Whirlpool Corp. said it received a grand jury subpoena for documents related to a U.S. Department of Justice antitrust investigation into the global compressor industry.
Authorities also visited Whirlpool Corp. subsidiaries in Brazil and Italy Tuesday seeking similar information, according to a press release from Whirlpool.
No charges have been filed against Whirlpool or its employees, as far as the company knows, according to the press release. Whirlpool — based in Benton Harbor, Mich. –plans to cooperate fully with the investigation, according to the statement.
Jill M. Saletta, Whirlpool director of external communications, said the company would not comment beyond the press release.
Justice department spokeswoman Gina Talamora said the department is investigating anti-competitive practices in the global compressor industry but declined to comment further.
The justice department subpoena comes during the same week Whirlpool announced it will make a $175 million investment in its Clyde plant to “support new super energy-efficient washer platforms,” Saletta said. The venture is expected to create 90 to 100 jobs that will be added in 2010, she said.
Saletta said information Clyde Mayor Scott Black, a Whirlpool employee, provided The News-Messenger Wednesday was incorrect. The investment has nothing to do with the 250 employees who were laid off in November, she said.
Whirlpool executives, asked for information Wednesday evening, declined to comment.
