economic activity
and may also result in higher interest payments under our bank credit
facilities. In addition, during periods of reduced economic activity our credit
losses could increase significantly. Adverse economic conditions or cyclical
trends in certain customer markets could have a material adverse effect on our
operating results and financial condition.
 
     OUR GROWTH STRATEGY INVOLVES CERTAIN RISKS. A principal component of our
strategy is to continue to expand through additional acquisitions that
complement our operations in new or existing markets. Our acquisitions will
involve risks, including the successful integration and management of acquired
operations and personnel. The integration of acquired businesses may also lead
to the loss of key employees of the acquired companies and diversion of
management attention from ongoing business concerns. We cannot assure that we
will be able to identify businesses that meet our strategic criteria and acquire
them on satisfactory price and other terms, or that we will have sufficient
capital resources to realize our acquisition strategy. Future acquisitions may
not prove advantageous and could have a material adverse effect on our operating
results. We are also building our international presence. Significant expansion
into international markets could involve risks relating to operating in foreign
countries, including those relating to currency exchange rates, new and
different legal, tax, accounting and regulatory requirements. See
"Business -- Acquisition and Integration Programs" and "--International
Operations."
 
     Depending on the size and number of future acquisitions, we may require
additional funding. Future acquisitions could be financed by internally
generated cash flow or additional indebtedness, including increased borrowings
under our bank credit facilities or the issuance of debt or equity securities.
Our high degree of debt, among other things, could constrain our ability to
obtain financing. We cannot assure that adequate funding will be available, or
if available, will be on terms satisfactory to us. See "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and
Capital Resources," and "Business -- Our Business Strategy," and "-- Acquisition
and Integration Programs."
 
     MAINTENANCE OF OUR PRODUCT SUPPLY PRESENTS CERTAIN RISKS. Consistent with
industry practice, most of our agreements with suppliers (including both
distribution agreements and preferred supplier
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   12
 
agreements) are generally terminable by either party on no more than 60 days
notice. Our ten largest suppliers in 1998 accounted for approximately 38% of our
purchases for the period. The largest supplier was Eaton Corporation, through
its Cutler-Hammer division, accounting for approximately 15% of our purchases.
The loss of, or a substantial decrease in the availability of, products from any
of these suppliers, or the loss of key preferred supplier agreements, could have
a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, supply interruptions
could arise from shortages of raw materials, labor disputes or weather
conditions affecting products or shipments, transportation disruptions or other
reasons beyond our control. An interruption of operations at any of our five
distribution centers could have a material adverse effect on the operations of
branches served by the affected distribution center. Furthermore, we cannot
assure that particular products, or product lines, will be available to us, or
available in quantities sufficient to meet customer demand. This limited product
access could put us at a competitive disadvantage. See "Business -- Products and
Services" and "Business -- Distribution Network."
 
     OUR SUCCESS IS DEPENDENT ON OUR INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND OUR YEAR 2000
COMPLIANCE. We believe that our computer systems are an integral part of our
business and growth strategies. We depend on our information systems to process
orders, manage inventory and accounts receivable collections, purchase products,
ship products to our customers on a timely basis, maintain cost-effective
operations and provide superior service to our customers. Although we believe
that we have the appropriate disaster recovery plans in place, we cannot assure
that a serious disruption in the operation of our information systems will not
occur. Any such disruption could have a material adverse effect on our business
and results of operations. See "Business -- Management Information Systems."
 
     The Year 2000 issue concerns the ability of automated applications to
process date-dependent processes, calculations, and information by properly
interpreting the year. With respect to WESCO, the Year 2000 issue may
potentially impact business-critical computerized applications related to, among
others, customer sales, service and invoicing, purchasing, inventory management,
payroll, financing, and financial accounting and reporting. In addition, other
non business-critical systems and services may also be affected.
 
     Year 2000 compliance has already been achieved in certain systems. Other
systems and processes critical to our business which are not Year 2000 compliant
are either being replaced or corrected through program changes, application
upgrades or replacement. We expect to have substantially completed required
remediation efforts by July 1999. Our project team is also developing or
enhancing contingency plans to minimize the potential adverse effect the Year
2000 issue could have on WESCO in the event business-critical systems and
processes fail to be compliant.
 
     Our expectations of the Year 2000 issue are subject to numerous risks and
uncertainties, including, among others, our ability to timely identify all
affected business-critical systems, and the readiness of service providers,
vendors and suppliers, our financial institutions, and significant customers. If
we are unsuccessful in identifying or correcting business-critical systems and
processes affected by the Year 2000 issue, or if our service providers, vendors
and suppliers, our financial institutions, and significant customers are
adversely affected by the Year 2000 issue, our results of operations or
financial condition could be materially impacted. See "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Year 2000."
 
     OUR OPERATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO ENVIRONMENT RISKS. Our facilities and
operations are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating
to environmental protection ("Environmental Laws") and human health and safety.
Some of these laws and regulations may impose strict, joint and several
liability on certain persons for the cost of investigation or remediation of
contaminated properties. These persons may include present or future owners and
operators of properties, and persons that arranged for the disposal of hazardous
substances. In addition, the disposal of certain products distributed by us,
such as ballasts, fluorescent lighting and batteries, must comply with
Environmental
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   13
 
Laws. Our owned and leased real property may carry with it certain liabilities
under Environmental Laws.
 
     OUR CONTROLLING STOCKHOLDERS CAN EXERCISE SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE OVER OUR
AFFAIRS. As of December 31, 1998, approximately 56% of the issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock are held by The Cypress Group L.L.C.
("Cypress") and its affiliates. Accordingly, Cypress and its affiliates can
exercise significant influence over our affairs, including the election of our
directors, appointment of our management and approval of actions requiring the
approval of our stockholders, including the adoption of amendments to our
certificate of incorporation and approval of mergers or sales of substantially
all of our assets. See "Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant,"
"Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management," and "Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions."
 
ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES.
 
     We have over 330 branches, of which approximately 275 are located in the
U.S., approximately 50 are located in Canada and the remainder are located in
Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Approximately 30%
of branches are owned facilities, and the remainder are leased.
 
     The following table summarizes our distribution centers:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LOCATION                                           SQUARE FEET      LEASED/OWNED
- --------                                           -----------    ----------------
<S>                                                <C>            <C>
Warrendale, PA...................................    252,700      Owned and Leased
Sparks, NV.......................................    195,800      Leased
Byhalia, MS......................................    148,000      Owned
Dorval, QE.......................................     97,000      Leased
Burnaby, BC......................................     34,300      Owned
</TABLE>
 
     We also lease our 60,400 square foot headquarters in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. We do not regard the real property associated with any single
branch location as material to our operations. We believe our facilities are in
good operating condition.
 
ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
 
     We are party to routine litigation incidental to our business. We do not
believe that any legal proceedings to which we are a party or to which any of
our property is subject will have a material adverse effect on our financial
position or results of operations.
 
ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
 
     None.
 
                                    PART II
 
ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
 
     There is no established public trading market for the registrant's Common
Stock or Class B Common Stock.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   14
 
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.
 
                    (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   TEN
                                                  MONTHS
                                                  ENDED
                                               DECEMBER 31,                 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                               ------------    --------------------------------------------------
                                                 1994(1)          1995          1996          1997         1998
                                               ------------    ----------    ----------    ----------    --------
<S>                                            <C>             <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Sales, net...................................   $ 1,398.5      $  1,857.0    $  2,274.6    $  2,594.8    $3,025.4
Gross profit.................................       230.0           321.0         405.0         463.9       537.6
Selling, general and administrative
  expenses...................................       197.7           258.0         326.0         372.5       415.0
Depreciation and amortization................         7.5             7.3          10.8          11.3        14.8
Recapitalization costs.......................          --              --            --            --        51.8(2)
                                                ---------      ----------    ----------    ----------    --------
Income from operations.......................        24.8            55.7          68.2          80.1        56.0
Interest expense, net........................        17.6            15.8          17.4          20.1        45.1
Other expense................................          --              --            --            --        10.1(3)
                                                ---------      ----------    ----------    ----------    --------
Income before income taxes...................         7.2            39.9          50.8          60.0         0.8
Provision for income taxes...................         3.6            14.8          18.3          23.8         8.5(4)
                                                ---------      ----------    ----------    ----------    --------
Income (loss) before and extraordinary
  charge, net of taxes.......................         3.6            25.1          32.5          36.2        (7.7)
Extraordinary charge, net of applicable
  taxes......................................          --             8.1(5)         --            --          --
                                                ---------      ----------    ----------    ----------    --------
Net income (loss)............................   $     3.6      $     17.0    $     32.5    $     36.2    $   (7.7)(2)
Earnings (loss) per common share (6)
    Basic before extraordinary change, net of
      taxes..................................   $    3.71      $    25.11    $    31.97    $    35.48    $  (9.93)
    Basic....................................        3.71           17.05         31.97         35.48       (9.93)
    Diluted before extraordinary charge, net
      of taxes...............................        3.68           23.86         29.47         31.52       (9.93)
    Diluted..................................        3.68           16.20         29.47         31.52       (9.93)
Weighted average common shares outstanding
    Basic....................................     970,637       1,000,735     1,015,238     1,021,282     779,440
    Diluted..................................     979,165       1,053,344     1,101,573     1,153,617     779,440
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:
EBITDA (7)...................................   $    32.3      $     63.0    $     79.0    $     91.4    $  122.6
Capital expenditures.........................         1.7             6.5           9.3          11.6        10.7
Net cash provided by (used for) operating
  activities.................................        63.7            25.7          15.1         (12.0)      276.9
Net cash provided by (used for) investing
  activities.................................      (256.6)          (12.0)       (110.9)        (21.5)     (184.1)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing
  activities.................................       197.5            (9.8)         87.2          41.1       (92.3)
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Total assets.................................       533.7           581.3         773.5         870.9       950.5
Total long-term debt (including current
  portion)...................................       180.6           177.9         262.2         295.2       595.8
Redeemable common stock (8)..................         5.5             7.7           8.9           9.0        21.5
Stockholders' equity (deficit)...............        99.5           116.4         148.7         184.5      (142.6)
</TABLE>
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   15
 
 (1) Our business was part of Westinghouse for the first two months of 1994. The
     results of operations for that period are not presented.
 (2) Represents a one-time charge primarily related to noncapitalized financing
     expenses, professional and legal fees and management compensation costs.
     Reference is made to "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
     Condition and Results of Operations -- Results of Operations -- 1998
     compared to 1997."
 (3) Represents costs relating to the sale of accounts receivable pursuant to
     the Receivables Facility.
 (4) Certain nondeductible recapitalization costs and other permanent
     differences significantly exceeded income before income taxes and resulted
     in an unusually high provision for income taxes.
 (5) Represents a charge, net of taxes, relating to the write-off of unamortized
     debt issuance and other costs associated with the early extinguishment of
     debt.
 (6) For a description of the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per
     common share, see Notes 2 and 13 to Consolidated Financial Statements
     included elsewhere herein. For the year ended December 31, 1998, $1.3
     million of the interest on convertible debt and 114,718 common share
     equivalents have not been included, since the impact was anti-dilutive.
 (7) EBITDA represents income from operations plus depreciation, amortization
     and recapitalization costs. EBITDA is presented since management believes
     that such information is considered by certain investors to be an
     additional basis for evaluating the Company's ability to pay interest and
     repay debt. EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to measures of
     operating performance as determined in accordance with generally accepted
     accounting principles or as a measure of the Company's operating results
     and cash flows or as a measure of the Company's liquidity. Since EBITDA is
     not calculated identically by all companies, the presentation herein may
     not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.
 (8) Represents redeemable common stock as described in Note 11 to Consolidated
     Financial Statements. Under certain limited circumstances, the holders
     thereof have the right to require us to repurchase all of the redeemable
     shares and the exercisable portion of the options. These repurchase rights
     terminate upon consummation of an initial public offering. The redemption
     value of the shares and exercisable portion of the options at December 31,
     1997 and 1998 was approximately $68.6 million and $130.3 million,
     respectively. See "Certain Relationships and Related
     Transactions -- Management Stockholders."
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   16
 
ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
         OF OPERATIONS.
 
     The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the audited
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
GENERAL
 
     WESCO is a leading provider of electrical products and other industrial MRO
supplies and services in North America. WESCO has over 330 branches and five
distribution centers strategically located in 48 states, nine Canadian
provinces, Puerto Rico, Guam, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Singapore. WESCO
serves over 130,000 customers worldwide, offering over 1,000,000 products from
over 23,000 suppliers. WESCO's diverse customer base includes a wide variety of
industrial companies; contractors for industrial, commercial, and residential
projects; utility companies; and commercial, institutional and governmental
customers. Approximately 90% of WESCO's net sales are generated from operations
in the U.S., 9% from Canada and the remainder from other countries.
 
     WESCO's sales can be categorized as stock, direct ship and special orders.
Stock orders are filled directly from existing inventory and generally represent
40% to 50% of total sales. Approximately 35% to 45% of WESCO's total sales are
direct ship sales. Direct ship sales are typically custom-built products, large
orders or products that are too bulky to be easily handled and, as a result, are
shipped directly to the customer from the supplier. Special orders are for
products that are not ordinarily stocked in inventory and are ordered based on a
customer's specific request. Special orders represent the remainder of total
sales. Gross profit margins on stock and special order sales are approximately
50% higher than those on direct ship sales. Although direct ship gross margins
are lower, operating profit margins are often higher, since the product handling
and fulfillment costs associated with direct shipments are much lower.
 
     WESCO continues to emphasize a number of initiatives designed to improve
its working capital performance, primarily in the area of inventory management.
Such initiatives include: coordinating purchasing and inventory investment
activities among groups of branches or "districts;" upgrading the automated
stock replenishment programs used to supply branches from the distribution
centers; negotiating improved inventory return and consignment arrangements with
suppliers; increasing the use of preferred suppliers; and shortening lead times
between order and delivery from suppliers.
 
     WESCO has historically financed its acquisitions, new branch openings,
working capital needs and capital expenditures through internally generated cash
flow and borrowings under its credit facilities. During the initial phase of an
acquisition or new branch opening, WESCO typically incurs expenses related to
installing or converting information systems, training employees and other
initial operating activities. With some acquisitions, WESCO may incur expenses
in connection with the closure of any of its own redundant branches.
Historically, the costs associated with opening new branches, and closing
branches in connection with certain acquisitions, have not been material. WESCO
has accounted for its acquisitions under the purchase method of accounting.
 
     WESCO is the leading consolidator in its industry, having acquired 18
companies since August 1995 representing annual sales of over $1.1 billion.
Management distinguishes sales attributable to core operations separate from
sales of acquired businesses. The distinction between sales from core operations
and from acquired businesses is based on the Company's internal records and on
management estimates where the integration of acquired businesses results in the
closing or consolidation of branches.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   17
 
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
     The results of operations and financial position of WESCO for the year
ended December 31, 1998 were affected by the following:
 
     Recapitalization.  On June 5, 1998, WESCO repurchased and retired all of
its Common Stock, with the exception of certain shares held by members of
management, for an aggregate consideration of approximately $654 million and
repaid approximately $379 million of the then outstanding indebtedness. In
connection with the transaction, WESCO also sold 89% of its Common Stock to an
investor group led by affiliates of Cypress for an aggregate cash consideration
of $318 million, issued $300 million of Senior Subordinated Notes and
approximately $50 million of Senior Discount Notes, borrowed $170 million under
a new credit facility and sold approximately $250 million of accounts receivable
as part of an off-balance sheet securitization transaction. Following the
Recapitalization, management's retained ownership interest amounted to 11% of
the Common Stock.
 
     Acquisitions.  During 1998, WESCO completed six acquisitions with total
annual sales exceeding $600 million for an aggregate purchase price of $250
million. The most significant acquisition, Bruckner Supply Company, Inc.
("Bruckner"), a provider of Integrated Supply procurement services for large
industrial companies, was completed in September 1998. Bruckner had annual sales
of approximately $222 million in 1997. The purchase price paid at closing was
$99.1 million, consisting of $72.5 million in cash and a convertible note
discounted to a value of $26.6 million.
 
     Pending Equity Offering.  On March 3, 1999, WESCO filed a registration
statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register approximately
$200 million of Common Stock, including shares subject to an underwriters'
over-allotment option (the "Offering"). In connection with the Offering, certain
employee rights to require the Company to repurchase outstanding redeemable
Common Stock will terminate, and the Company also plans to reclassify its Class
A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, into Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share. The Company intends to use net proceeds from the Offering to retire all
of the outstanding 11 1/8% Senior Discount Notes due 2008, to repay all of the
existing indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility, and the remaining
balance to repay a portion of the Tranche B Term Loan. If such indebtedness is
repaid, the Company would incur an extraordinary charge relating to the
write-off of existing unamortized debt issue costs and payment of a premium
associated with the retirement of the Senior Discount Notes. There can be no
assurance as to the timing or completion of the Offering or the amount of net
proceeds to be received by the Company and applied to debt reduction as
intended.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   18
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
     The following table sets forth the percentage relationship to net sales of
certain items in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations for the
periods presented:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                              -----------------------
                                                              1996     1997     1998
                                                              -----    -----    -----
<S>                                                           <C>      <C>      <C>
Sales, net..................................................  100.0%   100.0%   100.0%
Gross profit................................................   17.8     17.9     17.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses................   14.3     14.3     13.7
Depreciation and amortization...............................    0.5      0.5      0.5
Recapitalization costs......................................     --       --      1.7
                                                              -----    -----    -----
     Income from operations.................................    3.0      3.1      1.9
Interest expense............................................    0.8      0.8      1.6
Other expense...............................................     --       --      0.3
                                                              -----    -----    -----
     Income before income taxes.............................    2.2      2.3       --
Income taxes................................................    0.8      0.9      0.3
                                                              -----    -----    -----
     Net income (loss)......................................    1.4%     1.4%    (0.3)%
                                                              =====    =====    =====
</TABLE>
 
  1998 Compared to 1997
 
     Net Sales.  Sales in 1998 increased $430.6 million, or 16.6%, to $3,025.4
million compared with $2,594.8 million for 1997. Sales from core operations
increased approximately 4% with the balance of the sales increase coming from
eight acquisitions since the beginning of 1997. The mix of direct shipment sales
increased to approximately 42% in 1998 from 39% in 1997 primarily as a result of
the Bruckner acquisition. Substantially all of Bruckner's sales are direct
shipment. Consistent with recent trends, branches with a high volume of sales to
utility customers experienced somewhat higher levels of sales growth. Also, the
Canadian branches recorded sales growth of 4% in 1998 in Canadian currency and
when translated to U.S. dollars, those sales declined 3%.
 
     Gross Profit.  Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 1998 increased
$73.7 million to $537.6 million from $463.9 million for 1997. Gross profit
margin declined slightly to 17.8% in 1998 from 17.9% in 1997. This decrease
resulted from a higher proportion of direct ship sales attributable to the
Bruckner acquisition. Direct ship gross margins are lower than those of other
sales; however, operating profit margins are often higher, since the product
handling and fulfillment costs associated with direct shipments are much lower.
Excluding the effects of the Bruckner acquisition, the 1998 gross profit margin
increased to 18.1%. The Company believes that this increase in gross margin is
the result of numerous gross margin improvement initiatives.
 
     Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.  Selling, general and
administrative ("SG&A") expenses increased $42.5 million, or 11.4%, to $415.0
million. The majority of this increase was associated with companies acquired
during 1998; the remainder of the increase was associated with certain expenses
that are variable in nature and increase when sales increase. As a percent of
sales, SG&A expenses declined to 13.7% compared with 14.3% a year ago,
reflecting cost containment initiatives and the effects of a lower cost
structure associated with the Bruckner acquisition.
 
     Depreciation and Amortization.  Depreciation and amortization increased
$3.5 million to $14.8 million primarily reflecting higher amortization of
goodwill from acquisitions.
 
     Recapitalization Costs.  During 1998, WESCO completed the Recapitalization
and incurred one-time costs associated with this transaction amounting to $51.8
million. These costs are primarily related to noncapitalized financing expenses,
professional and legal fees and management compensation costs.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   19
 
     Interest and Other Expense.  Interest expense totaled $45.1 million, an
increase of $25.0 million over 1997. The increase was primarily due to the
higher levels of borrowings associated with acquisitions and the
Recapitalization. Other expense totaled $10.1 million in 1998 reflecting costs
associated with the accounts receivable securitization.
 
