Company: GWW
Filing Date: 2025-02-20
Form Type: PRE 14A
Source: 0001104659-25-015730
Chunk: 40

Company: W.W. GRAINGER, INC.
Filing Date: 2025-02-20
Form: PRE 14A
Chunk 40
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3:SAY ON PAY | ​ | ​ | PROPOSAL 4: APPROVALAND ADOPTION | ​ | ​ | QUESTIONS ANDANSWERS | ​ | ​ | APPENDICES | ​ |

TABLE OF CONTENTS

| ​ | invest.grainger.com | ​ | ​ | 35 | ​ | ​ | ● | ​ |

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 ​ 
 ​ | What are you voting on?                                                                                                
 Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent auditor for the year ending December 31, 2025. | ​ | ​ | ​ | PROPOSAL 2:​                    
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 Ratify the Independent Auditor​ | ​ 
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| ​ | THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OFERNST & YOUNG LLP                              |   |   |   |                                 | ​ |

The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention, evaluation, termination and oversight of the independent external audit firm that performs audit services. In considering Ernst & Young LLP’s (“EY”) appointment for the 2025 fiscal year, the Audit Committee reviewed the firm’s qualifications and competencies, including the following factors: • EY’s historical performance and its recent performance during its engagement for the 2024 fiscal year; • EY’s capability and expertise in handling the breadth and complexity of the Company’s operations; • The qualifications and experience of key members of the engagement team, including the lead audit partner, for the audit of the Company’s financial statements; • The quality of EY’s communications with the Audit Committee regarding the conduct of the audit, and with management with respect to issues identified in the audit; • External data on audit quality and performance, including recent Public Company Accounting Oversight Board reports on EY; and • EY’s reputation for integrity and competence in the fields of accounting and auditing. EY has been retained as the Company’s independent auditor continuously since 2005. To ensure continuing auditor independence, the Audit Committee periodically considers whether there should be a regular rotation of the independent auditor. The Audit Committee ensures that the mandated rotation of EY’s personnel occurs routinely and the Audit Committee is directly involved in the review, selection and evaluation of EY’s lead engagement partner. The Audit Committee and the Board believe that the continued retention of EY to serve as the