Whirlpool has sufficient resources to finance the acquisition and has received strong support from the banking sector. The company currently has a $1.2 billion, five-year committed credit facility, scheduled to mature in 2009. There have been no borrowings under this agreement. The acquisition and upcoming debt maturities of the combined company are expected to be financed through current bank agreements and with new committed bank facilities.
In addition to reimbursing the $40 million termination fee paid by Maytag to Triton, Whirlpool has agreed to pay up to $15 million to assist Maytag in retaining key employees. Whirlpool also has agreed to pay Maytag a “reverse break-up fee” of $120 million under certain circumstances in the unlikely event of failure to obtain regulatory clearance.
Maytag's shareholders are expected to vote on the transaction before the end of the year. Whirlpool expects the transaction to close as early as the first quarter of 2006, following approval from Maytag shareholders and regulatory clearance.
Lazard serves as financial advisor; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz serves as legal advisor; and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton serves as special legal counsel to Maytag. Greenhill & Company, Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP, Howrey LLP, and The Boston Consulting Group serve as advisors to Whirlpool.
Maytag Corporation is a $4.7 billion home and commercial appliance company focused in North America and in targeted international markets. The corporation's primary brands are Maytag, Hoover, Jenn-Air, Amana, Dixie-Narco and Jade.
World's leading home appliances manufacturer and marketer Whirlpool Corporation with annual sales of over $13 billion, 68,000 employees. The Company has nearly 50 manufacturing and technology research centers around the globe. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Brastemp, Bauknecht, Consul and other major brand names to consumers in more than 170 countries.
marketing@alchempro.com