     Income Taxes.  Income tax expense totaled $8.5 million in 1998 compared
with $23.8 million in 1997. In 1998 WESCO recorded $51.8 million of costs
associated with the Recapitalization which contributed to income before taxes of
$0.8 million. Certain nondeductible recapitalization costs and other permanent
differences significantly exceeded the $0.8 million of income before taxes and
resulted in an unusually high effective tax rate. The effective tax rate in 1997
was 39.6%.
 
     Net Income (Loss).  Net loss and diluted loss per share totaled $7.7
million and $9.93 per share, respectively, for 1998, compared with net income
and diluted earnings per share of $36.2 million and $31.52 per share,
respectively, for 1997. The comparability of the results was primarily affected
by the one-time charge of $51.8 million related to the Recapitalization, the
impact of the nondeductibility of a portion of these costs on taxes and an
increase in interest expense associated with higher debt levels, as a result of
the Recapitalization and acquisitions. Excluding the Recapitalization costs of
$51.8 million, net income for 1998 would have been approximately $30.6 million.
 
  1997 Compared to 1996
 
     Net Sales.  Sales in 1997 increased $320.2 million, or 14.1%, to $2,594.8
million, compared with $2,274.6 million for 1996. Sales from core operations
increased approximately 7%. Within the U.S., the branches with a high volume of
sales to utility customers experienced a somewhat higher level of sales growth.
In addition to growth from core operations, the remaining sales increase
resulted primarily from the nine companies acquired since the beginning of 1996.
Sales of product from stock rose 21%, as compared to the prior period,
increasing the mix of stock sales three percentage points to 48% of total sales.
This was a result of several ongoing initiatives designed to increase stock
sales, such as the continued emphasis on growing National Accounts sales, and,
to a lesser extent, the impact of acquired company sales, which have tended to
have a higher mix of stock sales. Direct ship sales rose 4% over the prior
period. This sales increase was below that experienced by the Company in other
areas and was primarily due to the slower growth in the non-residential
construction market for commercial and industrial projects, which constitutes
the majority of direct ship sales.
 
     Gross Profit.  Gross profit in 1997 totaled $463.9 million compared with
$405.0 million in 1996. The increase of $58.9 million, or 14.5%, was primarily
due to higher sales volume in 1997 from both acquisitions and existing
operations. Gross profit margin increased in the comparison to 17.9% from 17.8%.
In 1996, gross profit of approximately $9.3 million was recorded in connection
with a one-time international construction project with a gross profit margin
that was higher than WESCO's usual margins on similar projects due to the
service requirements and risk considerations associated with the order.
Excluding this project, gross profit margins would have been 17.9% and 17.6% in
1997 and 1996, respectively. The increase in gross profit margin was primarily
due to the increase in the mix of higher margin stock sales including sales
associated with acquired companies.
 
     Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.  SG&A expenses increased
$46.5 million, or 14.3%, to $372.5 million and was primarily attributable to
companies acquired since the beginning of 1996. As a percent of net sales, SG&A
expenses remained unchanged at 14.3%. Acquisitions with higher SG&A expense
rates were partially offset by cost containment in WESCO's core business, as
well as cost reductions in acquired companies.
 
     Interest and Other Expenses.  Interest expense increased by $2.7 million in
1997 to $20.1 million from $17.4 million in the prior year. This increase is
primarily due to the higher levels of borrowings associated with acquisitions,
partially offset by lower interest rates during 1997.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   20
 
     Income Taxes.  The effective tax rate was 39.6% for 1997 compared to 36.1%
for 1996. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to the
reduction of a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets in 1995 and 1996,
which had the effect of reducing the income tax rate during those periods. The
Company began its operations as a stand-alone entity in early 1994 with no
history of generating taxable income. Accordingly, a valuation allowance was
established for the net deferred tax assets that were generated during 1994. In
1995 and 1996, as the Company subsequently demonstrated an ability to utilize
such deferred tax assets, the valuation allowance was reduced and had the effect
of reducing the effective tax rate for both 1995 and 1996. Since the valuation
allowance was eliminated during 1996, there was no similar effect on the 1997
tax rate.
 
     Net Income.  Net income and diluted earnings per share totaled $36.2
million and $31.52 per share, respectively, for 1997, compared with $32.5
million and $29.47 per share in 1996. The earnings increase was primarily due to
an increase in gross profit partially offset by higher operating expenses and a
higher effective tax rate in the comparison.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
     Total assets were $950.5 million at December 31, 1998 and $870.9 million a
year earlier. In addition, stockholders' equity was a deficit of $142.6 million
at December 31, 1998 compared with total stockholders' equity of $184.5 million
at December 31, 1997. The changes in these categories, as well as long-term debt
discussed below, reflect the effects of the sale and repurchase of Common Stock,
debt refinancing and sale of accounts receivable completed in connection with
the Recapitalization.
 
     Primarily as a result of the Recapitalization completed in June 1998, WESCO
has increased its debt as set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                DECEMBER 31
                                                              ----------------
                                                               1997      1998
                                                              ------    ------
                                                               (IN MILLIONS)
<S>                                                           <C>       <C>
Term loans..................................................  $   --    $169.5
Revolving Credit Facility...................................      --      42.4
Old revolving credit facility...............................   226.2        --
Senior subordinated notes (1)...............................      --     289.2
Senior discount notes (2)...................................      --      52.1
Mortgage notes (3)..........................................    65.3        --
Other.......................................................     3.7      42.6
                                                              ------    ------
                                                               295.2     595.8
Less current portion........................................    (1.0)    (16.6)
                                                              ------    ------
                                                              $294.2    $579.2
                                                              ======    ======
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
(1) Net of original issue discount of $0.9 million and purchase discount of $9.9
    million.
(2) Net of original issue discount of $33.2 million and purchase discount of
    $1.7 million.
(3) Net of original issue discount of $16.6 million.
 
     The term loans and revolving facility borrowings are made pursuant to a
credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement"). The Credit Agreement provides for
three term loan facilities consisting of Tranche A Term Loan, Tranche B Term
Loan and a Delayed Draw Facility, as well as a $100 million Revolving Credit
Facility (the "Revolving Credit Facility"). Tranche A Term Loan provides for
borrowings of $80 million, Tranche B Term Loan provides for borrowings of $90
million and the Delayed Draw Facility provides for borrowings of up to $100
million. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear rates of interest equal to
various indices, at WESCO's option, such as an adjusted London inter-bank
offered rate ("LIBOR"), prime rate or the Federal Funds rate, plus a borrowing
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   21
 
margin. The Revolving Credit Facility and the Tranche A Term Loan matures in
2004. The Delayed Draw Term Facility matures in 2005 and the Tranche B Term Loan
matures in 2006. All term loans provide for amortizations of principal payments
prior to maturity.
 
     The Senior Subordinated Notes issued by WESCO Distribution have an
aggregate principal amount of $300 million. The Senior Subordinated Notes bear
interest at 9 1/8%, payable semiannually on June 1 and December 1 of each year.
The notes are due June 1, 2008 and are redeemable at the option of WESCO, in
whole or in part, at any time after June 1, 2003 at certain specified prices.
Prior to June 1, 2001, up to $105 million of the notes may be redeemed at
109.125% in connection with any offering of the Company's equity securities.
 
     The Senior Discount Notes have an aggregate principal amount of $87
million. The notes were issued with an original issue discount of $36.5 million
that is being accreted over the period ending June 1, 2003. Beginning June 1,
2003, interest accrues at 11 1/8% payable semiannually on June 1 and December 1.
Approximately $30.9 million of the notes must be redeemed on June 1, 2003. The
remaining notes are due June 1, 2008 and are redeemable at the option of WESCO,
in whole or in part, at any time after June 1, 2003 at certain specified prices.
Prior to June 1, 2001, the notes may be redeemed in certain specified instances
at 111.125%.
 
     The debt agreements contain various restrictive covenants that, among other
things, impose limitations on (i) dividend payments or certain other restricted
payments or investments; (ii) the incurrence of additional indebtedness and
guarantees or issuance of additional stock; (iii) creation of liens; (iv)
mergers, consolidation or sales of substantially all of WESCO's assets; (v)
certain transactions among affiliates; (vi) payments by certain subsidiaries to
WESCO; and (vii) capital expenditures. In addition, the agreements require WESCO
to meet certain leverage, working capital and interest coverage ratios.
 
     Aggregate principal repayment requirements for all indebtedness as of
December 31, 1998 are $16.9 million, $40.7 million, $13.1 million, $16.5 million
and $51.4 million in each of the next five years.
 
     An analysis of cash flows for 1998 and 1997 follows:
 
     Operating Activities.  For the year ended December 31, 1998, cash provided
by operating activities totaled $276.9 million compared to cash used by
operating activities of $12.0 million for 1997. In connection with the Company's
asset securitization program, cash provided by operations in 1998 included
proceeds of $274.2 million from the sale of accounts receivable. Excluding this
transaction, operating activities provided $2.7 million. On this basis, the
year-to-year variance in operating cash flow was primarily due to a net loss of
$7.7 million, the $16.9 million increase in certain components of net working
capital offset by increases in non-cash costs associated with the
Recapitalization, depreciation, amortization and accretion.
 
     Investing Activities.  Net cash used in investing activities was $184.1
million in 1998, compared to $21.5 million in 1997, primarily reflecting an
increase in investments in businesses acquired in the current period. The
Company's capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 1998 were $10.7
million as compared to $11.6 million for the year ended December 31, 1997. Such
capital expenditures were primarily for computer equipment and software,
telecommunications equipment, branch and distribution center facility
improvements, forklifts and delivery vehicles.
 
     Financing Activities.  Cash used for financing activities totaled $92.3
million for year ended December 31, 1998 compared to $41.1 million provided by
financing activities in 1997, primarily reflecting the Recapitalization
completed in June 1998 and borrowings for acquisitions and other general
business purposes.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   22
 
     WESCO's liquidity needs arise from seasonal working capital requirements,
capital expenditures, debt service obligations and acquisitions. In addition,
with the acquisition of Bruckner, WESCO agreed to pay additional contingent
consideration based on a multiple of annual increases in Bruckner's EBITDA
through 2004. Additional contingent payments will not exceed an aggregate of
$130 million, including $30 million which is payable in July, 1999. After an
initial public offering, at the election of Bruckner, up to 50% of any
additional contingent payment may be converted into Common Stock at its then
market value.
 
     In addition to cash generated from operations and amounts available under
the credit facilities, WESCO entered into a receivables facility which provides
liquidity. Pursuant to the Receivables Facility, WESCO through its wholly-owned
special purpose, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary may sell trade accounts
receivables, on a revolving basis up to $300 million. WESCO may, under certain
circumstances, increase the size of the Receivables Facility when the amount of
eligible trade accounts receivables exceeds $300 million. See Note 4 to
Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
     Management believes that cash generated from operations, together with
amounts available under the Credit Agreement and the Receivables Facility, will
be sufficient to meet WESCO's working capital, capital expenditure and other
cash needs, including financing for acquisitions, in the foreseeable future.
There can be no assurance, however, that this will be the case. Management may
consider other options available to them in connection with future liquidity
needs, including the issuance of additional debt and equity securities. The
Company has no outstanding commitments to acquire any businesses, although it
constantly evaluates potential acquisitions. As of December 31, 1998, the
Company had $57.6 million available under the Revolving Credit Facility and up
to $100 million available under the Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility.
 
     WESCO intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to retire all of the
outstanding 11 1/8% Senior Discount Notes Due 2008, to repay all of the existing
indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility, and the remaining balance to
repay a portion of the Tranche B Term Loan. Following the Offering, the Company
expects to have $100 million available under the Revolving Credit Facility,
under its current provisions, for working capital and other corporate purposes
and up to $100 million available under the Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility to
fund acquisitions. In addition, the Company intends to seek modifications of its
Credit Agreement to increase the amounts available to borrow on more favorable
terms and conditions. There can be no assurance as to the timing or completion
of the Offering or the amount of net proceeds to be received by the Company and
applied to debt reduction as intended.
 
YEAR 2000 READINESS DISCLOSURE
 
     The Year 2000 issue concerns the ability of automated applications to
process date-dependent processes, calculations and information by properly
interpreting the year. The Year 2000 issue may potentially impact the Company's
business-critical computerized applications related to, among others, customer
sales, service and invoicing, purchasing, inventory management, payroll,
financing and financial accounting and reporting. In addition, other non
business-critical systems and services may also be affected. The Company has
assembled an internal project team composed of information systems, operations,
finance and executive personnel to:
 
      - assess the readiness of our systems, vendors and suppliers, third-party
        service providers, customers and financial institutions;
      - replace or correct through program changes all non-compliant
        applications;
      - develop remediation action plans for systems that may not be Year 2000
        compliant; and
      - develop contingency plans in the event systems and services are not
        compliant.
 
     The readiness assessment phase of the project is complete and consisted of
a detailed assessment and testing of substantially all internal computer
systems, surveys of significant vendors and suppliers,
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   23
 
service providers and customers. The Company has received, or is seeking,
documentation from many external parties indicating their Year 2000 readiness.
Over the past three years, WESCO has invested approximately $5.5 million in new
information systems to support the growth and diversity of its business. In
addition to meeting this objective, Year 2000 compliance was also achieved in
many systems. Systems and processes critical to our business that remain
non-compliant are either being replaced or corrected through program changes and
application upgrades.
 
     As of December 31, 1998, many of WESCO's systems were Year 2000 compliant,
and management expects to have substantially completed the required remediation
efforts by July 1999. The project team is also developing or enhancing
contingency plans to minimize the potential adverse effect the Year 2000 issue
could have on WESCO in the event business-critical systems and processes fail to
be compliant. Costs specifically associated with modifying systems for Year 2000
compliance are expensed as incurred. Through December 31, 1998, such costs
totaled approximately $1.1 million. Costs to be incurred in 1999 to address Year
2000 problems are estimated to be $2.3 million. Such costs do not include normal
system upgrades and replacements.
 
     Our expectations of the Year 2000 issue are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties including, among others, our ability to timely identify all
affected business-critical systems, and the readiness of service providers,
vendors and suppliers, our financial institutions, and significant customers. If
we are unsuccessful in correcting business-critical systems and processes
affected by the Year 2000 issue, or if our service providers, vendors and
suppliers, our financial institutions, and significant customers are adversely
affected by the Year 2000 issue, our results of operations or financial
condition could be materially impacted.
 
INFLATION
 
     The rate of inflation, as measured by changes in the consumer price index,
did not have a material effect on the sales or operating results of the Company
during the periods presented. However, inflation in the future could affect the
Company's operating costs. Price changes from suppliers have historically been
consistent with inflation and have not had a material impact on the Company's
results of operations. However, during 1998 the Company experienced price
reductions on certain of its products, particularly wire and cable. These price
declines did not have a material effect on the Company's results of operations.
 
SEASONALITY
 
     The Company's operating results are affected by certain seasonal factors.
Sales are typically at their lowest during the first quarter due to a reduced
level of activity during the winter months. Sales increase during the warmer
months beginning in March and continuing through November. Sales drop again
slightly in December as the weather cools and also as a result of reduced level
of activity during the holiday season. As a result, the Company reports sales
and earnings in the first quarter that are generally lower than that of the
remaining quarters.
 
IMPACT OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
 
     In April 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
issued Statement of Position 98-5, "Reporting on the Costs of Start-Up
Activities." This Statement, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 1998, requires costs incurred to open a new facility, introduce a
new product, commence a new operation or other similar activities to be expensed
as incurred. Management does not expect this Statement will have a material
impact on the results of operations or financial position of WESCO.
 
     In June 1998, The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 133,
"Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." This Statement
is effective in fiscal years beginning
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   24
 
after June 15, 1999, although early adoption is permitted. This Statement
requires the recognition of the fair value of any derivative financial
instrument on the balance sheet. Changes in fair value of the derivative and, in
certain instances, changes in the fair value of an underlying hedged asset or
liability, are recognized through either income or as a component of other
comprehensive income. Management does not expect this Statement will have a
material impact on the results of operation or financial position of WESCO.
 
ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS.
 
     The information required to be furnished under this item has not been
included as it is not material to the registrant.
 
ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
 
     The information required by this item is set forth in the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements and supplementary data contained in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference. Specific
financial statements and supplementary data can be found at the pages listed
below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                PAGE
                                                                ----
<S>                                                             <C>
WESCO International, Inc.
  Report of Independent Accountants.........................    F-2
  Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1997 and
     1998...................................................    F-3
  Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
     December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998.......................    F-4
  Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity and
     Redeemable Common Stock for the years ended December
     31, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998..........................    F-5
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
     December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998.......................    F-6
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements................    F-7
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
         FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES.
 
     None.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   25
 
                                    PART III
 
ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.
 
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
     Our directors and executive officers and their respective ages and
positions are set forth below.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                                           AGE                      POSITION
- ----                                           ---                      --------
<S>                                            <C>    <C>
Roy W. Haley.................................   52    Chairman, President and Chief Executive
                                                        Officer
Steven A. Burleson...........................   39    Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
                                                        Treasurer
William M. Goodwin...........................   53    Vice President, Operations
James H. Mehta...............................   43    Vice President, Business Development
James V. Piraino.............................   39    Vice President, Marketing
Robert B. Rosenbaum..........................   41    Vice President, Operations
Patrick M. Swed..............................   56    Vice President, Operations
Donald H. Thimjon............................   55    Vice President, Operations
Ronald P. Van, Jr............................   38    Vice President, Operations
Robert E. Vanderhoff.........................   43    Vice President, Operations and Supplier
                                                        Business Development
Jeffrey B. Kramp.............................   39    Corporate Secretary and General Counsel
James L. Singleton...........................   43    Director
James A. Stern...............................   48    Director
Anthony D. Tutrone...........................   34    Director
Michael J. Cheshire..........................   50    Director
Robert J. Tarr, Jr...........................   55    Director
Kenneth L. Way...............................   59    Director
</TABLE>
 
     Set forth below is biographical information for our executive officers and
directors listed above.
 
     ROY W. HALEY became Chairman of the Board upon the Recapitalization. Mr.
Haley has been President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of WESCO
since February 1994. From 1988 to 1993, Mr. Haley was an executive at American
General Corporation, a diversified financial services company, where he served
as Chief Operating Officer and as President and Director. Mr. Haley is also a
director of United Stationers, Inc. and Cambrex Corporation.
 
     STEVEN A. BURLESON joined WESCO in January 1995 as Corporate Controller and
became Vice President and Corporate Controller in 1997. In 1998, Mr. Burleson
became Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. From 1990 to 1995, Mr. Burleson
was Vice President and Treasurer of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
 
     WILLIAM M. GOODWIN has been Vice President, Operations of WESCO since March
1984. Since 1977, Mr. Goodwin has served as a branch, district and region
manager for WESCO in various locations and also served as Managing Director of
WESCOSA, a former Westinghouse affiliated manufacturing and distribution
business in Saudi Arabia.
 
     JAMES H. MEHTA has been Vice President, Business Development of WESCO since
November 1995. From 1993 to 1995, Mr. Mehta was a principal with Schroder
Ventures, a private equity investment firm based in London, England.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   26
 
     JAMES V. PIRAINO has been Vice President, Marketing since joining WESCO in
August 1996. From 1995 to 1996, Mr. Piraino was a Vice President of AlliedSignal
Corp. From 1989 to 1995, Mr. Piraino occupied marketing and sales management
positions with W.W. Grainger, Inc.
 
     ROBERT B. ROSENBAUM has been Vice President, Operations of WESCO since
September 1998. Mr. Rosenbaum was the President of Bruckner Supply Company,
Inc., an Integrated Supply company we acquired in September 1998.
 
     PATRICK M. SWED has been Vice President, Operations of WESCO since March
1994. Mr. Swed had been Vice President of Branch Operations for WESCO from 1991
to 1994.
 
     DONALD H. THIMJON has been Vice President, Operations of WESCO since March
1994. Mr. Thimjon served as Vice President, Utility Group for WESCO from 1991 to
1994 and as Regional Manager from 1980 to 1991.
 
     RONALD P. VAN, JR. has been Vice President, Operations of WESCO since
October 1998. Mr. Van was a Vice President and Controller of EESCO, an
electrical distributor we acquired in 1996.
 
     ROBERT E. VANDERHOFF has been Vice President, Operations and Supplier
Business Development since April 1998, and Vice President, Manufactured
Structures Group since March 1994. Mr. Vanderhoff had been Vice President of
WESCO since April 1993.
 
