whr-20220923

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): September 23, 2022

WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware

1-3932

38-1490038

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

2000 North M-63,

Benton Harbor,

Michigan

49022-2692

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (269) 923-5000

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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common stock, par value $1.00 per share

WHR

Chicago Stock Exchange

and

New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On September 23, 2022, Whirlpool Corporation (the “Company”) entered into a Term Loan Agreement by and among the Company, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (“SMBC”), as Administrative Agent and Syndication Agent and as lender, and certain other financial institutions as lenders. SMBC, BNP Paribas, ING Bank N.V., Dublin Branch, Mizuho Bank, Ltd., and Societe Generale acted as Joint Lead Arrangers and Syndication Agents; The Bank of Nova Scotia and Bank of China, Chicago Branch acted as Documentation Agents; and SMBC acted as Sole Bookrunner for the Term Loan Agreement. The Term Loan Agreement provides for an aggregate lender commitment of $2.5 billion. The Company expects to utilize proceeds from the term loan facility on a delayed draw basis to fund a majority of the $3.0 billion purchase price consideration for the Company’s acquisition from Emerson Corporation (“Emerson”) of Emerson’s InSinkErator business, as set forth in the Asset and Stock Purchase Agreement between Whirlpool and Emerson dated as of August 7, 2022 (the “Acquisition Agreement”).

The Term Loan Agreement has a commitment termination date of May 7, 2023, which may be extended by the Company for up to two consecutive three-month periods if the acquisition has not closed by that time and if the “End Date” (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) is extended for such periods. The term loan facility is divided into two tranches: a $1 billion tranche with a maturity date 18 months following the date that funds are borrowed, and a $1.5 billion tranche with a maturity date three years following the date that funds are borrowed.

The interest and fee rates payable with respect to the term loan facility based on the Company's current debt rating are as follows: (1) the spread over SOFR for the 18-month tranche is 0.75%; (2) the spread over SOFR for the three-year tranche is 1.00%; (3) the spread over prime for both tranches is zero; and (4) the ticking fee for both tranches is 0.10%, as of the date hereof.

The Term Loan Agreement contains customary covenants and warranties including, among other things, a rolling twelve month interest coverage ratio required to be greater than or equal to 3.0 to 1.0 for each fiscal quarter. In addition, the covenants limit the Company's ability to (or to permit any subsidiaries to), subject to various exceptions and limitations: (i) merge with other companies; (ii) create liens on its property; and (iii) incur debt at the subsidiary level.

The lenders have in the past performed, and may in the future from time to time perform, investment banking, financial advisory, lending and/or commercial banking services, or other services for Whirlpool Corporation and its subsidiaries, for which they have received, and may in the future receive, customary compensation and expense reimbursement.

The description of the Term Loan Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Term Loan Agreement, a copy of which will be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending September 30, 2022.

Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information regarding the Company's entry into the Term Loan Agreement provided under Item 1.01 above is hereby incorporated by reference.

Website Disclosure

We routinely post important information for investors on our website, whirlpoolcorp.com, in the "Investors" section. We also intend to update the Hot Topics Q&A portion of this webpage as a means of disclosing material, non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor the Investors section of our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our webpage is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

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.

Date: September 23, 2022

WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

By: /s/ JAMES W. PETERS

Name: James W. Peters

Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Whirlpool Corporation filed SEC Form 8-K: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement, Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation