W.W. Grainger, Inc. Shareholders Elect Directors -- Other Meeting Highlights

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W.W. Grainger, Inc. Shareholders Elect Directors -- Other Meeting Highlights
    CHICAGO, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- At the annual meeting held today,
shareholders elected 11 nominees to the Board of Directors, all of whom served
the previous year.  They are:

    George R. Baker
    Corporate Director/Advisor

    David W. Grainger
    Senior Chairman of the Board
    W.W. Grainger, Inc.

    Harold B. Smith
    Chairman of the Executive Committee
    Illinois Tool Works Inc.

    Robert E. Elberson
    Retired Vice Chairman
    Sara Lee Corporation

    Richard L. Keyser
    Chairman of the Board and
    Chief Executive Officer
    W.W. Grainger, Inc.

    Fred L. Turner
    Senior Chairman of the Board and
    Chairman of the Executive Committee
    McDonald's Corporation

    Jere D. Fluno
    Vice Chairman
    W.W. Grainger, Inc.

    John W. McCarter, Jr.
    President and
    Chief Executive Officer
    The Field Museum of
    Natural History

    Janiece S. Webb
    Corporate Vice President;
    General Manager,
    U.S. Markets Division,
    Cellular Subscriber Sector
    Motorola, Inc.

    Wilbur H. Gantz
    President and
    Chief Executive Officer
    PathoGenesis Corporation

    James D. Slavik
    President
    Mark IV Capital, Inc.

    OTHER ACTIONS TAKEN BY SHAREHOLDERS.  Shareholders ratified the
appointment of Grant Thornton LLP to continue as the independent auditors for
the year ending December 31, 1998.
    APRIL SALES. It was stated that the Company's daily sales in April are
running 5% above April 1997.
    CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.  Shareholders were also told that 1998 capital
expenditures are projected at $150 million, with the majority of dollars
committed to three project areas:

    --  Expanding the Company's branch and logistics network, including
        the addition of 10 new branches.
    --  Continuing the enhancement of the Company's information systems
        capabilities.
    --  Construction of the Company's new Lake Forest office facility.

    The Company introduced its "on-line" version of the 1997 Annual Report and
Form 10-K this month.  News releases, shareholder information, and stock price
data are also available through the Company's Web site.  Visit us at
http://www.grainger.com to view these new additions, and much more.
    W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE: GWW; CHX)(GWW), with 1997 sales of
$4.1 billion, is the leading distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating
(MRO) supplies and related information to the commercial, industrial,
contractor, and institutional markets in North America.  GWW shares are traded
on the New York and Chicago stock exchanges.
SOURCE W.W. Grainger, Inc.