     JEFFREY B. KRAMP has been our Corporate Secretary and General Counsel since
March 1994. From 1987 to February 1994, Mr. Kramp served as Assistant General
Counsel at Westinghouse, with WESCO as his primary legal responsibility during
this time period.
 
     JAMES L. SINGLETON became a Director of WESCO upon the Recapitalization.
Mr. Singleton has been a Vice Chairman of Cypress since its formation in April
1994. Prior to joining Cypress, he was a Managing Director in the Merchant
Banking Group at Lehman Brothers Inc. ("Lehman Brothers"). Mr. Singleton is also
a director of Able Body Corporation, Cinemark USA, Inc., Genesis ElderCare
Corp., L.P. Thebault Company and Williams Scotsman, Inc.
 
     JAMES A. STERN became a Director of WESCO upon the Recapitalization. Mr.
Stern has been Chairman of Cypress since its formation in April 1994. Prior to
joining Cypress, Mr. Stern was a Managing Director with Lehman Brothers, and
served as head of the Merchant Banking Group. During his career at Lehman
Brothers, he also served as head of that firm's Investment Banking, High Yield
and Primary Capital Markets Groups. Mr. Stern is also a director of AMTROL Inc.,
Cinemark USA, Inc., Frank's Nursery & Crafts, Inc., Lear Corporation, Noel
Group, Inc., Genesis ElderCare Corp. and a trustee of Tufts University.
 
     ANTHONY D. TUTRONE became a Director of WESCO upon the Recapitalization.
Mr. Tutrone has been a Managing Director of Cypress since 1998 and has been a
member of Cypress since its formation in April 1994. Prior to joining Cypress,
he was a member of the Merchant Banking Group of Lehman Brothers. Mr. Tutrone is
also a director of AMTROL Inc.
 
     MICHAEL J. CHESHIRE became a Director of WESCO in 1998. Mr. Cheshire is
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gerber Scientific. Prior to joining
Gerber Scientific in 1997, Mr. Cheshire spent 21 years with General Signal
Corporation and was most recently President of their electrical group. Mr.
Cheshire is also a Director of the Connecticut Business and Industry
Association.
 
     ROBERT J. TARR, JR. became a Director of WESCO in 1998. Mr. Tarr worked for
more than 20 years in senior executive roles for Harcourt General, including six
years as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of
Harcourt General, Inc. (formerly General Cinema Corporation) and the Neiman
Marcus Group, Inc. Mr. Tarr is also a Director of the John Hancock Mutual Life
Insurance Company, Houghton Mifflin & Co., Hannaford Bros., Inc., and Barneys
Inc.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   27
 
     KENNETH L. WAY became a Director of WESCO in 1998. Mr. Way has been
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lear Corporation since 1988 and has been
affiliated with Lear Corporation and its predecessor companies for 33 years in
engineering, manufacturing, and general management capacities. Mr. Way is also a
Director of Comerica, Inc. and CMS Energy Corporation.
 
COMPOSITION OF OUR BOARD AND COMMITTEES
 
     Our Board of Directors (the "Board") has three standing committees: an
Executive Committee, an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee.
 
     The Executive Committee consists of Messrs. Singleton, Cheshire, Haley and
Stern, with Mr. Singleton serving as Chairman. It is responsible for overseeing
the management of the affairs and business of WESCO and has been delegated
authority to exercise the powers of the Board during intervals between Board
meetings.
 
     The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Singleton, Tarr and Tutrone, with
Mr. Singleton serving as Chairman. It is responsible for recommending the firm
to be appointed as independent accountants to audit the Company's financial
statements and to perform services related to the audit; reviewing the scope and
results of the audit with the independent accountants; reviewing with the
management and the independent accountants the Company's year end operating
results; considering the adequacy of the internal accounting and control
procedures of the Company; reviewing the non-audit services to be performed by
the independent accountants, if any, and considering the effect of such
performance on the accountants' independence.
 
     The Compensation Committee consists of Messrs. Stern, Singleton, Tutrone
and Way, with Mr. Stern serving as Chairman. It is responsible for the review,
recommendation and approval of compensation arrangements for directors and
executive officers, for the approval of such arrangements for other senior level
employees, and for the administration of certain benefit and compensation plans
and arrangements of the Company.
 
ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     The information set forth below describes the components of the total
compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and our four other most highly
compensated executive officers, based on 1998 salary and bonuses (the "Named
Executives"). The principal components of these individuals' current cash
compensation are the annual base salary and bonus included in the Summary
Compensation Table. Also described below is other compensation these individuals
can receive under employment agreements and our stock and option programs.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   28
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          LONG-TERM
                                                                         COMPENSATION
                                                                            AWARDS
                                                    ANNUAL          ----------------------
                                                 COMPENSATION             SECURITIES           ALL OTHER
                                             --------------------         UNDERLYING          COMPENSATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION           YEAR   SALARY($)   BONUS($)     OPTIONS/SARS(#)(1)      ($)(2)(3)(4)
- ---------------------------           ----   ---------   --------   ----------------------    ------------
<S>                                   <C>    <C>         <C>        <C>                       <C>
Roy W. Haley, Chairman, President &
  CEO...............................  1998    500,000    425,000             15,000            1,074,000
                                      1997    466,667    425,000                 --               52,300
James H. Mehta, Vice President,
  Business Development..............  1998    275,000    115,000              3,300              564,637
                                      1997    258,339    115,000                 --               13,325
Patrick M. Swed, Vice President,
  Operations........................  1998    200,000    130,000              3,300              473,000
                                      1997    200,000    130,000                 --               33,000
James V. Piraino, Vice President,
  Marketing.........................  1998    175,840    110,000              2,200              374,920
                                      1997    165,000    110,000                 --               14,463
Stanley C. Weiss, Executive Vice
  President, Industry Affairs(5)....  1998    300,000    150,000                 --               62,160(6)
                                      1997    300,000    150,000                 --               62,010(6)
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
 
(1) All options were granted under the 1998 Stock Option Plan (as defined). All
    options granted in 1998 have an exercise price of $621.08 per share. See the
    "1998 Stock Option Plan".
(2) Includes contributions by us under the WESCO Distribution, Inc. Retirement
    Savings Plan in the amounts of (a) $12,800, $7,737, $16,100, $8,562 and
    $13,950, for Messrs. Haley, Mehta, Swed, Piraino and Weiss, respectively, in
    1998 and (b) $9,550, $7,675, $15,950, $7,543 and $13,700, for Messrs. Haley,
    Mehta, Swed, Piraino and Weiss, respectively, in 1997.
(3) Includes contributions by us under the WESCO Distribution, Inc. Deferred
    Compensation Plan in the amounts of (a) $61,200, $6,900, $16,900, $10,350
    and $31,800, for Messrs. Haley, Mehta, Swed, Piraino and Weiss,
    respectively, in 1998 and (b) $42,750, $5,650, $17,050, $6,920 and $31,900,
    for Messrs. Haley, Mehta, Swed, Piraino and Weiss, respectively, in 1997.
(4) Includes special retention bonus payment in 1998 in the amounts of
    $1,000,000, $550,000, $440,000 and $356,008 for Messrs. Haley, Mehta, Swed
    and Piraino, respectively.
(5) Mr. Weiss retired from the Company effective December 31, 1998.
(6) Includes life insurance premiums in the amount of $16,410.
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
     In connection with the Recapitalization, we entered into an employment
agreement with Mr. Haley (the "Haley Agreement") providing for a rolling
employment term of three years. Pursuant to the Haley Agreement, Mr. Haley is
entitled to an annual base salary of $500,000 and an annual incentive bonus
equal to a percentage of his annual base salary ranging from 0% to 200%. The
actual amount of Mr. Haley's annual incentive bonus will be determined based
upon our financial performance as compared to the annual performance objectives
established for the relevant fiscal year. Under the proposed terms of the Haley
Agreement, if Mr. Haley's employment with us is terminated by us without "cause"
(as defined in the Haley Agreement), by Mr. Haley for "good reason" (as so
defined) or as a result of Mr. Haley's death or disability (any such
termination, a "Qualifying Termination"), Mr. Haley (or, in the event of his
death, Mr. Haley's spouse) is entitled to continued payments of his average
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   29
 
annual base salary and his average annual incentive bonus (reduced by any
disability payments, if applicable) for the three-year period, or in the case of
a termination due to Mr. Haley's death or disability, the two-year period,
following such termination, and continued welfare benefit coverage for the
two-year period following such termination. In addition, in the event of any
such Qualifying Termination, all outstanding options held by Mr. Haley will
become fully vested. The Haley Agreement further provides that, in the event of
the termination of Mr. Haley's employment by us without cause or by Mr. Haley
for good reason, in either such case, within the two-year period following a
"change in control" of WESCO (as defined in such agreement) (such termination, a
"Qualifying CIC Termination"), in addition to the termination benefits described
above, Mr. Haley is entitled to receive continued welfare benefit coverage and
payments in lieu of additional contributions to our Retirement Savings Plan and
Deferred Compensation Plan for the three year period following such Qualifying
CIC Termination. We have agreed to provide Mr. Haley with an excise tax gross up
with respect to any excise taxes Mr. Haley may be obligated to pay pursuant to
Section 4999 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, on
any excess parachute payments. In addition, following a change in control, Mr.
Haley is entitled to a minimum annual bonus equal to 50% of his base salary and
the definition of "good reason" is modified to include certain additional
events. The Haley Agreement also contains customary covenants regarding
nondisclosure of confidential information and non-competition and
non-solicitation restrictions.
 
     In connection with our acquisition of EESCO, we entered into an employment
agreement with Mr. Weiss (the "Weiss Agreement"), pursuant to which we agreed to
employ Mr. Weiss during the period commencing on the date of the acquisition and
ending on December 31, 1998. During the employment term under the Weiss
Agreement, Mr. Weiss was entitled to an annual base salary of $300,000 and an
annual performance-based incentive bonus equal to a percentage of his annual
base salary, not to exceed 75%. The Weiss Agreement also contained customary
covenants regarding nondisclosure of confidential information and
non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions. Mr. Weiss retired from the
Company effective December 31, 1998.
 
1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
     In connection with the Recapitalization, we established a stock option plan
(the "1998 Stock Option Plan") to provide certain of the Company's executive and
key employees options to purchase shares of Common Stock ("1998 Plan Options").
The 1998 Stock Option Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee, which
is constituted in such a way that, to the extent practicable, awards under the
1998 Stock Option Plan qualify, or will qualify when granted, for exemption
under Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as
performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986. The Compensation Committee has the authority to select employees to
whom awards are granted and to set the terms, conditions and provisions of such
awards. In addition, the Compensation Committee is authorized, by majority
action, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the
administration of the 1998 Stock Option Plan, to make determinations with
respect to the vesting and exercisability of the 1998 Plan Options, and to make
all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration and
interpretation of the 1998 Stock Option Plan. The 1998 Stock Option Plan
provides that the Board may adjust the number and class of shares available for
issuance under the 1998 Stock Option Plan and the number and class of shares
subject to and exercise price of any outstanding 1998 Plan Options as necessary
or appropriate to reflect any Common Stock dividend, stock split or share
combination or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange of shares,
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
 
     A total of 62,500 shares of Common Stock were authorized for issuance under
the 1998 Stock Option Plan.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   30
 
     The exercise price per share of Common Stock to be purchased upon exercise
of the 1998 Plan Options is determined by the Compensation Committee's
evaluation of the fair market value per share of the Common Stock on the date of
the grant of the Option. At the discretion of the Compensation Committee, the
exercise price of any 1998 Plan Options exercised after the Offering may be paid
in full or in part in the form of shares of Common Stock already owned and held
for at least six months by the participant, based on the fair market value of
such Common Stock on the date of exercise. As of December 31, 1998, Options to
purchase 60,170 shares of Common Stock had been granted under the 1998 Stock
Option Plan, of which (1) none had been canceled or exercised, (2) 60,170 with a
weighted exercise price of $621.08 per share remained outstanding, and (3) none
were exercisable. After giving effect to the foregoing, 1,790 1998 Plan Options
remained available for grant under the 1998 Stock Option Plan.
 
  Change in Control Provisions
 
     In the event of a "change in control" (as defined in the 1998 Stock Option
Plan), outstanding 1998 Plan Options, whether or not exercisable, will be
cancelled in exchange for a cash payment with respect to each share of Common
Stock subject to such 1998 Plan Options equal to the excess of (1) the value per
share of the Common Stock in the transaction giving rise to the change in
control over (2) the per share exercise price, unless the Compensation Committee
determines in good faith, prior to the change in control, that the outstanding
1998 Plan Options will be honored or assumed by the successor in a manner that
provides the 1998 Stock Option Plan participants with rights at least as
favorable as those prevailing immediately prior to the change in control. The
Offering will not resulted in a "change in control."
 
  Management Stock Option Agreements
 
     Each participant under the 1998 Stock Option Plan is required to enter into
a stock option agreement (a "Management Stock Option Agreement") specifying the
exercise price and duration of the 1998 Plan Options being granted and such
other terms consistent with the 1998 Stock Option Plan as the Compensation
Committee determines. Certain other terms of the Management Stock Option
Agreements are summarized below.
 
  Transferability of Options; Repurchase of Options
 
     The 1998 Stock Option Plan provides that no award granted under the 1998
Stock Option Plan may be disposed of in any way, other than by will or by the
laws of descent and distribution. All 1998 Plan Options granted pursuant to the
1998 Stock Option Plan are exercisable only by the participant to whom such 1998
Plan Options were granted during his or her lifetime. Following the death of a
participant, all rights with respect to 1998 Plan Options that were exercisable
by the participant at the time of his or her death may be exercised by the
participant's beneficiary or estate provided that the deceased participant's
beneficiary agrees in writing to be bound by the provisions of the 1998 Stock
Option Plan and the Management Stock Option Agreement. The Management Stock
Option Agreements also contain certain repurchase rights and obligations of the
Company, which will terminate upon consummation of the Offering.
 
  Exercise of Options
 
     Outstanding 1998 Plan Options granted under the 1998 Stock Option Plan
consist of two parts: a portion which is subject to time-based vesting and a
portion which is subject to performance-based vesting. The time-based 1998 Plan
Options will vest at a rate of 25% on each June 5 beginning in 1999 and ending
in 2002. Performance-based 1998 Plan Options will become fully vested and
exercisable on the earlier of January 1, 2008 or the grantee's sixty-fifth
birthday, but may vest earlier (25% per year from 1998 through 2001), if the
Company meets certain annual performance goals.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>   31
 
  Termination of Options
 
     All 1998 Plan Options terminate on the tenth anniversary of the date of
grant, unless terminated earlier as described below. Upon termination of a
participant's employment with the Company, unless otherwise determined by the
Compensation Committee, (1) any unexercisable 1998 Plan Options will terminate
and will not be exercisable, and (2) then exercisable 1998 Plan Options will
terminate within certain specified periods depending upon the circumstances of
the termination of employment.
 
  Federal Income Tax Aspects of the 1998 Stock Option Plan
 
     The 1998 Plan Options are non-qualified stock options, i.e., they do not
qualify as "incentive stock options" under Section 422 of the U.S. Internal
Revenue Code. The grant of a 1998 Plan Option has no tax consequences to the
Company or to the participant. Upon exercise of a 1998 Plan Option, however, the
participant will recognize taxable ordinary income equal to the excess of the
fair market value on the date of the exercise of the shares of the Common Stock
acquired over the exercise price of the 1998 Plan Option, and that amount will
be deductible for federal income tax purposes by the Company. The holder of the
option shares will, upon a later disposition of such shares, recognize short
term or long term capital gain or loss, depending on the holding period of the
shares but the Company will not be entitled to an additional tax deduction.
 
1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
     Under our 1994 Stock Option Plan (the "1994 Stock Option Plan"), the
Compensation Committee, which is responsible for administering the 1994 Stock
Option Plan, may grant to certain executives, officers, and other key employees
options ("1994 Plan Options") to purchase up to an aggregate of 181,000 shares
of Common Stock. In connection with the Recapitalization, future issuances of
options under the 1994 Stock Option Plan were terminated and all options granted
under the 1994 Stock Option Plan became fully vested. The outstanding 1994 Plan
Options were granted with an exercise price per share equal to the fair market
value (as defined in the related stock option agreements described below) per
share on the date of grant as determined by the Compensation Committee.
 
     As of December 31, 1998, 1994 Plan Options to purchase 80,739 shares of
Common Stock with a weighted average exercise price of $111.07 were exercisable.
 
  Change in Control Provisions
 
     In the event of a change in control (as defined in the 1994 Stock Option
Plan), outstanding 1994 Plan Options will be canceled in exchange for a cash
payment with respect to each share of Common Stock subject to such 1994 Plan
Options equal to the excess of (1) the value per share of the Common Stock in
the transaction giving rise to the change in control over (2) the per share
exercise price, unless the Compensation Committee determines in good faith,
prior to the change in control, that the outstanding 1994 Plan Options will be
honored or assumed by the successor in a manner that provides the Option
participants with rights at least as favorable as those prevailing immediately
prior to the change in control. The Offering will not result in a change in
control.
 
  Termination of Options
 
     All 1994 Plan Options terminate on the tenth anniversary of the date of
grant, unless terminated earlier as described below. Upon termination of a
participant's employment with the Company, unless otherwise determined by the
Compensation Committee, in the case of termination other than for Cause (as
defined in the 1994 Stock Option Plan), then exercisable 1994 Plan Options will
terminate within certain specified periods depending upon the circumstances of
the termination of employment.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>   32
 
  Transferability of Options; Repurchase of Options
 
     The 1994 Plan Options will not be transferable or assignable other than by
will or by the laws of descent, and a 1994 Plan Option can be exercised only by
the participant to whom it is granted or by the participant's estate or
designated beneficiary upon such participant's death. Unless the Compensation
Committee otherwise determines, each 1994 Plan Option Agreement provides that
the participant, in respect of shares purchased upon the exercise of any 1994
Plan Option, is entitled to the benefits of, and bound by the obligations in,
the Registration and Participation Agreement, including certain demand and
"piggyback" registration rights thereunder. The 1994 Stock Option Plan also
contains certain repurchase rights and obligations of the Company, which will
terminate upon the consummation of the Offering.
 
  Federal Income Tax Aspects of the 1994 Stock Option Plan
 
     The grant and exercise of 1994 Plan Options will have the same tax
consequences as the grant and exercise of 1998 Plan Options. See "1998 Stock
Option Plan -- Federal Income Tax Aspects."
 
STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR BRANCH EMPLOYEES
 
     A total of 50,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued under our Stock
Option Plan for Branch Employees (the "Branch Option Plan"). The Compensation
Committee, which is responsible for administering the Branch Option Plan, may
grant to our branch managers and other key employees employed at a branch or
contributing significantly to growth and profitability of a branch options to
purchase shares of Common Stock (the "Branch Options"). Branch Options that are
canceled, terminated or forfeited without exercise will again be available for
grant. The Board may at any time amend or terminate the Branch Option Plan, but
may not adversely affect the rights of any participant with respect to Branch
Options granted prior to such action, unless the participant consents. As of
December 31, 1998, 25,250 options had been granted, of which (1) 1,067 Branch
Options had been canceled without exercise, (2) none had been exercised, (3)
24,183 Branch Options granted with a weighted average exercise price of $195.40
per share were outstanding, and (4) 8,083 Branch Options with an exercise price
of $195.40 were exercisable. After giving effect to the foregoing, 25,817 Branch
Options remained available for grant under the Branch Option Plan. The
outstanding Branch Options were granted with an exercise price per share
determined by the Board to represent the estimated fair market value (as defined
in the related stock option agreements described below) per share on the date of
grant. At the discretion of the Compensation Committee, the exercise price of
any Branch Option exercised after the Offering may be paid in full or in part in
the form of shares of Common Stock already owned and held for at least six
months by the participant, based on the fair market value of such Common Stock
on the date of exercise, as determined by the Board. None of the Named
Executives currently participate in the Branch Option Plan.
 
     Branch Options are granted to participants as soon as practicable following
the end of each performance period under the Branch Option Plan. The first such
performance period commenced on February 28, 1994 and ended on December 31,
1996, and the second such performance period commenced on January 1, 1997 and is
scheduled to end on December 31, 1999. Branch Options are allocated to branch or
division employees by the Compensation Committee based primarily on the
achievement of branch or division performance objectives during each performance
period.
 
