W W Grainger
Annual Report 2014

Plain-text annual report

2014 ANNUAL REPORT COMPANY INFORMATION W.W. Grainger, Inc., with 2014 sales of $10 billion, is North America’s leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products, with operations also in Asia, Europe and Latin America. For more information about the company, visit www.grainger.com/investor. W.W. GRAINGER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Financial Highlights (In thousands of dollars, except per share amounts) Income Statement Net sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gross profit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . As a percent of net sales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Operating earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . As a percent of net sales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earnings before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . As a percent of net sales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net earnings attributable to W.W. Grainger, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . As a percent of net sales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Per Share Earnings – basic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earnings – diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash dividends paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Average number of shares outstanding – diluted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Working capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cash flow from operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Additions to property, buildings and equipment – net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Financial Ratios and Other Data Return on average shareholders’ equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Return on average total capitalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Return on invested capital (ROIC)* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Number of branches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Number of employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2014 2013 % Change $9,964,953 4,314,242 43.3% 1,347,117 13.5% 1,334,386 13.4% $801,729 8.1% $11.59 $11.45 $4.17 69,205,744 $1,697,487 959,814 360,635 24.3% 20.9% 31.2% 681 23,622 $9,437,758 4,136,483 43.8% 1,296,854 13.7% 1,287,599 13.6% $797,036 8.4% $11.31 $11.13 $3.59 70,576,432 $1,621,103 986,498 245,444 24.7% 21.4% 31.8% 709 23,741 5.6 % 4.3 % 3.9 % 3.6 % 0.6 % 2.5 % 2.9 % 16.2 % (1.9)% 4.7 % (2.7) % 46.9 % (3.9) % (0.5) % 1 * See page 7 for definition. To Our Shareholders James T. Ryan Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer W.W. GRAINGER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES By many measures, 2014 was a year of both tough challenges and strong progress for Grainger. We continued to invest in growth and infrastructure, and our business in the United States performed well as it increased share with large businesses and institutions. We also enjoyed strong growth with our single channel online model businesses in Japan, the United States and Europe. At the same time, we addressed several of our underperforming international businesses. While the overall results we delivered last year did not meet our short-term objectives, the actions we took strengthened our position to lead this industry for the long term, and we remain energized by the opportunity ahead. 2014 financial highlights • Sales for the year were $10 billion, an increase of 6 percent versus 2013. Reported earnings per share were $11.45, up 3 percent, including $0.81 per share in charges related to our international businesses. On an adjusted basis, earnings per share were $12.26, up 6 percent. • In 2014, cash flow from operations was $960 million, enabling us to fund capital expenditures of $387 million. We also returned $816 million in cash to shareholders, consisting of $525 million in share repurchases and $291 million in dividends. The dividend payout approved by our Board of Directors in April 2014 reflects a 16 percent increase in the quarterly dividend. Our formula for creating shareholder value has been, and will remain, a function of growing faster than the market, while maintaining or expanding operating margins. Historically, strong gross margins have helped us deliver on this formula. Given the low inflationary environment, we need to achieve this in a different way, so we are aggressively going after productivity improvement to fund growth and infrastructure projects. This past year, we focused even more on where we can compete and win. We continued to invest in markets with high GDP per capita and intensive maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) needs where our value proposition is most successful. We also learned that the road to attaining scale and profitability in some markets outside of North America is long and complex: • This proved true in Brazil. We did not see enough in the early phases of our ownership of that business to give us confidence we would be successful in the near term. We made the decision to shut down our operations there. 