MELVILLE, N.Y., April 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC. (NYSE: MSM), "MSC" or the "Company," a premier distributor of Metalworking and Maintenance, Repair and Operations ("MRO") supplies to industrial customers throughout North America, today reported financial results for its fiscal second quarter ended March 1, 2014.

Net sales for the fiscal second quarter 2014 were $661.5 million, an increase of 16.2% over net sales of $569.5 million in the same quarter a year ago. The acquired Barnes Distribution North America ("BDNA") business contributed $69.8 million to net sales in the fiscal second quarter 2014.

Excluding non-recurring costs of $8.0 million associated with the BDNA acquisition, the co-location of the Company's headquarters, and the executive separation costs, adjusted operating income for the fiscal second quarter 2014 was $89.8 million, or 13.6% of net sales, compared to $92.3 million, or 16.2% of net sales in the same quarter a year ago. GAAP operating income for the fiscal second quarter 2014 was $81.7 million, or 12.4% of net sales, compared to $90.6 million, or 15.9% of net sales in the same quarter a year ago.

Excluding the after tax effects of non-recurring costs, adjusted net income for the fiscal second quarter 2014 was $54.5 million, or $0.87 per diluted share (based on 62.1 million diluted shares outstanding), compared to $57.2 million, or $0.90 per diluted share, in the same quarter a year ago (based on 63.0 million diluted shares outstanding). The BDNA operations contributed approximately $0.04 to the fiscal second quarter 2014 EPS. GAAP net income for the fiscal second quarter 2014 was $49.5 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, compared to $56.1 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, in the same quarter a year ago.

Erik Gershwind, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The manufacturing environment continues to show improvement. Despite the impact of weather disruptions, we continued to gain share in our core metalworking market and saw accelerated growth rates in our national account and government programs."

Jeff Kaczka, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, commented, "We were pleased to deliver the high end of our earnings per share guidance in the second quarter despite the weather disruptions that impacted our sales growth. Additionally, we continued to execute on our infrastructure and growth initiatives according to plan. Looking forward to fiscal third quarter, the midpoint of our guidance range for organic average daily sales growth assumes that April and May continue the underlying organic growth rates seen in March."(1)

Mr. Gershwind concluded, "We are executing on our share gain and infrastructure initiatives to fuel our next level of growth. We are putting in place a new growth platform in the form of BDNA with Class C products and solutions. And, most importantly, we are focusing relentlessly on helping our customers streamline their MRO supply chain to take costs out. All of that is the formula for an exciting earnings growth story in the years to come."

Outlook

MSC expects net sales for fiscal third quarter 2014 to be between $720 million and $732 million. At the midpoint, average daily sales growth, excluding BDNA, is expected to be 8.0 percent. Excluding non-recurring integration costs associated with BDNA, the Company expects adjusted diluted earnings per share for the fiscal third quarter 2014 to be between $1.03 and $1.07.

MSC expects the non-recurring costs related to the BDNA acquisition to impact GAAP diluted earnings per share by approximately $0.03 in the fiscal third quarter 2014.

The Company remains on track to achieve fiscal year 2014 adjusted operating margin consistent with its fiscal 2014 operating framework assuming a continuing moderate sales growth environment.

Conference Call Information

MSC will host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to review the Company's fiscal 2014 second quarter results. The call, accompanying slides and other operational statistics may be accessed via the Internet on MSC's website located at: http://investor.mscdirect.com. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company's website until Friday, May 9, 2014.

Alternatively, the conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-877-270-2148 (U.S.) or 1-412-902-6510 (international). A replay will be available within one hour of the conclusion of the call and will remain available until Friday, May 9, 2014. The replay is accessible by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (U.S.) or 1-412-317-0088 (international) and entering passcode 10042550.

The Company's reporting date for fiscal third quarter 2014 results will be July 9, 2014.

An explanation and reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures contained in this press release to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the attached tables.

About MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. is one of the largest distributors of Metalworking and Maintenance, Repair and Operations ("MRO") supplies to industrial customers throughout North America. MSC employs one of the industry's largest sales forces and distributes approximately 760,000 industrial products from approximately 3,000 suppliers. In-stock availability is approximately 99%, with next day standard delivery to the contiguous United States on qualifying orders up until 8 p.m. Eastern Time. For more information, visit MSC's website at http://www.mscdirect.com.

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Statements in this Press Release may constitute "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including statements about expected future results, expected benefits from our investment and strategic plans, including the Barnes Distribution North America acquisition, and expected future margins, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The inclusion of any statement in this release does not constitute an admission by MSC or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include: problems with successfully integrating acquired operations, unanticipated delays or costs associated with opening or expanding our customer fulfillment centers or customer service centers, current economic, political and social conditions, changing customer and product mixes, financial restrictions on outstanding borrowings, industry consolidation, the loss of key suppliers or supply chain disruptions, competition, general economic conditions in the markets in which we operate, volatility in commodity and energy prices, credit risk of our customers, risk of cancellation or rescheduling of orders, work stoppages or other business interruptions (including those due to extreme weather conditions) at transportation centers or shipping ports, the risk of war, terrorism and similar hostilities, dependence on our information systems and on key personnel, goodwill and intangible assets recorded as a result of our acquisitions could be impaired, disclosing our use of "conflict minerals" in certain of the products we distribute could raise reputational and other risks, the Company's ability to enhance its information technology systems without disruption to our business operations, and the outcome of potential government or regulatory proceedings or future litigation relating to pending or future claims, inquiries or audits. Additional information concerning these and other risks is described under "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q that we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.

[1] Excludes the contribution to Average Daily Sales growth of 5-7 percentage points from the acquired BDNA operations.
[2] Includes $0.04 of accretion from the acquired BDNA operations.




                       MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                             Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                             -------------------------------------

                                        (In thousands)


                                               March 1,                 August 31,
                                                          2014                      2013
                                                          ----                      ----

                                             (unaudited)

                             ASSETS
                             ------

    Current Assets:

     Cash and cash
      equivalents                                      $45,323                   $55,876

     Accounts
      receivable,
      net of
      allowance for
      doubtful
      accounts                                         365,074                   345,366

           Inventories                                 393,558                   419,012

           Prepaid
            expenses and
            other current
            assets                                      38,503                    35,464

           Deferred
            income taxes                                37,771                    37,771
                                                        ------                    ------

    Total current
     assets                                            880,229                   893,489
                                                       -------                   -------

    Property,
     plant and
     equipment,
     net                                               280,027                   251,536

    Goodwill                                           628,606                   630,318

    Identifiable
     intangibles,
     net                                               146,305                   155,324

    Other assets                                        34,666                    12,336
                                                        ------                    ------

    Total assets                                    $1,969,833                $1,943,003
                                                    ==========                ==========


              LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                ---------------------------------

    Current Liabilities:

    Revolving
     credit note                                       $40,000        $                -

            Current
             maturities of
             long-term
             debt                                       20,321                    14,184

    Accounts
     payable                                           108,432                   113,636

    Accrued
     liabilities                                        84,057                    85,759
                                                        ------                    ------

    Total current
     liabilities                                       252,810                   213,579

    Long-term
     debt, net of
     current
     maturities                                        251,669                   241,566

    Deferred
     income taxes
     and tax
     uncertainties                                      97,475                    97,475
                                                        ------                    ------

    Total
     liabilities                                       601,954                   552,620
                                                       -------                   -------

    Commitments and Contingencies

    Shareholders' Equity:

    Preferred
     Stock                                                  --                        --

    Class A common
     stock                                                  55                        55

    Class B common
     stock                                                  14                        14

    Additional
     paid-in
     capital                                           555,497                   528,770

