<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000277135-17-000044.txt : 20171213
<SEC-HEADER>0000277135-17-000044.hdr.sgml : 20171213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20171212175951
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000277135-17-000044
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20171212
ITEM INFORMATION:		Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20171213
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20171212

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRAINGER W W INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000277135
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-DURABLE GOODS [5000]
		IRS NUMBER:				361150280
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05684
		FILM NUMBER:		171252642

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 GRAINGER PARKWAY
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045-5201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		847-535-1000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 GRAINGER PARKWAY
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>gww121220178kbodelection.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>
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<div><a name="s57A3D79EB37053FBA239F5EEFC311F67"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:18pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:18pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM 8-K</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT REPORT</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Date of Report </font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">(Date of earliest event reported):</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">December 12, 2017</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:24pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:24pt;font-weight:bold;">W.W. Grainger, Inc.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:639px;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:213px;"></td><td style="width:213px;"></td><td style="width:213px;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Illinois</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">1-5684</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">36-1150280</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">(Commission File Number)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">100 Grainger Parkway, Lake Forest, Illinois &#160;60045</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">(847) 535-1000</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Not applicable</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">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: </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">[ ]&#160;Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">[ ]&#160;Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">[ ]&#160;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">[ ]&#160;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&#167;240.12b-2 of this chapter).</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:right;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:right;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">Emerging growth company</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">&#32;[ ]</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ] </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-indent:448px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div><br></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><a name="sDA5A049D3B6D58078D659AEAAD1F01EF"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 5.02.   Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">On December 12, 2017, the Board of Directors (the &#8220;Board&#8221;) of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) appointed Lucas E. Watson as a director, effective immediately.  The Board also appointed Mr. Watson to its Board Affairs and Nominating Committee, and Audit Committee.  With the appointment of Mr.&#160;Watson, the size of the Board was increased to 11 directors. A copy of the Company&#8217;s press release announcing Mr. Watson&#8217;s appointment is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">The appointment of Mr. Watson was not pursuant to any arrangement or understanding between him and any other person.  There have been no transactions since the beginning of the Company&#8217;s last fiscal year, and there are no currently proposed transactions in which the Company was or is to be a participant and in which Mr. Watson or any member of his immediate family had or will have any interest that are required to be reported under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Mr. Watson will be compensated in accordance with the Company&#8217;s compensation program for non-employee directors.  The program currently provides that directors are eligible to receive an annual deferred stock unit grant equal to $145,000, divided by the 200-day average closing price of the Company&#8217;s shares of common stock through January 31, 2017, rounded up to the next ten-share increment, and an $85,000 annual cash retainer (some or all of which may be deferred in a deferred stock unit account).  Mr. Watson&#8217;s compensation will be pro-rated to reflect that his appointment to the Board occurred approximately eight months after the 2017 annual meeting of shareholders of the Company.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Mr. Watson also will be entitled to be indemnified by the Company in accordance with its standard form of indemnification agreement for its directors and officers, which provides that the Company will indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law in connection with any proceedings relating to being or having been a director or officer of the Company and advance any expenses incurred in connection with any such proceedings. The form of indemnification agreement was filed as Exhibit 10(b)(i) to the Company&#8217;s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 4, 2009.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 9.01.&#160;&#160; Financial Statements and Exhibits.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">(d)  Exhibits.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:634px;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:117px;"></td><td style="width:517px;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="padding-bottom:16px;text-align:justify;padding-left:48px;text-indent:-48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit No.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="padding-bottom:16px;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Description</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">99.1</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Press release issued by the Company on December 12,&#160;2017.</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align:center;"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><a name="sC543A28162675C109D88C0191EFE58E3"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">EXHIBIT INDEX</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:97.0703125%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:14%;"></td><td style="width:2%;"></td><td style="width:84%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">EXHIBIT NO.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">DESCRIPTION</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><a style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;" href="gww121220178kbodelectionex.htm"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">99.1</font></a></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Press release issued by the Company on December 12, 2017.</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align:center;"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div><a name="s14E65ABA5C44518998C8F5555EEB3F30"></a></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Dated: December 12, 2017</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:683px;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:368px;"></td><td style="width:40px;"></td><td style="width:274px;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">W.W. GRAINGER, INC.</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#160;By:</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">/s/ Hugo Dubovoy Jr.</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Hugo Dubovoy, Jr.</font></div><div style="font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Vice President, Corporate Secretary</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align:center;"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div>	</body>
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<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>gww121220178kbodelectionex.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99.1
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<div><a name="s7569C4C362AC54C4A4715E0DFF6D003A"></a></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="1"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:100%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:2px solid #000000;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:150%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">W.W. Grainger, Inc., Names Lucas E. Watson to its Board of Directors</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">CHICAGO, DECEMBER 12, 2017</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;">&#32;- </font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#0000ff;text-decoration:underline;">Grainger</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;">&#32;(NYSE: GWW), the leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products serving businesses and institutions, today announced its Board of Directors has appointed Lucas E. Watson to its Board, effective December 12, 2017.</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;">Watson, age 46, is Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Sales Officer for Intuit, Inc., where he is responsible for building the financial software company&#8217;s brands and leading its global sales and go-to-market efforts.  </font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;">Watson joined Intuit in August 2016, after serving as Vice President of Global Brand Solutions and Innovations at Google, where he led the company&#8217;s brand advertising business.  He joined Google in 2011, as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for YouTube.  </font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;">Prior to Google, Watson worked for Procter &amp; Gamble, holding a variety of sales, marketing and digital business roles for P&amp;G&#8217;s digital initiatives for 75 brands across 200 countries.</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;">&#8220;We are pleased to welcome Lucas to the Grainger Board,&#8221; said DG Macpherson, Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Grainger.  &#8220;He has significant experience working with well-known brands, and driving growth especially through their digital assets.  We are confident that Lucas&#8217; experience in leading major marketing and sales organizations, and his customer-focused approach will be an asset to the Grainger Board.&#8221;</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;">Watson holds an MBA from Boston College&#8217;s Carroll School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and math from Hamilton College.</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;">With this appointment, Grainger now has 11 members on its Board of Directors.</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">About Grainger</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;">W.W. Grainger, Inc., with 2016 sales of $10.1 billion, is North America&#8217;s leading broad line supplier of </font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#0000ff;text-decoration:underline;">maintenance, repair and operating products</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:#0000ff;">&#32;(MRO)</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;">, with operations also in Europe, Asia and Latin America. </font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">1</font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:646px;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="4"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:188px;"></td><td style="width:192px;"></td><td style="width:133px;"></td><td style="width:133px;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Media Contact:</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Joe Micucci</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td 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