2 W.W. GRAINGER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES • Our business in China has not met our expectations, however this market has the potential to evolve and be important in the future. We’ve refocused our efforts on inside sales and eCommerce to grow with small customers and are encouraged by what we now see. • Europe also continues to present an attractive opportunity for the long term despite a difficult economy. We’ve taken costs out of our Fabory business through shop closures and internal restructuring, and we are further focusing this business on delivering its core offering of fasteners through a more effective sales force and eCommerce capabilities. Prioritizing where we win and how North America The single channel online model Customers with less complex operations, much simpler needs We are driven to make our products and services accessible and a preference to shop online are driving our aggressive in ways that are the most convenient and cost-effective for investment in our single channel online businesses. This model the professional customer. Nowhere do we do this better enables us to serve customers through a website that quickly than in North America. With more than 200 years of combined navigates them to needed products. MonotaRO in Japan and experience in the United States, Canada and Mexico, we Zoro in the United States are extremely flexible businesses understand better than anyone else how customers want and combined are growing at approximately 40 percent and to purchase MRO supplies. We’ve seen their purchasing should grow to almost $1 billion in sales by 2016. Encouraged behaviors change dramatically over the years, and our by strong customer satisfaction and attractive returns, we’ve foresight, relationships and infrastructure have enabled us launched the same model in Europe and are excited by the to respond and capture market share when this happens. early results. The multichannel model we run in North America sets the Solid foundation standard for serving the needs of larger, more complex Success in this industry takes a progressive mindset and requires businesses. These organizations are looking for a supplier that a solid infrastructure. Our supply chain and systems are designed can bring more products, services and solutions to their places to ensure we can continue to meet customer needs and future of business. And, as they push more work upstream to their demand. These infrastructure investments create substantial suppliers, delivering a suite of inventory solutions, technical benefit for our customers and drive scale for Grainger. support and integrated eCommerce capabilities has become a base expectation. Our continued investment in these offerings helps customers and drives growth for Grainger. • In the United States, we began work on a new distribution center in New Jersey that not only will increase our storage capacity but also will have the highest throughput of any building in our network. • In Canada, we completed our new distribution center outside of Toronto, which will more than double our storage and throughput capacity in Ontario. • We also continued work extending our United States SAP system to Canada and Mexico. We are scheduled to go live with both businesses in 2015. • We strengthened our offer to manufacturing customers through the acquisition of WFS Enterprises, Inc. in Ontario, Canada, and through an even stronger focus on safety and metalworking. 3 W.W. GRAINGER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES A long-term view Looking forward, our success will require us to operate in an uncertain economic environment. Early in 2015, we are seeing continued low inflation and unfavorable exchange rates in Canada and Japan. We expect to face these headwinds for the foreseeable future and will manage through them accordingly. Grainger’s opportunity is to gain share even faster through our differentiated service. We will continue to lead this industry by staying focused on our priorities, making tough decisions and remaining agile and responsive to the environment where we operate. Our priorities for 2015 are: • Growth: In North America, accelerate investments in At Grainger, there is nothing more important than helping our eCommerce, inventory management, safety services customers be successful. We operate in a unique industry, and metalworking to gain more share. Foster new growth and the work our customers do is located all around us. We through our single channel online businesses in Japan, are driven to help the men and women responsible for keeping the United States and Europe. • Productivity: Fund growth by creating more efficiencies, reducing costs and delivering better service. • Foundation: Invest in supply chain and technology systems to add capacity and increase service and scale. Continue to focus on creating a work environment that makes Grainger a destination employer. • Shareholder returns: Continue to generate strong returns and cash flow while returning two-thirds of cash generated back to shareholders. We believe the advantage in this industry will go to those who know how to operate both the multichannel branch, seller and services based business model, as well as the single channel Internet based model. We have deep expertise in both, especially in North America, where we can serve both with the same infrastructure. facilities running and people safe. We have and will continue to anticipate their needs, manage this business for the long term and have the best team in the industry to serve them. People have been the heart of this business for nearly 90 years, and we will continue to foster a great place to work for team members today and in the future. To help guide and provide oversight, I’m pleased to welcome Rodney C. Adkins to our Board of Directors. Rodney was appointed in 2014 and brings deep experience from his 30-year career at IBM. I want to thank our team members, customers, supplier partners and our shareholders for your trust in Grainger and your shared commitment to helping this company succeed. I’m confident that together we can continue to grow this business for years to come. James T. Ryan Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer February 27, 2015 4 Corporate Governance at a Glance W.W. GRAINGER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Board Accountability Shareholder Rights Board is elected by majority vote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Company does not have a shareholder rights plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Majority of Directors independent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Shareholders have cumulative voting rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Separate Chairman and CEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No Shareholders may call special meetings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Independent Lead Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Employees may vote their shares in company-sponsored plans . . . . . . . . . Yes Independent Board Affairs and Nominating Committee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes All stock-based incentive plans have been approved by shareholders . . . . Yes Number of Board meetings held or scheduled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 An independent tabulator tabulates shareholder votes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes All Directors elected annually . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Company posts its articles of incorporation and bylaws on website. . . . . . Yes Corporate governance guidelines (Operating Principles) approved by the Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Board plays active role in risk oversight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Independent Directors hold meetings without management present . . . . . Yes Board-approved succession plan in place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes The performance of the Board is reviewed regularly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes The performance of each Committee is reviewed regularly . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Board members conduct periodic individual self-evaluations . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Board orientation/education program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Directors must tender resignation upon a substantive change in career (Criteria for Membership). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes All Directors are expected to attend annual shareholders meeting . . . . . . . Yes All Directors attended at least 75 percent of Board and Committee meetings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Financial Disclosure and Internal Controls Charters for Audit, Compensation and Board Affairs and Nominating Committees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Disclosure Committee function for financial reporting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Independent Audit Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Audit Committee has a financial expert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Auditors ratified at most recent annual meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Executive Compensation Independent Compensation Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Board Compensation Committee has independent compensation consultant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Compensation risk assessment conducted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes The Company does not have employment agreements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Executive compensation is tied to performance; numeric criteria are disclosed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes The Company has the ability to claw back incentive compensation. . . . . . . Yes CEO salary is no more than 2½ times salary of next highest paid named executive officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Corporate Behavior A Company employee is tasked with environmental responsibilities . . . . . . Yes Company has environmental, health and safety guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Environmental and workplace safety policy is disclosed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Environmental performance is audited by an independent outside firm . . . . No Company employs Notice and Access for proxy communication . . . . . . . Yes Company publishes core vision and values statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Company compares its governance policies to an external code of best practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Company has program in place to monitor its policies on corruption and bribery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Company has a code of ethics (Business Conduct Guidelines) . . . . . . . . . Yes Company has an ethics officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes For more information on Corporate Governance, visit www.grainger.com. Training on ethical behavior is required for all employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Corporate Social Responsibility Grainger’s Corporate Social Responsibility platform includes the company’s commitments to operating responsibly, valuing people, serving communities and sustaining the environment. These commitments shape the company’s focus on corporate citizenship and fuel its determination to make a positive difference. Key areas of progress in 2014 include setting a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity, continuing to roll out the company’s Supplier Code of Ethics and achieving high standards in operational safety performance. In 2014, Grainger also donated $28 million to charitable organizations in cash, products and employee matching gifts. To learn more about Grainger’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, visit www.graingercsr.com. 5 Historical Financial Summary W.W. GRAINGER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Financial Summary ($000) Per Share ($) Ratios Other Data Net sales Earnings before income taxes Income taxes Net earnings attributable to W.W. Grainger, Inc. Working capital Additions to property, buildings and equipment and capitalized software Depreciation and amortization Current assets Total assets Shareholders’ equity Cash dividends paid Long-term debt (less current maturities) Earnings – basic Earnings – diluted Cash dividends paid Book value Year-end stock price Percent of return on average shareholders’ equity Percent of return on average total capitalization Earnings before income taxes as a percent of net sales Earnings as a percent of net sales Cash dividends paid as a percent of net earnings Total debt as a percent of total capitalization Current assets as a percent of total assets Current assets to current liabilities Average