MSC Industrial Direct Co.Completes Acquisition

MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO., INC. one of the largest direct marketers and premier distributors of Metalworking and Maintenance, Repair and Operations ("MRO") supplies to industrial customers throughout the United States, announced today that it has completed its previously-announced acquisition of Rutland Tool & Supply Co. ("Rutland"), a subsidiary of Lawson Products, Inc. (Nasdaq: LAWS) for approximately $11 million in cash plus the assumption of certain liabilities.  The Company continues to expect the acquisition to become accretive to earnings in late-fiscal 2011 or early-fiscal 2012.

Based in Whittier, CA, Rutland was founded in 1955 and markets and distributes a broad range of industrial tools, cutting tools, abrasives, machinery, precision instrument supplies, safety products and other MRO related supplies to over 20,000 customers.  Customers have access to over 100,000 items through multiple channels including web, showrooms, catalogs and sales flyers. Rutland's customer base includes industrial machine and metalworking shops, as well as maintenance and repair facilities.  In 2009, Rutland generated revenue of $33.7 million.

About MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. is one of the largest direct marketers and premier distributors of Metalworking and Maintenance, Repair and Operations ("MRO") supplies to industrial customers throughout the United States. MSC employs one of the industry's largest sales forces and distributes approximately 600,000 industrial products from approximately 3,000 suppliers to approximately 320,000 customers.  In-stock availability is approximately 99%, with next day standard delivery to the contiguous United States on qualifying orders up until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.  MSC reaches its customers through a combination of approximately 22 million direct-mail catalogs, 96 branch sales offices, 973 sales people, the Internet and associations with some of the world's most prominent B2B eCommerce portals. For more information, visit the Company's website at http://www.mscdirect.com.