Grainger Investor Relations Team And Senior Director, Investor Relations William D. Chapman Honored By Institutional Investor Magazine

CHICAGO, March 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Investor Relations Team and William D. Chapman, Senior Director of Investor Relations for W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW), were honored this week by Institutional Investor magazine as America's top Investor Relations Company and top Investor Relations professional in 2013.  In voting by sell-side financial analysts in the magazine's 2013 Annual Survey, Grainger was recognized as the Best Investor Relations Company, while Chapman was ranked as IR Professional of the Year in the Capital Goods Industry.

"On behalf of Grainger, I am pleased to congratulate our Investor Relations team led by Laura Brown and specifically recognize Bill Chapman for this well-deserved recognition," said Jim Ryan, Grainger Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "We engage with our shareholders on a regular basis, and Laura and Bill and their team do a great job of leading the process."

For more than 30 years, Institutional Investor has recognized people and firms across the corporate, investor and financial services communities for professional excellence based on its research and rankings.  To determine the members of the 2013 All-America Executive Team, Institutional Investor surveyed buy-side analysts, portfolio managers, and sell-side analysts at financial institutions to name the best chief executive officers, chief financial officers, investor relations professionals, and companies with the best investor relations programs in their domains.  Survey results reflect the opinions of nearly 1,350 money managers and investment professionals at more than 600 buy-side firms and over 830 sell-side analysts from about 150 institutions.

About Grainger W.W. Grainger, Inc., with 2012 sales of $9 billion, is North America's leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products, with expanding global operations.  For more information about the company, visit www.grainger.com.

SOURCE W.W. Grainger, Inc.

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