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): April 21, 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 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

At the 2009 annual meeting of stockholders of Whirlpool Corporation (the “Company”) held on April 21, 2009 (the “2009 Annual Meeting”), the stockholders approved the Whirlpool Corporation Performance Excellence Plan (the “PEP Plan”), as described in the Company’s Proxy Statement dated March 2, 2009 relating to the 2009 Annual Meeting. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the PEP Plan, as filed as Exhibit 10.1 attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

At the 2009 Annual Meeting, the stockholders approved amendments to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Restated Certificate”), as described in the Company’s Proxy Statement dated March 2, 2009 relating to the annual meeting. These amendments provide for the elimination of supermajority stockholder voting provisions and the phased elimination over three years of the Company’s classified Board of Directors as well as certain conforming changes and other amendments (the “Amendments”). The Restated Certificate, including the Amendments, was submitted to the State of Delaware by the Company on April 22, 2009 and became effective upon filing. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Restated Certificate, as amended and filed as Exhibit 3.1 attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

Effective April 21, 2009, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company amended the By-laws of the Company (the “By-laws”). The primary changes to the By-laws were as follows:

 

   

Amended Article II, Section 3 to clarify that the location at which a stockholder may examine the list of stockholders entitled to vote at a meeting is the Company’s principal place of business.

 

   

Amended Article II, Section 9 to clarify the manner by which rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders shall be adopted.

 

   

Amended Article II, Sections 11 and 12 and added Section 13 to clarify and update the process and procedures for stockholders to nominate an individual for election to the Board or to propose other business to be considered at an annual or special meeting of stockholders. For example, the amended sections provide that the notice required to be submitted by a stockholder for either director nominations or other business must disclose, among other things, all swaps, hedges and other derivative instruments and arrangements entered into, directly or indirectly, by the stockholder or any of its controlled affiliates, and all contracts, arrangements, understandings and relationships with respect to the stockholder’s investment in the Company, including with other stockholders, potential investors in the Company and potential transaction advisers such as financial advisers, legal counsel and proxy solicitation firms.

 

   

Amended Article III, Section 7 to clarify that in no event shall the presence of less than 1/3 of the total number of directors constitute a quorum for any meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

   

Added Article VI, Section 4 to specify the manner by which the Company may fix the record date for meetings of stockholders and other corporate actions.

 

   

Added Article VIII, Section 5 to identify the means by which a stockholder or director may waive the obligation of the Company to provide notice to such person in various circumstances.

 

   

Added Article VIII, Section 6 regarding reliance upon books, records and reports.

 

   

Added Article VIII, Section 7 regarding the calculation of time periods contained in the By-laws.

 

   

Amended Article IX to specify that any action of the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By-laws shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding common stock of the Company at a meeting of stockholders called for such purpose.

 

   

The Board also made certain technical and conforming amendments to the By-laws.


The foregoing is a summary of the amendments to the By-laws. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the By-laws, as amended and filed as Exhibit 3.2 attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

The Description of Securities attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference updates and supersedes the description contained in Item 5 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 23, 1996 under the Exchange Act of 1934 and any subsequent amendment filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

3


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Document

  3.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Whirlpool Corporation (Amended and Restated as of April 22, 2009)
  3.2   By-laws of Whirlpool Corporation (Amended and Restated as of April 21, 2009)
10.1   Whirlpool Corporation Performance Excellence Plan
99.1   Description of Securities


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: April 23, 2009   By:  

/s/ Daniel F. Hopp

  Name:   Daniel F. Hopp
  Title:   Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs,
General Counsel and Secretary

 


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Document

  3.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Whirlpool Corporation (Amended and Restated as of April 22, 2009)
  3.2   By-laws of Whirlpool Corporation (Amended and Restated as of April 21, 2009)
10.1   Whirlpool Corporation Performance Excellence Plan
99.1   Description of Securities

Exhibit 3.1

RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF

WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

FIRST: The name of the Corporation is Whirlpool Corporation.

SECOND: The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

THIRD: The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted are as follows: To engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

FOURTH: The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 260,000,000 shares, of which 250,000,000 shares shall be Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, and 10,000,000 shares shall be Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share.

The shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, each of which series may have such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of each such series of Preferred Stock adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. Any of the voting powers, designations, preferences, rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of any such series may be made dependent upon facts ascertainable outside this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any amendment thereto or outside the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of each such series of Preferred Stock adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, provided that the manner in which such facts shall operate upon the voting powers, designations, preferences, rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of each such series of Preferred Stock is clearly and expressly set forth in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of each such series of Preferred Stock adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. Authority to adopt such resolution or resolutions stating and expressing any or all of the foregoing is hereby expressly vested in the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

In particular and without limitation of the foregoing, the Board of Directors may establish, designate and fix the following with respect to each such series of Preferred Stock: the voting rights, if any, of the stock of each such series which may, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, include (i) the right to more or less than one vote per share on any or all matters voted upon by the stockholders, (ii) the right to vote, as a series by itself or together with other series of Preferred Stock or together with all series of the Preferred Stock as it class, upon such matters, under such circumstances and upon such conditions as the Board of Directors may fix, including, without limitation, the right, voting as a series by itself or together with other series of Preferred Stock or together with all series of Preferred Stock as a class, to elect one or more directors of the Corporation, and (iii) the right to vote cumulatively, as a series by itself or together with other series of Preferred Stock or together with all series of Preferred Stock as a class in any election of directors of the Corporation; the dividend rights, if any, of holders of stock of each such series; the terms on which stock of each


such series may be redeemed, if the stock of such series is to be redeemable; the rights of holders of stock of each such series upon dissolution or any distribution of assets; the terms or amount of the sinking fund, if any, to be provided for the purchase or redemption of stock of each such series; the terms upon which the stock of each such series may be converted into or exchanged for stock of any other class or classes or of any one or more series of Preferred Stock, if the stock of such series is to be convertible or exchangeable; and such other designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be desired to be so fixed.

The holders of Common Stock, subject to the provisions of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation and to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, shall have and possess all of the rights appertaining to capital stock of the Corporation.

No holder of Common Stock of the Corporation shall be entitled as such to any preemptive right to subscribe for, purchase or receive any part of the shares of stock of the Corporation at any time held in its treasury or of any unissued shares of any class of stock of the Corporation, either authorized at present or which may at any time hereafter be authorized, or of any issue of notes, bonds or debentures, whether or not convertible into any class of stock of the Corporation, or of any issue of warrants, options or rights to subscribe for shares of any class of stock of the Corporation.

FIFTH: (a) Subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, the number of directors of the Corporation shall be determined from time to time by, or in the manner provided in, the By-Laws of the Corporation. Commencing at the annual meeting of stockholders that is held in calendar year 2010 (the “2010 Annual Meeting”), directors shall be elected annually for terms of one year, except that any director in office at the 2010 Annual Meeting whose term expires at the annual meeting of stockholders held in calendar year 2011 or calendar year 2012 (a “Continuing Classified Director”) shall continue to hold office until the end of the term for which such director was elected and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified. Accordingly, at the 2010 Annual Meeting, the successors of the directors whose terms expire at that meeting shall be elected for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders that is held in calendar year 2011 and until such directors’ successors shall have been elected and qualified. At the annual meeting of stockholders that is held in calendar year 2011, the successors of the directors whose terms expire at that meeting shall be elected for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders that is held in calendar year 2012 and until such directors’ successors shall have been elected and qualified. At each annual meeting of stockholders thereafter, all directors shall be elected for terms expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders and until such directors’ successors shall have been elected and qualified. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors or newly created directorship resulting from any increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum.

(b) Directors elected prior to the 2010 Annual Meeting and any director appointed to fill a vacancy of any director elected prior to the 2010 Annual Meeting, may be removed from office only for cause. Any other director may be removed from office with or without cause.


(c) Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors shall be given in the manner provided in the By-Laws.

SIXTH: (a) A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

If the Delaware General Corporation Law hereafter is amended to further eliminate or limit the liability of a director, then a director of the Corporation, in addition to the circumstances in which a director is not personally liable as set forth in the preceding paragraph, shall not be liable to the fullest extent permitted by the amended Delaware General Corporation Law.

