CHICAGO, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Grainger, North America's leading broad line distributor of facilities maintenance products, today announced it has completed its tender offer bid in Japan for 380,000 shares of MonotaRO Co., Ltd., a Japanese company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, at a price of 1,010 Yen ($11.11) per common share. As a result of the completion of the transaction, Grainger has achieved a 53% majority ownership in MonotaRO and will consolidate MonotaRO's results beginning with the balance sheet in the third quarter and the full income statement in the fourth quarter. As a majority owner, Grainger will recognize 100% of the fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities of MonotaRO. It is anticipated that this transaction will trigger a one-time gain in the third quarter estimated to be in the range of $0.30 - $0.40 earnings per share. Established in 2000 in Osaka, MonotaRO is a direct marketer of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) supplies to businesses in Japan. MonotaRO has successfully innovated in the Japanese MRO market, the second largest industrial market in the world, offering more than 110,000 products to more than 320,000 customers. In 2008, MonotaRO had revenues of $136M and operating earnings of $11 million. About Grainger W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW), with 2008 sales of $6.9 billion, is a leading broad line supplier of facilities maintenance products serving businesses and institutions in the United States, Canada, Mexico, India, China, and Panama. Through a highly integrated network including more than 600 branches, 18 distribution centers and multiple Web sites, Grainger's employees help customers get the job done. Forward-Looking Statements This document contains forward-looking statements under the federal securities law. Forward-looking statements relate to the company's expected future financial results and business plans, strategies and objectives and are not historical facts. They are generally identified by qualifiers such as "anticipated", "estimated", "in the range of", "will", or similar expressions. There are risks and uncertainties the outcome of which could cause the company's results to differ materially from what is projected. The forward-looking statements should be read in conjunction with the company's most recent annual report, as well as the company's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and other reports filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, containing a discussion of the company's business and various factors that may affect it. DATASOURCE: W.W. Grainger, Inc. CONTACT: Media, Jan Tratnik, Director, Public Affairs & Corporate Communications, +1-847-535-4339, or Erin Ptacek, Director, Corporate Brand & Reputation, +1-847-535-1543, or Investors, Ernest Duplessis, Vice President, Investor Relations, +1-847-535-4356, or William Chapman, Director, Investor Relations, +1-847-535-0881, all of W.W. Grainger Web Site: http://www.grainger.com/

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