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Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Commitments and Contingencies | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES OTHER MATTERS Embraco Antitrust Matters Beginning in February 2009, our compressor business headquartered in Brazil ("Embraco") was notified of antitrust investigations of the global compressor industry by government authorities in various jurisdictions. Embraco has resolved government investigations and related claims in various jurisdictions and certain other claims remain pending. We continue to defend these actions. While it is currently not possible to reasonably estimate the aggregate amount of costs which we may incur in connection with these matters, such costs could have a material adverse effect on our financial statements in any particular reporting period. BEFIEX Credits and Other Brazil Tax Matters In previous years, our Brazilian operations earned tax credits under the Brazilian government's export incentive program (BEFIEX). These credits reduced Brazilian federal excise taxes on domestic sales. Prior to the adoption of Topic 606, the excise taxes in our Brazilian operations were reflected in revenue. In accordance with Topic 606, we made a policy election to exclude non-income taxes from the transaction price. As a result, these credits in 2018 are reflected in interest and sundry income. For additional information, see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. In December 2013, the Brazilian government reinstituted the monetary adjustment index applicable to BEFIEX credits that existed prior to July 2009, when the Brazilian government required companies to apply a different monetary adjustment index to BEFIEX credits. Whether use of the reinstituted index should be given retroactive effect for the July 2009 to December 2013 period has been subject to review by the Brazilian courts. In the third quarter of 2017, the Brazilian Supreme Court ruled that the reinstituted index should be given retroactive effect for the July 2009 to December 2013 period, which ruling has been appealed by the Brazilian government. Based on this ruling, we were entitled to recognize, and by the second quarter of 2018 had monetized, $72 million in additional credits. As of December 31, 2018, no BEFIEX credits remain to be monetized. Our Brazilian operations have received tax assessments for income and social contribution taxes associated with certain monetized BEFIEX credits. We do not believe BEFIEX credits are subject to income or social contribution taxes. We believe these tax assessments are without merit and are vigorously defending our positions. We have not provided for income or social contribution taxes on these BEFIEX credits, and based on the opinions of tax and legal advisors, we have not accrued any amount related to these assessments as of December 31, 2018. The total amount of outstanding tax assessments received for income and social contribution taxes relating to the BEFIEX credits, including interest and penalties, is approximately 1.8 billion Brazilian reais (approximately $476 million as of December 31, 2018). Relying on existing Brazilian legal precedent, in 2003 and 2004, we recognized tax credits in an aggregate amount of $26 million, adjusted for currency, on the purchase of raw materials used in production ("IPI tax credits"). The Brazilian tax authority subsequently challenged the recording of IPI tax credits. No credits have been recognized since 2004. In 2009, we entered into a Brazilian government program ("IPI Amnesty") which provided extended payment terms and reduced penalties and interest to encourage tax payers to resolve this and certain other disputed tax credit amounts. As permitted by the program, we elected to settle certain debts through the use of other existing tax credits and recorded charges of approximately $34 million in 2009 associated with these matters. In July 2012, the Brazilian revenue authority notified us that a portion of our proposed settlement was rejected and we received tax assessments of 248 million Brazilian reais (approximately $64 million as of December 31, 2018), reflecting interest and penalties to date. We believe these tax assessments are without merit and are vigorously defending our position. The government's assessment in this case relies heavily on its arguments regarding taxability of BEFIEX credits for certain years, which we are disputing in one of the BEFIEX government assessment cases cited in the prior paragraph. Because the IPI Amnesty case is moving faster than the BEFIEX taxability case, we could be required to pay the IPI Amnesty assessment before obtaining a final decision in BEFIEX taxability case. In 2001, Brazil adopted a law making the profits of controlled foreign corporations of Brazilian entities subject to income and social contribution tax regardless of whether the profits were repatriated ("CFC Tax"). Our Brazilian subsidiary, along with other corporations, challenged tax assessments on foreign profits on constitutionality and other grounds. In April 2013, the Brazilian Supreme Court ruled on one of our cases, finding that the law is constitutional, but remanded the case to a lower court for consideration of other arguments raised in our appeal, including the existence of tax treaties with jurisdictions in which controlled foreign corporations are domiciled. As of December 31, 2018, our potential exposure for income and social contribution taxes relating to profits of controlled foreign corporations, including interest and penalties and net of expected foreign tax credits, is approximately 208 million Brazilian reais (approximately $54 million as of December 31, 2018). We believe these assessments are without merit and are vigorously defending our positions. Based on the opinion of our tax and legal advisors, we have no t accrued any amount related to these assessments as of December 31, 2018. In addition to the IPI tax credit and CFC Tax matters noted above, other assessments issued to us by the Brazilian tax authorities related to non-income and income tax matters, and other matters, are at various stages of review in numerous administrative and judicial proceedings. The amounts related to these assessments will continue to be increased by monetary adjustments at the Selic rate, which is the benchmark rate set by the Brazilian Central Bank. In accordance with our accounting policies, we routinely assess these matters and, when necessary, record our best estimate of a loss. We believe these tax assessments are without merit and are vigorously defending our positions. We also filed legal actions to recover certain social integration and social contribution taxes paid over gross sales including ICMS receipts, which is a form of Value Added Tax in Brazil. During 2017, we sold the rights to certain portions of this litigation to a third party for 90 million Brazilian reais (approximately $27 million as of December 31, 2017). Approximately $219 million in face value of credits related to this litigation remain. While the Company's recovery with respect to the remaining litigation may be material, there is substantial uncertainty about both the amount and timing of any recovery. A nominal amount has been recorded related to outstanding credits. Litigation is inherently unpredictable and the conclusion of these matters may take many years to ultimately resolve. Accordingly, it is possible that an unfavorable outcome in these proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our financial statements in any particular reporting period. Competition Investigation In 2013, the French Competition Authority ("FCA") commenced an investigation of appliance manufacturers and retailers in France. The investigation includes a number of manufacturers, including the Whirlpool and Indesit operations in France. On June 26, 2018, Whirlpool France SAS, a subsidiary of the Company, reached an agreement with the staff of the FCA to settle the first part of its investigation, which relates to a 14-month period during parts of 2006-07 and 2008-09. In the third quarter of 2018, we accrued €95 million after entering into a preliminary settlement agreement with the FCA. On December 6, 2018, the FCA's college issued its final decision, setting the final amount of the fine at €102 million, with €56 million attributable to Whirlpool's France business and €46 million attributable to Indesit's France business. Under the terms of a settlement with Indesit's former owners, the former owners are obligated to pay €17 million out of escrow to the Company. The Company expects payment of the FCA fine and payment to the Company from Indesit's former owners to both be made in the second quarter of 2019. The second part of the FCA investigation, which is expected to focus primarily on manufacturer interactions with retailers, is ongoing but at a less advanced stage. The Company is cooperating with this investigation. Although it is currently not possible to assess the impact, if any, this matter may have on our financial statements, the resolution of the second part of the FCA investigation could have a material adverse effect on our financial statements in any particular reporting period. Trade Customer Insolvency In 2017, Alno AG and certain affiliated companies filed for insolvency protection in Germany. Bauknecht Hausgeräte GmbH, a subsidiary of the Company, was a long-standing supplier to Alno and certain of its affiliated companies. The Company was also a former indirect minority shareholder of Alno. In August 2018, the insolvency trustee asserted €174.5 million in clawback and related claims against Bauknecht. We are reviewing the claims made by the insolvency trustee. Based on our preliminary understanding of the facts and the applicable law, we expect to vigorously defend against the claims. Although it is currently not possible to assess the impact this matter may have on our Consolidated Financial Statements, the resolution of this matter could have a material adverse effect on our financial statements in any particular reporting period. Other Litigation We are currently defending against a lawsuit that has been certified for treatment as a class action in U.S. federal court, relating to two top-load washing machine models. We believe this lawsuit is without merit and are vigorously defending it. Given the preliminary stage of the proceeding, we cannot reasonably estimate a range of loss, if any, at this time. The resolution of this matter could have a material adverse effect on our financial statements in any particular reporting period. We are currently vigorously defending a number of other lawsuits related to the manufacture and sale of our products which include class action