Any repeal or modification of the foregoing two paragraphs by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

(b)(1) Each individual who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that such individual, or an individual of whom such individual is the legal representative, (i) is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, (ii) is or was serving (at such time as such individual is or was a director or officer of the Corporation) at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, administrator, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans or (iii) is or was serving (at such time as such individual is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation) at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee or administrator of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, partner, trustee, administrator, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, partner, trustee, administrator, employee or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, partner, trustee, administrator, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of such indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in paragraph (b)(2) hereof with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.


The right to indemnification conferred in this Section shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter “advances”); provided, however, that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by an indemnitee in such indemnitee’s capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all advances if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section or otherwise. The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors or by action of any person to whom the Board of Directors has delegated such authority, provide indemnification to other employees and agents of the Corporation with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification.

(b)(2) If a claim under paragraph (b)(1) of this Section is not paid in full by the Corporation within thirty days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover advances, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such claim. In any action brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right hereunder (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any, has been tendered to the Corporation) it shall be a defense that, and in any action brought by the Corporation to recover advances the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such advances if, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to an action brought by the indemnitee or create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct. In any action brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right hereunder or by the Corporation to recover payments by the Corporation of advances, the burden of proof shall be on the Corporation.

(b)(3) The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Article shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, By-Law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

(b)(4) The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 


SEVENTH: The following provisions are inserted for the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation and to create, define, limit and regulate the powers of the Corporation, the directors and the stockholders:

(a) The Board of Directors shall have power to adopt, amend, alter and repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation.

(b) The presence at any stockholders’ meeting, in person or by proxy, of stockholders of the Corporation representing at least 50% of the voting power of the then outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereat shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business, except as otherwise provided by statute, but a smaller number may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be obtained.

(c) The Board of Directors may from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions and regulations the books and records of the Corporation or any of them shall be open to the inspection of the stockholders, and no stockholder shall have any right to inspect any document, book or record of the Corporation, except as conferred by statute, unless authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors.

(d) Any contract, transaction or act of the Corporation or of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof, or of any officer of the Corporation, which shall be ratified at any annual meeting of stockholders, or at any special meeting thereof called for such purpose, by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding stock entitled to vote thereon, shall be as valid and as binding as though ratified by every stockholder of the Corporation.

(e) Any action required or permitted, to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be taken at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders’ of the Corporation and the power of stockholders to consent in writing, without a meeting, to the taking of any such action is specifically denied.

EIGHTH: Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this Corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this Corporation and its stockholders, or any class of them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary way of this Corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof, or on the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under the provisions of Section 291 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under the provisions of Section 279 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs. If a majority in number representing three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of this Corporation as a consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned


by the court to which the said application has been made, be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this Corporation, as the case may be, and also on this Corporation.

NINTH: The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, or repeal any of the provisions contained in its Restated Certificate of Incorporation in the manner now or hereafter set forth in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation and as prescribed by statute, and all rights and powers conferred on officers, directors and stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

* * * * * * * * *

Exhibit 3.2

B Y - L A W S

O F

W H I R L P O O L C O R P O R A T I O N

(amended effective April 21, 2009)

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

SECTION 1. Registered Office . The registered office of Whirlpool Corporation (the “Corporation”) shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware, and the name of the registered agent in charge thereof is Corporation Service Company.

SECTION 2. Additional Offices . The Corporation may also have offices at such other places within or without the State of Delaware as the board of directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

SECTION 1. Place of Holding Meetings . The annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors shall be held at such place, within or without the State of Delaware, as may from time to time be fixed by the board of directors. Subject to the provisions of Section 4 of this Article II, each meeting of stockholders for any other purpose may be held at such place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be fixed by the board of directors.

SECTION 2. Annual Meetings; Election of Directors . The annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors shall be held on the third Tuesday in April, or such other date and time as may be determined by the board of directors. Any other proper business may also be transacted at the annual meeting.

SECTION 3. Stockholders’ List . At least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder, shall be prepared by or for the Secretary. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. Such list shall be produced and kept at the meeting for inspection by any stockholder who is present.

SECTION 4. Special Meetings . Special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes, except as otherwise prescribed by statute or by the certificate of incorporation, may be called by the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, or the President and


shall be called by the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, or the President or the Secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the directors in office or pursuant to a resolution adopted by the board of directors. Such request or resolution shall state the place, date and hour and the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. No business shall be transacted at any special meeting except that referred to in the notice thereof.

SECTION 5. Notice of Meetings . A written or printed notice stating the place, date and hour of the meeting and, in case of a special meeting or whenever required by statute, by the certificate of incorporation, or by these By-laws, further stating the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given by the Secretary to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat by delivering such notice to him personally or by mailing it, postage prepaid, addressed to him at his address as it appears on the stock books of the Corporation or by transmitting the notice to the stockholder in any other manner permitted by Delaware law. Such notice shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting unless otherwise required by law. An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of a transfer agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

SECTION 6. Quorum . The holders of at least fifty percent (50%) of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall be requisite and shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or the certificate of incorporation. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then the holders of a majority of the shares of capital stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereat shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice or call other than by announcement at the meeting of the time and place of the holding of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

SECTION 7. Voting . When a quorum is present at any meeting, any question properly brought before such meeting shall be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, unless the question is one upon which a different vote is required by provision of statute, the certificate of incorporation or these By-laws, in which case such provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.

Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may, by an instrument in writing subscribed by such stockholder, authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy instrument shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date unless such instrument provides for a longer period.

SECTION 8. Inspectors of Election . In advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Corporation shall appoint two inspectors of election who shall subscribe an oath or affirmation to execute faithfully the duties of inspectors at such election with strict impartiality and according to the best of their ability and who shall canvass the votes and make and sign a certificate of the result thereof. No candidate for the office of director shall be appointed as such inspector.

SECTION 9. Conduct of Stockholders’ Meetings . The meetings of the stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, or if he is not present, by a Vice Chairman or the President, or if none of such officers is present, by a Vice President designated by the board of directors, or if none of such officers is present, by a chairman to be elected at the meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation, if present, shall act as secretary of such meetings or, if he is not present, an Assistant Secretary designated by the chairman of the meeting shall so act; if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present, then a secretary shall be appointed by the chairman of the meeting.

 

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The board of directors of the Corporation may adopt by resolution such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the board of directors, the chair of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chair, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the board of directors or prescribed by the chair of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (c) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting, to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chair shall permit; (d) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof, and (e) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the board of directors or the chair of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with rules of parliamentary procedure.

SECTION 10. Validity of Proxies . At every meeting of the stockholders, all proxies shall be received and taken charge of and all ballots shall be received and canvassed by the inspectors of election for the meeting, who shall decide all questions touching the qualification of voters, the validity of the proxies, and the acceptance or rejection of votes.

SECTION 11. Nominations and Qualifications of Directors .

(a) Subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, nominations for the election of directors may be made by (i) the board of directors or (ii) a stockholder who (A) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11, on the record date for the meeting and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (C) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11 as to such nomination. For a nomination or nominations to be properly made by any stockholder entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, written notice of such stockholder’s intent to make such nomination or nominations must be given, either by personal delivery or by registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (and must be received by the Secretary) not later than (i) with respect to an election to be had at an annual meeting of stockholders to be held on the third Tuesday in April, ninety (90) days in advance of such meeting, and (ii) with respect to an election to be had at an annual meeting to be held on a day other than the third Tuesday in April or to be held at a special meeting of stockholders for the election of directors, the close of business on the seventh (7th) day following the date on which notice of such meeting is first given to stockholders. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the board of directors at any annual meeting is increased and the first public announcement of such increase is less than 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by these By-laws shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for

 

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any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation by the close of business on the seventh (7th) day following the day on which a public announcement with respect to such elections is first made by the Corporation.

