FAST Fastenal Company

WINONA, Minn., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Fastenal Company of Winona, MN (NASDAQ:FAST) reported its Board of Directors declared a dividend of $.35 per share be paid in cash on February 27, 2009 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 16, 2009. The Company expects that it will continue to pay a comparable semi-annual cash dividend in the foreseeable future, provided that any future determination as to payment of dividends will depend upon the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and such other factors as are deemed relevant by the Board of Directors. Recent activity regarding dividends and stock repurchases are as follows: Total Total Total dividend value of Number of Per share dividend paid repurchased shares price of Dividends paid per shares repurchased repurchased Year paid (000's) share (000's) (000's) shares 2008 Three $117,474 $0.79 $25,955 590.0 $43.99 2007 Two $66,216 $0.44 $87,312 1,451.8 $41.86 2006 Two $60,548 $0.40 $17,294 634.2 $36.49 2005 Two $46,935 $0.31 $18,739 474.0 $26.75 2004 Two $30,350 $0.20 $- 700.0 $ - 2003 Two $15,935 $0.105 $- $ - 2002 One $3,794 $0.025 $- $ - 2001 One $3,415 $0.0225 $- $ - All information reflects the 2-for-1 stock splits effected in the form of a stock dividend in each of 2002 and 2005. Fastenal sells different types of industrial and construction supplies in the following product categories: threaded fasteners and miscellaneous supplies; tools; metal cutting tool blades and abrasives; fluid transfer components and accessories for hydraulic and pneumatic power; material handling; storage and packaging products; janitorial, chemical and paint products; electrical supplies; welding supplies; safety supplies; and metals, alloys and materials. As of November 30, 2008, Fastenal operated 2,314 stores in the United States (all 50 states), Canada (all provinces), Puerto Rico (multiple), Mexico (14 states), Singapore (one location), Netherlands (one location), and China (one location) selling to the general public. The Company operates 14 distribution centers located in Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Georgia, Washington, California, Utah, North Carolina, Kansas, Ontario, Canada; Alberta, Canada; and Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Additional information regarding Fastenal Company is available on the Fastenal Company World Wide Web site at http://www.fastenal.com/. This press release contains statements that are not historical in nature and that are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forward looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including a statement regarding expectations as to payment of a comparable semi-annual cash dividend in the foreseeable future. Any future determination as to payment of dividends will depend upon the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and such other factors as are deemed relevant by the Board of Directors. For example, a change in business needs including working capital and funding for acquisitions, or a change in tax law relating to dividends, could cause the Company to decide not to pay a dividend in the future. A discussion of other risks and uncertainties is included in the Company 2007 annual report on Form 10-K under the section captioned "Risk Factors" and the Company's 2007 annual and 2008 quarterly reports under the section captioned "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations". FAST-D DATASOURCE: Fastenal CONTACT: Jean DuBois, Executive Assistant | Investor Relations of Fastenal, +1-507-454-5374 Web site: http://www.fastenal.com/

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