<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-25-032713.txt : 20250407
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-25-032713.hdr.sgml : 20250407
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20250407172513
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-25-032713
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	DEFA14A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20250407
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20250407

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			W.W. GRAINGER, INC.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000277135
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-DURABLE GOODS [5000]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	07 Trade & Services
		EIN:				361150280
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DEFA14A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05684
		FILM NUMBER:		25819103

	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

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GRAINGER W W INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>DEFA14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>tm2511712d1_defa14a.htm
<DESCRIPTION>DEFA14A
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
     <TITLE></TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">

<P STYLE="margin: 0"></P>

<!-- Field: Rule-Page --><DIV STYLE="width: 100%"><DIV STYLE="font-size: 1pt; border-top: Black 2pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><!-- Field: /Rule-Page -->

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>UNITED STATES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<!-- Field: Rule-Page --><DIV STYLE="margin: 3pt auto; width: 25%"><DIV STYLE="font-size: 1pt; border-top: Black 1pt solid">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><!-- Field: /Rule-Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SCHEDULE 14A</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section&nbsp;14(a)&nbsp;of
the</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(Amendment No.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;)</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<!-- Field: Rule-Page --><DIV STYLE="margin: 3pt auto; width: 25%"><DIV STYLE="font-size: 1pt; border-top: Black 1pt solid">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><!-- Field: /Rule-Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
  <TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; width: 26%; padding-left: 12pt; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -12pt">Filed by the Registrant&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#120;</FONT><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap; vertical-align: bottom; width: 74%; padding-left: 0.5in; font-size: 10pt">Filed by a Party other than the Registrant&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD></TR>
  </TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Check the appropriate box:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD><TD>Preliminary Proxy Statement</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD><TD><B>Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only&nbsp;(as permitted by Rule&nbsp;14a-6(e)(2))</B></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD><TD>Definitive Proxy Statement</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#120;</FONT></FONT></TD><TD>Definitive Additional Materials</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD><TD>Soliciting Material Pursuant to &sect;240.14a-12</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>W.W. Grainger,&nbsp;Inc.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>(Name of Person(s)&nbsp;Filing Proxy Statement,
if Other Than The Registrant)</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#120;</FONT></FONT></TD><TD>No fee required.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD><TD>Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Wingdings">&#168;</FONT></FONT></TD><TD>Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b)&nbsp;per Exchange Act Rules&nbsp;14a-6(i)(1)&nbsp;and 0-11.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<!-- Field: Rule-Page --><DIV STYLE="width: 100%"><DIV STYLE="font-size: 1pt; border-top: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 2pt solid">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><!-- Field: /Rule-Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"></P>