(b) To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary required by Section 11(a) of this Article II must set forth: (i) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner; (ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, and including any interests described below held by any member of such stockholder’s or beneficial owner’s immediate family sharing the same household, as of the date of such stockholder’s notice (which information shall be confirmed or updated, if necessary, by such stockholder and beneficial owner not later than 10 days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date) set forth: (A) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned (as defined below) and owned of record by such stockholder and beneficial owner, (B) the class or series, if any, and number of options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation rights or similar rights with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares or other securities of the Corporation (each, a “Derivative Security”), which are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned by such stockholder and beneficial owner, (C) a description of any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit (including any performance-based fees) derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares or other securities of the Corporation, (D) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or beneficial owner has a right to vote any shares or other securities of the Corporation, (E) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or such beneficial owner that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Securities held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or beneficial owner is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, if any, and (G) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder or beneficial owner and any other person(s) (including their name(s)) in connection with or related to the ownership or voting of capital stock of the Corporation or Derivative Securities; (iii) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election to the board of directors, (A) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (B) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and

 

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associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K (or successor regulation) if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, and (C) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 11(d) of this Article II; (iv) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (A) a statement as to whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to elect such stockholder’s nominees and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such nomination, and (B) any other information relating to such stockholder or beneficial owner that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (v) a statement whether each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate, if elected, intends to tender, promptly following such person’s election or re-election, an irrevocable resignation effective upon such person’s failure to receive the required vote for re-election at the next meeting at which such person would face re-election and upon acceptance of such resignation by the board of directors in accordance with the relevant board policy; and (vi) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to make such nomination.

(c) The chairman of the meeting shall determine whether the requirements of this Section 11 have been met with respect to any nomination for the election of directors brought by a stockholder. If the chairman of the meeting determines that a nomination was not made in accordance with the terms of this Section 11, he or she shall so declare at the meeting and any such nomination shall not be acted upon at the meeting.

(d) To be eligible to be a nominee for election or re-election as a director of the Corporation, a person must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under this Section 11) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such person (i) is not and will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) is not and will not become a party to

 

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any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein and (iii) would be in compliance, and if elected as a director of the Corporation will comply, with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation.

(e) The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve either as a director of the Corporation or as an independent director of the Corporation, or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the qualifications and/or independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

SECTION 12. Advance Notice of Stockholder Proposals .

(a) Subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, at an annual meeting of stockholders, only such business shall be conducted, and only such proposals shall be acted upon, (i) as shall have been brought before the annual meeting by (A) the board of directors or (B) a stockholder who (1) is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 12, on the record date for the meeting and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (3) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 12 as to such business, and (ii) as shall otherwise be proper subjects for stockholder action and shall be properly introduced at the meeting. For a proposal or proposals to be properly brought before an annual meeting by any stockholder entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, written notice of such stockholder’s intent to make such proposal or proposals must be given, either by personal delivery or by registered or certified United States mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (and must be received by the Secretary) not later than (i) with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders to be held on the third Tuesday in April, ninety (90) days in advance of such meeting, and (ii) with respect to an annual meeting to be held on a day other than the third Tuesday in April, the close of business on the seventh (7th) day following the date on which notice of such meeting is first given to stockholders. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(b) To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary pursuant to Section 12(a) of this Article II must set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (i) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, the information called for by Section 11(b)(i) and Section 11(b)(ii) of this Article II; (ii) a brief description of (A) the business desired to be brought before such meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these By-laws, the language of the proposed amendment), (B) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and (C) any material interest of such stockholder or beneficial owner in such business, including a

 

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description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder or beneficial owner and any other person(s) (including the name(s) of such other person(s)) in connection with or related to the proposal of such business by the stockholder; (iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (A) a statement as to whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s voting shares required under applicable law to approve the proposal and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal and (B) any other information relating to such stockholder or beneficial owner that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (iv) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business.

(c) The chairman of the meeting shall determine whether the requirements of this Section 12 have been met with respect to any stockholder proposal. If the chairman of the meeting determines that a stockholder proposal was not made in accordance with the terms of this Section 12, he or she shall so declare at the meeting and any such proposal shall not be acted upon at the meeting.

(d) At a special meeting of stockholders, only such business shall be acted upon as shall have been set forth in the notice relating to the meeting or as shall constitute matters incident to the conduct of the meeting as the chairman of the meeting shall determine to be appropriate.

SECTION 13. General .

(a) Notwithstanding Section 11 and Section 12 of this Article II, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in these By-laws; provided, however, that any references in these By-laws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to any nomination or other business to be considered pursuant to Section 11 or Section 12 of this Article II.

(b) Nothing in these By-laws shall be deemed to affect any rights (1) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (2) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation if and to the extent provided for under applicable law, the certificate of incorporation or these By-laws.

(c) For the avoidance of doubt, (i) Section 11 of this Article II shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to nominate persons for election as directors of the Corporation and (ii) Section 12 of this Article II shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to submit business (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting) for consideration by the stockholders at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation.

 

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(d) For purposes of these By-laws: (i) “beneficially owned” (and phrases of similar import), when referring to shares owned by a person, shall mean all shares which such person is deemed to beneficially own pursuant to Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including shares which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other person with which such person has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any shares of the capital stock of the Corporation; and (ii) “publicly announced” and “public announcement” shall mean disclosure by the Corporation in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

SECTION 1. General Powers . The property and business of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of its board of directors, which shall possess all the powers of the Corporation except as may be otherwise provided by statute or by the certificate of incorporation or by these By-laws.

SECTION 2. Election of Directors; Terms of Office . At all meetings of the stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, a nominee for director shall be elected to the board of directors if the votes cast for such nominee’s election exceed the votes cast against such nominee’s election; provided, however, that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of the stockholders for which (i) the Secretary of the Corporation receives a notice that a stockholder has nominated a person for election to the board of directors in compliance with the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominees for director set forth in Section 11 of Article II; and (ii) such nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder on or prior to the tenth (10th) day preceding the date the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders. If directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast, stockholders shall not be permitted to vote against a nominee.

SECTION 3. Regular Meetings . An annual meeting of the board of directors may be held immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders and no notice of such meetings shall be necessary if a quorum be present, or the time and place of such meeting may instead be fixed by action of the board of directors and notice of the meeting given pursuant to Section 5 of this Article III. Such annual meeting shall constitute a regular meeting of the board of directors. Other regular meetings of the board of directors (so designated in the resolution fixing the dates thereof) may be held either within or without the State of Delaware on such dates as may be fixed from time to time by resolution of the board.

SECTION 4. Special Meetings . Special meetings of the board of directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, or the President and shall be called by the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, or the President or Secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the directors in office, and the person or persons so calling or requesting the calling of any special meeting of the board of directors shall in such call or request fix the date, hour and place, within or without the State of Delaware, for holding any such special meeting.

SECTION 5. Notice of Meetings . Notice of any meeting of the board of directors (except where no notice is required under Section 3 of this Article III) shall be given to each director by mail on or before the second day (excluding Sundays and legal holidays) next preceding the day of the meeting or by telegraph, cable, telecopier, telex, e-mail or other electronic transmission, or personally in writing, on or before the first day next preceding the day of the meeting.

 

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SECTION 6. Number of Directors . The number of directors which shall constitute the whole board of directors of the Corporation shall be not less than seven nor more than fifteen; provided that at all times a majority of the directors shall be persons who are not employed by the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries unless a proviso is waived by a majority of directors who are not so employed present at a meeting at which it is determined that such waiver is in the best interest of the Corporation. Within such limits the number of directors shall be as fixed at any meeting of the board of directors by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors then in office; provided, however, that no decrease in the number of directors constituting the whole board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. Vacancies created by an increase in the number of directors may be filled as provided in Section 10 of this Article III.

SECTION 7. Quorum . The presence at any meeting of the board of directors of a majority of the number of directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, provided that in no event shall less than  1 / 3 of the then current number of authorized directors constitute a quorum.

SECTION 8. Voting . The vote of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the board of directors unless by provision of statute, the certificate of incorporation or these By-laws the vote of a different number of directors is required, in which case such provision shall govern.

SECTION 9. Resignation . Any director or member of a committee of directors may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing or by e-mail or other electronic transmission, and shall take effect at the time specified therein, and if no time be specified, at the time of its receipt by the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, President or Secretary. Except as provided in Section 11(b) (v) of Article II and hereinafter, the acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. When there is a change in the principal occupation of a director from that in which he or she was engaged when elected to the board, such director shall promptly give notice of the change and submit a resignation from the board and all committees for consideration by the Chairman. The Chairman, with the approval of the full board, may elect to accept or reject such resignation. Directors who are full-time employees of the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries must promptly resign from the board and all committees 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 submit a resignation due to a change in occupation or due to the termination of employment with the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries may be waived by a 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 Corporation.