    Retained
     earnings                                        1,199,866                 1,132,868

    Accumulated
     other
     comprehensive
     loss                                               (6,261)                   (4,427)

    Class A
     treasury
     stock, at
     cost                                             (381,292)                 (266,897)
                                                      --------                  --------

    Total
     shareholders'
     equity                                          1,367,879                 1,390,383
                                                     ---------                 ---------

    Total
     liabilities
     and
     shareholders'
     equity                                         $1,969,833                $1,943,003
                                                    ==========                ==========




                                                                           MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                                                              Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
                                                                              -------------------------------------------

                                                                           (In thousands, except net income per share data)

                                                                                              (Unaudited)


                                                                                   Thirteen Weeks Ended              Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
                                                                                   --------------------              ----------------------

                                                                                         March 1,                           March 2,             March 1,             March 2,

                                                                                                        2014                               2013                 2014                 2013
                                                                                                        ----                               ----                 ----                 ----

    Net sales                                                                                       $661,513                           $569,462           $1,340,023           $1,146,953

    Cost of goods sold                                                                               354,692                            313,093              718,347              625,495
                                                                                                     -------                            -------              -------              -------

    Gross profit                                                                                     306,821                            256,369              621,676              521,458

    Operating expenses                                                                               225,099                            165,793              443,204              328,530
                                                                                                     -------                            -------              -------              -------

    Income from operations                                                                            81,722                             90,576              178,472              192,928
                                                                                                      ------                             ------              -------              -------

    Other (expense) income:

    Interest expense                                                                                    (967)                               (73)              (1,814)                (125)

    Interest income                                                                                        4                                 39                    9                   82

    Other (expense) income, net                                                                         (266)                                87                 (478)                  71
                                                                                                        ----                                ---                 ----                  ---

    Total other (expense) income                                                                      (1,229)                                53               (2,283)                  28
                                                                                                      ------                                ---               ------                  ---

            Income before provision for income taxes                                                  80,493                             90,629              176,189              192,956

    Provision for income taxes                                                                        30,981                             34,550               67,631               73,690
                                                                                                      ------                             ------               ------               ------

    Net income                                                                                       $49,512                            $56,079             $108,558             $119,266
                                                                                                     =======                            =======             ========             ========

    Per Share Information:

    Net income per common share:

    Basic                                                                                              $0.80                              $0.89                $1.73                $1.89
                                                                                                       =====                              =====                =====                =====

    Diluted                                                                                            $0.79                              $0.88                $1.72                $1.88
                                                                                                       =====                              =====                =====                =====

    Weighted average shares used in computing net income per common share:

    Basic                                                                                             61,743                             62,699               62,258               62,538
                                                                                                      ======                             ======               ======               ======

    Diluted                                                                                           62,050                             63,008               62,564               62,854
                                                                                                      ======                             ======               ======               ======

    Cash dividend declared per common share                                                            $0.33                              $0.30                $0.66                $0.60
                                                                                                       =====                              =====                =====                =====




                          MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
                      ---------------------------------------------------------

                                           (In thousands)

                                             (Unaudited)


                   Thirteen Weeks Ended                               Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
                   --------------------                               ----------------------

                     March 1,                 March 2,                                       March 1,           March 2,
                           2014                            2013                                           2014               2013
                           ----                            ----                                           ----               ----

    Net income, as
     reported           $49,512                         $56,079                                       $108,558           $119,266

    Foreign
     currency
     translation
     adjustments         (2,457)                         (1,046)                                        (1,834)              (777)
                         ------                          ------                                         ------               ----

    Comprehensive
     income             $47,055                         $55,033                                       $106,724           $118,489
                        =======                         =======                                       ========           ========



                                                                                                   MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                                                                                    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                                                                                                    -----------------------------------------------

                                                                                                                    (In thousands)

                                                                                                                      (Unaudited)


                                                                                                                                                    Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
                                                                                                                                                    ----------------------

