WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as Specified in Charter)

Transcription

1 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) November 23, 2015 WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as Specified in Charter) Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) (Commission File Number) 2000 North M-63, Benton Harbor, Michigan (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant s telephone number, including area code (269) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities At (17 CFR ) Soliciting material pursuant to rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR a-12) Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR d-2(b)) Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR e-4(c))

2 Item 8.01 Other Events On November 23, 2015, Indesit Company S.p.A., a subsidiary of Whirlpool Corporation (the Company ), issued a press release in Europe regarding an ongoing corrective action campaign involving certain dryers sold in Europe. As disclosed in Note 7 to the consolidated condensed financial statements included in the Company s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, the Company estimates the most probable cost of this corrective action campaign to be 245 million (approximately $274 million as of September 30, 2015). A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and incorporated herein by reference. Item Financial Statements and Exhibits Press Release dated November 23, 2015 CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements in this current report relating to the Company s expectations of the cost of the corrective action constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. These statements reflect management s current expectations regarding future events and speak only as of the date of this current report. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not, or the times at or by which, events will occur. Actual performance may differ materially from that expressed or implied in such statements. These statements rely on assumptions which may or may not be realized. Reference should be made to the factors discussed under Risk Factors set forth in Whirlpool s periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

3 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Date: November 23, 2015 WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION By: /s/ Bridget K. Quinn. Name: Bridget K. Quinn Title: Corporate Secretary and Group Counsel

4 Exhibit 99.1 PRESS RELEASE INDESIT ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN TO REMEDY POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH DRYERS Fabriano (AN), November 23rd, Indesit Company S.p.A. announced today an ongoing corrective campaign to remedy possible safety and quality issues with certain of its legacy products. The campaign is focused on dryers sold under the brand names of Hotpoint*, Indesit and Creda between April 2004 and October Following Whirlpool Corporation s acquisition of the Indesit business in October 2014, Indesit began working with Whirlpool s global safety experts in reviewing the Indesit product portfolio in accordance with Whirlpool s industry leading risk management systems and methodologies. As part of that process, in 2015, Indesit engaged in thorough investigations of incident reports associated with two of its dryer production platforms. This led to Indesit reporting the issue to regulatory authorities for consideration. These discussions determined that corrective action of the affected dryers is required. Indesit has implemented modifications at the point of manufacture to ensure that dryers produced after October 2015 are not affected by this issue. An outreach and service campaign is underway to modify products that have already been sold. Consumers may continue to use the affected dryers until they are modified through the outreach and service campaign, provided they are not left unattended during operation. If left unmodified, in some rare cases, excess fluff can come into contact with the heating element and present a risk of fire. We are now asking owners of Indesit, Hotpoint and Creda brands, who have not had their appliances already repaired, to contact Indesit. Indesit will arrange a service visit and modify the dryer in the consumer s home at no charge. We invite all consumers with an Indesit, Hotpoint, Creda branded dryer purchased between April 2004 and October 2015, to visit the dedicated site or contact us at * Whirlpool ownership of the Hotpoint brand sold in EMEA is not affiliated with the Hotpoint brand sold in the Americas. Indesit Company S.p.A. sole shareholder Viale Aristide Merloni Fabriano (AN) Italy T Cap Soc ,40 i.v. Reg. imp R.E.A Ancona C.F./P.IVA indesitcompany.com Company is subject to direction and coordination activity by Whirlpool Corporation.

5 Indesit Company is an Italian company based in Fabriano, Ancona province. It is one of the leading European manufacturers and distributors of major domestic appliances (washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, fridges, freezers, cookers, hoods, ovens and hobs) and a leader in major markets such as Italy, the UK and Russia. Since October 2014 Indesit Company is part of the Whirlpool Corporation Group, the number one major appliance manufacturer in the world, with approximately $20 billion in annual sales, 100,000 employees and 70 manufacturing and technology research centers throughout the world in For additional information: Pierre Yves Ley // //pierre_ley@whirlpool.com Indesit Company S.p.A. sole shareholder Viale Aristide Merloni Fabriano (AN) Italy T Cap Soc ,40 i.v. Reg. imp R.E.A Ancona C.F./P.IVA indesitcompany.com Company is subject to direction and coordination activity by Whirlpool Corporation.