SECTION 10. Filling of Vacancies . Subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, in the event of a vacancy in the board of directors or any newly created directorship resulting from any increase in the number of directors or any vacancy in any committee of directors, a majority of the directors may, although less than a quorum, appoint any person to fill such vacancy upon the occurrence thereof (such person to hold office for the unexpired term of such office), or to fill such newly created directorship, and until such director’s successor shall have been elected or qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, or removal from office.

 

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SECTION 11. Ratification by Stockholders . Any contract, transaction or act of the Corporation or of the board of directors or of any committee thereof or of any officer of the Corporation which shall be ratified at any annual meeting of stockholders or at any special meeting thereof called for such purpose by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding stock of the Corporation shall be as valid and binding upon the Corporation and all of its stockholders as though ratified by every stockholder of the Corporation.

SECTION 12. Compensation of Directors . Directors and members of any committee of directors, other than those who shall be officers or employees of the Corporation or of a subsidiary thereof, shall be entitled to receive for their services as such directors or members either an annual fee or a fixed fee, or both, for attendance at meetings of the board or such committee, in such amounts as may be provided from time to time by resolution of the board, in addition to which directors and committee members shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for their expenses of attendance at meetings of the board or such committee; provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

SECTION 1. Appointment; Powers . The board of directors by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole board, may, (by provision of these By-laws or otherwise) designate one or more committees of the board, each committee to consist of such number of directors, in no event less than two, and to have such authority as the board may determine and specify in such a resolution. The board of directors may at any time, by resolution similarly adopted, change the number, members or powers of any such committee, fill vacancies, or discharge any such committee.

SECTION 2. Procedures; Meetings; Quorum . To the extent any such action is not taken by the board of directors, each committee may choose its own chairman and secretary, fix its own rules of procedure, and meet at such times and at such place or places as may be provided by such rules. At every meeting of each committee, the presence of a majority of all the members thereof shall be necessary to constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary to decide any question before the committee.

SECTION 3. Human Resources Committee . The Human Resources Committee shall consist of at least three (3) directors of the Corporation who are not officers or employees of the Corporation or of any subsidiary as shall be appointed from time to time by the board of directors. The Human Resources Committee shall make determinations and awards pursuant to any bonus or incentive plans of the Corporation, determine salaries to be paid to officers of the Corporation, the terms and conditions of their employment, the allotment of shares to officers and other employees under any stock option plan of the Corporation, and shall also make such other determinations as the Committee deems proper relating to remuneration or benefits to be paid to officers of the Corporation. At each meeting of the board of directors a report shall be made to the board respecting such determinations made by the Committee subsequent to the next preceding meeting of the board, and each such determination so made and reported shall be final unless, at said meeting, the same shall be revoked or modified by action of the board. In addition, the Chairman of the Board shall review with the Committee from time to time plans for the development, training and utilization of the management resources of the Corporation. On such occasions, the Human Resources Committee shall act in an advisory capacity to the Chief Executive Officer in respect of the foregoing. The Human Resources Committee shall have and perform such other and additional duties as from time to time may be prescribed by the board of directors.

 

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SECTION 4. Finance Committee . The Finance Committee shall consist of such directors of the Corporation, a majority of whom are not officers or employees of the Corporation or of any subsidiary, as shall be appointed from time to time by the board of directors. The Finance Committee shall consider and make recommendations to the board of directors as to such financial matters concerning the Corporation as shall be referred to it by the board of directors, or the Chairman of the Board, or which the Committee may consider on its own initiative, and perform such additional duties as from time to time may be prescribed by the board of directors.

SECTION 5. Audit Committee . The Audit Committee shall consist of at least three (3) directors of the Corporation, who are not officers or employees of the Corporation or of any subsidiary, as shall be appointed from time to time by the board of directors. The Audit Committee shall (i) consider and make recommendations to the board of directors as to such auditing matters concerning the Corporation as shall be referred to it by the board of directors, or the Chairman of the Board, or which the Committee may consider on its own initiative; (ii) each year recommend to the board of directors, for appointment by the board, independent auditors of the Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, respectively, for such year, to audit the financial statements of the Corporation and such subsidiaries, and to perform such other duties as the board may prescribe; (iii) have authority, to the extent considered desirable by the Committee, to examine into and make recommendations to the board of directors in respect of (a) the general scope and results of the audit conducted by the independent auditors; (b) the internal controls, systems and processes maintained by the Corporation to protect assets and manage risks; (c) legal, regulatory, compliance or similar matters that may have a material impact on the Corporation’s financial position, and (d) the appointment, replacement, reassignment or dismissal of the director of internal audit; and (iv) perform such additional duties as from time to time may be prescribed by the board of directors. The Audit Committee shall have the power to conduct or authorize investigations into any matters within the Committee’s scope of responsibilities and, in connection therewith, may retain independent counsel, accountants or others to assist it.

SECTION 6. Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee . The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee shall consist of at least three (3) directors of the Corporation who are not officers or employees of the Corporation or of any subsidiary, as shall be appointed from time to time by the board of directors. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee shall (i) in consultation with the Chairman of the Board, consider and make recommendations to the full board of directors concerning the number and accountability of board committees, committee assignments and committee membership rotation practices, (ii) establish qualifications, desired backgrounds and selection criteria for nominees to the board of directors, (iii) recommend to the full board of directors nominees for board membership, (iv) on an annual basis, conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of the full board of directors (but not of individual members) and the effectiveness of overall governance practices and guidelines, based on input from all board members, and (v) perform such additional duties as from time to time may be prescribed by the board of directors.

 

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ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

SECTION 1. Officers . The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chairman of the Board, one or more Vice Chairmen, one or more Presidents, one or more Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, a Controller, and a Secretary, all of whom shall be elected by the board of directors. Any two or more offices, except those of President and Secretary, may be held by the same person. In addition, the Chairman of the Board may designate as Vice Presidents any number of individuals responsible for major operations or functions of the Corporation. Each such Vice President designated as a senior officer, as evidenced by a listing maintained by the Corporate Secretary, shall have all the authority with respect to such individual’s area of responsibility as is conferred upon a Vice President elected by the board of directors.

The board of directors may appoint one or more Assistant Treasurers, one or more Assistant Controllers, one or more Assistant Secretaries, and such other assistant officers as the board may deem necessary, who shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as from time to time may be prescribed by the board of directors.

Subject to Section 9 of this Article V, each officer and assistant officer elected or appointed by the board of directors or designated by the Chairman shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the board of directors and until his successor shall be chosen.

SECTION 2. The Chairman of the Board . The Chairman of the Board shall be a director. If so designated by the board of directors, he shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall have general direction over the affairs of the Corporation, subject to the control and direction of the board of directors. He shall, when present, preside as chairman at all meetings of the stockholders and of the board of directors. He may call meetings of the board of directors whenever he deems it advisable. In the absence or incapacity of the President to act, he shall perform all duties and functions and exercise all the powers of the President. Unless otherwise provided by the board of directors, he may execute and deliver bonds, notes, contracts, agreements or other obligations or instruments in the name of the Corporation, and with the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, may execute and deliver all certificates for shares of the capital stock or other securities of the Corporation and any warrants evidencing the right to subscribe to shares of the capital stock of the Corporation. The Chairman of the Board shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the board of directors.

SECTION 3. Vice Chairman . Each Vice Chairman shall be a director. He shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as may be assigned to him by the board of directors or by the Chairman of the Board, or elsewhere in these By-laws.

