1 PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 10 $792,000,000 ANIXTER INTERNATIONAL INC. LIQUID YIELD OPTION(TM) NOTES DUE 2020 (ZERO COUPON -- SENIOR) AND COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THE LYONS This prospectus supplement supplements the prospectus dated August 30, 2000 of Anixter International Inc., as supplemented September 8, 2000, September 15, 2000, September 29, 2000, October 10, 2000, October 17, 2000, November 20, 2000, December 1, 2000, January 12, 2001 and January 31, 2001 relating to the sale by certain of our securityholders (including their pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors) of up to $792,000,000 principal amount at maturity of LYONs and up to 5,908,558 shares of common stock to be issued upon conversion of the LYONs. You should read this prospectus supplement in conjunction with the prospectus, and this prospectus supplement is qualified by reference to the prospectus except to the extent that the information in this prospectus supplement supersedes the information contained in the prospectus. Capitalized terms used in this prospectus supplement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings specified in the prospectus. The table of Selling Securityholders contained in the prospectus is hereby amended to remove the following entities. Chrysler Corporation Master Retirement Trust Delta Airlines Master Retirement Trust Motion Picture Industry Health Plan--Active Member Fund Motion Picture Industry Health Plan--Retiree Member Fund OCM Convertible Trust State Employees' Retirement Fund of the State of Delaware State of Connecticut Combined Investment Funds Vanguard Convertible Securities Fund, Inc. Additionally, the following line items in the table of Selling Securityholders are hereby amended as follows: AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LYONS AT NUMBER OF SHARES MATURITY THAT OF COMMON STOCK MAY BE SOLD THAT MAY BE SOLD ---------------- ---------------- McMahan Securities Co. L.P. ................................ $ 10,000 74 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated........ 1,000,000 7,460 Total..................................................... 622,180,000 4,641,588 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith Incorporated and Anixter and its affiliates have engaged in and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings. Merrill Lynch acted as the initial purchaser in the private placement in which the LYONs were originally issued. Merrill Lynch has received customary fees and commissions for these transactions. INVESTING IN THE LYONS OR THE COMMON STOCK INVOLVES RISKS DESCRIBED IN THE "RISK FACTORS" SECTION BEGINNING ON PAGE 9 OF THE PROSPECTUS. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. (TM) TRADEMARK OF MERRILL LYNCH & CO. The date of this prospectus supplement is February 20, 2001