Grainger increases quarterly dividend by 16 percent

Lake Forest-based W.W. Grainger, Inc. announced today that its board of directors voted to raise the quarterly cash dividend by 16 percent to 93 cents per share payable on June 1, 2013, to shareholders of record on May 13, 2013.  Grainger has provided 42 consecutive years of increased dividends, a record that only 3 percent of companies in the S&P 500 can claim.

“We have a strong record of providing solid returns to shareholders,” said Grainger Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Ryan. “The Board’s commitment to increasing our dividend is reflective of their confidence in Grainger’s future performance.”

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.  Forward-Looking Statements This document contains forward-looking statements under the federal securities law.  Forward-loo