SECTION 4.  President . A President may be a director if so elected by the board of directors or the stockholders. If so designated by the board of directors, he may also be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall have general direction over the affairs of the Corporation within his areas of responsibility, subject to the control and direction of the Chairman of the Board and the board of directors. He shall have general charge, control and supervision over the administration and operations of designated areas of the Corporation, subject to the control and direction of the board of directors and the Chairman of the Board. He shall keep the Chairman of the Board fully informed concerning the business of the Corporation under his supervision. In the absence or incapacity of the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman or the President shall preside at meetings of the stockholders and of the board of directors

 

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and shall perform all duties and functions and exercise all the powers of the Chairman of the Board. Unless otherwise provided by the board of directors, a President may execute and deliver bonds, notes, contracts, agreements or other obligations or instruments in the name of the Corporation, and with the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, may execute and deliver all certificates for shares of the capital stock or other securities of the Corporation and any warrants evidencing the right to subscribe to shares of the capital stock of the Corporation. In general, a President shall have and perform all powers and duties incident to the office of a president of a corporation and such other powers and duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the board of directors or the Chairman of the Board. Any reference in these By-laws to “the President” shall be deemed to refer to a President who is also a current member of the board of directors.

SECTION 5. Vice President . In the absence or incapacity of the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, or the President, a Vice President designated by the Chairman of the Board or by the board of directors shall have and perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. Each Vice President shall have such other powers and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the board of directors or by the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, or the President.

SECTION 6. Treasurer . The Treasurer shall have responsibility for the custody and safekeeping of all funds and securities of the Corporation; he shall obtain and maintain appropriate insurance for the benefit of the Corporation; he shall be responsible for determining credit policies of the Corporation, for administration of such policies, and collection of monies due the Corporation in accordance therewith; he may sign with the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, or the President any or all certificates for shares of the capital stock or other securities of the Corporation and any warrants evidencing the right to subscribe to shares of the capital stock of the Corporation; and in general he shall have and perform all of the other powers and duties incident to the office of treasurer and such other powers and duties as may be assigned to him by the board of directors or the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, or the President.

SECTION 7. The Controller . The Controller shall be the chief accounting officer of the Corporation, shall maintain adequate records of its assets, liabilities and transactions, shall see that adequate audits thereof are currently and regularly made, and shall be in charge of its books of account and its accounting and financial statements and records, operating reports, budgets, statistics, and estimates and projections. He shall be responsible for the development and maintenance of inventory control records and the taking and costing of physical inventories; for the initiation, preparation and issuance of standard practices relating to all accounting matters and procedures, and the coordination of accounting systems throughout the Corporation and its subsidiaries; and for the analysis and interpretation of significant data to develop trends and cost comparisons, which shall be made available to the Corporation’s management together with his conclusions therefrom. He shall maintain adequate records of authorized appropriations and determine that all sums expended pursuant thereto are accounted for, and shall be responsible for the preparation and filing of tax returns and all matters relating to taxes. The Controller shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the board of directors or the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, or the President.

SECTION 8. The Secretary . The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept the minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and of the board of directors; shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these By-laws and as required by law; shall be custodian of the minute books, stock ledger, and similar corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation and see that the seal is affixed to all documents the execution and delivery of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal are duly authorized in

 

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accordance with the provisions of these By-laws; shall keep or cause to be kept a stock ledger of the Corporation containing a complete list of stockholders, the post office address of each stockholder, and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder; may sign with the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, or the President any and all certificates for shares of the capital stock or other securities of the Corporation and any warrants evidencing the right to subscribe to shares of the capital stock of the Corporation; and in general the Secretary shall have and perform all powers and duties incident to the office of the secretary and such other powers and duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to him by the board of directors or the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, or the President.

SECTION 9. Removal of Officers . Any officer elected or appointed by the board of directors may be removed, either with or without cause, by the vote of a majority of the directors then in office at any meeting of the board of directors. Any Vice President designated by the Chairman of the Board may be removed, either with or without cause, by written designation from the Chairman delivered to the Corporate Secretary.

SECTION 10. Filling of Vacancies . If a vacancy shall exist in the office of any officer or assistant officer of the Corporation, the board of directors may elect or appoint any person to fill such vacancy, such person to hold office (subject to Section 9 of this Article V) until the next annual meeting of the board of directors and until his successor shall be chosen and qualified.

ARTICLE VI

CAPITAL STOCK

SECTION 1. Transfer of Shares . The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable only upon its books by the holders thereof in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives or pursuant to the unclaimed property laws of the various states and upon such transfer the old certificates shall be surrendered to the Corporation by the delivery thereof to the Secretary or the transfer agent for said shares of stock, or to such other person as the board of directors may designate, by whom such old certificates shall be cancelled, and new certificates shall thereupon be issued. A record shall be made of each transfer.

SECTION 2. Lost or Destroyed Certificates . The board of directors may determine the conditions upon which a new certificate of stock may be issued in place of a certificate which is alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed; and may, in the board’s discretion, require the owner of such certificate or his legal representative to give bond, with such surety, if any, as the board shall deem appropriate, sufficient to indemnify the Corporation and each transfer agent and registrar, against any claim which may arise by reason of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.

SECTION 3. Unclaimed Property Laws . The officers of the Corporation who are authorized to issue or cause the issuance of duplicate stock certificates pursuant to Section 2 of this Article VI are hereby authorized to issue or cause the issuance of duplicate stock certificates, without cancellation of the original certificates, as may be required in respect of compliance with the unclaimed property laws of any state.

 

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SECTION 4. Record Date . In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the board of directors may, except as otherwise required by law, fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any meeting of stockholders, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the time for such other action as hereinbefore described; provided, however, that if no record date is fixed by the board of directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held, and, for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of rights or to exercise any rights of change, conversion or exchange of stock or for any other purpose, the record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts a resolution relating thereto.

A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the board of directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

ARTICLE VII

CORPORATE SEAL

The board of directors shall authorize and establish a corporate seal containing the name of the Corporation, the words “Corporate Seal” and “Delaware”, and otherwise in such form as shall be approved by the board of directors.

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the calendar year.

SECTION 2. Notice . Unless otherwise provided in these By-laws, any notice required, (i) if given by mail, shall be deemed to have been given upon the deposit thereof in a post office box, postage prepaid, or (ii) if given by telegraph or cable, shall be deemed to have been given upon delivery thereof to the telegraph or cable company for transmission, or (iii) if the person entitled to notice has facilities for the receipt of telecopies, telex, e-mail or other electronic transmission, shall be deemed to have been given upon transmission of the notice by such means; and in any instance the notice shall be addressed to the person entitled thereto at such person’s last known address according to the records of the Corporation.

SECTION 3. Voting Upon Stocks . Unless otherwise ordered by the board of directors, the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, or the President shall have full power and authority in behalf of the Corporation to attend and to act and to vote at any meeting of stockholders of any corporation in which the Corporation may hold stock, and also to execute and deliver for and on behalf of the Corporation proxies in respect of such meetings, and at any such meeting the Chairman of the Board, any Vice

 

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Chairman, or the President or the individual or individuals named in the proxy executed by the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, or the President in respect of such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such stock and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have possessed and exercised if present. The board of directors, by resolution, from time to time may confer like powers upon any other person or persons, which powers may be general or confined to specific instances.

SECTION 4. Action Without Meeting . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the board of directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the board or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceeding of the board or committee.

SECTION 5. Waivers . A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver. Attendance at any meeting shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

SECTION 6. Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records . Each director, each member of any committee designated by the board of directors, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the board of directors so designated, or by any other person as to matters which such director or committee member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

SECTION 7. Time Periods . In applying any provision of these By-laws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

The board of directors shall have full power to alter, amend or repeal these By-laws or any provision thereof, or to adopt new by-laws, at any regular meeting as part of the general business of such meeting, or at a special meeting called for the purpose. By-laws adopted, altered or amended by the board of directors may be altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, and subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, any action of the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal these By-laws shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation at a meeting of stockholders called for such purpose.

* * * * * * * * *

 

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Exhibit 10.1

WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE PLAN

ARTICLE 1

GENERAL

1.1 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PLAN:

Whirlpool Corporation, a Delaware corporation, hereby adopts this Plan, which shall be known as the WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE PLAN (the “Plan”).

1.2 PURPOSE:

The purpose of the Plan is to attract and retain the best possible employee talent and to motivate employees to focus attention on shareholder value, drive performance in support of this goal and other business goals, and reward company and individual performance.

1.3 ADMINISTRATION:

(a) The Committee (as defined in Section 2.1) shall administer the Plan. Subject to the Committee’s approval, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company may assist in, and make recommendations regarding, the administration of the Plan. The Senior Vice President Global Human Resources will be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Plan following administrative guidelines approved from time-to-time by the Committee.