inventory turnover – FIFO Average inventory turnover – LIFO 2014 2013 2012 $9,964,953 1,334,386 522,090 801,729 $9,437,758 1,287,599 479,850 797,036 $8,950,045 1,117,789 418,940 689,881 1,697,487 1,621,103 1,603,748 387,390 190,171 2,967,549 5,284,252 3,284,101 291,395 404,536 11.59 11.45 4.17 48.70 254.89 24.3 20.9 13.4 8.1 36.3 12.9 56.2 2.4 3.1 4.2 272,145 164,902 3,044,285 5,266,328 3,326,836 255,466 445,513 11.31 11.13 3.59 48.32 255.42 24.7 21.4 13.6 8.4 32.1 14.0 57.8 2.5 3.0 4.1 249,860 145,612 2,900,640 5,014,598 3,117,366 220,077 467,048 9.71 9.52 3.06 44.87 202.37 23.6 20.5 12.5 7.7 31.9 15.3 57.8 2.7 2.8 3.9 Average number of shares outstanding – basic Average number of shares outstanding – diluted Number of employees Number of outside sales representatives Number of branches Number of products in the Grainger® catalog issued February 1 68,334,322 69,205,744 69,455,507 70,576,432 69,811,881 71,181,733 23,622 4,907 681 590,000 23,741 4,479 709 570,000 22,413 4,157 715 410,000 Note: See the company’s current and prior years’ Form 10-K for changes in accounting and other adjustments. 6 W.W. GRAINGER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 $7,182,158 $6,221,991 $6,850,032 $6,418,014 $5,883,654 $5,526,636 $5,049,785 $8,078,185 1,051,527 385,115 658,423 853,778 340,196 510,865 707,337 276,565 430,466 773,218 297,863 475,355 681,861 261,741 420,120 1,438,375 1,162,318 1,026,690 1,064,094 1,021,663 196,942 137,211 2,694,900 4,716,062 2,724,279 180,527 175,055 9.26 9.07 2.52 38.94 187.19 26.3 22.2 13.0 8.1 27.4 15.9 57.1 1.9 3.0 4.0 127,124 137,793 2,238,071 3,904,377 2,287,670 152,338 420,446 7.05 6.93 2.08 32.97 138.11 22.6 18.7 11.9 7.1 29.8 17.8 57.3 2.6 3.1 4.4 142,414 140,974 2,131,515 3,726,332 2,227,199 134,684 437,500 194,975 135,137 2,144,109 3,515,417 2,033,805 121,504 488,228 197,423 127,882 1,800,817 3,094,028 2,098,108 113,093 4,895 5.70 5.62 1.78 30.81 96.83 20.2 16.4 11.4 6.9 31.3 19.1 57.2 2.7 2.7 3.8 6.07 5.97 1.55 27.20 78.84 23.0 20.3 11.3 6.9 25.6 20.7 61.0 2.8 2.9 4.1 5.01 4.91 1.34 26.40 87.52 19.7 19.2 10.6 6.6 26.9 5.0 58.2 2.2 3.1 4.3 603,023 219,624 383,399 852,472 136,764 114,884 1,862,086 3,046,088 2,177,615 97,896 4,895 4.36 4.24 1.11 25.90 69.94 17.2 17.2 10.2 6.5 25.5 0.4 61.1 2.6 3.1 4.4 532,674 186,350 346,324 445,139 158,216 286,923 1,290,188 1,108,384 157,247 105,671 1,985,539 3,107,921 2,288,976 82,663 4,895 3.87 3.78 0.92 25.51 71.10 15.9 15.9 9.6 6.3 23.9 0.4 63.9 2.9 3.2 4.5 160,758 96,305 1,744,416 2,809,573 2,067,970 71,243 — 3.18 3.13 0.79 22.83 66.62 14.7 14.2 8.8 5.7 24.8 0.5 62.1 2.7 3.3 4.6 69,690,854 71,176,158 70,836,945 72,138,858 73,786,346 74,891,852 76,579,856 77,887,620 82,403,958 84,173,381 87,838,723 90,523,774 89,568,746 91,588,295 90,206,773 91,673,375 21,446 4,029 711 354,000 18,596 3,079 607 307,000 18,006 2,845 612 233,000 18,334 2,433 617 183,000 18,036 2,386 610 139,000 17,074 1,805 593 115,000 16,732 2,507 589 82,400 15,523 2,154 582 82,300 NOTE ON ROIC Prior to January 2011, ROIC was calculated using annual operating earnings divided by a 13-point (monthly) average for net working assets. Since 2011, ROIC has been calculated using a 5-point (quarterly) average for net working assets to provide greater transparency. Net working assets are working assets minus working liabilities defined as follows: working assets equal total assets less cash equivalents (non-operating cash), deferred taxes and investments in unconsolidated entities, plus the LIFO reserve. Working liabilities are the sum of trade payables, accrued compensation and benefits, accrued contributions to employees’ profit sharing plans and accrued expenses. 7 Board of Directors W.W. GRAINGER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Rodney C. Adkins Former Senior Vice President of International Business Machines Corporation, President of 3RAM Group LLC, Miami Beach, Fla. (2, 3) Stuart L. Levenick Former Group President, Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill. James T. Ryan Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, W.W. Grainger, Inc. (2, 3, †) Brian P. Anderson Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, OfficeMax Incorporated, Itasca, Ill. Neil S. Novich Former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ryerson Inc., Chicago, Ill. E. Scott Santi President and Chief Executive Officer, Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, Ill. (1, 2) (1, 2) (1, 2) V. Ann Hailey President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Famous Yard Sale, Inc., New Albany, Ohio Michael J. Roberts Former Global President and COO of McDonalds Corporation, Founder of LYFE Kitchen, Chicago, Ill. James D. Slavik Chairman, Mark IV Capital, Inc., Newport Beach, Calif. (2, 3) (1, 2) (2, 3) William K. Hall Founding Partner, Procyon Advisors LLP, Skokie, Ill. Gary L. Rogers Former Vice Chairman, General Electric Company, Fairfield, Conn. (1, 2) (2, 3) (1) Member of Audit Committee (2) Member of Board Affairs and Nominating Committee (3) Member of Compensation Committee † Lead Director Management Executive Management Michael S. Ali Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer John L. Howard Senior Vice President and General Counsel Laura D. Brown Senior Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations Ronald L. Jadin Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Court D. Carruthers Senior Vice President and Group President, Americas DG Macpherson Senior Vice President and Group President, Global Supply Chain and International Operating Management Paul C. Miller Vice President, Global eCommerce, Customer Information and Innovation Debra S. Oler Vice President and General Manager, Grainger Industrial Supply Paige Robbins Vice President, Global Supply Chain Joseph C. High Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer James T. Ryan Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Kinya Seto Senior Vice President, Online Business 8 Shareholder and Media Information W.W. GRAINGER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Company Headquarters