allegations, and may become involved in similar actions. These lawsuits allege claims which include negligence, breach of contract, breach of warranty, product liability and safety claims, false advertising, fraud, and violation of federal and state regulations, including consumer protection laws. In general, we do not have insurance coverage for class action lawsuits. We are also involved in various other legal actions arising in the normal course of business, for which insurance coverage may or may not be available depending on the nature of the action. We dispute the merits of these suits and actions, and intend to vigorously defend them. Management believes, based upon its current knowledge, after taking into consideration legal counsel's evaluation of such suits and actions, and after taking into account current litigation accruals, that the outcome of these matters currently pending against Whirlpool should not have a material adverse effect, if any, on our financial statements. Product Warranty and Legacy Product Corrective Action Reserves Product warranty reserves are included in other current and other noncurrent liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table summarizes the changes in total product warranty and legacy product warranty liability reserves for the periods presented:
|  | Product Warranty |  | Legacy Product Warranty |  | Total
Millions of dollars |  | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Balance at January 1 |  | $ | 277 |  |  | $ | 251 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 69 |  |  | $ | 277 |  |  | $ | 320 |
Issuances/accruals during the period |  | 289 |  |  | 331 |  |  | — |  |  | 1 |  |  | 289 |  |  | 332 |
Settlements made during the period/other |  | (294 | ) |  | (305 | ) |  | — |  |  | (70 | ) |  | (294 | ) |  | (375 | )
Reclassification of product warranty to held for sale |  | (4 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (4 | ) |  | — |
Balance at December 31 |  | $ | 268 |  |  | $ | 277 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 268 |  |  | $ | 277 |
Current portion |  | $ | 194 |  |  | $ | 203 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 194 |  |  | $ | 203 |
Non-current portion |  | 74 |  |  | 74 |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  | 74 |  |  | 74 |
Total |  | $ | 268 |  |  | $ | 277 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 268 |  |  | $ | 277 |
In the normal course of business, we engage in investigations of potential quality and safety issues. As part of our ongoing effort to deliver quality products to consumers, we are currently investigating certain potential quality and safety issues globally. As necessary, we undertake to effect repair or replacement of appliances in the event that an investigation leads to the conclusion that such action is warranted. As part of that process, in 2015, Whirlpool engaged in thorough investigations of incident reports associated with two of its dryer production platforms developed by Indesit. These dryer production platforms were developed prior to Whirlpool's acquisition of Indesit in October 2014. During 2017, the corrective action was substantially complete and any remaining charges related to the action were recorded under product warranty for 2018. Guarantees We have guarantee arrangements in a Brazilian subsidiary. For certain credit worthy customers, the subsidiary guarantees customer lines of credit at commercial banks to support purchases following its normal credit policies. If a customer were to default on its line of credit with the bank, our subsidiary would be required to assume the line of credit and satisfy the obligation with the bank. At December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the guaranteed amounts totaled $146 million and $284 million, respectively. The fair value of these guarantees were nominal at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Our subsidiary insures against a significant portion of this credit risk for these guarantees, under normal operating conditions, through policies purchased from high-quality underwriters. We provide guarantees of indebtedness and lines of credit for various consolidated subsidiaries. The maximum contractual amount of indebtedness and credit facilities available under these lines for consolidated subsidiaries totaled $3.5 billion at December 31, 2018 and $2.8 billion at December 31, 2017. Our total short-term outstanding bank indebtedness under guarantees was $21 million at December 31, 2018 and $49 million at December 31, 2017. Operating Lease Commitments At December 31, 2018, we had noncancelable operating lease commitments totaling $1,050 million. The annual future minimum lease payments are summarized by year in the table below:
Millions of dollars |
2019 | $ | 238 |
2020 | 183 |
2021 | 144 |
2022 | 114 |
2023 | 103 |
Thereafter | 268 |
Total noncancelable operating lease commitments | $ | 1,050 |
Rent expense was $250 million, $238 million and $234 million for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Purchase Obligations Our expected cash outflows resulting from non-cancellable purchase obligations are summarized by year in the table below:
Millions of dollars |
2019 | $ | 210 |
2020 | 151 |
2021 | 102 |
2022 | 89 |
2023 | 61 |
Thereafter | 35 |
Total purchase obligations | $ | 648 |

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