Whirlpool of India Ltd. Clarifies Re-designation of Anil Berera as Independent Director

Whirlpool of India Ltd. Clarifies Re-designation of Anil Berera as Independent Director​

Whirlpool of India Ltd. has responded to concerns raised by Institutional Investor Advisory Services India Limited (IiAS) and Stakeholders Empowerment Services (SES) regarding the proposed re-designation of Anil Berera (DIN: 00306485) as a Non-Executive Independent Director. The clarifications were issued on March 24, 2026.

The company addressed the recommendations made by the proxy advisory firms regarding a resolution for shareholder approval, stating that the concerns arise from the firms' internal governance criteria rather than any legal or regulatory restriction.

Anil Berera has been associated with the Board since November 3, 2011. He previously served as an Executive Director until December 31, 2019, and has since served as a Non-Executive Non-Independent Director.

Whirlpool of India Ltd. affirms that the re-designation of Mr. Berera is fully compliant with the Companies Act, 2013 and the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. The company noted that Mr. Berera satisfies all independence criteria, including having no material pecuniary relationship with the company or its affiliates.

The company clarified that a mandatory cooling-off period is not required, citing Section 149(6)(e)(i) of the Act. They also stated that Mr. Berera’s tenure as an Independent Director would commence on March 1, 2026, aligning with the statutory framework governing director tenure limits. The company currently has five Independent Directors on its Board, exceeding the regulatory requirement.

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