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 1 -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><P STYLE="margin: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></DIV>
    <DIV STYLE="break-before: page; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><P STYLE="margin: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B>SUPPLEMENT TO PROXY STATEMENT<BR>
 FOR THE 2025 ANNUAL
MEETING OF<BR>
 SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON APRIL 30, 2025</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B><U>Grainger Board Recommends Elimination of
Cumulative Voting</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.25in">As we approach W.W. Grainger Inc.&rsquo;s (&ldquo;Grainger,&rdquo;
 &ldquo;we,&rdquo; &ldquo;our,&rdquo; or the &ldquo;Company&rdquo;) 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, we ask for your support on all
proposals. <B>In particular, we draw your attention to Proposal 4: Approval and Adoption of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation
to Eliminate Cumulative Voting</B>. The Board of Directors (the &ldquo;Board&rdquo;) has recommended that shareholders approve an amendment
to Grainger&rsquo;s charter to eliminate cumulative voting in the election of directors. As you evaluate Proposal 4 we ask that you carefully
consider the following information in addition to the detail contained in our 2025 Proxy Statement.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.25in"><B>Grainger is committed to corporate governance
practices that support the best interests of the Company and all of its shareholders.</B> These strong corporate governance practices
include the annual election of all directors, majority voting in director elections, proxy access and the ability of shareholders to call
special meetings, and other provisions that are aligned with our shareholders&rsquo; preferences.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.25in"><B>Grainger&rsquo;s current director election
structure includes a majority voting standard and resignation policy; the majority voting standard is the minimum standard permitted by
Illinois law, even in contested elections. </B>As a result, Grainger is unable to implement a carve-out plurality voting standard for
contested elections. However, Grainger has adopted a director resignation policy providing that any incumbent director who fails to receive
the required majority vote is expected to tender their resignation for consideration by the Board Affairs and Nominating Committee. Our
director resignation policy is an important safeguard to help ensure that our shareholders&rsquo; wishes are appropriately reflected in
the composition of our Board &mdash; even in the absence of a plurality carve-out for contested elections.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.25in"><B>The Board believes that cumulative voting in
the election of directors is fundamentally inconsistent with the Company&rsquo;s majority voting standard because it potentially allows
relatively small shareholders to elect directors who are not supported by the holders of a majority of our shares.</B> With cumulative
voting, a shareholder or group of shareholders holding a relatively small number of shares would be able to elect one or more directors
by concentrating votes, even when a significant majority of shares were voted against the election of such director or directors. Further,
we believe that cumulative voting is inconsistent with the &ldquo;one share, one vote&rdquo; framework strongly supported by many of our
shareholders.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.25in"><B>Elimination of cumulative voting, while maintaining
majority voting, reinforces the Board&rsquo;s responsibility and accountability to the views of holders of a majority of our shares. </B>98%
of S&amp;P 500 companies use &ldquo;straight voting&rdquo; in director elections. Grainger&rsquo;s cumulative voting framework is clearly
a minority approach, distancing Grainger&rsquo;s voting practices from the structure overwhelmingly used at other S&amp;P 500 companies
as well as Grainger&rsquo;s peers.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.25in">Removal of the cumulative voting provision would
not only enhance Grainger&rsquo;s corporate governance practices but would also serve to align Grainger&rsquo;s voting framework with
the prevailing practice of straight voting used at other large public companies.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.25in">We appreciate you considering this additional
information, the Board&rsquo;s recommendation in the proxy statement as well as the following Q&amp;A which is intended to provide additional
background on cumulative voting and the Company&rsquo;s governance structure. <B>We ask that you vote FOR Proposal 4, in support of the
Board&rsquo;s recommendation. </B>Thank you for your investment in W.W. Grainger and for casting your vote at the upcoming meeting.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 2 -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><P STYLE="margin: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></DIV>
    <DIV STYLE="break-before: page; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><P STYLE="margin: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B><U>Questions and Answers on Eliminating Cumulative
Voting</U></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><I>Q. What is cumulative voting?</I></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in"><B><I>A. </I></B>Grainger shareholders have the
right to &ldquo;cumulate&rdquo; their votes in the election of directors. This means that a shareholder has a number of votes in the election
equal to the number of shares owned by such shareholder multiplied by the number of directors being elected. Shareholders may cast those
votes for the nominees as they choose. For example, a shareholder may cast all votes for one nominee, or may apportion votes among two
or more nominees.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">We refer to regular, non-cumulative voting, where
shareholders can cast one vote per share for each director nominee, as &ldquo;straight voting&rdquo; in this document.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><I>Q. What are the effects of cumulative voting?</I></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in"><B><I>A. </I></B>Under cumulative voting, a shareholder
can cumulate all of their votes and vote them all &ldquo;for&rdquo; one nominee. Accordingly, it is possible that a shareholder or group
of shareholders holding a relatively small number of shares would be able to elect one or more directors by cumulating votes.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">In other words, cumulative voting amplifies the
