Company: GWW
Filing Date: 2025-02-20
Form Type: PRE 14A
Source: 0001104659-25-015730
Chunk: 0

Company: W.W. GRAINGER, INC.
Filing Date: 2025-02-20
Form: PRE 14A
Chunk 0
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TABLE OF CONTENTS UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 14A Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. ) Filed by the Registrant ☒ Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐ Check the appropriate box: ☒ Preliminary Proxy Statement ☐ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) ☐ Definitive Proxy Statement ☐ Definitive Additional Materials ☐ Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 W.W. Grainger, Inc. (Name of registrant as specified in its charter) (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): ☒ No fee required. ☐ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. ☐ Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. TABLE OF CONTENTS PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT—SUBJECT TO COMPLETION TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT—SUBJECT TO COMPLETION A Message from Our Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer March [•], 2025

Dear Grainger Shareholders, We are pleased to invite you to attend the 2025 annual meeting of shareholders of W.W. Grainger, Inc. on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 10 a.m. Central Time. This year’s annual meeting will be held as a virtual meeting with no in-person attendance. At the meeting, we will report on our operations and other matters of current interest. Shareholders will also vote on the matters described in the accompanying Notice of 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement, and any other matters properly brought before the meeting. As in prior years, we have elected to deliver our proxy materials to the majority of our shareholders electronically. This delivery process allows us to provide shareholders with the information they need, while at the same time conserving natural resources and lowering the cost of delivery. The Notice of 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on the following page contains instructions on how to: • vote by internet, by telephone or by mail; and • receive a paper copy of the proxy