PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 15 $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, January 31, 2001, February 20, 2001, March 12, 2001, June 11, 2001, June 25, 2001 and July 2, 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 Selling Securityholder "Van Waters & Rogers, Inc. Retirement Plan" has changed its name to "Vopak USA, Inc. Retirement Plan." 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.................................. $ 475,000 3,543 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.......... 4,800,000 35,809 Total..................................................... 526,869,000 3,930,533 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & 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 October 19, 2001