W.W. Grainger, Inc. 100 Grainger Parkway Lake Forest, Illinois 60045-5201 847.535.1000 Phone 847.535.0878 Fax Annual Meeting The 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held at the company’s headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois, at 10:00 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Auditors Ernst & Young LLP 155 North Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60606-1787 Common Stock Listing The company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol GWW. Transfer Agent, Registrar and Dividend Disbursing Agent Instructions and inquiries regarding transfers, certificates, changes of title or address, lost or missing dividend checks, consolidation of accounts and elimination of multiple mailings should be directed to: Computershare Trust Company, N.A. P.O. Box 43078 Providence, RI 02940-3078 800.446.2617 Dividend Direct Deposit Shareholders of record have the opportunity to have their quarterly dividends electronically deposited directly into their checking, money market or savings accounts at financial institutions that participate in the automated clearinghouse system. Shareholders who are interested in taking advantage of this service or would like more information on the program should contact Computershare. Investor Relations Contacts Laura D. Brown Senior Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations 847.535.0409 William D. Chapman Senior Director, Investor Relations 847.535.0881 D. Casey Darby Senior Manager, Investor Relations 847.535.0099 Upon written request to Investor Relations, we will provide, free of charge, a copy of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. Grainger’s Annual Report, Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, proxy statement and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as the Fact Book and news releases including quarterly earnings and monthly sales, can be accessed free of charge at the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at www.grainger.com/investor. For more information, contact Investor Relations at 847.535.1000. Requests for other company-related information should be made to David Rawlinson, Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, at the company’s headquarters. Media Relations Contact Joseph Micucci Director, Media Relations 847.535.0879 Trademarks ACKLANDS–GRAINGER, AIR HANDLER, CONDOR, FOR THE ONES WHO GET IT DONE, GRAINGER, GRAINGER and Design, GRAINGER FOR THE ONES WHO GET IT DONE and Design, GRAINGER LIGHTING SERVICES, GRAINGER Shipping Box Design, GRAINGER.COM, GRAINGER.COM.MX, KEEPSTOCK, LUMAPRO, TOUGH GUY and WESTWARD are the trademarks or service marks of W.W. Grainger, Inc., which may be registered in the United States and/or other countries. DAYTON and SPEEDAIRE are the trademarks of Dayton Electric Manufacturing Co., which may be registered in the United States and/or other countries. FABORY is the trademark of Fabory Nederland B.V., which may be registered in the United States and/or other countries. MONOTARO is the trademark of MonotaRO Co., Ltd., which may be registered in the United States and/or other countries. WFS INDUSTRY’S SUPPLY PARTNER and Design is the trademark of WFS Enterprises, Inc., which may be registered in the United States and/or other countries. ZORO is the trademark of Zoro Tools, Inc., which may be registered in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. Forward-Looking Statements This Annual Report and Form 10-K contains statements that are not historical in nature but concern future results and business plans, strategies and objectives and other matters that may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements” under the federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements are identified by words such as “anticipate, estimate, expect, forecast, intend, plan, predict, project” and “should” or similar expressions and include Grainger’s expected earnings per share, sales growth and capital expenditures. Grainger cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized, although Grainger does believe that its assumptions underlying its forward- looking statements are reasonable. Achievement of future results is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause Grainger’s results to differ materially from those which are presented. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those presented or implied in a forward-looking statement include, without limitation: higher product costs or other expenses; a major loss of customers; loss or disruption of source of supply; increased competitive pricing pressures; failure to develop or implement new technologies or business strategies; the outcome of pending and future litigation or governmental or regulatory proceedings; investigations, inquiries, audits and changes in laws and regulations; disruption of information technology or data security systems; general industry or market conditions; general global economic conditions; currency exchange rate fluctuations; market volatility; commodity price volatility; labor shortages; litigation involving appropriate payment for wages; facilities disruptions or shutdowns; higher fuel costs or disruptions in transportation services; natural and other catastrophes; unanticipated weather conditions and the factors identified in Item 1A: Risk Factors. Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on Grainger’s forward-looking statements and Grainger undertakes no obligation to publicly update the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The printer and paper utilized for this report have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests. This report is on paper made from mixed sources of post-industrial recycled and virgin fiber. Recyclable. Please recycle. . c n I i , n g s e D s u o m y n o n A : I N G S E D Headquarters W.W. Grainger, Inc. 100 Grainger Parkway Lake Forest, Illinois 60045-5201 847.535.1000 www.grainger.com 8S6918 © 2015 W.W. Grainger, Inc. 

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