Form 11-K
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 11-K

 


 

 

(Mark One)

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission file number 1-3932

 


 

WHIRLPOOL 401(k) PLAN

Full title of plan:

 

Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

 

WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Administration Center

2000 North M-63

Benton Harbor, MI 49022-2692

 



Table of Contents

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE

 

Whirlpool 401(k) Plan

Years Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003


Table of Contents

Whirlpool 401(k) Plan

 

Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule

 

Years Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003

 

Contents

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   1

Financial Statements

    

Statements of Assets Available for Benefits

   2

Statements of Changes in Assets Available for Benefits

   3

Notes to Financial Statements

   4

Supplemental Schedule

    

Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

   10


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Trustees

Whirlpool 401(k) Plan

 

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets available for benefits of the Whirlpool 401(k) Plan as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related statements of changes in assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the assets available for benefits of the Plan at December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the changes in its assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2004, is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole.

 

ERNST & YOUNG LLP

 

May 11, 2005

Chicago, Illinois

 

1


Table of Contents

Whirlpool 401(k) Plan

 

Statements of Assets Available for Benefits

 

     December 31

     2004

   2003

Contributions receivable:

             

Employer

   $ 13,075,042    $ 14,207,693

Participant

     4,664,606      5,087,025

Investments at fair value:

             

Mutual funds

     535,248,336      454,208,282

Common and collective funds

     218,826,143      219,296,210

Common stock of Whirlpool Corporation

     102,053,370      104,476,286

Brokerage accounts

     4,123,533      —  

Participant loans

     42,840,353      49,387,310
    

  

Total investments

     903,091,735      827,368,088
    

  

Assets available for benefits

   $ 920,831,383    $ 846,662,806
    

  

 

See accompanying notes.

 

2


Table of Contents

Whirlpool 401(k) Plan

 

Statements of Changes in Assets Available for Benefits

 

     Years Ended December 31

     2004

    2003

Additions

              

Dividends on Whirlpool Corporation common stock

   $ 2,586,751     $ 2,372,671

Other dividend income

     7,789,368       4,324,864

Interest income

     11,590,729       10,704,330
    


 

       21,966,848       17,401,865

Employer contributions

     13,075,042       14,208,662

Participant contributions

     59,096,633       56,424,348

Rollover contributions

     2,578,485       2,614,442
    


 

       74,750,160       73,247,452
    


 

Total additions

     96,717,008       90,649,317

Deductions

              

Benefit payments

     67,057,557       48,781,020

Administrative expenses

     200,067       265,814
    


 

Total deductions

     67,257,624       49,046,834

Net realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments:

              

Whirlpool Corporation common stock

     (4,885,241 )     38,922,159

Mutual funds

     47,773,481       89,723,886

Common and collective funds

     1,442,177       8,673,149

Other

     378,776       —  
    


 

       44,709,193       137,319,194
    


 

Net increase

     74,168,577       178,921,677

Assets available for benefits:

              

Beginning of year

     846,662,806       667,741,129
    


 

End of year

   $ 920,831,383     $ 846,662,806
    


 

 

See accompanying notes.

 

3


Table of Contents

Whirlpool 401(k) Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

Years Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003

 

1. Description of Plan

 

The Whirlpool 401(k) Plan (the Plan) is a defined-contribution plan sponsored by Whirlpool Corporation and participating subsidiaries (referred to as Employer, Plan Sponsor, or Whirlpool). The following description of the Plan provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Whirlpool 401(k) Plan Summary Plan Description for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.

 

Eligibility

 

Essentially all U.S.-based full-time and part-time employees of Whirlpool are eligible to participate upon employment. Participation in the Plan is voluntary. The Plan allows each participant to make tax-deferred contributions to the Plan, by payroll deduction, each payroll period, in any whole percentage of eligible earnings up to 50% (15% for highly compensated employees), but not to exceed the maximum allowable annual contribution, as determined by the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Participants who have attained age 50 by the end of the Plan year are eligible to make catch-up contributions subject to the limitations of Section 414(v) of the IRC. Such elections are made and can be adjusted on a daily basis by giving notice to the custodian via the voice response system, the Internet website, or the customer service representative, to be effective, in most cases, as of the beginning of the next payroll period. In addition, certain employees may make additional tax-deferred contributions to the Plan by directing a portion of any annual bonus due to the participant, of one or more designated bonus plans, be deposited into the Plan. The amount of any such additional tax-deferred contributions may be elected by the employee to equal the same percentage of any annual bonus payment as is applied for payroll deduction purposes or in any whole percentage between 0% and 75%, as the participant elects, provided, however, that the deduction percentage applicable to a participant who is a highly compensated participant may not exceed 15%.