(b) Subject to the limitations of the Plan, the Committee shall, based on recommendations by the Chief Executive Officer: (i) select from the Employees of the Company, those who shall participate in the Plan; (ii) make awards in such forms and amounts as it shall determine; (iii) impose such limitations, restrictions, and conditions upon such awards as it shall deem appropriate; (iv) interpret the Plan and adopt, amend, and rescind administrative guidelines and other rules and regulations relating to the Plan; (v) correct any defect or omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any award granted hereunder; and (vi) make all other necessary determinations and take all other actions necessary or advisable for the implementation and administration of the Plan. The Committee’s determinations on matters within its authority shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and all other persons.

(c) All expenses associated with the Plan shall be borne by the Company subject to such allocation to its subsidiaries and operating units as it deems appropriate.

 

1


ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

2.1 DEFINITIONS:

Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have the meaning set forth below, unless otherwise expressly provided. Certain terms which only apply to Article VI are defined in Article VI.

(a) “Base Salary” shall mean, as determined by the Committee, the regular salary actually paid during a Plan Year to a Participant or a Participant’s regular salary determined as of a particular date during the applicable Plan Year selected by the Committee. Regular salary shall include any salary reduction contributions made to the Company’s 401(k) plan or other deferred compensation plans, but shall be exclusive of any awards under this Plan and of any other bonuses, incentive pay or special awards.

(b) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of Whirlpool Corporation.

(c) “Chairman” means the chairman of the Board.

(d) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(e) “Committee” shall mean the Human Resources Committee of the Board or such other Committee as is designated by the Board, which shall consist solely of two or more members of the Board who are “outside directors” as required by and within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Board shall appoint the members of the Committee and fill any vacancy on the Committee.

(f) “Company” shall mean Whirlpool Corporation and its Subsidiaries.

(g) “Corporate” shall mean relating to Whirlpool Corporation.

(h) “Covered Employee” shall mean an employee who the Committee determines is or is potentially a “covered employee” with respect to any Plan Year for purposes of Code Section 162(m).

(i) “Covered Employee Performance Goal” shall mean a level of attainment of a specified Covered Employee Performance Measure which can be objectively determined in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code.

(j) “Covered Employee Performance Measures” shall mean any of the following performance criteria, either alone or in any combination: Return on Equity; Return on Assets; Return on Net Assets; Net Earnings; Earnings Per Share; Free Cash Flow; Cash Flow; Revenue; Net Earnings; Depreciation and Amortization; Customer Satisfaction; Gross Margin; Market Share; Cost Reductions; Net Income Per Share; Net Income; Earnings Before Interest; Total Stockholder Return; Customer Growth; Revenue Growth; Sales; Economic

 

2


Value Added; Pre-tax Profits; Operating Income; Taxes; Employee Satisfaction; Stock Price. Covered Employee Performance Measures shall be calculated so as to exclude the effects of extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items and changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles. Covered Employee Performance Measures may be defined on a Corporate or Noncorporate basis as determined by the Committee.

(k) “Employee” shall mean a regular employee of the Company who is in a position of meeting the defined eligibility criteria for participation in the Plan, as stated in Section 3.1.

(l) “Executive Officers” shall mean the Chief Executive Officer, the President, and any Executive or Senior Vice President designated by the Committee.

(m) “Final Award” shall mean the award actually paid to a Participant pursuant to Section 4.2.

(n) “Individual Performance Factor” shall mean the factor associated with the performance rating assigned to an Employee as part of the Performance Management Process or other method(s) of adjustments intended to recognize individual performance.

(o) “Maximum Award” shall mean the award amount available to be paid to a Covered Employee Participant pursuant to Section 4.1 provided that the Committee has certified in writing that the applicable Covered Employee Performance Goal(s) have been met.

(p) “Noncorporate” shall mean a specified segment of the Company’s operations designated as such by the Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Committee for purposes of the Plan, such as a business unit, division, product line, or other such segmentation.

(q) “Other Participant” shall mean an Employee who is not a Covered Employee who is approved by the Committee for participation in the Plan for a specified Plan Year.

(r) “Participant” shall mean an Other Participant or a Covered Employee who is approved by the Committee for participation in the Plan for a specified Plan Year.

(s) “Performance Management Process” shall mean the Company’s process for managing individual performance.

(t) “Plan Year” shall mean the Company’s fiscal year.

(u) “Results Factor” shall mean the factor determined by the Committee to reflect the level of attainment of applicable Corporate or Noncorporate objectives.

(v) “Target Award” shall mean the award to be paid to a Participant for meeting planned performance results.

(w) “Target Award Percentage” shall mean the percentage of Base Salary determined by the Committee to reflect an appropriate incentive for each Participant based on the Participant’s responsibilities, opportunity and authority to affect overall financial results.

 

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2.2 GENDER AND NUMBER:

Except when otherwise indicated by the context, words in the masculine gender, when used in the Plan, shall include the feminine gender, the singular shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the singular.

ARTICLE III

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

3.1 ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION:

Eligibility for participation in the Plan shall be limited to Employees of the Company. Except with respect to the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Executive Officer shall recommend Employees for participation in the Plan subject to the approval of the Committee. The Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer shall automatically participate in the Plan.

3.2 PARTIAL PLAN YEAR PARTICIPATION:

(a) Covered Employee Participants . A Covered Employee who becomes eligible after the beginning of a Plan Year may participate in the Plan for that Plan Year on terms and conditions determined by the Committee, it being understood that if a Covered Employee becomes eligible more than 90 days after the beginning of the Plan Year, the Committee may either use the established Covered Employee Performance Goals for the Covered Employee Participant based on performance during the remainder of the Plan Year or establish different Covered Employee Performance Goals and/or a different performance period for such Covered Employee Participant provided such Covered Employee Performance Goals and/or performance period satisfy the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(e)(2).

(b) Other Participants . An Employee who is not a Covered Employee who becomes eligible after the beginning of a Plan Year may participate in the Plan for that Plan Year on terms and conditions determined by the Committee. Such situations may include, but are not limited to (i) new hires, (ii) when an Employee is promoted from a position that did not meet the eligibility criteria to a position that does meet applicable eligibility criteria, or (iii) when an Employee is transferred from an affiliate that does not participate in the Plan to an affiliate that does participate in the Plan.

ARTICLE IV

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

4.1 COMPONENTS OF INDIVIDUAL AWARDS; TARGET AWARD PERCENTAGES; PERFORMANCE GOALS:

(a) Covered Employee Participants . With respect to Covered Employee Participants, within 90 days after the start of the Plan Year, or such other date as may be required in order to meet the applicable deadline for the establishment of performance goals permitting compensation payable under the Plan with respect to such year to qualify as “qualified

 

4


performance-based compensation” under Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(e), the Committee shall select the Covered Employee Participants for the Plan Year, establish in writing the Covered Employee Performance Goal(s) applicable to each Covered Employee Participant based on one or more Covered Employee Performance Measures, and determine an objective formula or method for determining the Maximum Award available to each Covered Employee Participant if the Performance Goals are met. Except with respect to the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Executive Officer shall recommend, subject to the approval of the Committee, the Maximum Award for each Covered Employee Participant. After the end of each Plan Year, the Committee shall certify in writing whether the Covered Employee Performance Goal(s) has been met. If the Covered Employee Performance Goal(s) have been met, the Committee shall determine the amount of the Maximum Award payable to each Covered Employee Participant pursuant to the terms of the Plan. In no event shall any Maximum Award exceed $5,000,000.

(b) Other Participants .

(i) Individual awards for Other Participants shall be based on (i) the Other Participant’s Target Award and (ii) Corporate and/or Noncorporate performance. In addition, individual performance will be a component of individual awards if approved by the Committee. For each Plan Year, the Chief Executive Officer shall recommend for Other Participants, subject to the approval of the Committee, the Target Award Percentages and performance goals for that Plan Year. Target Award Percentages shall reflect the Participant’s job responsibilities and opportunity and authority to affect overall financial results. An Other Participant whose Target Award is changed during the Plan Year shall receive a Final Award based on the amount of Base Salary actually earned while in each Target Award category during the Plan Year.