     Under the terms of the Recapitalization Agreement, the Compensation
Committee adopted a resolution causing 100% of all Branch Options to be rolled
over and remain outstanding without any acceleration of the vesting schedule.
 
  Change in Control Provisions
 
     In the event of a change in control (as defined in the Branch Option Plan),
outstanding Branch Options, whether or not exercisable, will be canceled in
exchange for a cash payment with respect to
 
                                       30
<PAGE>   33
 
each share of Common Stock subject to such Branch Options equal to the excess of
(1) the value per share of the Common Stock in the transaction giving rise to
the change in control over (2) the per share exercise price, unless the
Compensation Committee determines in good faith, prior to the change in control,
that the outstanding Branch Options will be honored or assumed by the successor
in a manner that provides the participants with rights at least as favorable as
those prevailing immediately prior to the change in control. The Offering will
not result in a change in control.
 
  Branch Option Agreements
 
     Each participant is required to enter into a stock option agreement (a
"Branch Option Agreement") specifying the exercise price and duration of the
Branch Options being granted and such other terms consistent with the Branch
Option Plan as the Compensation Committee determines. Certain other terms of the
Branch Option Agreement are summarized below.
 
  Exercise of Branch Options; Exercise Price
 
     Except as otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee or in
connection with a change in control, Branch Options become exercisable in
one-third installments on each of the first, third, and fifth anniversaries of
the date of grant. Upon exercise of a Branch Option, the participant is required
to enter into a stock subscription agreement. The per share exercise price of
any Branch Option may not be less than the greatest of (1) the fair market value
(as defined in the Branch Option Plan) per share of Common Stock as of the end
of the related performance period, (2) such fair market value as of the date of
grant, and (3) $100.
 
  Termination of Branch Options
 
     All Branch Options terminate on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant,
unless terminated earlier as described below. Upon termination of a
participant's employment with the Company, unless otherwise determined by the
Compensation Committee, (1) any unexercisable Branch Options held by such
participant will terminate and will not be exercisable, (2) in the case of
termination other than for Cause (as defined in the Branch Option Plan), then
exercisable Branch Options will terminate within certain specified periods
depending upon the circumstances of the termination of employment, and (3) in
the case of termination for Cause (as defined in Branch Option Plan), all Branch
Options held by such participant, whether or not then exercisable, will
terminate immediately.
 
  Transferability of Branch Options; Repurchase of Branch Options
 
     The Branch Options will not be transferable or assignable other than by
will or by the laws of descent, and a Branch Option can be exercised only by the
participant to whom it is granted or by the participant's estate or designated
beneficiary upon such participant's death. Unless the Compensation Committee
otherwise determines, each Branch Option Agreement provides that the Branch Plan
participant, in respect of shares purchased upon the exercise of any Branch
Option, is entitled to the benefits of, and bound by the obligations in, the
Registration and Participation Agreement, including certain demand and
"piggyback" registration rights thereunder. The Branch Option Agreements also
contain certain repurchase rights and obligations of the Company, which will
terminate upon the consummation of the Offering.
 
  Federal Income Tax Aspects of the Branch Options
 
     The grant and exercise of Branch Options will have the same federal income
tax consequences as the grant and exercise of the 1998 Options. See "1998 Stock
Option Plan -- Federal Income Tax Aspects."
 
                                       31
<PAGE>   34
 
OPTION GRANTS
 
     The following table sets forth as to persons named in the Summary
Compensation Table additional information with respect to stock options granted
during 1998:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        % OF TOTAL
                                         OPTIONS
                           NUMBER OF     GRANTED                                  POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE AT
                           SECURITIES       TO                                    ASSUMED RATES OF STOCK PRICE
                           UNDERLYING   EMPLOYEES                                APPRECIATION FOR OPTION TERM(2)
                            OPTIONS     IN FISCAL      EXERCISE     EXPIRATION   -------------------------------
          NAME             GRANTED(1)      YEAR      PRICE ($/SH)      DATE          5%                 10%
          ----             ----------   ----------   ------------   ----------   -----------        ------------
<S>                        <C>          <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>                <C>
Roy W. Haley.............    15,000        20.8%       $621.08       8/6/2008    $5,858,908         $14,847,624
James H. Mehta...........     3,300         4.6         621.08       8/6/2008     1,288,960           3,266,477
Patrick M. Swed..........     3,300         4.6         621.08       8/6/2008     1,288,960           3,266,477
James V. Piraino.........     2,200         3.1         621.08       8/6/2008       859,307           2,177,651
Stanley C. Weiss.........        --          --             --             --            --                  --
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
 
(1) A portion of these options will vest on the basis of time ratably over four
    years and the remainder will vest in full on January 1, 2008, or if earlier,
    on the grantee's 65th birthday or the attainment of pre-established
    performance goals.
(2) Amounts represent hypothetical gains that could be achieved for the
    respective options if exercised at the end of the option term. These gains
    are based on assumed rates of stock price appreciation of 5% and 10%
    compounded annually from the date the respective options were granted to
    their expiration date. These assumptions are not intended to forecast future
    appreciation of our stock price. The potential realizable value computation
    does not take into account federal or state income tax consequences of
    option exercises or sales of appreciated stock.
 
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION
VALUES
 
     The following table sets forth information for each Named Executive with
regard to the aggregate stock options held at December 31, 1998. No stock
options were exercised by any of the Named Executives during 1998.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   NUMBER OF SECURITIES           VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                        UNEXERCISED               IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
                                                   OPTIONS AT FY-END(#)              AT FY-END($)(1)
NAME                                            (EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE)    (EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE)
- ----                                            ---------------------------    ---------------------------
<S>                                             <C>                            <C>
Roy W. Haley..................................     22,280/15,000                $15,841,080/$2,848,800
James H. Mehta................................      8,570/3,300                   5,970,719/626,736
Patrick M. Swed...............................      5,710/3,300                   4,059,810/626,736
James V. Piraino..............................      1,430/2,200                    880,308/417,824
Stanley C. Weiss..............................         --/--                            --/--
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
 
(1) Based on a price per share of Common Stock of $811. The price reflects the
    estimated fair market value as of December 31, 1998.
 
     The foregoing options were issued under our existing stock option plan. In
connection with the Recapitalization, the Board caused all unvested options
(including those held by the Named Executives) under this plan to vest (and
become exercisable) upon the closing of the Recapitalization.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>   35
 
RETENTION BONUS PAYMENT
 
     We paid an aggregate amount of approximately $11 million to a group of
approximately 45 managers (including the Named Executives) upon the closing of
the Recapitalization. With respect to each of these managers, payment was equal
to approximately one to two times base salary. Immediately prior to the closing
of the Recapitalization, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice ("CD&R"), which was the
majority shareholder of the Company prior to the Recapitalization, made an
equity contribution to the Company equal to approximately one-half of this
aggregate amount.
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
     During 1998 prior to the Recapitalization, a former outside director and
three former directors affiliated with CD&R served on the Compensation
Committee. We had agreed to indemnify certain former members of the Board
affiliated with CD&R and such CD&R affiliates against liabilities incurred under
securities laws or with respect to their previous services for us.
 
     At December 31, 1998, three directors affiliated with Cypress served on the
Compensation Committee.
 
OUTSIDE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
     Each director of the Company who is not an employee of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries or Cypress is entitled to receive an annual director's fee
of $25,000. Effective January 1, 1999, the Company established the 1999 Deferred
Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors under which non-employee directors
can elect to defer 25% or more of the annual director's fee. Amounts deferred
under this arrangement will, on the deferral date, be converted into stock units
(Common Stock equivalents) which will be credited to a bookkeeping account in
the director's name. For purposes of determining the number of stock units to be
credited to a director for a particular year, the average of the high and low
trading prices of the Common Stock on the first trading day in January of that
year will be used. Distribution of deferred stock units will be made in a lump
sum or installments, in the form of shares of Common Stock, in accordance with
the distribution schedule selected by the director at the time the deferral
election is made.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>   36
 
ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.
 
     The following table sets forth certain information known to us with respect
to the beneficial ownership of Common Stock as of December 31, 1998 by (i) each
person known by us to beneficially own more than five percent of our outstanding
Common Stock, (ii) each of our directors, (iii) each executive officer named in
the Summary Compensation Table, and (iv) all of our directors and officers as a
group. Unless otherwise indicated, the person or persons named have sole voting
and investment power.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 NUMBER OF
                                                               Shares Owned           Percent Owned
NAME                                                          Beneficially(1)        Beneficially(1)
- ----                                                     -------------------------   ---------------
<S>                                                      <C>                         <C>
Cypress Merchant Banking Partners L.P.(2)
  c/o The Cypress Group L.L.C
  65 East 55th Street
  New York, New York 10222.............................           321,470                 53.4%
Cypress Offshore Partners L.P.(2)
  Bank of Bermuda (Cayman) Limited
  P.O. Box 513 G.T Third Floor
  British America Tower
  George Town, Grand Cayman
  Cayman Islands, B.W.I................................            16,650                  2.8%
Chase Equity Associates, L.P.(3)
  c/o Chase Capital Partners, L.P.
  380 Madison Avenue, 12th Floor
  New York, New York 10017.............................            80,504                 13.4%
Co-Investment Partners, L.P.
  c/o CIP Partners, LLC
  660 Madison Avenue
  New York, New York 10021.............................            80,505                 13.4%
Roy W. Haley...........................................            42,000                  6.7%
James H. Mehta.........................................            16,610                  2.7%
James V. Piraino.......................................             2,700                    *
Patrick M. Swed........................................            10,000                  1.6%
Stanley C. Weiss(4)....................................                --                    *
James L. Singleton(2)..................................                --                    *
James A. Stern(2)......................................                --                    *
Anthony D. Tutrone.....................................                --                    *
Michael J. Cheshire....................................               400                    *
Robert J. Tarr, Jr.....................................               400                    *
Kenneth L. Way.........................................               400                    *
All executive officers and directors as a group (18)
  persons..............................................            90,810                 14.0%
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
* Represents holdings of less than 1%.
(1) In determining the number and percentage of shares beneficially owned by
    each person, shares that may be acquired by such person pursuant to options
    or convertible stock exercisable or convertible within 60 days of the date
    hereof are deemed outstanding for purposes of determining the total number
    of outstanding shares for such person and are not deemed outstanding for
    such purpose for all other stockholders.
(2) Cypress Merchant Banking Partners L.P. and Cypress Offshore Partners L.P.
    are affiliates of Cypress. Messrs. Singleton and Stern are members of
    Cypress and may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares of
    Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by such Cypress funds. Such
    individuals disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares.
(3) These shares constitute shares of non-voting Class B Common Stock which are
    convertible at any time into Common Stock at the option of the holder.
(4) Mr. Weiss retired from the Company effective December 31, 1998.
 
                                       34
<PAGE>   37
 
ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.
 
     AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT. In
connection with the Recapitalization, an investor group led by Cypress which
included, among others, Chase Capital Partners and Co-Investment Partners, L.P.
(the "Investor Group"), CD&R, Westinghouse and WESCO entered into an Amended and
Restated Registration and Participation Agreement (the "Registration and
Participation Agreement"), which amended and restated the previous agreement
among CD&R, Westinghouse and WESCO, to reflect, among other things, the
succession of the Investor Group to CD&R's and Westinghouse's rights and
obligations thereunder. Pursuant to the Registration and Participation
Agreement, the Investor Group and the Management Stockholders (as defined) have
the right, under certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions, to
request that we register under the Securities Act shares of Common Stock held by
them. Subject to certain conditions and exceptions, the Investor Group and the
Management Stockholders also have the right to require that shares of Common
Stock held by them be included in any registration under the Securities Act
commenced by us. The Registration and Participation Agreement provides that we
will pay all expenses in connection with the first three registrations requested
by the Investor Group and the Management Stockholders. The Registration and
Participation Agreement also provides that we will indemnify the Investors and
the Management Stockholders and their affiliates for certain liabilities they
may incur under the securities laws.
 
     The Registration and Participation Agreement also contains certain
restrictions which prohibit the sale of Common Stock by Cypress unless Cypress
provides each holder of Common Stock entitled to the benefits of the
Registration and Participation Agreement (including the other members of the
Investor Group and the Management Stockholders) with a 30-day prior notice
pursuant to which such holders may agree to participate in such sale on a pro
rata basis with Cypress. The Registration and Participation Agreement provides
that, if Cypress sells all of its shares of Common Stock to a third party,
Cypress may require such other holders of Common Stock to sell all of their
shares to such third party pursuant to such sale at the same price and on the
same terms as Cypress. In addition, the Registration and Participation Agreement
provides that if prior to any public equity offering by us, we issue additional
shares of Common Stock to Cypress (subject to certain exceptions), we will offer
to all holders of registrable securities that are "accredited investors" the
right to purchase a pro rata share of the newly-issued shares (based on each
holder's equity interest in us) at the same price and on the same terms as
Cypress.
 
     In addition, the Registration and Participation Agreement provides that so
long as Cypress owns any of our securities, Cypress shall have the right to
designate one director to our board of directors and the board of directors of
WESCO Canada.
 
     MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDERS. Each member of management who holds Common Stock
(a "Management Stockholder") is a party to a stock subscription agreement with
us which provides that each Management Stockholder is entitled to certain
benefits of, and bound by certain obligations in, the Registration and
Participation Agreement, including certain registration rights thereunder. These
stock subscription agreements also provide the Management Stockholder with the
right under certain limited circumstances to require us to purchase all of the
Management Stockholder's shares of Common Stock at the then fair market value
based upon certain events. Pursuant to the stock option agreements governing
each Management Stockholder's stock options, such Management Stockholder also
has the right under certain limited circumstances to require us to purchase all
of such Management Stockholder's options at the then fair market value of the
Common Stock minus the exercise price upon such events. At December 31, 1998,
the redemption value of the shares and exercisable portion of the options was
$130.3 million. See Note 11 to Consolidated Financial Statements. These
repurchase rights will terminate upon the consummation of an initial public
offering. In addition, such stock subscription agreements and stock option
agreements provide that such rights are subject to, and limited by, any
 
                                       35
<PAGE>   38
 
restrictions contained in the Credit Facilities, the Indentures or other debt
instruments on our ability to redeem or repurchase equity held by Management
Stockholders.
 
     A portion of the purchase price paid for the Common Stock purchased by
certain Management Stockholders has been financed by full-recourse bank loans
guaranteed by us. As of December 31, 1998, Messrs. Burleson, Goodwin, Haley,
Kramp, Mehta, Piraino, Swed, Thimjon, Van and Vanderhoff had outstanding loans
guaranteed by us in the amount of $0, $260,572, $3,054,872, $68,700, $1,487,903,
$266,634, $343,200, $0, $49,686 and $282,832, respectively and since January 1,
1997, the largest amounts outstanding under such loans were $68,800, $260,572,
$3,054,872, $68,800, $1,487,903, $266,634, $587,959, $167,262, $49,686 and
$282,832, respectively.
 
     PAYMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE RECAPITALIZATION. In connection with the
Recapitalization, Cypress received a transaction fee of approximately $9.5
million from us and was reimbursed for all out-of-pocket expenses. We have also
agreed to indemnify Cypress to the fullest extent allowable under applicable
Delaware law and against any suits, claims, damages or expenses which may be
made against or incurred by Cypress under applicable securities laws.
 
     Approximately $517.5 and $62.1 million of the equity consideration paid in
connection with the Recapitalization was paid to CD&R and Westinghouse,
respectively, to purchase their shares of Common Stock. In addition,
approximately $52.1 million of the equity consideration was paid to purchase
100,000 shares held by Westinghouse upon exercise of an option granted at the
date of formation with an exercise price of $100 per share. Westinghouse also
held approximately $66.6 million of our formerly existing indebtedness which was
repaid in connection with the Recapitalization. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations -- Recent
Developments" and Notes 3 and 16 to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
     OTHER TRANSACTIONS. Prior to the Recapitalization, Westinghouse and CD&R
were considered to be related parties. In 1998, we purchased $2.8 million from,
and sold $7.3 million worth of products to, Westinghouse. See Note 16 to
Consolidated Financial Statements. We paid an affiliate of CD&R fees of
approximately $0.1 million for advisory, management consulting and monitoring
services rendered during 1998.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>   39
 
                                    PART IV
 
ITEM 14.  EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.
 
     The financial statements, financial statement schedules and exhibits listed
below are filed as part of this annual report:
 
<TABLE>
<S>       <C>       
(a)(1)    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
          ------------------------------------------------------------
          The list of financial statements required by this item is
          set forth in Item 8 "Consolidated Financial Statements and
          Supplementary Data" and is incorporated herein by reference.

(2)       FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
          -----------------------------
          Report of Independent Accountants
          Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

(b)       REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
          -------------------
          None

(c)       EXHIBITS
          --------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      PRIOR FILING OR
EXHIBIT NO.   DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT                              SEQUENTIAL PAGE NUMBER
- -----------   ----------------------                              ----------------------
<S>          <C>                                                 <C>
    2.1      Recapitalization Agreement dated as of March 27,    Incorporated by reference
             1998 among Thor Acquisitions L.L.C., WESCO          to WESCO's Exhibit 2.1 to
             International, Inc. (formerly known as CDW Holding  Registration Statement in
             Corporation, "WESCO") and certain securityholders   Form S-4 (No. 333-43225)
             of WESCO.                                           (the "Form S-4")
    2.2      Purchase Agreement dated May 29, 1998 among WESCO,  Incorporated by reference
             WESCO Distribution, Inc. ("WESCO Distribution"),    to Exhibit 2.2 to the
             Chase Securities Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc.      Form S-4
    2.3      Asset Purchase Agreement among Bruckner Supply      Incorporated by reference
             Company, Inc. and WESCO Distribution dated          to Exhibit 2.01 to the
             September 11, 1998, previously filed.               Current Report on Form
                                                                 8-K dated September 11,
                                                                 1998
    3.1      Certificate of Incorporation of WESCO               Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to Exhibit 3.1 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
    3.2      By-Laws of WESCO                                    Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to Exhibit 3.2 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
    4.1      Indenture dated as of June 5, 1998 among WESCO,     Incorporated by reference
             WESCO Distribution and Bank One, N.A.               to Exhibit 4.1 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
    4.2      Form of 9-1/8% Senior Subordinated Note Due 2008,   Incorporated by reference
             Series A (included in Exhibit 4.3).                 to Exhibit 4.2 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
    4.3      Form of 9-1/8% Senior Subordinated Note Due 2008,   Incorporated by reference
             Series B (included in Exhibit 4.3).                 to Exhibit 4.3 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
    4.4      Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated    Incorporated by reference
             as of June 5, 1998 among the Company, WESCO and     to Exhibit 4.4 to the
             the Initial Purchasers                              Form S-4
    4.5      Indenture dated as of June 5, 1998 between WESCO    Incorporated by reference
             and Bank One, N.A.                                  to Exhibit 4.5 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
    4.6      Form of 11-1/8% Senior Discount Note Due 2008,      Incorporated by reference
             Series A (included in Exhibit 4.7)                  to Exhibit 4.6 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
</TABLE>
 