vote of minority holders at the expense of other shareholders, potentially allowing them to gain board representation in cases where the
application of straight voting would not. Essentially, this allows a minority shareholder to maintain a position of power in Grainger
that is greater than the shareholder&rsquo;s economic interest in the company.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><I>Q. Is cumulative voting a common governance practice at other
large public companies?</I></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in"><B><I>A. </I></B>No.&nbsp;Less than 2% of S&amp;P
500 companies have cumulative voting in director elections. This means that the vast majority of S&amp;P 500 companies <B>&mdash; more
than 98% &mdash; </B>use straight voting in director elections. All of Grainger&rsquo;s peer companies (as identified in our 2025 Proxy
Statement) use straight voting as well. Grainger&rsquo;s cumulative voting practice is clearly a minority approach, distancing Grainger&rsquo;s
governance framework from the governance practices recognized at other S&amp;P 500 companies as well as Grainger&rsquo;s peers.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Our Board believes that the elimination of cumulative
voting would not only enhance Grainger&rsquo;s corporate governance practices, but would also serve to align Grainger&rsquo;s voting framework
with the prevailing practice of straight voting observed at other large public companies.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><I>Q. Why is Grainger seeking to eliminate cumulative voting?</I></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in"><B><I>A. </I></B>The Board has determined that
the elimination of cumulative voting is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. By eliminating cumulative voting, our
shareholders would reduce the risk that a minority shareholder or constituency would be able to override or subvert the will of the holders
of a majority of our shares. Directors elected through cumulative voting could be inclined to represent primarily the particular small
number of shareholders who elected them and could seek to further their special interests, instead of working for the maximum benefit
of all shareholders. Your Board represents all shareholders and believes that each director should represent the interests of all shareholders
rather than the interests of a minority shareholder or a special constituency.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><I>Q. What is Grainger&rsquo;s majority voting standard in director
elections?</I></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in"><B><I>A. </I></B>Under Grainger&rsquo;s majority
voting standard, a director nominee will be elected only if that director receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present
or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the annual meeting. This is in contrast to &ldquo;plurality&rdquo; voting, in which the
director nominees with the most votes are elected, whether or not a majority of the votes were cast FOR their election. Grainger&rsquo;s
majority voting standard is the minimum standard permitted by Illinois law, even in contested elections. As a result, Grainger is unable
to implement a carve-out plurality voting standard for contested elections.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><I>Q. What is Grainger proposing to do?</I></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in"><B><I>A. </I></B>Shareholders are being asked to
approve and adopt an amendment to Grainger&rsquo;s charter to eliminate cumulative voting in the election of directors. If approved by
our shareholders, the proposed amendment will become effective and the charter will be deemed to have been amended accordingly upon filing
of articles of amendment with the Illinois Secretary of State, which would occur following the 2025 Annual Meeting.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Grainger has not experienced any problems as a
result of cumulative voting to date, and Grainger is not seeking to eliminate cumulative voting at this time in response to any specific
action by any shareholders. However, our Board believes that proactively taking measures to eliminate cumulative voting is in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders, rather than taking reactionary measures to eliminate cumulative voting in the event of
potential future problems.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 3 -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><P STYLE="margin: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></DIV>
    <DIV STYLE="break-before: page; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 12pt"><P STYLE="margin: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B><I>Q. What are Grainger&rsquo;s other practices to help ensure that
shareholders&rsquo; interests are protected and fairly represented?</I></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in"><B><I>A. </I></B>Grainger is committed to good
governance and maintains multiple practices to help ensure that shareholder perspectives are equitably represented on the Board, including:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>11 of our 12 director nominees are independent;</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>An Independent Lead Director, elected annually by and from the independent directors;</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>100% independent Board committees;</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>Annual director elections (the Board is not classified and the directors do not serve staggered terms);</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>Majority voting with a director resignation policy;</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>A well-defined director recruitment process, commitment to Board refreshment and robust director selection process&mdash;with six
new directors since 2020;</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>Proxy access provisions in our By-laws, allowing shareholders access to the ballot for their director nominees without a veto from
the Board Affairs and Nominating Committee;</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>Right for shareholders to call special meetings; and</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>No poison pill or shareholder rights plan.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><B><BR>
Accordingly, we strongly encourage you to vote FOR Proposal 4.</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<!-- Field: Page; Sequence: 4; Options: Last -->
    <DIV STYLE="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><P STYLE="margin: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

</BODY>
</HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
