Company: GWW
Filing Date: 2025-03-07
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0001104659-25-021496
Chunk: 29

Company: W.W. GRAINGER, INC.
Filing Date: 2025-03-07
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 29
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 framework for preventing, detecting and addressing cybersecurity incidents and identifying emerging risks both broadly and within related industries. The Vice President, Ethics and Compliance reports directly to the Chief Legal Officer and routinely attends Audit Committee meetings, including annual meetings with the Audit Committee in closed session. He has access to every call or online submission to the Company’s third-party hosted telephone hotline and hotline web portal on which team members may anonymously inquire, initiate a complaint, or participate in internal investigations. The Vice President, Ethics and Compliance also provides updates on ethics and compliance investigations to the Audit Committee on a quarterly basis. If an issue is significant, the Audit Committee is made aware per Grainger’s escalation policy. The Board’s risk oversight is supported by internal audit and external audit reviews, external legal counsel and other consultants, the Company’s finance, controller, and legal departments and internal disclosure committee. As appropriate or as requested by the Board, Committees or Lead Director, they prepare materials and provide presentations to the Board and Committees on risks identified during the course of their work or as part of regular diligence. Management’s disclosure committee reports to the Audit Committee no less than quarterly as part of its preparation for the Company’s quarterly earnings calls and quarterly and annual reports filed on Forms 10-Q and 10-K.

| ​ | CORPORATEGOVERNANCE | ​ | ​ | PROPOSAL 1:ELECTION OFDIRECTORS | ​ | ​ | PROPOSAL 2:RATIFY THEINDEPENDENTAUDITOR | ​ | ​ | EXECUTIVECOMPENSATION | ​ | ​ | PROPOSAL 3:SAY ON PAY | ​ | ​ | PROPOSAL 4: APPROVALAND ADOPTION | ​ | ​ | QUESTIONS ANDANSWERS | ​ | ​ | APPENDICES | ​ |

TABLE OF CONTENTS

| ​ | ● | ​ | ​ | 26 | ​ | ​ | 2025proxy statement | ​ |

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) The Grainger team partners with customers, suppliers and communities on three core areas: environmental, social and governance and remains committed to operating sustainably. Grainger is committed to being a responsible corporate citizen and remains steadfast in ensuring that operating sustainably influences the daily operation of its business. ESG Oversight and Governance The Company’s commitment to corporate responsibility begins with general oversight of environmental and social matters by the BANC, which is comprised of all of the Board’s independent Directors. The BANC annually reviews the Company’s environmental sustainability, community impact, governance, company culture,