 

Contributions and Vesting

 

Each year, the Employer establishes performance goals. Performance is measured in terms of annual balanced scorecard measures as determined by the Whirlpool Board of Directors. The attainment of these goals results in an Employer matching contribution based on the tax-deferred contributions of each employee that do not exceed 5% of the employee’s eligible earnings. Regardless of performance, the Employer will make a guaranteed matching contribution of $0.25 per dollar that eligible employees contribute to the Plan. The matching contribution was $0.38 per dollar of eligible employees’ contributions for 2004 and $0.43 for 2003, up to 5% of compensation. Employer matching contributions and tax-deferred contributions are 100% vested at all times. Participants who terminate employment during the year are not eligible for Employer matching contributions unless the termination is due to the participant’s retirement, death, disability, or a reduction in work force.

 

4


Table of Contents

Whirlpool 401(k) Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

1. Description of Plan (continued)

 

Participants may direct employee contributions to one or a combination of several fund alternatives offered by the Plan. Employer matching contributions are initially invested in the Whirlpool ESOP Plan, but may subsequently be transferred to another investment fund in accordance with provisions of the Plan. Additionally, as of July 1, 2004, a self-directed brokerage account was offered whereby participants can choose from investments outside the Plan’s fund line-up in which to invest a portion of their account. Special contribution, loan, distribution, withdrawal, and fee allocation rules apply to self-directed brokerage accounts.

 

Benefit Payments

 

On termination of service, a participant with an account balance of $5,000 or less will receive a single lump-sum distribution equal to the value of his or her account. Participants with account balances exceeding $5,000 can elect to receive a lump-sum distribution or may elect a monthly installment option. Monthly installments are paid over a period of time not to exceed 9 years and 11 months.

 

Participant Accounts

 

Deposits and withdrawals from each investment fund and transfers among investment funds are made at the direction of the participants. The Employer is responsible for determining that such transactions are in accordance with the Plan.

 

Income, including market value adjustments, under each of these funds is allocated to the participants’ accounts daily based on each participant’s equity in the fund. Self-directed brokerage accounts are segregated accounts within the trust fund and are treated for investment purposes as an investment of the account of the participant who has the self-directed brokerage account.

 

The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s account.

 

Plan investments are made in the manner specified in the trust agreement and in accordance with the stated investment policies of the respective funds. To the extent monies available for investment are not immediately invested, as provided in the investment policy of each fund, such monies are temporarily invested in short-term income investments. All investments are made in light of a continuing evaluation of economic and market conditions that may cause such investment policy to vary from time to time.

 

5


Table of Contents

Whirlpool 401(k) Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

1. Description of Plan (continued)

 

Loans

 

The Plan provides for loans to participants in amounts up to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of a participant’s account balance, with a minimum loan amount of $500. Such loans are allocated to a separate loan account and treated for investment purposes as an investment of the account of the participant who received the loan.

 

Plan Termination

 

Although the Employer has not expressed any intent to terminate the Plan, it is free to do so at any time subject to the provisions of the IRC and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

 

2. Significant Accounting Policies

 

Investments Held by the Trust

 

All the investments of the Plan are held by the trust. The custodian invests all assets of the trust except as follows: (i) the trustees direct the investment of the Whirlpool ESOP Plan; and (ii) the trustees may direct that a specified percentage of the assets credited to any or all of the investment fund or funds be allocated to one or more separate accounts within said investment fund and invested in accordance with the direction of the trustees or an investment manager designated by the trustees.

 

Contributions, loan distributions and repayments, and benefit payments are specifically identified to the fund or funds within the trust to which assets of the Plan are credited. Except with respect to self-directed brokerage accounts, which are segregated accounts, investment income and related expenses of the trust are allocated to the investment funds based on each investment fund’s proportionate share of the current value of the trust assets daily.

 

Effective February 22, 2002, the Whirlpool Stock Fund was converted to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan and renamed the Whirlpool ESOP Plan. On a quarterly basis, participants have the option to reinvest dividends in additional shares of Whirlpool stock in the Whirlpool ESOP Plan or receive a cash payout. All dividends continue to be 100% vested.

 

6


Table of Contents

Whirlpool 401(k) Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

2. Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

 

Investment Valuation

 

Whirlpool common stock is valued at the last reported sales price on a national securities exchange on the last business day of the Plan year. The fair value of the participation units and shares owned by the Plan in the common and collective funds and mutual funds is based on quoted redemption or market values on the last business day of the Plan year. Participant loans are stated at their outstanding balances, which approximate fair value.

