<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001577064-21-000002.txt : 20210209
<SEC-HEADER>0001577064-21-000002.hdr.sgml : 20210209
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210209170620
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001577064-21-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210208
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210209
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210209

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Finch Norman D. Jr.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001577064

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04797
		FILM NUMBER:		21607500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
		STREET 2:		155 HARLEM AVE.
		CITY:			GLENVIEW
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60025

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000049826
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	GENERAL INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [3560]
		IRS NUMBER:				361258310
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		155 HARLEM AVENUE
		CITY:			GLENVIEW
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60025
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8477247500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		155 HARLEM AVENUE
		CITY:			GLENVIEW
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60025
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_161290835941895.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-02-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000049826</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ITW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001577064</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Finch Norman D. Jr.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>155 HARLEM AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GLENVIEW</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP, General Counsel &amp; Secy</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-02-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7232</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>126.88</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17608</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-02-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7232</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>203</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10376</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>615</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>SEE FOOTNOTE</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>126.88</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-02-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7232</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2018-02-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2027-02-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7232.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 397 shares acquired under a dividend reinvestment plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares of common stock held in spouse's IRA.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Options vested in four (4) equal annual installments beginning one year from date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit 24. Power of Attorney</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ana Sempertegui, Attorney-in- Fact for Norman D. Finch Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-02-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ex-24.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY- FINCH
<TEXT>
<!-- Document created using Workiva -->
<html>
<body>
<pre>
POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Michael M. Larsen and Ana Sempertegui signing singly, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

(1)    prepare, execute and file for and on behalf of the undersigned Forms 3, 4 and 5 (including any amendments thereto) with respect to the securities of Illinois Tool Works Inc., in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the rules thereunder;

(2)    do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete the preparation and execution of any such Form 3, 4 or 5 and the timely filing of such form with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and any other person; and

(3)    take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in his or her discretion.

The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

This Power of Attorney shall be effective on the date set forth below and shall continue in full force and effect, with respect to each individual attorney-in-fact, until his or her respective resignation or termination as an employee of Illinois Tool Works Inc., and with respect to the undersigned, until the date on which the undersigned shall cease to be subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder or until such earlier date on which written notification executed by the undersigned is filed with the SEC expressly revoking this Power of Attorney.

By executing this Power of Attorney, the undersigned hereby revokes all prior Powers of Attorney executed by the undersigned with respect to Forms 3, 4 and 5 relating to the securities of Illinois Tool Works Inc.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be executed as of this 2nd day of December 2020.

        /s/ Norman D. Finch Jr.
</pre>
</body>
</html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