                                       37
<PAGE>   40
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      PRIOR FILING OR
EXHIBIT NO.                DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT                 SEQUENTIAL PAGE NUMBER
- -----------                ----------------------                 ----------------------
<C>          <S>                                                 <C>
    4.7      Form of 11-1/8% Senior Discount Note Due 2008,      Incorporated by reference
             Series B (included in Exhibit 4.7)                  to Exhibit 4.7 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
    4.8      Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated    Incorporated by reference
             as of June 5, 1998 among WESCO and the Initial      to Exhibit 4.8 to the
             Purchasers                                          Form S-4
   10.1      CDW Holding Corporation Stock Purchase Plan         Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to Exhibit 10.1 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.2      Form of Stock Subscription Agreement                Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to Exhibit 10.2 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.3      CDW Holding Corporation Stock Option Plan           Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to Exhibit 10.3 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.4      Form of Stock Option Agreement                      Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to Exhibit 10.4 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.5      CDW Holding Corporation Stock Option Plan for       Incorporated by reference
             Branch Employees                                    to Exhibit 10.5 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.6      Form of Branch Stock Option Agreement               Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to Exhibit 10.6 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.7      Non-Competition Agreement, dated as of February     Incorporated by reference
             28, 1996, between Westinghouse, WESCO and WESCO     to Exhibit 10.8 to the
             Distribution                                        Form S-4
   10.8      Employment Agreement between WESCO Distribution     Incorporated by reference
             and Stanley C. Weiss                                to Exhibit 10.9 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.9      Lease dated May 24, 1995 as amended by Amendment    Incorporated by reference
             One dated June, 1995 and by Amendment Two dated     to Exhibit 10.10 to the
             December 24, 1995 by and between WESCO              Form S-4
             Distribution as Tenant and Opal Investors, L.P.
             and Mural GEM Investors as Landlord
   10.10     Lease dated April 1, 1992 as renewed by Letter of   Incorporated by reference
             Notice of Intent to Renew dated December 13, 1996   to Exhibit 10.11 to the
             by and between the Company successor in interest    Form S-4
             to Westinghouse Electric Corporation as Tenant and
             Utah State Retirement Fund as Landlord
   10.11     Lease dated September 4, 1997 and between WESCO     Incorporated by reference
             Distribution as Tenant and The Buncher Company as   to Exhibit 10.12 to the
             Landlord                                            Form S-4
   10.12     Lease dated March, 1995 by and between WESCO        Incorporated by reference
             Distribution-Canada, Inc. ("WESCO Canada") as       to Exhibit 10.13 to the
             Tenant and Atlantic Construction, Inc. as Landlord  Form S-4
   10.13     Credit Agreement dated as of June 5, 1998 among     Incorporated by reference
             WESCO, the Company, WESCO Canada, The Chase         to Exhibit 10.14 to the
             Manhattan Bank, The Chase Manhattan Bank of Canada  Form S-4
             and Lehman Commercial Paper, Inc.
   10.14     U.S. Receivables Sales Agreement dated June 5,      Incorporated by reference
             1998 among the Company, WESCO Receivables Corp.     to Exhibit 10.15 to the
             (the "SPC"), The Chase Manhattan Bank and other     Form S-4
             sellers named therein.
</TABLE>
 
                                       38
<PAGE>   41
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      PRIOR FILING OR
EXHIBIT NO.                DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT                 SEQUENTIAL PAGE NUMBER
- -----------                ----------------------                 ----------------------
<C>          <S>                                                 <C>
   10.15     Canadian Receivables Sales Agreement dated June 5,  Incorporated by reference
             1998 among WESCO Distribution, WESCO Canada, the    to Exhibit 10.16 to the
             SPC, The Chase Manhattan Bank of Canada and other   Form S-4
             sellers named therein.
   10.16     WESCO Receivables Master Trust Pooling Agreement    Incorporated by reference
             dated June 5, 1998 among the Company, WESCO         to Exhibit 10.17 to the
             Canada, the SPC, and The Chase Manhattan Bank       Form S-4
   10.17     WESCO Receivables Master Trust Pooling Agreement    Incorporated by reference
             Series 1998-1 Supplement dated June 5, 1998         to Exhibit 10.18 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.18     Amended and Restated Registration and               Incorporated by reference
             Participation Agreement dated June 5, 1998 among    to Exhibit 10.19 to the
             WESCO and certain securityholders of WESCO named    Form S-4
             therein.
   10.19     Employment Agreement between WESCO Distribution     Incorporated by reference
             and Roy W. Haley                                    to Exhibit 10.20 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.20     WESCO International, Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan    Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to WESCO's Exhibit 10.1
                                                                 to Quarterly Report on
                                                                 Form 10-Q for the quarter
                                                                 ended September 30, 1998
   10.21     Form of Management Stock Option Agreement           Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to WESCO's Exhibit 10.1
                                                                 to Quarterly Report on
                                                                 Form 10-Q for the quarter
                                                                 ended September 30, 1998
   10.22     1999 Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee    Filed herewith
             Directors
   21.1      Subsidiaries of WESCO                               Filed herewith
   24.1      Powers of Attorney (included on signature page)     Filed herewith
   27.1      Financial Data Schedule                             Filed herewith
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
The registrant hereby agrees to furnish supplementally to the Commission, upon
request, a copy of any omitted schedule to any of the agreements contained
herein.
 
            Copies of exhibits may be retrieved electronically at the Securities
            and Exchange Commission's home page at www.sec.gov. Exhibits will
            also be furnished without charge by writing to Steven A. Burleson,
            Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Commerce
            Court, Four Station Square, Suite 700, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
            15219. Requests may also be directed to (412) 454-2500.
 
                                       39
<PAGE>   42
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
                                          WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
                                          By:         /s/ ROY W. HALEY
                                            ------------------------------------
                                              Name: Roy W. Haley
                                              Title: Chairman of the Board,
                                                     President and Chief
                                                     Executive Officer
                                          Date: March 30, 1999
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
     We, the undersigned directors and officers of WESCO International, Inc., do
hereby constitute and appoint Steven A. Burleson and Anthony D. Tutrone, or
either of them, our true and lawful attorneys and agents, to do any and all acts
and things in our name and on our behalf in our capacities as directors and
officers and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the
capacities indicated below, which said attorneys and agents, or either of them,
may deem necessary or advisable to enable said corporation to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any rules, regulations and requirements of
the Securities and Exchange Commission, in connection with this report,
including specifically, but without limitation, power and authority to sign for
us or any of us in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all
amendments hereto and we do hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys
and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              SIGNATURE                                        TITLE                              DATE
              ---------                                        -----                              ----
<C>                                      <S>                                                 <C>
 
          /s/ ROY W. HALEY               Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer     March 30, 1999
- ------------------------------------       (Principal Executive Officer)
            Roy W. Haley
 
       /s/ STEVEN A. BURLESON            Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and         March 30, 1999
- ------------------------------------       Corporate Controller (Principal Financial and
         Steven A. Burleson                Accounting Officer)
 
       /s/ JAMES L. SINGLETON            Director                                            March 30, 1999
- ------------------------------------
         James L. Singleton
 
         /s/ JAMES A. STERN              Director                                            March 30, 1999
- ------------------------------------
           James A. Stern
 
       /s/ ANTHONY D. TUTRONE            Director                                            March 30, 1999
- ------------------------------------
         Anthony D. Tutrone
 
       /s/ MICHAEL J. CHESHIRE           Director                                            March 30, 1999
- ------------------------------------
         Michael J. Cheshire
 
       /s/ ROBERT J. TARR, JR.           Director                                            March 30, 1999
- ------------------------------------
         Robert J. Tarr, Jr.
 
                                         Director                                            March   , 1999
- ------------------------------------
           Kenneth L. Way
 
       /s/ STEVEN A. BURLESON                                                                March 30, 1999
- ------------------------------------
         Steven A. Burleson
         as Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>
 
                                       40
<PAGE>   43
 
     SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED WITH REPORTS FILED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 15(d) OF THE ACT BY REGISTRANTS WHICH HAVE NOT REGISTERED SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE ACT.
 
     The Registrant has not furnished an annual report or proxy materials to its
security holders other than this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which will be
furnished to debt security holders.
 
                                       41
<PAGE>   44
 
                         INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                PAGE
                                                                ----
<S>                                                             <C>
WESCO International, Inc.
  Report of Independent Accountants.........................    F-2
  Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1997 and
     1998...................................................    F-3
  Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
     December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998.......................    F-4
  Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity and
     Redeemable Common Stock for the years ended December
     31, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998..........................    F-5
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
     December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998.......................    F-6
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements................    F-7
</TABLE>
 
                                       F-1
<PAGE>   45
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
of WESCO International, Inc.:
 
     In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the
related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and
redeemable common stock and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects,
the financial position of WESCO International, Inc. and subsidiaries at December
31, 1997 and 1998, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998 in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management; our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our
audits of these statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.
 
                                      /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
600 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
February 12, 1999, except for Note 22,
as to which the date is March 3, 1999.
 
                                       F-2
<PAGE>   46
 
                   WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   DECEMBER 31
                                                              ----------------------
                                                                1997         1998
                                                              --------    ----------
                                                              (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS,
                                                                EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
                           ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
    Cash and cash equivalents...............................  $  7,620    $    8,093
    Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
     accounts of $10,814 and $8,082 in 1997 and 1998,
     respectively (NOTE 4)..................................   351,170       181,511
    Other accounts receivable...............................    17,261        22,265
    Inventories.............................................   299,406       343,764
    Income taxes receivable.................................     3,405         7,329
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets...............     3,699         2,892
    Deferred income taxes (NOTE 12).........................    14,277        16,217
                                                              --------    ----------
        Total current assets................................   696,838       582,071
Property, buildings and equipment, net (NOTE 7).............    95,082       107,596
Goodwill and other intangibles, net of accumulated
  amortization of $5,108 and $10,163 in 1997 and 1998,
  respectively (NOTE 5).....................................    69,331       234,049
Other assets (NOTE 8).......................................     9,609        26,806
                                                              --------    ----------
        Total assets........................................  $870,860    $  950,522
                                                              ========    ==========
            LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
    Accounts payable........................................  $311,796    $  378,590
    Accrued payroll and benefit costs.......................    27,694        19,614
    Current portion of long-term debt.......................       891        16,592
    Other current liabilities (NOTE 10).....................    20,154        51,671
                                                              --------    ----------
        Total current liabilities...........................   360,535       466,467
Long-term debt (NOTE 9).....................................   294,275       579,238
Other noncurrent liabilities................................     5,875         7,040
Deferred income taxes (NOTE 12).............................    16,662        18,832
                                                              --------    ----------
        Total liabilities...................................   677,347     1,071,577
Commitments and contingencies (NOTE 17)
Redeemable Class A common stock, $.01 par value; 89,306 and
  84,808 shares issued and outstanding in 1997 and 1998,
  respectively (redemption value of redeemable common stock
  and vested options of $68,597 and $130,267 in 1997 and
  1998, respectively) (NOTE 11).............................     8,978        21,506

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (NOTE 11):
    Class A common stock, $.01 par value; 2,000,000
     authorized, 933,280 and 436,156 shares issued and
     outstanding in 1997 and 1998, respectively.............         9             4
    Class B nonvoting convertible common stock, $.01 par
     value; 2,000,000 shares authorized, 80,504 issued and
     outstanding in 1998....................................        --             1
    Additional capital......................................    93,319       327,076
    Retained earnings (deficit).............................    89,366      (468,220)
    Common stock to be issued under option..................     2,500            --
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)...........      (659)       (1,422)
                                                              --------    ----------
        Total stockholders' equity..........................   184,535      (142,561)
                                                              --------    ----------
        Total liabilities and stockholders' equity..........  $870,860    $  950,522
                                                              ========    ==========
</TABLE>
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial
                                  statements.
                                       F-3
<PAGE>   47
 
                   WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                    --------------------------------------
                                                       1996          1997          1998
                                                    ----------    ----------    ----------
                                                      (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
<S>                                                 <C>           <C>           <C>
Sales, net......................................    $2,274,622    $2,594,819    $3,025,439
Cost of goods sold..............................     1,869,565     2,130,900     2,487,780
                                                    ----------    ----------    ----------
  Gross profit..................................       405,057       463,919       537,659
Selling, general and administrative expenses....       326,003       372,532       415,028
Depreciation and amortization...................        10,846        11,331        14,805
Recapitalization costs (NOTE 3).................            --            --        51,800
                                                    ----------    ----------    ----------
  Income from operations........................        68,208        80,056        56,026
Interest expense, net...........................        17,382        20,109        45,121
Other expenses (NOTE 4).........................            --            --        10,122
                                                    ----------    ----------    ----------
  Income before income taxes....................        50,826        59,947           783
Provision for income taxes (NOTE 12)............        18,364        23,710         8,519
                                                    ----------    ----------    ----------
  Net income (loss).............................    $   32,462    $   36,237    $   (7,736)
                                                    ==========    ==========    ==========
Earnings per common share (NOTE 13):
  Basic.........................................    $    31.97    $    35.48    $    (9.93)
                                                    ==========    ==========    ==========
  Diluted.......................................    $    29.47    $    31.52    $    (9.93)
                                                    ==========    ==========    ==========
</TABLE>
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial
                                  statements.
                                       F-4
<PAGE>   48
 
                   WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                          AND REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             COMMON
                                                                                             STOCK
                                                                                             TO BE      ACCUMULATED    REDEEMABLE
                                                 COMMON STOCK                   RETAINED     ISSUED        OTHER        CLASS A
                               COMPREHENSIVE   -----------------   ADDITIONAL   EARNINGS     UNDER     COMPREHENSIVE     COMMON
                                  INCOME       CLASS A   CLASS B    CAPITAL     (DEFICIT)    OPTION    INCOME (LOSS)     STOCK
                               -------------   -------   -------   ----------   ---------   --------   -------------   ----------
                                                                         (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                            <C>             <C>       <C>       <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>             <C>
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1995...                    $ 9      $ --      $ 93,319    $  20,667   $ 2,500       $  (126)      $ 7,730
Exercise of common stock
  options....................                                                                                               343
Issuance of common stock.....                                                                                               857
Net income...................     $32,462                                          32,462
Translation adjustment.......         (85)                                                                    (85)
                                  -------
Comprehensive income.........     $32,377
                                  =======        ---      ----      --------    ---------   -------       -------       -------
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1996...                      9        --        93,319       53,129     2,500          (211)        8,930
Exercise of common stock
  options....................                                                                                               171
Issuance of common stock.....                                                                                               201
Repurchase of common stock...                                                                                              (324)
Net income...................     $36,237                                          36,237
Translation adjustment.......        (448)                                                                   (448)
                                  -------
Comprehensive income.........     $35,789
                                  =======        ---      ----      --------    ---------   -------       -------       -------
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1997...                      9        --        93,319       89,366     2,500          (659)        8,978
Recapitalization, net........                     (5)        1       231,089     (549,143)   (2,500)                      1,271
Issuance of common stock.....                                                                                            16,759
Repurchase of common stock...                                                        (707)                               (1,427)
Exercise of common stock
  options....................                                            888
Forfeiture and repurchase of
  common stock options.......                                          1,780                                             (4,075)
Net income (loss)............     $(7,736)                                         (7,736)
Translation adjustment.......        (763)                                                                   (763)
                                  -------
Comprehensive income.........     $(8,499)
                                  =======        ---      ----      --------    ---------   -------       -------       -------
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1998...                    $ 4      $  1      $327,076    $(468,220)  $    --       $(1,422)      $21,506
                                                 ===      ====      ========    =========   =======       =======       =======
</TABLE>
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial
                                  statements.
                                       F-5
<PAGE>   49


                   WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                              ---------------------------------
                                                                1996        1997        1998
                                                              ---------   ---------   ---------
                                                                       (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>         <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)...........................................  $  32,462   $  36,237   $  (7,736)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
  provided (used) by operating activities:
  Recapitalization costs....................................         --          --      40,500
  Depreciation and amortization.............................     10,846      11,331      14,805
  Accretion of original issue and amortization of purchase
    discounts...............................................      4,592       4,856       6,300
  Amortization of debt issuance costs and interest rate
    caps....................................................        531         418       1,276
  Gain on sale of property, buildings and equipment.........        (81)       (855)     (1,404)
  Deferred income taxes.....................................        (78)      2,837       2,370
  Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding the effects
    of acquisitions:
    Sale of trade accounts receivable.......................         --          --     274,245
    Trade and other receivables.............................    (21,058)    (32,641)    (23,644)
    Inventories.............................................    (24,389)    (31,671)     (5,645)
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets...............      5,930      (1,120)     (2,151)
    Other assets............................................        700      (3,652)        191
    Accounts payable........................................     20,323       9,690      (8,445)
    Accrued payroll and benefit costs.......................     (1,942)      1,594      (8,380)
    Other current and noncurrent liabilities................    (12,700)     (9,001)     (5,428)
                                                              ---------   ---------   ---------
         Net cash provided (used) by operating activities...     15,136     (11,977)    276,854
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures........................................     (9,330)    (11,591)    (10,694)
Proceeds from the sale of property, buildings and
  equipment.................................................      2,338       3,996       2,039
Advances to affiliates......................................         --          --      (1,461)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (NOTE 19)................   (103,918)    (13,914)   (173,976)
                                                              ---------   ---------   ---------
         Net cash used by investing activities..............   (110,910)    (21,509)   (184,092)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt....................    546,396     430,843   1,064,288
Repayments of long-term debt................................   (459,730)   (389,613)   (797,555)
Debt issuance costs.........................................       (682)       (172)    (10,693)
Recapitalization costs......................................         --          --     (28,974)
Repurchase of common stock..................................         --        (324)   (657,956)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock......................      1,200         372     332,795
Proceeds from contributed capital...........................         --          --       5,806
                                                              ---------   ---------   ---------
         Net cash provided (used) by financing activities...     87,184      41,106     (92,289)
                                                              ---------   ---------   ---------
Net change in cash and cash equivalents.....................     (8,590)      7,620         473
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period........      8,590          --       7,620
                                                              ---------   ---------   ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period..............  $      --   $   7,620   $   8,093
                                                              =========   =========   =========
</TABLE>
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial
                                  statements.
                                       F-6
<PAGE>   50
 
                   WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1. ORGANIZATION
 
     WESCO International, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, "WESCO"),
headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a full-line distributor of
electrical supplies and equipment and is a provider of integrated supply
procurement services. WESCO currently operates branch locations in the United
States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guam, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
 
     Subsequent to the completion in June 1998 of a leveraged recapitalization
(see Note 3), WESCO was substantially owned by an investor group led by
affiliates of The Cypress Group L.L.C. ("Cypress") with WESCO's management
retaining the remaining interest.
 
     On February 28, 1994, Clayton & Dubilier Private Equity Fund IV Limited
Partnership, managed by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice ("CD&R"), formed WESCO
Distribution, Inc. for the purpose of acquiring substantially all of the assets
and certain liabilities of Westinghouse Electric Supply Company ("1994
Formation") from the former Westinghouse Electric Corporation ("Westinghouse").
 
2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
  Basis of Presentation
 
     The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of WESCO
International, Inc. and all of its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany
accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
     The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make certain
estimates and assumptions. These may affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
of the consolidated financial statements. They may also affect the reported
amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results
could differ from these estimates upon subsequent resolution of some matters.
 
  Revenue Recognition
 
     Revenues are recognized at the time products are shipped or services are
rendered.
 
  Cash Equivalents
 
     Cash equivalents are defined as highly liquid investments with original
maturities of 90 days or less when purchased.
 
  Asset Securitization
 
     WESCO accounts for the securitization of accounts receivable in accordance
with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 125 "Accounting
for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of
Liabilities." At the time the receivables are sold the balances are removed from
the balance sheet. SFAS No. 125 also requires retained interests in the
transferred assets to be measured by allocating the previous carrying amount
between the assets sold and retained interests, if any, based on their relative
fair values at the date of transfer.
 
  Inventories
 
     Inventories primarily consist of merchandise purchased for resale and are
stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined principally under the
average cost method.
                                       F-7
<PAGE>   51
 
  Property, Buildings and Equipment
 
     Property, buildings and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation
expense is determined using the straight-line method over the estimated useful
lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized over either their
respective lease terms or their estimated lives, whichever is shorter.
Expenditures for new facilities and improvements that extend the useful life of
an asset are capitalized. Ordinary repairs and maintenance are expensed as
incurred. When property is retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and the
related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any related
gains or losses are recorded.
 
  Intangible Assets
 
     Goodwill and other intangible assets arising from acquisitions are
amortized on a straight-line basis over periods not exceeding 35 years. The
carrying value of individual components of intangible assets are regularly
reviewed by evaluating the estimated future undiscounted cash flows to determine
recoverability of the assets. Any decrease in value is recognized on a current
basis.
 
  Income Taxes
 
     Income taxes are accounted for under the liability method. Deferred tax
assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial
reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the
enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are
expected to reverse. Valuation allowances, if any, are provided when a portion
or all of a deferred tax asset may not be realized.
 
  Earnings Per Share
 
     Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing net income by the
weighted-average common shares outstanding during the respective periods.
Diluted earnings per share are computed by dividing net income by the
weighted-average common shares and common share equivalents outstanding during
the period. The dilutive effect of common share equivalents is considered in the
diluted earnings per share computation using the treasury stock method.
 
  Foreign Currency Translation
 
     The local currency is the functional currency for substantially all of
WESCO's operations outside the United States. Assets and liabilities of these
operations are translated to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect at each
period end. Income statement accounts are translated at the average exchange
rate prevailing during the period. Translation adjustments arising from the use
of differing exchange rates from period to period are included as a component of
stockholders' equity. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are
included in net income for the period.
 