(ii) Performance for Other Participants shall be measured based on Corporate and/or Noncorporate (if appropriate) results and, if authorized by the Committee, individual performance. If authorized by the Committee, individual performance goals shall be set during the Company’s Performance Management Process. The Chief Executive Officer shall recommend, subject to the approval of the Committee, the process for measuring Corporate and Noncorporate performance. Such recommendation shall include:

(1) Organizational level of performance measurement, e.g., Corporate, business unit, division, product line, or another level, either singly or in combination;

(2) Specific measures of performance for each organizational level; and

(3) Specific performance goals for each organizational level.

For each Plan year, the Chief Executive Officer shall recommend, subject to the approval of the Committee, a range of performance goals for Corporate and/or Noncorporate results and the Individual Performance Factors. Each performance range and the range of

 

5


Individual Performance Factors shall include a level of performance at which 100% of the Target Award shall be earned. In addition, each range shall include levels of performance above and below the 100% performance level.

(iii) For Other Participants at the Corporate level, performance shall, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, be measured on overall Company results. For all other Other Participants, performance shall, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, be measured on Corporate and/or applicable Noncorporate results as authorized by the Committee. The performance measures to be used for Other Participants shall be chosen from among the Covered Employee Performance Measures or any other operational, financial or other performance metric selected by the Committee. Performance measures need not be the same within the Company. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may select among the performance measures from Plan Year to Plan Year.

(iv) Once established, performance goals applicable to Other Participants normally shall not be changed during the Plan Year. However, if the Chief Executive Officer determines that external changes or other unanticipated business conditions have materially affected the fairness of the goals, then the Chief Executive Officer may recommend and the Committee may approve appropriate adjustments to the performance goals applicable to Other Participants (either up or down) during the Plan Year.

(v) Normally, Other Participants shall not receive any payout when the applicable performance goals are not achieved. If the applicable performance goals are not achieved, the Chief Executive Officer may recommend, subject to the approval of the Committee, payment of awards on a discretionary basis to Other Participants. Further, the Chief Executive Officer may recommend, subject to the approval of the Committee, an adjustment of the performance goals applicable to Other Participants in the event of a Plan Year consisting of less than 12 months.

(vi) Individual performance shall be reflected in the Final Award based on the performance rating assigned to an Other Participant as part of the Performance Management Process if the Committee establishes individual performance as part of the performance criteria for an award.

4.2 FINAL AWARD DETERMINATIONS:

(a) Covered Employee Participants . The Committee may establish a formula to determine the Final Award to be payable to the Covered Employee Participant provided that the Covered Employee Performance Goals are met, which formula may, but is not required to, consist of Base Salary multiplied by Individual Performance factor multiplied by Results Factor multiplied by Target Award Percentage. In determining a Covered Employee Participant’s Final Award, the Committee shall have the sole and absolute discretion to reduce (including a reduction to zero) the amount of the Maximum Award. The Committee’s exercise of negative discretion to reduce the Maximum Award of one Covered Employee Participant

 

6


shall not have the effect of increasing the Final Award payable to any other Covered Employee Participant. For the sake of clarity, in no event shall a Covered Employee Participant’s Final Award exceed the Covered Employee Participant’s Maximum Award.

(b) Other Participants . At the end of each Plan Year, Final Awards shall be computed for each Other Participant. The Committee retains the discretion to decrease or eliminate the amount of the Final Award otherwise payable to an Other Participant.

(c) All Participants . Participants must be actively employed by the Company on the last day of the Plan Year to receive an award for that Plan Year, except as provided in Sections 6.1, 6.2, and 7.1.

4.3 DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY:

The Committee may, in its discretion, delegate to the Chief Executive Officer and/or the Vice President Global Human Resources, the authority to take any actions with respect to individual awards for Other Participants that may be taken by the Committee pursuant to the Plan.

ARTICLE V

PAYMENT OF FINAL AWARDS

5.1 TIMING AND FORM OF PAYMENT:

(a) At the end of each Plan Year, the Chief Executive Officer shall report the level of achievement of the applicable performance goals for Participants to the Committee. Prior to any payment hereunder, the Committee shall certify in writing the extent to which the Covered Employee Performance Measures for Covered Employee Participants and performance measures for Other Participants have been satisfied and approve the payment of Final Awards. With respect to Covered Employee Participants only, the Committee may not waive the achievement of the applicable Covered Employee Participant Goals, except upon the occurrence of an event as specified in Section 7.1 and to the extent specified therein.

(b) Payments of Final Awards to Participants shall be made in cash in a lump sum on March 14th of the calendar year following the applicable Plan Year, provided no Participant shall be entitled to damages with respect to Final Awards paid after March 14th of any calendar year.

(c) Payment of Final Awards may be delayed to a date after the designated payment date specified in Section 5.1(b) under the circumstances described in this Section 5.1(c), provided the Company treats all payments to similarly situated Participants on a reasonably consistent basis.

(i) Payments Subject to Code Section 162(m) . A payment to a Covered Employee Participant may be delayed to the extent the Company reasonably anticipates that if the payment were made as scheduled, the Company’s deduction with

 

7


respect to such payment would not be permitted due to the applicability of Code Section 162(m), provided that the payment is made either during the Covered Employee Participant’s first taxable year in which the Company reasonably anticipates, or should reasonably anticipate, that if the payment is made during such year, the deduction of such payment will not be barred by the applicability of Code Section 162(m) or during the period beginning with the date of the Covered Employee Participant’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A) and ending on the later of the last day of the taxable year of the Company in which the Covered Employee Participant separates from service or the 15th day of the third month following the Covered Participant’s “separation from service,” and provided further that all scheduled payments to that Covered Employee Participant that could be delayed in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(7)(i) are also delayed. Where the payment is delayed to a date on or after the Covered Employee Participant’s “separation from service,” the payment will be considered a payment upon a “separation from service” for purposes of the rules under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(2) (payments to specified employees upon a “separation from service”) and, in the case of a specified employee (within the meaning of Code Section 409A), the date that is six months after the Covered Employee Participant’s “separation from service” is substituted for any reference to the Participant’s “separation from service” in the first sentence of this Section 5.1(c)(i). No election may be provided to the Covered Employee Participant with respect to the timing of payment under this Section 5.1(c)(i).

(ii) Payments that would Violate Federal Securities Laws or Other Applicable Law . A payment may be delayed where the Company reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will violate Federal securities laws or other applicable law; provided that the payment is made at the earliest date at which the Company reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will not cause such violation. For this purpose, the making of a payment that would cause inclusion in gross income or the application of any penalty provision or other provision of the Code is not treated as a violation of applicable law.

(iii) Other Events and Conditions . The Company may delay a payment upon such other events and conditions as the Commissioner may prescribe in generally applicable guidance published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.

5.2 DEFERRAL OF PAYMENTS:

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5.1 describing the form and timing of payment of Final Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, a Participant who is eligible for and has elected to make deferrals of compensation under the terms of the Whirlpool Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan II may defer payment of all or part of a Final Award granted pursuant to the Plan provided that the time and form of the election to defer and the payment of any portion of the Final Award so deferred shall be governed by the terms of the Whirlpool Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan II.

 

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5.3 APPLICATION OF CODE SECTION 409A:

Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, if it is determined that any payment hereunder constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” that would be paid upon the “separation from service” of a “specified employee” (as such terms are defined in Code Section 409A), then any such payment that otherwise would have been paid within six months after the Participant’s “separation from service” shall be accrued, without interest, and its payment delayed until the first day of the seventh month following the Participant’s “separation from service,” or if earlier, the Participant’s death, at which point the accrued amount will be paid as a single, lump sum cash payment.

ARTICLE VI

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

6.1 COVERED EMPLOYEE PARTICIPANTS:

(a) If a Covered Employee Participant’s employment is terminated by reason of death, or Disability during the Plan Year, the Committee may approve a Final Award for the Covered Employee Participant for the Plan Year. The Final Award shall be paid in accordance with Article V.

(b) Except for terminations listed in Section 6.1(a) or in connection with a termination due to a Change in Control as defined in Section 7.1, in the event a Covered Employee Participant’s employment is terminated for any other reason including voluntary and involuntary termination, the Committee may award all or part of such Covered Employee Participant’s Maximum Award, if the Covered Employee Performance Goal(s) with respect to such award are otherwise met at the completion of the Plan Year in which such termination of employment occurred.