                                                                                                                                                           March 1,              March 2,
                                                                                                                                                                           2014               2013
                                                                                                                                                                           ----               ----

    Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

    Net income                                                                                                                                                         $108,558           $119,266
                                                                                                                                                                       --------           --------

    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash

        provided by operating activities:


    Depreciation and amortization                                                                                                                                        32,059             21,069

    Stock-based compensation                                                                                                                                              9,267              8,104

    Loss on disposal of property, plant, and equipment                                                                                                                    1,087                645

    Provision for doubtful accounts                                                                                                                                       2,538              1,591

            Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation                                                                                                            (4,143)            (4,735)

    Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of amounts associated with business acquired:

    Accounts receivable                                                                                                                                                 (21,669)            (9,573)

    Inventories                                                                                                                                                          25,875             28,246

    Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                                                                                                            (4,414)            (9,494)

    Other assets                                                                                                                                                            865              2,390

    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities                                                                                                                              1,460            (22,482)
                                                                                                                                                                          -----            -------


    Total adjustments                                                                                                                                                    42,925             15,761
                                                                                                                                                                         ------             ------


                           Net cash provided by operating activities                                                                                                    151,483            135,027
                                                                                                                                                                        -------            -------


    Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

        Expenditures for property, plant and equipment                                                                                                                  (33,925)           (40,306)

        Investment in available for sale securities                                                                                                                     (24,024)                 -

        Cash used in business acquisition, net of cash received                                                                                                           1,434                  -
                                                                                                                                                                          -----                ---


    Net cash used in investing activities                                                                                                                               (56,515)           (40,306)
                                                                                                                                                                        -------            -------


    Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

    Purchases of treasury stock                                                                                                                                        (115,435)            (3,629)

    Payments of cash dividends                                                                                                                                          (41,430)           (37,855)

         Payments on capital lease and financing obligations                                                                                                             (1,077)              (610)

    Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation                                                                                                                     4,143              4,735

    Proceeds from sale of Class A common stock in connection with associate stock purchase plan

                                                                                                                                                                          1,989              2,094

    Proceeds from exercise of Class A common stock options                                                                                                               12,184             15,901

    Borrowings under financing obligations                                                                                                                                  254                257

    Borrowings under Credit Facility                                                                                                                                     50,000                  -

    Payments of notes payable and revolving credit note under the credit facility                                                                                       (16,250)                 -

    Net cash used in financing activities                                                                                                                              (105,622)           (19,107)
                                                                                                                                                                       --------            -------


    Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                    101               (118)
                                                                                                                                                                            ---               ----

    Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                (10,553)            75,496

    Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period                                                                                                                      55,876            168,453
                                                                                                                                                                         ------            -------

    Cash and cash equivalents - end of period                                                                                                                           $45,323           $243,949
                                                                                                                                                                        =======           ========

    Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:

    Cash paid for income taxes                                                                                                                                          $67,062            $77,552
                                                                                                                                                                        =======            =======

    Cash paid for interest                                                                                                                                               $1,613                $31
                                                                                                                                                                         ======                ===

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement MSC's unaudited selected financial data presented on a basis consistent with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), the Company discloses certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, and adjusted net income per diluted share. The adjusted supplemental measures exclude non-recurring costs associated with the Barnes Distribution North America ("BDNA") acquisition, the co-location of our corporate headquarters in Davidson, North Carolina, and the executive separation costs related to the departure of the EVP of Human Resources and related tax effects. These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with or an alternative for GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. We believe that these non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with MSC's results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP and that these measures should only be used to evaluate MSC's results of operations in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the most directly comparable GAAP measures. We compensate for the limitations of non-GAAP financial measures by relying upon GAAP results to gain a complete picture of Company performance.

