Company: GWW
Filing Date: 2025-02-20
Form Type: PRE 14A
Source: 0001104659-25-015730
Chunk: 3

Company: W.W. GRAINGER, INC.
Filing Date: 2025-02-20
Form: PRE 14A
Chunk 3
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 THIS PROXY STATEMENT                                   | ​ |
| ​ |  82 | ​ | ​ | FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS                                                               | ​ |
| ​ | A-1 | ​ | ​ | APPENDIX A—CATEGORICAL STANDARDS FOR DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE                               | ​ |
| ​ | B-1 | ​ | ​ | APPENDIX B—NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES AND DEFINITIONS                                   | ​ |
| ​ | C-1 | ​ | ​ | Appendix C —Section 11.70 of the Illinois Business Corporation Act: Procedure to Dissent | ​ |

TABLE OF CONTENTS

| ​ | invest.grainger.com | ​ | ​ | 1 | ​ | ​ | ● | ​ |

PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT—SUBJECT TO COMPLETION Corporate Governance The Role of the Board The Board of Directors (the “Board”) acts as the steward of the Company for the benefit of the shareholders. The Directors have a wealth of business experience and a solid track record in situations relevant to the Company’s strategy and operations. The Board recognizes the importance of ensuring that our strategy is designed and executed to create sustainable long-term value for Grainger’s shareholders and other stakeholders. The Board plays an active role in formulating strategy and overseeing its implementation as to business, operational, financial and regulatory. The Board has a robust annual strategic planning process during which key elements of our business, financial plans, strategies, and near-term and long-term initiatives are explained and reviewed. This process includes extended Board sessions with our senior leadership team to review Grainger’s overall strategy, talent, opportunities, capabilities, as well as risks and challenges. In addition to business strategy, the Board reviews Grainger’s short-term and long-term financial plans, which serve as the basis for the operating and capital plans for the upcoming year. The annual strategy process also helps shape the strategic content presented in our communications with the investment community. In addition to annual strategic reviews, the Board works with appropriate members of the Company’s management team, who in turn consult with external advisors on at least a biennial basis to identify and prioritize key risks to the Company based on factors such as materiality and timeline implications. Further, the Board’s continuous evaluation of the Company’s strategic progress and risk oversight enables it to identify new opportunities and emerging risks with respect to our strategy and plans throughout the year. Through its Committees (as defined herein), the Board oversees Grainger’s approach to environmental, social and governance matters