Question

Whirlpool's corporate governance about the selection, compensation and removal to board of directors. Which type of director they are eg. active CEOs, international experience special expertise, diverse directors, professional directors. and how is whirlpool’s director compensation and what is the director recruitment process?

Answer 1

The Whirlpool Board of Directors has established the following Corporate Governance Guidelines for its operation:

I. BOARD ORGANIZATION AND COMPOSITION

A. Board Leadership. The Board currently sees no reason (except for purposes of CEO transition) to separate the office of Chairman and CEO. Depending on future circumstances the Board may or may not reach a different conclusion and if so, appropriate action can be taken. However, the Board believes it is appropriate for the independent Directors to elect one independent Director to serve as Presiding Director. The Presiding Director will perform the following functions:

• Preside at executive sessions of the non-management Directors and provide feedback, as appropriate, to the Chairman and CEO;
• In consultation with the full Board, coordinate with the Chairman and CEO in establishing the annual agenda and topic items for Board meetings;
• In consultation with the full Board, retain, at the expense of the Company, such independent legal, financial or other advisors on behalf of the Board as the Board may determine necessary or appropriate;
• Assist the Human Resources Committee with the annual evaluation of the Chairman and CEO’s performance, and in conjunction with the Chair of the Human Resources Committee, meet with the Chairman and CEO to discuss the results of such evaluation;
• When requested and appropriate, serve as a focal point for managing shareholder communication with independent Directors;
• Perform such other functions as the independent Directors may designate from time to time; and
• The Presiding Director shall have no greater obligations (fiduciary or otherwise) or liabilities than those of other Directors by reason of serving as the Presiding Director.

B. Size and Composition of the Board. The Board believes that its size is currently the right number and should remain in the range of 11-15 members. Directors will be elected to one year terms and will need to stand for reelection annually. Generally there should be no more than three management members on the Board. At all times a majority of the Board shall be “independent directors” as that term is defined from time to time by relevant NYSE listing rules or other applicable regulations. Further, the Board shall certify as to the independence of directors in accordance with relevant laws and NYSE listing rules. Availability of uniquely qualified outside Board member candidates or succession planning considerations for external or internal Board members may justify size increases. We have established through the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee selection criteria that identify desirable skills and experience for prospective Board members and address the issues of diversity and background. The Board, with assistance of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, shall select potential new Board members using the criteria and priorities established from time to time.

C. Board Tenure. Subject to the discretion of the Board to determine otherwise on a case by case basis, no Director may stand for reelection to the Board after reaching age 72. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee evaluates the continued service of each Director annually before recommending that the Board nominate the Director for election.

We believe these practices are appropriate and adequate to ensure director objectivity and refreshment of the Board. We believe that experienced Directors provide valuable insight into the operations, prospects and strategy of the Company based on their experience with and understanding of the Company’s history and objectives. Consequently, we do not currently favor the concept of mandatory term limits.

D. Committee Structure and Assignments. The committee structure of an Audit Committee, Finance Committee, Human Resources Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee appears adequate and appropriate for the organization. The need for other committees may evolve over time and the Board will initiate discussion in this area if appropriate. Each committee of the Board will have a written charter that complies with relevant NYSE listing rules and other applicable regulations.

Committee assignments and leadership take into account considerations such as continuity, expertise and Board tenure. On an annual basis in advance of the April Board of Directors meeting, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, in consultation with the CEO and the Presiding Director, will develop and provide Board members with information on committee tenure and proposed reassignments, if any, so that appropriate committee assignments may be made. Committee composition will meet all relevant NYSE listing rules and other applicable regulations.

E. Advisors. In performing its oversight function, the Board is entitled to rely on the advice, reports and opinions of management, counsel, auditors and outside experts. In that regard, the Board, and its Committees and the Presiding Director (on behalf of the outside Directors as a group) shall be entitled, at the expense of the Company, to engage such independent legal, financial or other advisors as they deem appropriate.

F. Assessing the Board’s Performance. The Board believes it is appropriate to evaluate Board and Committee performance on an annual basis with a focus on the overall performance of the Board and the Committees. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, with input from the full Board, will on an annual basis in connection with the election and reelection of Board members, review Board and Committee performance based on these Guidelines, Company By-laws, and relevant NYSE listing rules and other applicable regulations and make appropriate recommendations to the full Board

Director Compensation. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for recommending the compensation program for Board members in accordance 4 with relevant NYSE listing rules and other applicable regulations, as well as these general principles: (1) the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, with the assistance of compensation experts, will periodically benchmark the compensation of directors at the same group of companies utilized by the Company for evaluating senior management compensation; and (2) the Company should be near the median of such comparator companies in total Director compensation.

C. Continuing Education. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for periodically reviewing and making recommendations to the Board regarding appropriate policies and procedures in relation to the Board’s new director orientation program and director continuing education requirements.

D. Directors with Position Changes. Any Director who experiences a position change from that which he or she held at the time of election must provide notice to the Chairman and the Corporate Secretary and volunteer to resign from the Board. The Board, after evaluating the potential for the new position to create a conflict of interest, impair independence or otherwise compromise the Director’s ability to fulfill his or her duties to the Company, may elect to accept or reject such resignation. Directors who are full-time employees of the Company or one of its subsidiaries must promptly resign from the Board whenever their term of employment ends for any reason, including but not limited to retirement, the effective date of such resignation to be not later than the last day of employment. The requirement that a Director must submit a resignation due to a change in position or due to the termination of employment with the Company or one of its subsidiaries may be waived by the majority of all other Directors present at a meeting of Directors at which it is determined that such waiver is in the best interest of the Company.

E. Other Board Service by Directors. The Company does not have a policy with respect to the specific number of boards of directors on which a Director may serve, except that members of the Audit Committee may not serve on the boards of directors of more than three other public companies. However, before accepting another board position, a Director shall (i) consider whether that service may create a conflict of interest, impair independence; or otherwise compromise the ability to fulfill his or her duties to the Company; (ii) evaluate whether he or she can devote the requisite time and attention to service on the Company’s Board, and (iii) notify the Chairman of the Board and the Corporate Secretary of his or her intention to accept an invitation to serve on the board of directors of any other company.