  Financial Instruments
 
     Periodically, WESCO enters into interest rate cap, floor and collar
agreements to mitigate the exposure changes in interest rates have on
variable-rate borrowings. If the requirements for hedge accounting are met,
amounts paid or received under these agreements are recognized over the life of
the agreements as adjustments to interest expense. Otherwise, the instruments
are marked to market and the gains and losses from changes in the market value
of the contracts are recorded in the current period. These financial instruments
did not have a material impact on WESCO's consolidated financial statements for
the three years ended December 31, 1998.
 
                                       F-8
<PAGE>   52
 
  Environmental Expenditures
 
     WESCO has facilities and operations which distribute certain products that
must comply with environmental regulations and laws. Expenditures for current
operations are expensed or capitalized, as appropriate. Expenditures relating to
existing conditions caused by past operations, and which do not contribute to
future revenue, are expensed. Liabilities are recorded when remedial efforts are
probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated.
 
  Reclassifications
 
     Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified in order to conform with
the current presentations.
 
  Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
     In April 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
issued Statement of Position 98-5, "Reporting on the Costs of Start-Up
Activities." This statement, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 1998, requires costs incurred to open a new facility, introduce a
new product, commence a new operation or other similar activities to be expensed
as incurred. Management does not expect this statement will have a material
impact on the results of operations and financial position.
 
     In June 1998, The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 133,
"Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." This statement
is effective in fiscal years beginning after June 15, 1999, although early
adoption is permitted. This Statement requires the recognition of the fair value
of any derivative financial instrument on the balance sheet. Changes in fair
value of the derivative and, in certain instances, changes in the fair value of
an underlying hedged asset or liability, are recognized through either income or
as a component of other comprehensive income. Management does not expect this
Statement will have a material impact on the results of operation or financial
position of WESCO.
 
3. RECAPITALIZATION
 
     On June 5, 1998, WESCO repurchased and retired all of the common stock of
WESCO held by CD&R, Westinghouse, and certain other management and nonmanagement
stockholders for an aggregate consideration of approximately $653.5 million
("Equity Consideration"), repaid approximately $379.1 million of then
outstanding indebtedness, and sold to an investor group led by affiliates of
Cypress common stock representing approximately 88.7% of WESCO for an aggregate
cash consideration of $318.1 million ("Cash Equity Contribution") (collectively,
"Recapitalization"). WESCO funded the Equity Consideration and the repayment of
indebtedness from proceeds of the Cash Equity Contribution, issuance of
approximately $351 million of Senior Subordinated and Senior Discount Notes, a
new $170 million credit facility and the sale of approximately $250 million of
accounts receivable. The transaction was treated as a recapitalization for
financial reporting purposes and, accordingly, the historical bases of WESCO's
assets and liabilities were not affected.
 
     In connection with the Recapitalization, WESCO recorded a one-time charge
of $51.8 million primarily related to noncapitalized financing expenses,
professional and legal fees and management compensation costs.
 
4. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SECURITIZATION
 
     WESCO and certain of its subsidiaries entered into an agreement with a
financial institution and a multi-seller asset-backed commercial paper issuer
("Receivables Facility") whereby it sells on a continuous basis an undivided
interest in all eligible accounts receivable while maintaining a
 
                                       F-9
<PAGE>   53
 
subordinated interest in a portion of the receivables. Pursuant to the
Receivables Facility, WESCO formed WESCO Receivables Corporation, a
wholly-owned, special purpose, bankruptcy-remote subsidiary ("SPC"). SPC was
formed to purchase, on a revolving basis and not to exceed $300 million, trade
accounts receivables generated by certain subsidiaries of WESCO. WESCO may,
under certain circumstances, increase the size of the Receivables Facility when
the amount of eligible trade accounts receivables exceeds $300 million. The SPC
will transfer to a trust all the receivables and the commercial paper issuer
will provide financing to pay the purchase price of the receivables.
 
     As of December 31, 1998, securitized accounts receivable totaled $360.1
million, of which the subordinated retained interest was $84.1 million.
Accordingly, $276 million of accounts receivable balances were removed from the
consolidated balance sheet. Net proceeds from the transactions totaled $274.2
million. Proceeds from securitized receivables were used primarily to complete
the Recapitalization discussed in Note 3 and for general working capital needs.
During 1998, WESCO incurred costs associated with the Receivables Facility of
$10.1 million, primarily related to the discount and loss on the sale of such
receivables, partially offset by related servicing revenue. This amount is
recorded as other expenses in the consolidated statement of operations.
 
5. ACQUISITIONS
 
     On September 11, 1998, WESCO acquired substantially all the assets and
assumed substantially all liabilities and obligations relating to the operations
of Bruckner Supply Company, Inc. ("Bruckner"), a privately owned company
headquartered in Port Washington, New York. Bruckner is a provider of integrated
supply procurement and outsourcing activities for large industrial companies.
Net sales totaled approximately $222 million in 1997.
 
     The Bruckner purchase price at closing was $99.1 million, consisting of
$72.5 million in cash and a noninterest bearing convertible note discounted to a
value of $26.6 million for financial reporting purposes, resulting in goodwill
of $88.0 million.
 
     The Bruckner purchase agreement provided for certain post-closing
adjustments, which were paid in December 1998 and totaled $6.0 million. The
agreement also provides for additional contingent consideration, not to exceed
$130 million, of which $30 million was payable and recorded in other current
liabilities at December 31, 1998, to be paid based on a multiple of increases in
earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of Bruckner with
respect to calendar years 1998 through 2004. Following an initial public
offering, up to 50% of the additional contingent consideration, if any, may be
converted at the election of the holder into Class A common stock at the then
market value.
 
     In January 1998 WESCO acquired the electrical distribution businesses of
Avon Electric Supplies, Inc. and its affiliates ("Avon"). Net sales totaled
approximately $85 million in 1997.
 
     The following unaudited pro forma information assumes that the Bruckner and
Avon acquisitions had occurred at the beginning of each period presented.
Adjustments to arrive at the pro forma information include, among others, those
related to acquisition financing, amortization of goodwill and the related tax
effects of such adjustments at an assumed rate of 39%.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                             ----------------------------------
                                                                 1997                 1998
                                                             -------------        -------------
                                                                        (UNAUDITED)
                                                             (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
<S>                                                          <C>                  <C>
Sales, net.................................................   $2,901,725           $3,205,333
Net income (loss)..........................................       41,551               (3,102)
Basic earnings (loss) per share............................        35.48                (3.98)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share..........................        30.07                (3.98)
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>   54
 
     The pro forma financial information does not purport to present what
WESCO's results of operations would have been if the Bruckner and Avon
acquisitions had actually occurred at the beginning of each period presented, or
to project WESCO's results of operations for any future period.
 
     In addition to the Bruckner and Avon acquisitions, WESCO acquired four
other distributors in 1998, the largest of which were Brown Wholesale Electric
Company (acquired January 1998) and Reily Electric Supply, Inc. (acquired May
1998). In 1996 and 1997 combined, WESCO acquired nine distributors. A summary of
certain information with respect to all acquisitions follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                          -------------------------------
                                                            1996       1997        1998
                                                          --------    -------    --------
                                                                  (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                       <C>         <C>        <C>
Aggregate purchase price................................  $110,597    $16,164    $250,218
Recorded goodwill.......................................    59,766      5,913     162,743
</TABLE>
 
     All of the acquisitions were accounted for under the purchase method of
accounting for business combinations. The results of operations of these
companies are included in the consolidated financial statements prospectively
from the acquisition dates. Pro forma results of these acquisitions, excluding
Bruckner and Avon, assuming they had been made at the beginning of each year
presented, would not be materially different from the consolidated results
reported herein.
 
6. CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK AND SIGNIFICANT SUPPLIERS
 
     WESCO distributes its products and services and extends credit to a large
number of customers in the industrial, construction, utility and manufactured
structures markets. In addition, one supplier accounted for approximately 18%,
18% and 15% of WESCO's purchases for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1998, respectively.
 
7. PROPERTY, BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT
 
     The following table sets forth property, buildings and equipment:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DECEMBER 31
                                                              -------------------
                                                               1997        1998
                                                              -------    --------
                                                                (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>
Land........................................................  $17,875    $ 17,613
Buildings and leasehold improvements........................   61,629      59,619
Furniture, fixtures and equipment...........................   30,083      43,734
                                                              -------    --------
                                                              109,587     120,966
Accumulated depreciation and amortization...................  (20,721)    (26,907)
                                                               88,866      94,059
Construction in progress....................................    6,216      13,537
                                                              -------    --------
                                                              $95,082    $107,596
                                                              =======    ========
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>   55
 
8. OTHER ASSETS
 
     The following table sets forth the components of other assets:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   DECEMBER 31
                                                                ------------------
                                                                 1997       1998
                                                                -------    -------
                                                                  (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                             <C>        <C>
Debt issuance costs.........................................    $ 1,270    $10,654
Software costs..............................................      6,846      7,866
Favorable lease commitments.................................      1,054      1,054
Other.......................................................      1,916      4,115
                                                                -------    -------
                                                                 11,086     23,689
Accumulated amortization....................................     (7,355)    (8,481)
                                                                -------    -------
                                                                  3,731     15,208
Investment in and advances to affiliate.....................         --     11,598
Restricted cash.............................................      5,878         --
                                                                -------    -------
                                                                $ 9,609    $26,806
                                                                =======    =======
</TABLE>
 
     Debt issuance costs are amortized on a straight-line basis, which does not
differ materially from the effective-interest rate method, over the term of the
related debt. Investment in and advances to affiliate represents WESCO's
investment in and amounts due from an unconsolidated equity-owned affiliate.
Restricted cash represented proceeds received from the sale of properties that
collateralized certain mortgage notes. Such mortgage notes were repaid in
connection with the Recapitalization.
 
9. LONG TERM DEBT
 
     The following table sets forth WESCO's outstanding indebtedness:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DECEMBER 31
                                                              --------------------
                                                                1997        1998
                                                              --------    --------
                                                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
Term loans..................................................        --    $169,500
Revolving facility..........................................        --      42,450
Old revolving facility......................................  $226,145          --
Senior subordinated notes (1)...............................        --     289,194
Senior discount notes (2)...................................        --      52,071
Mortgage notes (3)..........................................    65,291          --
Other.......................................................     3,730      42,615
                                                              --------    --------
                                                               295,166     595,830
Less current portion........................................      (891)    (16,592)
                                                              --------    --------
                                                              $294,275    $579,238
                                                              ========    ========
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
 
(1) Net of original issue discount of $918 and purchase discount of $9,888
(2) Net of original issue discount of $33,266 and purchase discount of $1,664
(3) Net of original issue discount of $16,601
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>   56
 
     In connection with the Recapitalization, the old revolving facility and the
mortgage notes were repaid. The old revolving facility was pursuant to credit
agreements with various banks that provided for an aggregate $360 million of
revolving credit facilities maturing in February 2000. This facility provided
variable-rate borrowings tied to market indexes plus a fixed margin. The
mortgage notes consisted of a zero coupon First Mortgage Note due February 2001
and an 8.0% First Mortgage Note due February 2001, each held by Westinghouse.
 
     The term loans and revolving facility borrowings were made pursuant to a
credit agreement ("Credit Agreement") entered into by and between WESCO
Distribution, Inc., ("WESCO Distribution") a wholly owned subsidiary of WESCO
and certain financial institutions. The Credit Agreement provides for three term
loan facilities in an aggregate principal amount of $270 million, consisting of
Tranche A Term Loan, Tranche B Term Loan and a Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility,
and a $100 million Revolving Credit Facility. Tranche A Term Loan provides for
aggregate borrowings of $80 million, Tranche B Term Loan provides for aggregate
borrowings of $90 million and the Delayed Draw Term Loan Facility provides for
up to $100 million aggregate principal. The term loan facilities mature in
various periods from 2004 through 2006. The Revolving Credit Facility provides
for up to $100 million of revolving credit denominated in U.S. dollars or
Canadian dollars. The maximum Canadian sublimit is approximately $46 million.
The Revolving Credit Facility matures in 2004.
 
     Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by WESCO and are
collateralized by substantially all the assets of WESCO and bear rates of
interest equal to various indices, at WESCO's option, such as LIBOR, prime rate
or the Federal Funds rate, plus a borrowing margin based on WESCO's financial
performance. At December 31, 1998, the interest rate on Tranche A Term Loan,
Tranche B Term Loan and the Revolving Credit Facility was 7.6%, 7.8% and 8.3%,
respectively. In addition, WESCO has a 0.5% commitment fee on the unused
commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility and the Delayed Draw Term Loan
Facility.
 
     At December 31, 1998, WESCO has four interest rate cap and two interest
rate collar agreements with aggregate notional amounts of $205 million that
expire at various times between August 1999 and February 2000. The aggregate
cost of these agreements of $0.2 million is being amortized to interest expense
on a straight-line basis over the period of the agreements. The agreements
effectively provide a ceiling for LIBOR at 7.0% and, with respect to $50 million
notional value of interest rate collars, a floor of 4.5%. The market value of
the interest rate caps and collars approximates the carrying value at December
31, 1998.
 
     The Senior Subordinated Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $300
million were issued by WESCO Distribution. The notes are unsecured obligations
and are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by WESCO. The Senior Subordinated
Notes bear interest at 9-1/8%, payable semiannually on June 1 and December 1
beginning December 1, 1998. The notes are due June 1, 2008. The Senior
Subordinated Notes are redeemable by WESCO Distribution at any time prior to
June 1, 2001, up to a maximum of 35% of the original aggregate principal amount
of the Senior Subordinated Notes, with proceeds of an equity offering at a
redemption price equal to 109.125% of the principal amount provided plus accrued
and unpaid interest.
 
     In addition, the Senior Subordinated Notes are redeemable at the option of
WESCO Distribution, in whole or in part, at any time after June 1, 2003 at the
following prices:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          REDEMPTION PRICE
                                                          ----------------
<S>                                                       <C>
2003..................................................        104.563%
2004..................................................        103.042
2005..................................................        101.521
2006 and thereafter...................................        100.000
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>   57
 
     At any time prior to June 1, 2003, the Senior Subordinated Notes may be
redeemed, in whole but not in part, at the option of the Company at any time
within 180 days after a change of control, at a redemption price equal to the
principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest and the then
applicable premium. In addition, the noteholders have the right to require
WESCO, upon a change of control, to repurchase all or any part of the Senior
Subordinated Notes at a redemption price equal to 101% of the principal amount
provided plus accrued and unpaid interest.
 
     The Senior Discount Notes, issued by WESCO, have an aggregate principal
amount of $87 million. The notes were issued with an original issue discount of
$36.5 million that is being accreted over the period ending June 1, 2003.
Beginning June 1, 2003, interest accrues at 11 1/8% payable semiannually on June
1 and December 1. At any time prior to June 1, 2001, WESCO may redeem, in whole
but not in part, the Senior Discount Notes with the proceeds of an equity
offering at a redemption price equal to 111.125% of the accreted value at the
date of redemption.
 
     Approximately 35% of the then outstanding Senior Discount Notes ($30.9
million at December 31, 1998) must be redeemed on June 1, 2003. The remaining
notes are due June 1, 2008 and are redeemable at the option of WESCO, in whole
or in part, at any time after June 1, 2003 at the following prices:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          REDEMPTION PRICE
                                                          ----------------
<S>                                                       <C>
2003..................................................        105.563%
2004..................................................        103.708
2005..................................................        101.854
2006 and thereafter...................................        100.000
</TABLE>
 
     At any time prior to June 1, 2003, the Senior Discount Notes may be
redeemed, in whole but not in part, at the option of WESCO at any time within
180 days after a change of control, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the
accreted value to the redemption date plus the then applicable premium. In
addition, the noteholders have the right to require WESCO, upon a change of
control, to repurchase all or any part of the Senior Discount Notes at a
redemption price equal to 101% of the accreted value prior to June 1, 2003 or
101% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest if after June 1,
2003.
 
     At December 31, 1997 and 1998, other borrowings primarily consist of notes
issued to sellers in connection with acquisitions, of which $2 million and $37
million, respectively, are convertible into common stock at an initial public
equity offering price.
 
     The following table sets forth the aggregate principal repayment
requirements for all indebtedness for the next five years:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                         <C>
1999....................................................       $16,871
2000....................................................        40,736
2001....................................................        13,071
2002....................................................        16,530
2003....................................................        51,412
</TABLE>
 
     The credit agreements contain various restrictive covenants that, among
other things, impose limitations on (i) dividend payments or certain other
restricted payments or investments; (ii) the incurrence of additional
indebtedness and guarantees or issuance of additional stock; (iii) creation of
liens; (iv) mergers, consolidation or sales of substantially all of WESCO's
assets (v) certain transactions among affiliates; (vi) payments by certain
subsidiaries to WESCO; and (vii) capital expenditures. In
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>   58
 
addition, the agreements require WESCO to meet certain leverage, working capital
and interest coverage ratios.
 
     WESCO is permitted to pay dividends under certain limited circumstances. At
December 31, 1997 and 1998, no retained earnings were available for dividend
payments.
 
     Based on current market interest rates and discounted cash flow analyses,
the fair value of WESCO's long-term debt approximates its carrying value at
December 31, 1997 and 1998.
 
     WESCO had $3.3 million and $4.5 million of outstanding letters of credit at
December 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively. These letters of credit are used as
collateral for performance and bid bonds. The value of the letters of credit
approximates the contract value.
 
10. OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
 
     The following table sets forth the components of other current liabilities:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         DECEMBER 31
                                                      ------------------
                                                       1997       1998
                                                      -------    -------
                                                        (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                   <C>        <C>
Accrued taxes other than income.....................  $10,696    $12,466
Accrued interest....................................    1,508      4,986
Deferred acquisition payable........................       --     30,000
Other...............................................    7,950      4,219
                                                      -------    -------
                                                      $20,154    $51,671
                                                      =======    =======
</TABLE>
 
11. CAPITAL STOCK
 
  Common Stock
 
     There are 2,000,000 shares each of Class A and Class B common stock
authorized at a par value of $.01 per share. The Class B common stock is
identical to the Class A Common Stock, except for voting and conversion rights.
The holders of Class B common stock have no voting rights. With certain
exceptions, Class B common stock may be converted, at the option of the holder,
into the same number of shares of Class A common stock. No Class B common stock
was outstanding at December 31, 1997.
 
  Redeemable Class A Common Stock
 
     Certain employees and key management of WESCO who hold Class A common stock
and options may require WESCO to repurchase, under certain conditions, death,
disability or termination without cause during the term of employment, all of
the shares and the exercisable portion of the options held. This repurchase
right terminates upon the consummation of an initial equity public offering of
WESCO's Class A common stock. In connection with the redemption features
described above, WESCO has classified outside of permanent equity an amount
representing the initial fair value of the redeemable shares. These shares and
exercisable options have not been marked to market since the events of
redemption are considered remote.
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>   59
 
     The following table sets forth capital stock share activity:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                REDEEMABLE
                                                         CLASS A     CLASS B     CLASS A
                                                         --------    -------    ----------
<S>                                                      <C>         <C>        <C>
December 31, 1995......................................   933,280        --       79,904
Options exercised......................................        --        --        3,428
Shares issued..........................................        --        --        4,750
                                                         --------    ------      -------
December 31, 1996......................................   933,280                 88,082
Options exercised......................................        --        --        1,714
Shares issued..........................................        --        --          800
Shares repurchased.....................................        --        --       (1,290)
                                                         --------    ------      -------
December 31, 1997......................................   933,280                 89,306
Recapitalization, net..................................  (498,554)   80,504      (28,046)
Shares issued..........................................        --        --       26,984
Shares repurchased.....................................        --        --       (9,636)
Options exercised......................................     1,430        --        6,200
                                                         --------    ------      -------
December 31, 1998......................................   436,156    80,504       84,808
                                                         ========    ======      =======
</TABLE>
 
12. INCOME TAXES
 
     The following table sets forth the components of the provision for income
taxes:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                             ----------------------------
                                                              1996       1997       1998
                                                             -------    -------    ------
                                                                    (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                          <C>        <C>        <C>
Current taxes
  Federal..................................................  $15,360    $16,689    $5,037
  State....................................................    2,872      3,067     1,229
  Foreign..................................................      210      1,117      (117)
                                                             -------    -------    ------
     Total current.........................................   18,442     20,873     6,149
Deferred taxes
  Federal..................................................   (1,588)     2,727     1,926
  State....................................................     (267)      (183)      431
  Foreign..................................................      523        293        13
  Charge in lieu of taxes..................................    1,254         --        --
                                                             -------    -------    ------
     Total deferred........................................      (78)     2,837     2,370
                                                             -------    -------    ------
                                                             $18,364    $23,710    $8,519
                                                             =======    =======    ======
</TABLE>
 
     At the time of the 1994 Formation, WESCO had approximately $45 million of
future tax deductions ($18 million of future tax benefits) that resulted in the
creation of certain deferred tax assets. At that time, WESCO recorded a
valuation allowance for the full amount of the deferred tax assets reflected on
the opening balance sheet since the realization of the future tax benefits was
not considered likely. However, at December 31, 1996, all of these deductions
had been recognized as a reduction in noncurrent intangible assets.
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>   60
 
     The charge in lieu of taxes recognized in 1996 represents the amount of tax
expense that would have been recognized had the benefits described above been
recorded at the time of the 1994 Formation.
 
     The following table sets forth the components of income before income taxes
by jurisdiction:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                             ----------------------------
                                                              1996       1997       1998
                                                             -------    -------    ------
                                                                    (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                          <C>        <C>        <C>
United States..............................................  $49,072    $57,083    $1,743
Canada.....................................................    1,754      2,864      (960)
                                                             -------    -------    ------
                                                             $50,826    $59,947    $  783
                                                             =======    =======    ======
</TABLE>
 
     The following table sets forth the reconciliation between the federal
statutory income tax rate and the effective rate:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                              -----------------------
                                                              1996    1997     1998
                                                              ----    ----    -------
<S>                                                           <C>     <C>     <C>
Federal statutory rate......................................  35.0%   35.0%      35.0%
State taxes, net of federal tax benefit.....................   4.2     3.3      137.8
Nondeductible expenses......................................   2.5     2.6      206.2
Recapitalization costs......................................    --      --      657.8
Foreign taxes...............................................  (0.1)    0.3      (51.1)
Net adjustment to valuation allowance.......................  (5.8)     --         --
Other.......................................................   0.3    (1.6)     102.3
                                                              ----    ----    -------
                                                              36.1%   39.6%   1,088.0%
                                                              ====    ====    =======
</TABLE>
 
     In 1996, WESCO determined that it was more likely than not that it would
realize the benefits of certain deferred tax assets originating subsequent to
the 1994 Formation. As a result, WESCO recognized benefits of approximately $2.9
million associated with the realization of post formation deferred tax assets
through the reversal of the associated valuation allowance.
 
     The following table sets forth deferred tax assets and liabilities:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DECEMBER 31
                                                              --------------------
                                                                1997        1998
                                                              --------    --------
                                                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
Accounts receivable.........................................  $  4,236    $  6,330
Inventory...................................................     4,819       5,325
Other.......................................................     5,222       4,562
                                                              --------    --------
     Deferred tax assets....................................    14,277      16,217
                                                              --------    --------
Intangibles.................................................    (3,766)     (4,792)
Property, buildings and equipment...........................    (4,079)     (4,173)
Other.......................................................    (8,817)     (9,867)
                                                              --------    --------
     Deferred tax liabilities...............................   (16,662)    (18,832)
                                                              --------    --------
                                                              $ (2,385)   $ (2,615)
                                                              ========    ========
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>   61
 
13. EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
     The following table sets forth the details of basic and diluted earnings
per share:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                       -----------------------------------
                                                          1996          1997        1998
                                                       ----------    ----------    -------
                                                       (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE
                                                                      DATA)
<S>                                                    <C>           <C>           <C>
Net income (loss)....................................  $   32,462    $   36,237    $(7,736)
Interest on convertible debt.........................          --           125         --
                                                       ----------    ----------    -------
Net income (loss) used in diluted earnings per
  share..............................................  $   32,462    $   36,362    $(7,736)
Weighted average common shares outstanding used in
  computing basic earnings (loss) per share..........   1,015,238     1,021,282    779,440
Common shares issuable upon exercise of dilutive
  stock options......................................      86,335       125,729         --
Assumed conversion of convertible debt...............          --         6,606         --
                                                       ----------    ----------    -------
Weighted average common shares outstanding and common
  share equivalents used in computing diluted
  earnings (loss) per share..........................   1,101,573     1,153,617    779,440
                                                       ==========    ==========    =======
Basic earnings (loss) per share......................  $    31.97    $    35.48    $ (9.93)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share....................       29.47         31.52      (9.93)
</TABLE>
 
     Interest on convertible debt of $1.3 million and common share equivalents
outstanding in 1998 of 114,718 were anti-dilutive and, accordingly, were not
considered in the computation of diluted loss per share for the year ended
December 31, 1998.
 
14. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
 
     A majority of WESCO's employees are covered by defined contribution
retirement savings plans for their service rendered subsequent to the 1994
Formation. Westinghouse retained certain retiree pension and health benefits for
service rendered prior to the 1994 Formation. U.S. employee contributions of not
more than 6% of eligible compensation are matched 50% by WESCO. WESCO's
contributions for Canadian employees range from 1% to 6% of eligible
compensation based on years of service.
 
     In addition, employer contributions may be made at the discretion of the
Board of Directors and can be based on WESCO's current year performance.
Employees are credited for service with Westinghouse in determining the vesting
of WESCO's contributions. For the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998,
WESCO contributed $9.3 million, $12.5 million and $14.1 million, respectively,
which was charged to expense.
 
15. STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS
 
    Stock Purchase Plan.
 
     In connection with the Recapitalization, WESCO established a stock purchase
plan ("1998 Stock Purchase Plan") under which certain employees may be granted
an opportunity to purchase WESCO's Class A common stock. The maximum number of
shares available for purchase may not exceed 7,400. The purchase price per share
is determined by the Board of Directors of WESCO to represent fair market value,
as defined by the Stock Subscription Agreement. Should the purchase price of the
stock be less than the fair market value of the stock at the grant date, such
excess will be recorded as
 
                                      F-18
<PAGE>   62
 
compensation expense in the consolidated statements of operations. During 1998,
5,050 shares were issued at a weighted-average share price of $621.
 
     At the time of the 1994 Formation, WESCO established a stock purchase plan
("1994 Stock Purchase Plan") under which certain employees were granted an
opportunity to purchase WESCO's Class A Common Stock. Future purchases of shares
under the 1994 Stock Purchase Plan were terminated in conjunction with the
establishment of the 1998 Stock Purchase Plan. Shares purchased under the 1994
Stock Purchase Plan in the periods indicated were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                              ------------------------
                                                               1996     1997     1998
                                                              ------    ----    ------
<S>                                                           <C>       <C>     <C>
Shares purchased............................................   2,610     800     2,292
Weighted-average share price................................  $  169    $251    $  621
</TABLE>
 
    Other Stock Purchases.
 
     In addition, certain key management employees of WESCO, nonemployee
directors and other investors may be granted an opportunity to purchase WESCO's
Class A common stock. The purchase price per share is determined by the Board of
Directors to represent the fair market value, as defined by the Stock
Subscription Agreement. At December 31, 1997 and 1998, 54,150 shares and 73,792
shares, respectively, had been purchased.
 
     Other stock purchases in the periods indicated were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                              -------------------------
                                                               1996     1997     1998
                                                              ------    ----    -------
<S>                                                           <C>       <C>     <C>
Shares purchased............................................   2,140    --       19,642
Weighted-average share price................................  $  195    --      $   621
</TABLE>
 
    Stock Option Plans.
 
     WESCO has sponsored three stock options plans, the 1998 Stock Option Plan,
the Stock Option Plan for Branch Employees (collectively "Stock Option Plans")
and the 1994 Stock Option Plan. Participation is limited to executive and senior
officers, certain other key employees and branch employees. The Stock Option
Plans and the 1994 Stock Option Plan cover a maximum of 112,500 and 181,000
shares of WESCO's Class A common stock, respectively. The exercise price per
share is determined by the Board of Directors to represent the fair market
value, as defined by these plans, at the grant date.
 
     Options granted will vest and will become exercisable over periods ranging
from four to five years or earlier based on WESCO achieving certain financial
performance criteria, except in the event of a change in control. Each option
terminates on the tenth anniversary of its grant date unless terminated sooner
under certain conditions.
 
     The plans require WESCO to repurchase the exercisable portion of the
options held by an employee if the employee dies, is disabled or terminated
without cause during the term of employment. This repurchase right terminates
upon consummation of an initial public equity offering of WESCO's Class A common
stock. Since the triggering event requiring the repurchase is considered remote,
WESCO accounts for the plans as fixed plans and, accordingly, no compensation
expense has been recorded.
 
     In connection with the Recapitalization, future issuances of options under
the 1994 Stock Option Plan were terminated and all options granted under the
1994 Stock Option Plan became fully vested.
 
                                      F-19
<PAGE>   63
 
     The following table sets forth shares of common stock reserved for future
issuance at December 31, 1998:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                             <C>
Stock Purchase Plan.........................................     2,350
Stock Option Plans..........................................    27,607
</TABLE>
 
     The following table sets forth a summary of stock option activity and
related information for the years indicated:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           1996                        1997                        1998
                                 ------------------------    ------------------------    ------------------------
                                              WEIGHTED                    WEIGHTED                    WEIGHTED
                                              AVERAGE                     AVERAGE                     AVERAGE
                                 OPTIONS   EXERCISE PRICE    OPTIONS   EXERCISE PRICE    OPTIONS   EXERCISE PRICE
                                 -------   --------------    -------   --------------    -------   --------------
<S>                              <C>       <C>               <C>       <C>               <C>       <C>
Beginning of year..............  95,970         $102          98,842        $107         119,844        $127
Granted (1)....................   6,300          181          26,140         198          72,100         565
Exercised......................  (3,428)         100          (1,714)        100         (19,626)        155
Canceled.......................      --           --          (3,424)        102          (6,686)        221
                                 ------                      -------                     -------
End of year....................  98,842          107         119,844         127         165,632         310
                                 ======                      =======                     =======
Exercisable at end of year.....  18,796          101          33,848         103          88,822         119
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
 
(1) Options granted in 1998 include 11,000 options that were issued at a
    discount, resulting in approximately $4.1 million of compensation expense.
    Of these options, 6,200 were subsequently exercised. The remaining 4,800
    were forfeited and the associated costs were classified as additional
    capital.
 
     The Westinghouse option discussed in Note 16 is not included in the
information set forth above.
 
     The following table sets forth exercise prices for options outstanding as
of December 31, 1998:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXERCISE PRICE                  WEIGHTED AVERAGE
  PER OPTION     OPTIONS   REMAINING CONTRACTUAL LIFE
- --------------   -------   --------------------------
<C>              <C>       <S>
100$.00....      63,148    5.6 years
114.30....       12,431    7.0
195.40....       27,913    8.0
250.97....        1,040    8.9
621.08....       61,100    9.6
</TABLE>
 
     In connection with the implementation of SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation," WESCO has elected to continue to account for
stock-based compensation arrangements under the provisions of Accounting
Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25.
 
                                      F-20
<PAGE>   64
 
     If compensation costs had been determined based on the fair value at the
grant dates according to SFAS No. 123, WESCO's net income and earnings per
share, would have been as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                            -----------------------------
                                                             1996       1997       1998
                                                            -------    -------    -------
                                                             (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE
                                                                        DATA)
<S>                                                         <C>        <C>        <C>
Net income (loss)
  As reported.............................................  $32,462    $36,237    $(7,736)
  Pro forma...............................................   32,441     36,144     (8,629)
Basic earnings (loss) per share
  As reported.............................................  $ 31.97    $ 35.48    $ (9.93)
  Pro forma...............................................    31.95      35.39     (11.07)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
  As reported.............................................  $ 29.47    $ 31.52    $ (9.93)
  Pro forma...............................................    29.45      31.44     (11.07)
</TABLE>
 
     The weighted-average fair value per option granted was $16.70, $33.56 and
$223.20, for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.
 
     For purposes of presenting pro forma results, the fair value of each option
grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing
model and the following assumptions:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                              ------------------------
                                                              1996      1997      1998
                                                              ----      ----      ----
<S>                                                           <C>       <C>       <C>
Risk-free interest rate.....................................  6.5%      6.5%      5.0%
Expected life (years).......................................    7         7         7
                                                              ===       ===       ===
</TABLE>
 
16. RELATED PARTIES
 
     Prior to the Recapitalization, Westinghouse was considered a related party.
A summary of purchases from and sales to Westinghouse follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                             ----------------------------
                                                              1996       1997       1998
                                                             -------    -------    ------
                                                                    (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                          <C>        <C>        <C>
Purchases from Westinghouse................................  $19,115    $15,498    $2,765
Sales to Westinghouse......................................   21,192     21,666     7,271
                                                             =======    =======    ======
</TABLE>
 
     The amount due from Westinghouse at December 31, 1997, net of amounts owed
was approximately $2.6 million.
 
     In connection with the 1994 Formation, WESCO granted Westinghouse an option
to purchase 100,000 shares of Class A common stock at $100 per share. The fair
value of this option, or $2.5 million, was included in the consolidated balance
sheets as common stock to be issued under option. This option was exercised and
the associated shares were repurchased in connection with the Recapitalization.
 
     In connection with the Recapitalization, WESCO paid Cypress $9.5 million
related to transaction fees and WESCO received from CD&R $5.8 million as
contributed capital. Prior to the Recapitalization, WESCO paid CD&R an annual
financial advisory and management consulting fee of $0.4 million.
 
                                      F-21
<PAGE>   65
 
17. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
     Future minimum rental payments required under operating leases, primarily
for real property that have noncancelable lease terms in excess of one year as
of December 31, 1998, are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                             <C>
1999........................................................       $17,827
2000........................................................        15,677
2001........................................................        13,399
2002........................................................         9,083
2003........................................................         5,034
Thereafter..................................................         9,787
</TABLE>
 
     Rental expense for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, was
$22.0 million, $26.4 million and $29.1 million, respectively.
 
     WESCO has litigation arising from time to time in the normal course of
business. In management's opinion, any present litigation WESCO is aware of will
not materially affect WESCO's consolidated financial position, results of
operations or cash flows.
 
     Westinghouse agreed to indemnify WESCO for certain environmental
liabilities that existed at the time of the 1994 Formation. WESCO has made a
claim under this indemnity amounting to $1.5 million. The ultimate resolution of
this environmental compliance issue is not expected to materially impact WESCO's
consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
     At December 31, 1998, WESCO has guaranteed $8.9 million in loans to certain
stockholders.
 
18. SEGMENTS AND RELATED INFORMATION
 
     In 1998, WESCO adopted SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an
Enterprise and Related Information." SFAS No. 131 established standards for
disclosure of operating segments under the management approach. For purposes of
this standard, WESCO is engaged principally in one line of business -- the sale
of electrical products and maintenance repair and operating supplies -- which
represents more than 95% of the consolidated sales, income from operations and
assets, for the year ended December 31, 1998. The following table presents
information about WESCO by geographic area. There were no material amounts of
sales or transfers among geographic areas and no material amounts of United
States export sales:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                             ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          SALES, NET                       LONG-LIVED ASSETS
                             ------------------------------------    ------------------------------
                                1996         1997         1998         1996       1997       1998
                             ----------   ----------   ----------    --------   --------   --------
                                                         (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                          <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>        <C>        <C>
United States..............  $1,993,995   $2,292,121   $2,713,213    $151,835   $161,250   $344,481
Canada.....................     258,739      280,812      272,463      12,733     11,962     10,483
Other......................      21,888       21,886       39,763         147        810      1,889
                             ----------   ----------   ----------    --------   --------   --------
                             $2,274,622   $2,594,819   $3,025,439    $164,715   $174,022   $356,853
                             ==========   ==========   ==========    ========   ========   ========
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-22
<PAGE>   66
 
19. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
 
     The following table sets forth supplemental cash flow information:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                          -------------------------------
                                                            1996       1997        1998
                                                          --------    -------    --------
                                                                  (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                       <C>         <C>        <C>
Details of acquisitions
  Fair value of assets acquired.........................  $170,583    $21,498    $307,056
  Liabilities assumed...................................   (54,884)    (5,334)    (56,838)
  Restructuring reserve.................................    (5,102)        --          --
  Notes issued to seller................................    (2,950)    (2,250)    (46,242)
  Deferred acquisition payable..........................        --         --     (30,000)
                                                          --------    -------    --------
  Cash paid for acquisitions............................   107,647     13,914     173,976
  Less cash acquired....................................     3,729         --          --
                                                          --------    -------    --------
                                                          $103,918    $13,914    $173,976
                                                          ========    =======    ========
Cash paid for interest..................................  $ 11,600    $15,377    $ 35,093
Cash paid for income taxes..............................    13,756     27,523       9,470
</TABLE>
 
     Noncash investing and financing activities not reflected in the
consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 1998,
consisted of $5.8 million use of restricted cash to reduce long-term debt, $5.2
million of capital expenditures included in accounts payable, the conversion of
$1.6 million of notes payable to redeemable Class A common stock and the
immaterial effects of the sale for a note of an equity interest in an operating
division at book value.
 
20. OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     In June 1998, WESCO Distribution issued $300 million of 9 1/8% Senior
Subordinated Notes. The Senior Subordinated Notes are fully and unconditionally
guaranteed by WESCO on a subordinated basis to all existing and future senior
indebtedness of WESCO. Summarized financial information for WESCO Distribution
is as follows:
 
BALANCE SHEET DATA
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 DECEMBER 31,
                                                                     1998
                                                                ---------------
                                                                (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                             <C>
Current assets..............................................       $582,071
Noncurrent assets...........................................        368,451
Current liabilities.........................................        466,467
Long-term debt..............................................        527,167
Other noncurrent liabilities................................         25,872
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity..................        950,522
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-23
<PAGE>   67
 
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   YEAR ENDED
                                                                DECEMBER 31, 1998
                                                                -----------------
                                                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                             <C>
Sales, net..................................................       $3,025,439
Gross profit................................................          537,659
Income from operations......................................           56,026
Net income (loss)...........................................           (4,377)
</TABLE>
 
     Prior to the June 5, 1998 issuance of the Senior Discount Notes, WESCO
Distribution financial information was identical to that of WESCO's presented
herein.
 
21. SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
 
     The following table sets forth selected quarterly financial data for the
years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 FIRST       SECOND      THIRD      FOURTH
                                                QUARTER    QUARTER(1)   QUARTER    QUARTER
                                                --------   ----------   --------   --------
                                                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
<S>                                             <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>
1997
Sales, net....................................  $576,776    $659,377    $679,991   $678,675
Gross profit..................................   104,340     114,698     120,913    123,968
Income from operations........................    14,890      20,744      23,443     20,979
Income before income taxes....................    10,092      15,833      18,207     15,815
Net income....................................     6,085       9,533      10,989      9,630
Basic earnings per share......................      5.96        9.34       10.76       9.43
Diluted earnings per share....................      5.39        8.33        9.54       8.33
1998
Sales, net....................................  $693,448    $748,307    $777,701   $805,983
Gross profit..................................   126,694     133,292     137,854    139,819
Income (loss) from operations.................    20,174     (23,423)     28,306     30,969
Income (loss) before income taxes.............    13,972     (36,271)     11,513     11,569
Net income (loss).............................     8,523     (18,129)     26,438    (24,568)
Basic earnings (loss) per share...............      8.32      (20.08)      44.66     (41.04)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share.............      7.37      (20.08)      37.47     (41.04)
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
 
(1) Includes a one-time charge of $51.8 million related to the Recapitalization
    in 1998 (see Note 3).
 
22. SUBSEQUENT EVENT:
 
     On March 3, 1999, WESCO filed a registration statement with the Securities
and Exchange Commission to register approximately $200 million of Common Stock,
including shares subject to an underwriters' over-allotment option (the
"Offering"). In connection with the Offering, certain employee rights to require
the Company to repurchase outstanding redeemable Common Stock will terminate,
and the Company also plans to reclassify its Class A Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share, into Common Stock, par value $.01 per share. The Company intends
to use net proceeds from the Offering to retire all of the outstanding 11 1/8%
Senior Discount Notes due 2008, to repay all of the existing
 
                                      F-24
<PAGE>   68
 
indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility, and the remaining balance to
repay a portion of the Tranche B Term Loan. If such indebtedness is repaid, the
Company would incur an extraordinary charge relating to the write-off of
existing unamortized debt issue costs and payment of a premium associated with
the retirement of the Senior Discount Notes. There can be no assurance as to the
timing or completion of the Offering or as to the amount of net proceeds to be
received by the Company and applied to debt reduction as intended.
 
                                      F-25
<PAGE>   69
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
 
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
  of WESCO International, Inc.:
 
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements referred to in our report
dated February 12, 1999, except for Note 22, as to which the date is March 3,
1999 appearing on page F-2 of the 1998 Annual Report on Form 10-K also included
an audit of the financial statement schedule listed in Item 14(a)(2) of this
Form 10-K. In our opinion, this financial statement schedule presents fairly, in
all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in
conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements.
 
                                      /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
600 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
February 12, 1999, except for Note 22,
as to which the date is March 3, 1999.
 
                                       S-1
<PAGE>   70
 
                SCHEDULE II -- VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   COL. A                        COL. B        COL. C        COL. D        COL. E       COL. F
- ---------------------------------------------  -----------   -----------   -----------   ----------   -----------
                                                                     ADDITIONS
                                                             -------------------------
                                               BALANCE AT                  CHARGED TO                 BALANCE AT
                                                BEGINNING    CHARGED TO       OTHER                     END OF
                                                OF PERIOD      EXPENSE      ACCOUNTS     DEDUCTIONS     PERIOD
                                               -----------   -----------   -----------   ----------   -----------
<S>                                            <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>
Allowance for doubtful accounts:
  Year ended December 31, 1996...............     8,589         3,017         2,961a       (4,492)      10,075
  Year ended December 31, 1997...............    10,075         3,274           594        (3,129)      10,814
  Year ended December 31, 1998...............    10,814         2,325         3,423a       (8,480)c      8,082
Allowance for deferred tax assets:
  Year ended December 31, 1996...............     4,182            --        (1,254)b      (2,928)          --
  Year ended December 31, 1997...............        --            --            --            --           --
  Year ended December 31, 1998...............        --            --            --            --           --
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------------------
 
a Represents allowance for doubtful accounts acquired in connection with certain
  acquisitions.
 
b Represents reversal of valuation allowances as a result of realizing the
  benefits of the deferred tax assets acquired at the date of Formation.
 
c Includes $3,464 which represents a reduction in the allowance for doubtful
  accounts related to the sale of receivables at fair market value in connection
  with the Receivables Facility.
 
                                       S-2
<PAGE>   71
 
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
     The registrant hereby agrees to furnish supplementally to the Commission,
upon request, a copy of any omitted schedule to any of the agreements contained
herein.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      PRIOR FILING OR
EXHIBIT NO.   DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT                              SEQUENTIAL PAGE NUMBER
- -----------   ----------------------                              ----------------------
<C>          <S>                                                 <C>
    2.1      Recapitalization Agreement dated as of March 27,    Incorporated by reference
             1998 among Thor Acquisitions L.L.C., WESCO          to WESCO's Exhibit 2.1 to
             International, Inc. (formerly known as CDW Holding  Registration Statement in
             Corporation, "WESCO") and certain securityholders   Form S-4 (No. 333-43225)
             of WESCO.                                           (the "Form S-4")
    2.2      Purchase Agreement dated May 29, 1998 among WESCO,  Incorporated by reference
             WESCO Distribution, Inc. ("WESCO Distribution"),    to Exhibit 2.2 to the
             Chase Securities Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc.      Form S-4
    2.3      Asset Purchase Agreement among Bruckner Supply      Incorporated by reference
             Company, Inc. and WESCO Distribution dated          to Exhibit 2.01 to the
             September 11, 1998, previously filed.               Current Report on Form
                                                                 8-K dated September 11,
                                                                 1998
    3.1      Certificate of Incorporation of WESCO               Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to Exhibit 3.1 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
    3.2      By-Laws of WESCO                                    Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to Exhibit 3.2 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
    4.1      Indenture dated as of June 5, 1998 among WESCO,     Incorporated by reference
             WESCO Distribution and Bank One, N.A.               to Exhibit 4.1 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
    4.2      Form of 9-1/8% Senior Subordinated Note Due 2008,   Incorporated by reference
             Series A (included in Exhibit 4.3).                 to Exhibit 4.2 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
    4.3      Form of 9-1/8% Senior Subordinated Note Due 2008,   Incorporated by reference
             Series B (included in Exhibit 4.3).                 to Exhibit 4.3 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
    4.4      Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated    Incorporated by reference
             as of June 5, 1998 among the Company, WESCO and     to Exhibit 4.4 to the
             the Initial Purchasers                              Form S-4
    4.5      Indenture dated as of June 5, 1998 between WESCO    Incorporated by reference
             and Bank One, N.A.                                  to Exhibit 4.5 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
    4.6      Form of 11-1/8% Senior Discount Note Due 2008,      Incorporated by reference
             Series A (included in Exhibit 4.7)                  to Exhibit 4.6 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
    4.7      Form of 11-1/8% Senior Discount Note Due 2008,      Incorporated by reference
             Series B (included in Exhibit 4.7)                  to Exhibit 4.7 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
    4.8      Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated    Incorporated by reference
             as of June 5, 1998 among WESCO and the Initial      to Exhibit 4.8 to the
             Purchasers                                          Form S-4
   10.1      CDW Holding Corporation Stock Purchase Plan         Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to Exhibit 10.1 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.2      Form of Stock Subscription Agreement                Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to Exhibit 10.2 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   72
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      PRIOR FILING OR
EXHIBIT NO.  DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT                               SEQUENTIAL PAGE NUMBER
- -----------  ----------------------                               ----------------------
<C>          <S>                                                 <C>
   10.3      CDW Holding Corporation Stock Option Plan           Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to Exhibit 10.3 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.4      Form of Stock Option Agreement                      Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to Exhibit 10.4 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.5      CDW Holding Corporation Stock Option Plan for       Incorporated by reference
             Branch Employees                                    to Exhibit 10.5 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.6      Form of Branch Stock Option Agreement               Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to Exhibit 10.6 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.7      Non-Competition Agreement, dated as of February     Incorporated by reference
             28, 1996, between Westinghouse, WESCO and WESCO     to Exhibit 10.8 to the
             Distribution                                        Form S-4
   10.8      Employment Agreement between WESCO Distribution     Incorporated by reference
             and Stanley C. Weiss                                to Exhibit 10.9 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.9      Lease dated May 24, 1995 as amended by Amendment    Incorporated by reference
             One dated June, 1995 and by Amendment Two dated     to Exhibit 10.10 to the
             December 24, 1995 by and between WESCO              Form S-4
             Distribution as Tenant and Opal Investors, L.P.
             and Mural GEM Investors as Landlord
   10.10     Lease dated April 1, 1992 as renewed by Letter of   Incorporated by reference
             Notice of Intent to Renew dated December 13, 1996   to Exhibit 10.11 to the
             by and between the Company successor in interest    Form S-4
             to Westinghouse Electric Corporation as Tenant and
             Utah State Retirement Fund as Landlord
   10.11     Lease dated September 4, 1997 and between WESCO     Incorporated by reference
             Distribution as Tenant and The Buncher Company as   to Exhibit 10.12 to the
             Landlord                                            Form S-4
   10.12     Lease dated March, 1995 by and between WESCO        Incorporated by reference
             Distribution-Canada, Inc. ("WESCO Canada") as       to Exhibit 10.13 to the
             Tenant and Atlantic Construction, Inc. as Landlord  Form S-4
   10.13     Credit Agreement dated as of June 5, 1998 among     Incorporated by reference
             WESCO, the Company, WESCO Canada, The Chase         to Exhibit 10.14 to the
             Manhattan Bank, The Chase Manhattan Bank of Canada  Form S-4
             and Lehman Commercial Paper, Inc.
   10.14     U.S. Receivables Sales Agreement dated June 5,      Incorporated by reference
             1998 among the Company, WESCO Receivables Corp.     to Exhibit 10.15 to the
             (the "SPC"), The Chase Manhattan Bank and other     Form S-4
             sellers named therein.
   10.15     Canadian Receivables Sales Agreement dated June 5,  Incorporated by reference
             1998 among WESCO Distribution, WESCO Canada, the    to Exhibit 10.16 to the
             SPC, The Chase Manhattan Bank of Canada and other   Form S-4
             sellers named therein.
   10.16     WESCO Receivables Master Trust Pooling Agreement    Incorporated by reference
             dated June 5, 1998 among the Company, WESCO         to Exhibit 10.17 to the
             Canada, the SPC, and The Chase Manhattan Bank       Form S-4
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   73
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      PRIOR FILING OR
EXHIBIT NO.                DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT                 SEQUENTIAL PAGE NUMBER
- -----------                ----------------------                 ----------------------
<C>          <S>                                                 <C>
   10.17     WESCO Receivables Master Trust Pooling Agreement    Incorporated by reference
             Series 1998-1 Supplement dated June 5, 1998         to Exhibit 10.18 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.18     Amended and Restated Registration and               Incorporated by reference
             Participation Agreement dated June 5, 1998 among    to Exhibit 10.19 to the
             WESCO and certain securityholders of WESCO named    Form S-4
             therein.
   10.19     Employment Agreement between WESCO Distribution     Incorporated by reference
             and Roy W. Haley                                    to Exhibit 10.20 to the
                                                                 Form S-4
   10.20     WESCO International, Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan    Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to WESCO's Exhibit 10.1
                                                                 to Quarterly Report on
                                                                 Form 10-Q for the quarter
                                                                 ended September 30, 1998
   10.21     Form of Management Stock Option Agreement           Incorporated by reference
                                                                 to WESCO's Exhibit 10.1
                                                                 to Quarterly Report on
                                                                 Form 10-Q for the quarter
                                                                 ended September 30, 1998
   10.22     1999 Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee    Filed herewith
             Directors
   21.1      Subsidiaries of WESCO                               Filed herewith
   24.1      Powers of Attorney (included on signature page)     Filed herewith
   27.1      Financial Data Schedule                             Filed herewith
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
                                                                Exhibit 10.22



                         WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
        1999 Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors


1.   NAME AND PURPOSE

     The name of this plan is the WESCO International 1999 Deferred Compensation
     Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the "Plan"). Its purpose is to provide
     non-employee directors of WESCO International, Inc. (the "Company") with
     the opportunity to defer the compensation otherwise payable to them as
     members of the Board of Directors (the "Board").

2.   EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION

     The Plan, upon adoption by the Board, will be effective January 1, 1999.
     The Plan will remain in effect until it is terminated by the Board in
     accordance with the By-laws of the Company.

3.   ADMINISTRATION

     The Plan will be administered by the Board and the Compensation & Benefits
     Committee of the Board consistent with the By-laws of the Company. The
     Board is authorized to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and
     to adopt such rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan as
     it deems advisable. The Board may delegate administrative functions to the
     Compensation & Benefits Committee, Secretary of the Board ("Secretary") or
     other individuals. The Board must approve changes to the Plan, and the
     Board's decisions are binding on all parties.

4.   ELIGIBILITY

     Eligibility to participate in the Plan shall extend to all non-employee
     members of the Board. A "Participant" in the Plan means a director who has
     elected to defer receipt or payment of all or a portion of their
     compensation under the terms of the Plan ("Deferred Compensation").

5.   DEFERRAL ELECTIONS

     Prior to the beginning of any fiscal year in which stock of the Company is
     publicly traded for which compensation or payment is made, a Participant
     may elect to defer payment of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the
     retainer to a date or dates specified by the Participant in the Agreement.
     This deferral is effected by executing a Deferred Compensation Agreement
     ("Agreement") in the form set forth in Exhibit A of the Plan, and filing
     the Agreement with the Secretary prior to the date specified above. An
     election to defer, filed in accordance with this paragraph, is binding and
     irrevocable except as specified below, and will continue to be applicable
     for all future years until a Participant modifies or terminates that
     election by written notice prior to the beginning of the fiscal year in
     which such action is to become effective. For the first year in which stock
     of the Company is publicly traded, a participant may defer compensation
     under an election made no later than the date of the public offering.

6.   MODIFYING A DEFERRAL ELECTION

     A Participant may, at any time, modify their deferral election with respect
     to amounts that have not yet been paid. This is done by notifying the
     Secretary prior to the beginning of the compensation period of the changes
     that the Participant wishes to make. No change may be made to an election
     that has been filed for a compensation period once that period has begun. 
<PAGE>   2
7.   STOCK UNITS AND SHARE PRICE

     Only compensation received in the form of stock units may be deferred. The
     share price ("Share Price") established for each stock unit will be the
     average of the high and low trading prices for the Company's
     publicly-traded common stock shares as of the first trading day in January
     of the same year.

8.   DEFERRED COMPENSATION ACCOUNT

     The Company will establish and maintain a separate account ("Account") for
     each Participant. Each deferral will occur on the date that the
     compensation would otherwise have been paid. On the deferral date, the
     Company will credit the account with the number of shares calculated by
     dividing the cash equivalent amount of the Participant's compensation to be
     deferred by the Share Price at the beginning of the period ("Deferred Share
     Units"). Deferred Share Units are like common shares in all respects except
     with regard to voting rights.

     An amount equal to the dividend per share, if any, that is paid on an
     outstanding common share will be credited to the Account for each Deferred
     Share Unit. Dividend credits on Deferred Share Units will be calculated by
     dividing the aggregate cash amount of the dividends by the Share Price at
     the beginning of the period. Deferred Share Units arising from dividend
     credits will be distributed according to the distribution schedule in the
     Agreement.

     Amounts credited to the Account will be maintained to four decimal places,
     but no fractional shares will be distributed. Distributions will be rounded
     down to the nearest full share, until the final distribution, in which any
     fractional share will be distributed in cash.

     In the event of any change affecting the common stock of the Company
     because of a stock split, re-capitalization, consolidation, acquisition of
     assets in any exchange of stock, spin-off or other distribution of assets
     (other than normal cash dividends) or other similar corporate change, the
     Secretary, with advice as needed of independent legal counsel, will make
     equitable adjustments in the number of Deferred Stock Units in each
     Participant's Account as are deemed appropriate to maintain consistent
     treatment with the effect on the stockholders of the Company from any such
     change.

9.   DISTRIBUTION OF DEFERRED COMPENSATION

     A Participant may elect to receive a distribution of Deferred Share Units
     only in shares of WESCO International, Inc. Class "A" Common Stock, either
     in annual installments or in a lump sum in accordance with the distribution
     schedule in the Agreement. As indicated in the Agreement, all distributions
     will be made or begin as soon as practical after January 1 of the year
     following the Participant's termination of board service. In the event of
     death, payment will be made to the designated beneficiary (or
     beneficiaries) or the executor/executrix of the Participant's estate.

10.  FINANCIAL HARDSHIP

     Notwithstanding the time and frequency of the distribution(s) of Deferred
     Share Units designated in the Agreement, the Board may authorize, upon
     written application by the Participant, the acceleration of the
     distribution of Deferred Share Units (including a lump sum payment),
     provided that the requesting party can substantiate to the reasonable
     satisfaction of the Board that the adherence to the Agreement would result
     in severe financial hardship to the Participant. A bonafide financial
     hardship must be the result of an unanticipated event. This accelerated
     payment shall not exceed the amount required to meet the financial need of
     the Participant.
 
<PAGE>   3

11.  EARLY WITHDRAWAL PENALTY

     Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 9 and subject to a penalty
     equal to 10% of the amount withdrawn, a Participant may request the
     premature distribution of all or any portion of the Account balance at any
     time. This request must be made in writing to the Board. The amount
     requested, less the 10% penalty, will be distributed to the Participant
     within 30 days of the request.

12.  PARTICIPANT'S RIGHTS

     Establishment of or participation in the Plan in no way constitutes a
     contract or agreement to continued Board service of the Participant with
     the Company for any fixed period of time or the right to receive any
     benefits not specifically provided in the Plan. All Deferred Compensation
     Units shall remain the sole property of the Company, subject to the claims
     of its general creditors and available for its use for whatever purposes
     are desired. With respect to amounts deferred or otherwise held for the
     account of a Participant, the Participant is a general creditor of the
     Company. The obligation of the Company hereunder is purely contractual and
     shall not be funded or secured in any way. The Company shall not segregate
     assets, create any security interest or encumber its assets in order to
     provide for the payment(s) of the balance(s). Notwithstanding the preceding
     sentence, the Company may in its sole discretion establish a grantor trust,
     the assets of which shall be subject to the claims of the Company's
     creditors in the event of the Company's bankruptcy or insolvency, and if so
     established, benefits payable under the Plan shall be paid from this trust
     to the extent not otherwise paid from the Company's general assets.

13.  NON-ALIENABILITY AND NON-TRANSFERABILITY

     The rights of a Participant to the payment of deferred compensation as
     provided in the Plan shall not be assigned, transferred, pledged or
     encumbered or be the subject in any manner to alienation or anticipation.
     No Participant may borrow against his account.

14.  RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL

     If at least 20% the common stock of the Company is not publicly traded, the
     Company retains the right of first refusal on the sale of any shares
     distributed to a Participant. The Participant must notify the Company in
     writing of the intent to sell the shares. If the Company intends to
     exercise its right, it must purchase the shares from the Participant within
     30 days of receiving the sale notification. The purchase price will be the
     average of the closing price on the ten (10) trading days preceding the
     Participant's sale notification.

15.  GENERAL PROVISIONS

     Except to the extent superseded by federal law, the laws of the
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will be controlling in all matters relating to
     the Plan.

     To the extent required by the laws in effect at the time the compensation
     is earned or Deferred Share Units are distributed, the Company shall
     withhold from the compensation, or the Deferred Share Units distributed,
     any taxes required to be withheld for federal, state or local government
     purposes.
<PAGE>   4
16.  AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

     The Board may, at any time or from time to time, amend, modify or terminate
     the Plan, and distribute to Participants the balance in their Accounts in
     the event changes in tax laws or any other form of regulation make
     continued deferrals undesirable. However, no amendment, modification or
     termination of the Plan will, without the consent of a Participant,
     adversely affect the Participant's rights with respect to amounts then
     accrued in the Account.
<PAGE>   5
                                                                     EXHIBIT "A"


                        DEFERRED COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
                                 Election Form


To the Secretary
WESCO International, Inc.


ANNUAL COMPENSATION

I hereby irrevocably elect to have my Director's Compensation for calendar year 
____ paid in the following manner:

     ____% into stock shares (up to 100%)
     ____% in cash (up to 50%)
     100%


DEFERRAL AMOUNT

Pursuant to paragraph 5 of the WESCO International Deferred Compensation Plan 
for Non-Employee Directors (the "Plan"), I hereby irrevocably elect to have 
____ percent (____%) of my Director's Compensation payable hereafter deferred 
and credited to a Deferred Share Unit Account maintained in my name.


PAYMENT OPTION

I direct that distribution of my Deferred Share Unit Account be made upon 
termination of my service as a Director as follows (select one):

     [ ]  a lump sum, or
     [ ]  a series of annual payments over ____ years (5 or less).


DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARIES

Pursuant to paragraph 9 of the Plan, I designate my beneficiary (or 
beneficiaries) as follows:

          Name                     Address                  Percentage

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

I reserve the right to make new designations annually, as provided in the Plan.


Dated:__________________                    ____________________________________
                                            Participant's Signature


                                            ____________________________________
                                            Print Participant's Name


Copy received this ____ day of __________, 199_.


_____________________
Secretary




<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 21.1


                          Significant Subsidiaries of
                           WESCO International, Inc.
                                        
                                        
                            WESCO Distribution, Inc.
                                CDW Realco, Inc.
                            WESCO Receivables Corp.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM WESCO
INTERNATIONAL, INC. SUBSIDIARIES' CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                           8,093
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  189,593
<ALLOWANCES>                                     8,082
<INVENTORY>                                    343,764
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               582,071
<PP&E>                                         107,596
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 950,522
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          466,467
<BONDS>                                        579,238
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                             5
<OTHER-SE>                                   (142,566)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   950,522
<SALES>                                      3,025,439
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             3,025,439
<CGS>                                        2,487,780
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,969,413
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                10,122
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              45,121
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    783
<INCOME-TAX>                                     8,519
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (7,736)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (7,736)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (9.93)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (9.93)
        

</TABLE>


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