Document
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 12, 2019
 
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))

 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 8.01. Other Events.

As previously disclosed, on April 24, 2018, Whirlpool Corporation ("Whirlpool") and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a purchase agreement with Nidec Corporation ("Nidec") to sell Whirlpool's Embraco business unit, subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of all necessary antitrust approvals. Antitrust approvals have been received in the U.S., Brazil, and China, and are awaited in Europe and certain other jurisdictions.

On April 12, 2019, Whirlpool and Nidec received the European Commission's ("EC") approval of the acquisition of Whirlpool's Embraco business by Nidec, subject to final approval by the EC of the buyer and sale terms for certain assets that Nidec has committed to divest.

After Nidec reaches an agreement for the sale of such assets, there will remain a small number of procedural reviews and approvals from the European Commission, including final approval of the Nidec asset divestiture terms, and from other jurisdictions in order to close the Embraco sale to Nidec, which may take several weeks to complete.

Whirlpool remains confident and continues to expect the transaction to close, and is committed to taking all actions in its best interests to close the transaction as soon as possible. If closing does not occur by April 24, 2019, the parties’ agreement permits closing up to six months later.


Whirlpool Corporation Additional Information
Certain statements in this current report relating to Whirlpool's expectations for transaction closing constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. These statements reflect management’s current expectations regarding future events and speak only as of the date of this current report. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not, or the times at or by which, events will occur. Actual performance may differ materially from that expressed or implied in such statements.

Reference should also be made to the factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in Whirlpool’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this current report are based upon what are believed to be reasonable assumptions, investors cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and the differences may be material. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this current report and, except as expressly required by applicable law, Whirlpool assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

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: April 12, 2019
 
 
WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ BRIDGET K. QUINN
 
Name:
 
Bridget K. Quinn
 
Title:
 
Assistant General Counsel and Corporate Secretary