WHIRLPOOL CONTACTS:                       MAYTAG CONTACTS:
MEDIA                                     MEDIA
Christopher Wyse, (269) 923-3417          Karen Lynn, (641) 787-8185
Christopher.Wyse@Whirlpool.com            klynn2@maytag.com

INVESTORS
Larry Venturelli, (269) 923-4678          John Daggett, (641) 787-7711
Larry.Venturelli@Whirlpool.com            John.Daggett@maytag.com


                    JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS ADDITIONAL
                    INFORMATION ON WHIRLPOOL-MAYTAG MERGER


BENTON HARBOR, Mich. and NEWTON, Iowa - October 7, 2005 - Whirlpool Corporation
(NYSE: WHR) and Maytag Corporation (NYSE:MYG) today announced that the Antitrust
Division of the Department of Justice has issued a request for additional
information and documentary material regarding their proposed merger. Such a
"second" request is typical in transactions of this nature.

      Whirlpool and Maytag are working closely with the Department of Justice
and plan to cooperate fully with its investigation and to respond promptly to
its request. Both parties continue to expect the transaction to close as early
as the first quarter of 2006, following approval from Maytag shareholders and
regulatory clearance.

ABOUT WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major
home appliances, with annual sales of over $13 billion, 68,000 employees, and
nearly 50 manufacturing and technology research centers around the globe. The
company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Brastemp, Bauknecht, Consul and other
major brand names to consumers in more than 170 countries. Additional
information about the company can be found at www.whirlpoolcorp.com.

ABOUT MAYTAG CORPORATION
Maytag Corporation is a $4.7 billion home and commercial appliance company
focused in North America and in targeted international markets. The
corporation's primary brands are Maytag(R), Hoover(R), Jenn-Air(R), Amana(R),
Dixie-Narco(R) and Jade(R).






WHIRLPOOL ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

This news release contains forward-looking statements that speak only as of this
date. Whirlpool disclaims any obligation to update such information.
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding
expected earnings per share, cash flow, and material costs for the full year
2005, as well as the expected consequences of enacted price increases. Although
Whirlpool believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking
statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that those expectations will
prove to have been correct. Many factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from Whirlpool's forward-looking statements. Among these factors are:
(1) the cost of materials and components, especially steel and the impact of
rising oil prices; (2) the financial impact of Whirlpool's announced price
changes will be dependent upon such factors as market conditions, the strength
of consumer demand for Whirlpool's products, and other factors outside of
Whirlpool's control such as the general economic conditions prevailing at the
time the new pricing goes into effect; (3) rising worldwide transportation costs
due to historically high and volatile oil prices, capacity constraints, and
other factors; (4) the ability to gain or maintain market share in an intensely
competitive global market; (5) the strength of new and established Asian and
European competitors in the United States and abroad; (6) the success of
Whirlpool's global business strategy; (7) Whirlpool's global operating platform
initiatives; (8) the success of the Latin American businesses operating in
challenging and volatile environments; (9) continuation of Whirlpool's strong
relationship with Sears Holdings Corporation in North America, which accounted
for approximately 17% of consolidated net sales of $13 billion in 2004; (10)
currency exchange rate fluctuations; (11) social, economic and political
volatility in developing markets; (12) continuing uncertainty in the North
American, Latin American, Asian and European economies; (13) the effectiveness
of the series of restructuring actions Whirlpool has announced and/or completed
through 2004; (14) U.S. interest rates; (15) changes to the obligations as
presented in the contractual obligations table; (16) changes in the funded
position of the U.S. pension plans; (17) continued strength of the U.S. builder
industry; (18) the threat of terrorist activities or the impact of war; (19)
Whirlpool's estimate of its annual effective tax rate of approximately 31.7%;
(20) the outcome of Whirlpool's current investigation of a supplier-related
quality and potential product safety problem that may affect up to 3.5 million
appliances manufactured between 2000 and 2002; and (21) the ability of Whirlpool
and Maytag to satisfy the conditions to consummation of the merger agreement
between them, including Maytag shareholder approval and regulatory clearances,
the timing of such satisfaction and in the event the merger is completed,
Whirlpool's ability to realize expected benefits and the timing of such
realization.

MAYTAG ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

This document includes statements that do not directly or exclusively relate to
historical facts. Such statements are "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements speak only as
of this date and include statements regarding expectations as to the closing of
the transaction with Whirlpool. These statements are based on the current
expectations of management of Maytag. There are a number of risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
forward-looking statements included in this document. For example, with respect
to the transaction with Whirlpool (1) Maytag may be unable to obtain shareholder
approval




required for the transaction; (2) conditions to the closing of the transaction
may not be satisfied or the merger agreement may be terminated prior to closing;
(3) Maytag may be unable to obtain the regulatory approvals required to close
the transaction, or required regulatory approvals may delay the transaction or
result in the imposition of conditions that could have a material adverse effect
on Maytag or cause the parties to abandon the transaction; (4) Maytag may be
unable to achieve cost-cutting goals or it may take longer than expected to
achieve those goals; (5) the transaction may involve unexpected costs or
unexpected liabilities; (6) the credit ratings of Maytag or its subsidiaries may
be different from what the parties expect; (7) the businesses of Maytag may
suffer as a result of uncertainty surrounding the transaction; (8) the industry
may be subject to future regulatory or legislative actions that could adversely
affect Maytag; and (9) Maytag may be adversely affected by other economic,
business, and/or competitive factors. Additional factors that may affect the
future results of Maytag are set forth in its filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which are available at http://www.maytagcorp.com.
Maytag undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO THE PROPOSED MERGER AND WHERE TO FIND IT

Whirlpool and Maytag have filed a preliminary prospectus/proxy statement with
the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. Investors are urged to read
the preliminary prospectus/proxy statement, which contains important
information. The preliminary prospectus/proxy statement is, and other documents
filed by Whirlpool and Maytag with the SEC are, available free of charge at the
SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov) or from Whirlpool by directing a request to
Whirlpool Corporation, 2000 North M-63, Mail Drop 2800, Benton Harbor, MI
49022-2692, Attention: Larry Venturelli, Vice President, Investor Relations.
Neither this communication nor the preliminary prospectus/proxy statement
constitutes an offer to issue Whirlpool common stock in any jurisdiction outside
the United States where such offer or issuance would be prohibited -- such an
offer or issuance will only be made in accordance with the applicable laws of
such jurisdiction.

Whirlpool, Maytag and their respective directors, executive officers, and other
employees may be deemed to be participating in the solicitation of proxies from
Maytag stockholders in connection with the approval of the proposed transaction.
Information about Whirlpool's directors and executive officers is available in
Whirlpool's proxy statement, dated March 18, 2005, for its 2005 annual meeting
of stockholders. Information about Maytag's directors and executive officers is
available in Maytag's proxy statement, dated April 4, 2005, for its 2005 annual
meeting of stockholders. Additional information about the interests of potential
participants is included in the preliminary prospectus/proxy statement Whirlpool
and Maytag filed with the SEC.

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