6.2 OTHER PARTICIPANTS:

(a) If an Other Participant’s employment is terminated by reason of death, Disability (as defined in the Whirlpool Employees Pension Plan), retirement, reduction-in-force, or an Other Participant is transferred to an affiliate that does not participate in the Plan, the Other Participant’s Final Award shall be based on (i) the Other Participant’s actual Base Salary paid through the date of termination, (ii) the Other Participant’s Target Award Percentage, (iii) Corporate/Noncorporate performance as measured at the end of the Plan Year, and (iv) if authorized by the Committee, individual performance as determined under the Performance Management Process. The Final Award shall be paid in accordance with Article V.

(b) “Retirement” shall mean a Participant’s termination of employment after his or her “Early Retirement Age” or “Normal Retirement Age” as set forth in the Part II Supplement to the Whirlpool Employees Pension Plan for the Salaried Employees Participating Group. “Reduction-in-force” shall have the meaning as defined in the Whirlpool Corporation Personnel Policy Manual.

 

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(c) Except for terminations listed in Section 6.2(a) or a termination due to a Change in Control as defined in Section 7.1, in the event an Other Participant’s employment is terminated for any other reason including voluntary and involuntary termination, the Other Participant shall not be entitled to an award for the Plan Year in which the termination occurs. However, the Chief Executive Officer may recommend and the Committee approve an award for the Plan Year in which an Other Participant’s termination occurs.

6.3 BONUS CLAWBACK:

Any Participant who would otherwise be eligible for an award pursuant to a completed Plan Year shall not be entitled to any payment under that award, and shall be required to repay the Company any payment of such award, if (i) the Participant is terminated by or otherwise leaves employment with the Company within two years following completion of the Plan Year and such termination of employment arises out, is due to, or is in any way connected with any misconduct or violation of Company policy, (ii) the Participant becomes employed with a competitor within the two year period following termination, or for any other reason considered by the Committee in its sole discretion to be detrimental to the Company or its interests.

ARTICLE VII

CHANGE IN CONTROL

7.1 CHANGE IN CONTROL:

(a) In the event of a Change in Control of Whirlpool Corporation, as defined below, a Participant who is an Employee as of the date of the Change in Control shall be entitled to, for the Plan Year in which the Change in Control occurs, the greater of:

(1) An award to be the Final Award determined using:

 

  (A) The Participant’s actual Base Salary rate in effect on the date of the Change in Control;

 

  (B) The Participant’s Target Award Percentage;

 

  (C) Actual Corporate and Noncorporate (if applicable) performance results to the date of the Change in Control; and

 

  (D) The greater of the Participant’s Individual Performance Factor (if applicable) or 1.0;

or

(2) The Participant’s Target Award Percentage times his actual Base Salary rate in effect on the date of the Change in Control.

(b) The Committee as constituted immediately prior to the Change in Control shall determine how actual Corporate and Noncorporate performance should be measured for

 

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purposes of determining the Results Factor in the Final Award calculation in Section 7.1(a). The Committee’s determination shall be conclusive and final.

(c) Final Awards shall be paid in cash to the Participant as soon as administratively possible but no later than 30 days following a Change in Control.

7.2 DEFINITION OF CHANGE IN CONTROL:

A “Change in Control” shall be defined as set forth in the Whirlpool Employees Pension Plan, as amended, provided that to the extent any payment under Section 7.1 is a payment of deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, such payment shall only occur if the event giving rise to the change in control would also constitute a “change in control event” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

8.1 NONTRANSFERABILITY:

No right or interest of any Participant in this Plan shall be assignable or transferable, or subject to any lien, directly, by operation of law or otherwise, including execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge, and bankruptcy.

8.2 TAX WITHHOLDING:

The Company shall have the right to deduct from all payments under this Plan any foreign, federal, state, or local taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments.

8.3 AMENDMENTS:

The Company, in its absolute discretion, without notice, at any time and from time to time, may modify or amend, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of this Plan, or suspend or terminate it entirely; provided, that no such modification, amendment, suspension, or termination may reduce the rights of a Participant (or his beneficiary as the case may be) to a payment or distribution in accordance with the provisions contained in this Plan or change to the detriment of a Participant any potential rights in that Plan Year created pursuant to Article IV of this Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, the Committee’s exercise of negative discretion pursuant to Section 4.2 shall not be deemed to be an amendment to the Plan.

8.4 INDEMNIFICATION:

Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee or the Board or who is or shall have been an Employee of the Company shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company. This indemnification and hold harmless provision shall be against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense, including, without limitation, fees and expenses

 

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of legal counsel, that may have been imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he may be a party or in which he may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan. In addition, this indemnification and hold harmless provision shall be against and from any and all amounts paid by him in settlement thereof with the Company’s approval, or paid by him in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him, provided he shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he undertakes to handle and defend it on his own behalf. This indemnification and hold harmless right shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification that the person may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify him or hold him harmless.

8.5 BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION:

(a) Each Participant under the Plan may name, from time to time, any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of his death before he receives any or all of such benefit. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during his lifetime. In the absence of any such designation, or if the designated beneficiary is no longer living, benefits shall be paid to the surviving member(s) of the following classes of beneficiaries, with preference for classes in the order listed below:

(1) Participant’s spouse (unless the parties were divorced or legally separated by court decree);

(2) Participant’s children (including children by adoption);

(3) Participant’s parents (including parents by adoption); or

(4) Participant’s executor or administrator.

(b) Payment of benefits, in accordance with Section 6.1(a) or Section 6.2(a), shall be made exclusively to the member(s) of the first class, in the order listed above, which has surviving member(s). If that class has more than one member, benefit payments shall be made in equal shares among members of that class.

8.6 RIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS:

Nothing in this Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate or change a Participant’s employment at any time; nor does the Plan confer upon any Participant any right to continue as an employee of the Company for any period of time or to continue his present or any other rate of compensation. No Participant in a previous Plan Year, or other Employee at any time, shall have a right to be selected for participation in a current or future Plan Year.

 

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8.7 GOVERNING LAW:

The Plan shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Michigan.

8.8 SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL AND COMMITTEE CONTINGENCIES; PAYMENT OF AWARDS:

Payment of any awards under this Plan shall be contingent upon the affirmative vote of the shareholders of at least a majority of the votes cast (including abstentions) approving the Plan. Unless and until such shareholder approval is obtained, no award shall be paid or payable pursuant to this Plan. To the extent necessary for purposes of Code Section 162(m), this Plan shall be resubmitted to shareholders for their re-approval with respect to awards payable for the taxable years of the Company commencing on and after the five year anniversary of initial shareholder approval.

 

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Exhibit 99.1

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCK

The Company is authorized to issue 250 million shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Common Stock”). The Company is also authorized to issue 10 million shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). No Preferred Stock is currently outstanding.

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock which may be outstanding from time to time, each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on all matters presented to the stockholders, with no cumulative voting rights; to receive such dividends as may be declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor; and in the event of liquidation or dissolution of the Company, to share ratably in any distribution of the Company’s net assets. Holders of shares of Common Stock do not have preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for unissued or treasury shares or securities convertible into such shares; and no redemption or sinking fund provisions are applicable. All outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and nonassessable.

CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS.

The Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Company, among other things, (i) provide that commencing at the annual meeting of stockholders that is held in calendar year 2010 (the “2010 Annual Meeting”), directors shall be elected annually for terms of one year, except that any director in office at the 2010 Annual Meeting whose term expires at the annual meeting of stockholders held in calendar year 2011 or calendar year 2012 shall continue to hold office until the end of the term for which such director was elected and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified; (ii) provide that directors elected prior to the 2010 Annual Meeting and any director appointed to fill a vacancy of any director elected prior to the 2010 Annual Meeting, may be removed from office only for cause while any other director may be removed from office with or without cause; (iii) require advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and stockholder proposals to be given in the manner provided in the By-laws; (iv) require approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding Common Stock of the Company for stockholder amendments to the By-laws and (v) require that stockholder action be taken only at a meeting.