In calculating non-GAAP financial measures, we exclude these non-recurring costs to facilitate a review of the comparability of the Company's operating performance on a period-to-period basis because such costs are not, in our view, related to the Company's ongoing operational performance. We use non-GAAP measures to evaluate the operating performance of our business, for comparison with forecasts and strategic plans, and for benchmarking performance externally against competitors. In addition, we use certain non-GAAP financial measures as performance metrics for management incentive programs. Since we find these measures to be useful, we believe that investors benefit from seeing results "through the eyes" of management in addition to seeing GAAP results. We believe that these non-GAAP measures, when read in conjunction with the Company's GAAP financials, provide useful information to investors by offering:


    --  The ability to make more meaningful period-to-period comparisons of the
        Company's on-going operating results;
    --  The ability to better identify trends in the Company's underlying
        business and perform related trend analyses; and
    --  A better understanding of how management plans and measures the
        Company's underlying business.

The following tables reconcile GAAP operating income, GAAP net income and GAAP net income per diluted share ("EPS") to non-GAAP adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, and adjusted net income per diluted share:


                                Thirteen Weeks
                                     Ended

                                March 1, 2014
                                -------------

     (dollars in thousands)                    $              Margin
     ---------------------                   ---         ------

    GAAP Operating income                $81,722                 12.4%

    Non-recurring costs                    8,037
                                           -----

    Adjusted Operating
     income                              $89,759                 13.6%
                                         =======                 ====



                                Thirteen Weeks
                                     Ended

                                March 2, 2013
                                -------------

     (dollars in thousands)                    $              Margin
     ---------------------                   ---         ------

    GAAP Operating income                $90,576                 15.9%

    Non-recurring costs                    1,773
                                           -----

    Adjusted Operating
     income                              $92,349                 16.2%
                                         =======                 ====



                                Thirteen Weeks       Thirteen Weeks
                                     Ended                Ended

                                March 1, 2014        March 2, 2013
                                -------------        -------------

                                  (dollars in
                                   thousands)
                                 ------------

    Sales                               $661,513             $569,462

    Cost of Sales                        354,692              313,093
                                         -------              -------

    Gross Margin                         306,821              256,369

    Operating Expenses                   225,099              165,793
                                         -------              -------

    Income from Operations                81,722               90,576

    Non-recurring costs                    8,037                1,773
                                           -----                -----

    Adjusted Operating
     income                              $89,759              $92,349
                                         =======              =======




                                 Thirteen
                               Weeks Ended

                                 March 1,
                                   2014
                                ---------

    (in thousands, except
     per share amounts)         $(after tax)     Diluted
                                                   EPS
    ---

    GAAP net income                  $49,512          $0.79

    Non-recurring costs*               4,944           0.08
                                       -----           ----

    Adjusted net income              $54,456          $0.87
                                     =======          =====

* On a pre-tax basis includes approximately $484 of non-recurring relocation costs associated with the Co-Location of the Company's headquarters in Davidson, North Carolina, approximately $4,581 of non-recurring integration costs associated with the BDNA acquisition, and approximately $2,972 of non-recurring executive separation costs related to the departure of the EVP of Human Resources for the thirteen weeks ended March 1, 2014. The non-recurring costs were calculated using an effective tax rate of 38.5%.


                                  Thirteen
                                Weeks Ended

                                  March 2,
                                    2013
                                 ---------

    (in thousands, except
     per share amounts)          $(after tax)     Diluted
                                                    EPS
    ---

    GAAP net income                   $56,079          $0.88

    Non-recurring costs*                1,098           0.02
                                        -----           ----

    Adjusted net income               $57,177          $0.90
                                      =======          =====

* On a pre-tax basis includes approximately $133 of non-recurring relocation costs associated with the Co-Location of the Company's headquarters in Davidson, North Carolina and approximately $1,640 of non-recurring transaction costs associated with the BDNA acquisition for the thirteen weeks ended March 2, 2013. The non-recurring costs were calculated using an effective tax rate of 38.1%.

SOURCE MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.