[LETTERHEAD OF WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION] August 2, 2000 Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549 Re: Whirlpool Corporation - Form 8-K -------------------------------- Ladies and Gentlemen: On behalf of Whirlpool Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), accompanying this letter for filing (via EDGAR) with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is a Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 2, 2000 covering the Company's mailing of it's 1999 annual report for the Whirlpool 401(K) Plan to it's plan members. In addition, a copy of the Form 8-K is being filed with both the New York Stock Exchange and the Chicago Stock Exchange. Please call if you should have any questions regarding the accompanying filing. Yours very truly, /s/ Robert T. Kenagy SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 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) August 2, 2000 WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION ----------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 1-3932 38-1490038 - ---------------------------- ---------------- ---------------------------- (State or other jurisdiction (Commission File (I.R.S. Employer of incorporation) Number) Identification No.) 2000 M63 North, Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022-2692 --------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive officers) (Zip Code) (616)-923-5000 -------------------------------------------------- Registrant's telephone number, including area code Item 5. Other Events ------------ On August 2, 2000, the Company commenced mailing a summary of the annual report for the Whirlpool 401(k) Plan for the 1999 plan year that ended December 31, 1999 to members of the Plan. Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits --------------------------------- Copy of annual report to members of the Whirlpool Corporation 401(k) Plan. 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 Registrant Date: August 2, 2000 By: /s/ Robert T. Kenagy ------------------------------ Name: Robert T. Kenagy Title: Associate General Counsel and Secretary 1999 Annual Report to members of the Whirlpool 401(k) Plan This is a summary of the annual report for the Whirlpool 401(k) Plan, EIN 38- 1490038, for the 1999 plan year that ended December 31, 1999. The annual report has been filed with the Internal Revenue Service, as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Basic financial statement Benefits under the plan are provided by the Whirlpool 401(k) Trust. Plan expenses were $53,392,895. These expenses included $91,930 in administrative expenses and $53,300,965 in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. There were no other expenses reported. A total of 20,123 persons were participants in or beneficiaries of the plan at the end of the plan year. The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of the plan, was $863,687,683 as of December 31, 1999, compared to $628,482,165 as of January 1, 1999. During the plan year, the plan experienced an increase in its net assets of $235,205,518. This increase includes unrealized appreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the difference between the value of the plan's assets at the end of the year and the value of the assets at the beginning of the year or the cost of assets acquired during the year. The plan had total income of $288,598,413, including employer contributions of $12,134,944, employee contributions of $56,571,780, and earnings from investments of $219,891,689. Minimum funding standards The plan is not subject to the minimum funding standards of ERISA. However, a $12,134,944 company contribution was made to the plan for the year ending December 31, 1999. Your rights to additional information under the SAR You have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, on request. To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any part thereof, write to the address below or call Putnam Investments at 1-888-WHR- 401k. You also have the right to receive from the plan administrator, on request, a statement of the assets and liabilities of the plan and the accompanying notes, or a statement of income and expenses of the plan and accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy of the full annual report from the plan administrator, these two statements and accompanying notes will be included as part of the report. You also have the legally protected right to examine the annual report at the main office of the plan at the Administrative Center, Benton Harbor,Michigan 49022, and at the U.S. Department of Labor, upon payment of copying costs. Requests to the Department of Labor should be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, N5507, Pension and Welfare Benefit Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20210. The Summary Annual Report (SAR) Under ERISA A Cross-Reference to the Annual Report (5500) SAR ITEM FORM 5500 LINE ITEMS Funding arrangement 11,12 Total plan expenses 35(h) Administrative expenses 35(g) col. b Benefits paid 35(e)(iii) col. b Other expenses 35(f) Total participants 7(f) Value of plan assets (net): End of plan year 35(l) Beginning of plan year 35(k) Change in net assets 35(l) minus 35(k) Total income 35(d) Employer contributions 35(a)(i)(A) & 35 (a)(ii) Employee contributions 35(a)(i)(B) & 35 (a)(ii) Gain/Loss from sale of assets 35(b)(iv) col. b Earnings from investments 35(b)(i)G col. b, 35(b)(ii)(B) col. b, 35(b)(iii), 35(b)(v) & 35(b)(vi) Total insurance premiums 35(e)(ii) or Total of Schs. A Part II. Item (5)(b) Funding deficiency: Defined benefit plans Sch. B, item 9(m) or 10(h) Defined contribution plans 15(b)(iii)