 

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

 

Administrative Expenses

 

In general, Plan expenses, except for broker commissions, self-directed brokerage account fees, portfolio transaction fees, and investment management fees (all of which are paid by participants), are paid by Whirlpool.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires the trustees to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

3. Investments

 

The fair value of individual investments that represent 5% or more of the Plan’s assets is as follows:

 

     December 31

     2004

   2003

Putnam Stable Value Fund

   $ 181,301,046    $ 170,243,408

Putnam Voyager Fund

     113,963,512      121,456,128

Whirlpool Corporation common stock

     102,053,370      104,476,286

Neuberger & Berman Genesis Fund

     88,343,824      64,968,423

TCW Galileo Select Equity I/Concentrated

     56,595,633      *

EuroPacific Growth Fund

     53,858,444      *

Vanguard Windsor II Fund – Admiral Class

     47,033,390      *

Putnam Asset Allocation Balanced Fund

     —        49,329,378

Putnam New Opportunities Fund

     —        48,547,697

* Did not meet the 5% threshold.

 

7


Table of Contents

Whirlpool 401(k) Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

4. Income Tax Status

 

The Plan has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service dated May 1, 2002, stating that the Plan is qualified under section 401(a) of the IRC and that the related trust is exempt from taxation. Subsequent to this letter, the Plan was amended. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the IRC to maintain its qualification. The plan administrator believes that the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC and, therefore, believes that the Plan, as amended, is qualified and the related trust is tax-exempt.

 

5. Risks and Uncertainties

 

The Plan invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market, and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of assets available for benefits.

 

6. Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500

 

The following is a reconciliation of assets available for benefits and benefits paid to participants per the financial statements to the Form 5500:

 

     December 31

 
     2004

   2003

 

Assets available for benefits per the financial statements

   $ 920,831,383    $ 846,662,806  

Deemed distributions of participant loans

     —        (1,414,466 )
    

  


Assets available for benefits per the Form 5500

   $ 920,831,383    $ 845,248,340  
    

  


 

    

Year Ended

December 31

2004


 

Benefits paid to participants per the financial statements

   $ 67,057,557  

Add deemed distributions of participant loans at December 31, 2004

     —    

Less deemed distributions of participant loans at December 31, 2003

     (1,414,466 )
    


Benefits paid to participants per the Form 5500

   $ 65,643,091  
    


 

 

8


Table of Contents

Whirlpool 401(k) Plan

 

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

6. Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500 (continued)

 

Deemed distributions of loans are recorded as distributions on the Form 5500 but are recorded as investments in the financial statements.

 

7. Subsequent Event

 

Effective January 1, 2005, the defined contributions services business of Putnam Investments (the Plan’s trustee and record-keeper) is now known as Mercer HR Services. In addition, Mercer Trust Company assumed the role of successor corporate trustee of the trust, effective as of January 1, 2005.

 

The Plan was amended, effective as of March 28, 2005, to state that on termination of service, a participant with an account balance of $1,000 or less will receive a single lump-sum distribution equal to the value of his or her account. Participants with account balances exceeding $1,000 can elect to receive a lump-sum distribution or may elect a monthly installment option.

 

9


Table of Contents

Supplemental Schedule


Table of Contents

Whirlpool 401(k) Plan

 

Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets

(Held at End of Year)

 

EIN #38-1490038    Plan #001

 

December 31, 2004

 

Description of Investment


   Number of
Shares or Units


 

Current

Value


Mutual funds:

          

Putnam* Money Market Fund – SDB

   151,773   $ 151,773

Barclays Lifepath 2040

   438,088     7,460,647

Barclays Lifepath Retirement Fund

   1,002,818     11,211,501

Barclays Lifepath 2030

   1,027,645     15,281,085

Barclays Lifepath 2010

   2,236,884     28,497,907

Barclays Lifepath 2020

   2,129,234     32,343,059

Vanguard Explorer Fund

   508,109     35,272,908

Barclays S&P 500 Stock Fund

   2,162,268     45,234,653

Vanguard Windsor II Fund – Admiral Class

   862,207     47,033,390

EuroPacific Growth Fund

   1,511,604     53,858,444

TCW Galileo Select Equity I/Concentrated Core

   2,946,155     56,595,633

Neuberger & Berman* Genesis Trust

   2,070,397     88,343,824

Putnam* Voyager Fund

   6,648,980     113,963,512
        

           535,248,336

Common and collective funds:

          

Putnam* Bond Index Fund

   2,672,728     37,525,097

Putnam* Stable Value Fund

   181,301,046     181,301,046
        

           218,826,143

Whirlpool Corporation* common stock

   1,474,547     102,053,370

Brokerage Account

   —       4,123,533

Participant loans

   Varying maturities
with interest rates
of 9%
    42,840,353
        

Total investments

       $ 903,091,735
        


* Party in interest.

 

10


Table of Contents

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees of the Whirlpool 401(k) Plan have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Whirlpool 401(k) Plan
Date: June 29, 2005        
    By:  

/s/ Roy W. Templin


    Name:   Roy W. Templin
    Title:   Executive Vice President and
        Chief Financial Officer

 

 


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

TO

 

FORM 11-K FOR

 

WHIRLPOOL 401(k) PLAN

 

Exhibit
Number


 

Description of Exhibit


23   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm