UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

WESCO International, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Commission file number 001-14989

Delaware		25-1723345
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)
225 West Station Square Drive Suite 700
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219 (Address of principal executive offices)		(412) 454-2200 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o		Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o		Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

     The information in this Current Report is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. The information in this Current Report shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     On October 23, 2008, WESCO issued a press release announcing its earnings for the third quarter of 2008. A copy of the press release is attached hereto.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (d) Exhibits

99.1

Press Release dated October 23, 2008.

SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

October 23, 2008		WESCO International, Inc.
(Date)
		/s/ Stephen A. Van Oss   Stephen A. Van Oss
		Senior Vice President, Chief Financial and
		Administrative Officer

		NEWS RELEASE WESCO International, Inc. / Suite 700, 225 West Station Square Drive / Pittsburgh, PA 15219

WESCO International, Inc. Reports Record Sales and $1.53 of
Earnings per Share for the Third Quarter Ended September 2008

•		Liquidity improves to $350 million
•		Free cash flow increases to $76 million for the quarter and $244 million for twelve months
•		Debt, net of cash, down $170 million from year-end
•		Share repurchases total $14 million for quarter; $75 million year-to-date

PITTSBURGH, October 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE: WCC),
a leading provider of electrical MRO products, construction materials and advanced integrated supply procurement outsourcing services, announced today its third quarter 2008 financial results.

Consolidated net sales for the third quarter of 2008 were $1,628 million compared to $1,546 million in 2007, an increase of 5.3%. Gross margin for the current quarter was 19.4% compared to 20.3% in 2007. Operating income for the current quarter totaled $99 million, or 6.1% of sales, versus $109 million in last year’s third quarter. The current quarter operating income included a foreign exchange loss of $1.9 million versus a foreign exchange gain of $4.6 million in last year’s comparable quarter. Depreciation and amortization included in operating income was $7 million for 2008 compared to $9 million in 2007. Equity income from the retained 40% interest in the previously announced divestiture was $2.2 million. Net income for this quarter was $66 million versus $72 million in the comparable 2007 quarter. Last year’s net income benefited from $9.1 million of non-recurring tax related items resulting in a 21.8% effective tax rate. The current quarter benefited from $3.4 million of tax items which resulted in a 25.7% tax rate for the quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the current quarter were $1.53 versus $1.54 per share in 2007.

Mr. Stephen A. Van Oss, WESCO’s Chief Financial and Administrative Officer stated, “We are pleased with our third quarter performance, particularly in light of the current economic conditions. Consolidated net sales grew over 5%, driven primarily by strength in our commercial construction and utility end markets. Investments in the expansion of our sales force continues with a net add of sales personnel during the quarter. Productivity and cost control measures were effective, and we maintained our SG&A expense ratio after adjusting for the impact of third quarter foreign exchange gains and losses in 2007 and 2008. Additionally, ongoing LEAN initiatives allowed us to reduce our total headcount each of the last two quarters. Gross margins, while down from last year, were in line with this year’s second quarter as we are working a high level of supplier price increases through the channel. The recent drop off in commodity prices has resulted in a moderation of price increases and we are confident we will expand margins going forward.”

Mr. Van Oss continued, “With regard to the credit market situation, we have ready access to our low-cost asset-backed credit facilities. During the quarter our liquidity, defined as available borrowing capacity plus invested cash, improved by 13% to approximately $350 million. Financial leverage declined and is well within our targeted range. Our business model is extremely durable, generates significant free cash flow in periods of growth and is considered counter-cyclical in that it can generate additional free cash flow in periods of economic contraction. Free cash flow for the quarter was $76 million and totals $244 million over the last four quarters. Our free cash flow was directed primarily to debt reduction, and we made $14 million of share repurchases during the quarter.”

Consolidated net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 were $4,681 million versus $4,514 million in last year’s comparable period, a 3.7% increase. Consolidated net sales grew 5.5% after adjusting for a previously announced divestiture. Gross margin in the current nine-month period was 19.7% versus 20.4% last year and operating income totaled $272 million versus $295 million last year. Depreciation and amortization included in operating income was $20 million versus $27 million last year. Equity earnings from the retained 40% interest in our previously announced divestiture totaled $7.7 million year-to-date. Net income for the 2008 year-to-date period was $171 million versus $180 million last year. Diluted earnings per share were $3.92 per share in 2008 versus $3.65 per share in 2007.

Mr. Roy W. Haley, WESCO’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer commented, “We are very mindful of the extraordinary challenges being experienced in the financial industry and the anticipated spillover into the commercial end markets. We have taken a conservative approach to managing our overall cost structure while investing to expand our sales capacity and service capabilities. Our customers continue to demand and reward value creating partners that deliver productivity enhancing programs. Our business model has significant competitive differentiators that we are using to strengthen our relationships with a wide variety of large, sophisticated customers. We continue to add important new customer relationships while gaining share with our existing customers. I am very proud of our employees for another exceptional quarter, and in particular, those involved with the challenges resulting from hurricanes Gustav and Ike.”

# # #

Teleconference

WESCO will conduct a teleconference to discuss the third quarter earnings as described in this News Release on Thursday, October 23, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. E.D.T. The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed from the Company’s website at http://www.wesco.com. The conference call will be archived on this Internet site for seven days.

# # #

WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE: WCC) is a publicly traded Fortune 500 holding company, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, whose primary operating entity is WESCO Distribution, Inc. WESCO Distribution is a leading distributor of electrical construction products and electrical and industrial maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) supplies, and is the nation’s largest provider of integrated supply services. 2007 annual sales were approximately $6.0 billion. The Company employs approximately 7,300 people, maintains relationships with over 24,000 suppliers, and serves more than 110,000 customers worldwide. Major markets include commercial and industrial firms, contractors, government agencies, educational institutions, telecommunications businesses and utilities. WESCO operates seven fully automated distribution centers and more than 400 full-service branches in North America and selected international markets, providing a local presence for area customers and a global network to serve multi-location businesses and multi-national corporations.

# # #

The matters discussed herein may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Certain of these risks are set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, as well as the Company’s other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

# # #

Contact: Stephen A. Van Oss, Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
WESCO International, Inc. (412) 454-2271, Fax: (412) 454-2477
http://www.wesco.com

WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(dollar amounts in millions, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

		Three Months								Three Months
		Ended								Ended
		September 30, 2008								September 30, 2007
Net sales		$	1,628.1							$	1,545.6
Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation and amortization below)			1,311.7				80.6	%			1,232.5				79.7	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses			211.3				13.0	%			194.8				12.6	%
Depreciation and amortization			6.5								9.0
Income from operations			98.6				6.1	%			109.3				7.1	%
Interest expense, net			12.1								17.6
Other (income) expense			(2.2	)							—
Income before income taxes			88.7				5.4	%			91.7				5.9	%
Provision for income taxes			22.8								19.9
Net income		$	65.9				4.0	%		$	71.8				4.6	%
Diluted earnings per common share		$	1.53							$	1.54
Weighted average common shares outstanding and common share equivalents used in computing diluted earnings per share (in millions)			43.1								46.6

		Nine Months								Nine Months
		Ended								Ended
		September 30, 2008								September 30, 2007
Net sales		$	4,681.0							$	4,514.3
Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation and amortization below)			3,758.7				80.3	%			3,594.1				79.6	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses			629.7				13.5	%			597.6				13.2	%
Depreciation and amortization			20.2								27.2
Income from operations			272.4				5.8	%			295.4				6.5	%
Interest expense, net			39.2								46.6
Other (income) expense			(7.7	)							—
Income before income taxes			240.9				5.1	%			248.8				5.5	%
Provision for income taxes			70.1								69.2
Net income		$	170.8				3.6	%		$	179.6				4.0	%
Diluted earnings per common share		$	3.92							$	3.65
Weighted average common shares outstanding and common share equivalents used in computing diluted earnings per share (in millions)			43.6								49.2

WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollar amounts in millions)
(Unaudited)

		September 30,				December 31,
		2008				2007
Assets
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	103.3			$	72.3
Trade accounts receivable, net			937.7				844.5
Inventories, net			654.6				666.0
Other current assets			70.3				97.7
Total current assets			1,765.9				1,680.5
Other assets			1,154.9				1,179.4
Total assets		$	2,920.8			$	2,859.9
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable		$	742.9			$	626.3
Current debt and short term borrowings			527.8				505.0
Other current liabilities			140.3				160.6
Total current liabilities			1,411.0				1,291.9
Long-term debt			649.7				811.3
Other noncurrent liabilities			143.1				148.2
Total liabilities			2,203.8				2,251.4
Stockholders’ Equity
Total stockholders’ equity			717.0				608.5
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	2,920.8			$	2,859.9

WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(Unaudited)

		Twelve Months				Twelve Months
Financial Leverage:		Ended				Ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)		September 30, 2008				September 30, 2007
Income from operations		$	371,246			$	388,589
Depreciation and amortization			29,773				36,565
EBITDA		$	401,019			$	425,154
Short term debt			525,000				500,000
Current debt			2,765				2,654
Long term debt			649,734				801,576
Total debt		$	1,177,499			$	1,304,230
Financial leverage ratio			2.9				3.1
		Three Months				Twelve Months
Free Cash Flow:		Ended				Ended
(dollar amounts in millions)		September 30, 2008				September 30, 2008
Net Income		$	65.9			$	231.8
Depreciation and amortization			6.5				29.8
Accounts receivable			(29.3	)			(32.7	)
Inventory			(10.5	)			(24.3	)
Accounts payable			32.9				71.6
Other			17.6				(.1	)
Cash flow provided by operations		$	83.1			$	276.1
Less: Capital expenditures			(7.3	)			(31.9	)
Free cash flow		$	75.8			$	244.2

Note: Free cash flow is provided by the Company as an additional liquidity measure. Capital expenditures are deducted from operating cash flow to determine free cash flow. This amount represents excess funds available to management to service all of its financing needs.

WESCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (CONTINUED)
(dollar amounts in millions)
(Unaudited)

		Three Months				Three Months
		Ended				Ended
Gross Profit:		September 30, 2008				September 30, 2007
Net sales		$	1,628.1			$	1,545.6
Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation and amortization)			1,311.7				1,232.5
Gross profit		$	316.4			$	313.1
Gross margin			19.4	%			20.3	%

		Nine Months				Nine Months
		Ended				Ended
		September 30, 2008				September 30, 2007
Net sales		$	4,681.0			$	4,514.3
Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation and amortization)			3,758.7				3,594.1
Gross profit		$	922.3			$	920.2
Gross margin			19.7	%			20.4	%

Note: Gross profit is provided by the Company as an additional financial measure. Gross profit is calculated by deducting cost of goods sold, excluding depreciation and amortization, from net sales. This amount represents an important financial measure within the distribution industry. Gross margin is calculated by dividing gross profit by net sales.