UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
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) December 18, 2009
WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as Specified in Charter)
| Delaware | 1-3932 | 38-1490038 | ||
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 2000 M-63 North, Benton Harbor, Michigan | 49022-2692 | |||
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) | |||
(269) 923-5000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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 Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 8.01 Other Events.
As previously disclosed, government authorities in various jurisdictions are conducting antitrust investigations of the global compressor industry, including our compressor business headquartered in Brazil. On December 18, 2009, a court in Brazil suspended a related criminal proceeding as to certain employees at the request of the public prosecutor. If those individuals comply with certain conditions imposed by the court, including payment to a government fund, a charitable donation, and periodic reporting to authorities, the proceedings against them would be dismissed after three years. Suspension and dismissal of the proceeding does not involve any admission or finding of wrongdoing. Among those subject to the suspension and possible dismissal of proceeding is Paulo Periquito, President, Whirlpool International.
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.
| WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION | ||||||
| Date: December 23, 2009 | By: | /S/ DANIEL F. HOPP | ||||
| Name: | Daniel F. Hopp | |||||
| Title: | Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary | |||||