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ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Business Combination, Asset Acquisition, Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]  
ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES
European Major Domestic Appliance Business Held for Sale
On January 16, 2023, Whirlpool entered into a contribution agreement with Arçelik B.V. (“Arcelik”) to carve out and contribute our major domestic appliance European business operations into a newly formed European appliance company which constitutes a combination of Arcelik’s and Whirlpool's European businesses. Whirlpool will own approximately 25% and Arcelik will own approximately 75% of the European appliance company. The sale includes the Company's major domestic appliance business in EMEA, including nine production sites.
On June 22, 2023, Whirlpool entered into a share purchase agreement with Arcelik for the sale of our Middle East and North Africa ("MENA") business. The sale was previously agreed upon in principle and announced on January 17, 2023, as part of the outcome of Whirlpool’s strategic review of the EMEA business. The financial impact of the MENA transaction has been included in the loss on sale and disposal of businesses related to the European major domestic appliance business transaction as discussed further below.
Our European major domestic appliance business, including the MENA business, is reported within our EMEA reportable segment and met the criteria for held for sale accounting during the fourth quarter of 2022. The operations of the European disposal group did not meet the criteria to be presented as discontinued operations.
The Europe transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including regulatory approvals from the European Commission, Germany, Austria and China, which have been received, and the UK which remains. On February 8, 2024, the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) provisionally cleared the Transaction. The CMA is expected to issue its final decision by March 26, 2024. We are working diligently with all parties to close the transactions as soon as possible, and expect the transactions to be completed by April 2024.
Upon closing, the transaction will result in the deconsolidation of the European major appliances business. In connection with the sale, we recorded a loss on disposal of $1.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022. The loss included a write-down of the net assets of $1.2 billion of the disposal group to a fair value of $139 million and also includes $393 million of cumulative currency translation adjustments, $98 million release of other comprehensive loss on pension and $18 million of other transaction related costs. No goodwill is included in the disposal group.
We recorded a loss of $106 million related to the planned divestiture of our European major domestic appliance business for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, inclusive of a gain of $180 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. These adjustments are primarily due to fair value fluctuations driven by seasonality of net working capital, partially offset by transaction costs. In the fourth quarter of 2022, we incurred a loss of $1.5 billion resulting in an aggregate loss on disposal of $1.6 billion for the transaction. This adjustment is recorded in the loss on sale and disposal of businesses and reflects transaction costs and ongoing reassessment of the fair value less costs to sell of the disposal group which will continue to be evaluated each reporting period until completion of the transaction.
Both Whirlpool and the post-closing controlling interest shareholder will retain an option for Arcelik to purchase the remaining equity interest in a newly formed European appliance company for fair value, which could be material to the financial statements of the Company, depending on the performance of the business.
The following table presents the carrying amounts of the major classes of the disposal group's assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
December 31,
Millions of dollars20232022
Carrying amounts of major classes of assets
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents$97 $94 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $28 and $32, respectively
578 667 
Inventories589 650 
Prepaid and other current assets94 145 
Total current assets1,358 1,556 
Property, net of accumulated depreciation of $1,442 and $1,648, respectively
952 822 
Right of use assets162 163 
Other intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $149 and $141, respectively
286 279 
Deferred income taxes574 610 
Other noncurrent assets13 17 
Total noncurrent assets1,987 1,891 
Total assets$3,345 $3,447 
Carrying amounts of major classes of liabilities
Current liabilities
Accounts payable$1,266 $1,394 
Accrued expenses218 152 
Accrued advertising and promotions171 172 
Employee compensation120 107 
Notes payable4 
Other current liabilities97 125 
Total current liabilities1,876 1,953 
Noncurrent liabilities
Long-term debt 
Pension benefits168 122 
Lease liabilities132 131 
Other noncurrent liabilities87 88 
Total noncurrent liabilities387 343 
Total liabilities$2,263 $2,296 
Total net assets of the disposal group classified as held for sale$1,082 $1,151 
Assets held for saleFair value of interest retained$144 $139 
Liabilities held for saleCumulative currency translation adjustment and Other comprehensive income on pension$587 $490 
The following table summarizes European major appliances business' earnings (loss) available to Whirlpool before income taxes for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively:
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
in millions202320222021
Earnings (loss) before income taxes$28$(106)$(46)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes excludes intercompany other income and expense which eliminates at Total Whirlpool level. Additionally, the EMEA operating segment includes other businesses which are not classified as held for sale.
InSinkErator Acquisition
On August 7, 2022, the Company entered into an Asset and Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Emerson Electric Co. (“Emerson”) to purchase Emerson’s InSinkErator business, a manufacturer of food waste disposers and instant hot water dispensers for home and commercial use, for a purchase price of $3 billion in cash, subject to customary adjustments.
On October 31, 2022, we completed the acquisition of the InSinkErator business pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement. We used the net proceeds from a $2.5 billion borrowing under our delayed draw term loan facility and $500 million of cash on hand to fund the acquisition. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information about the term loan facility.
Purchase Price Allocation
The acquisition has been accounted for as a business combination under the acquisition method of accounting. This requires allocation of the purchase price to the estimated fair values of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including goodwill and other intangible assets. The Company has finalized third-party valuations for the purchase price allocation and the measurement period for any further purchase accounting adjustment has elapsed.
The following table presents the final allocation of purchase price related to the InSinkErator acquisition, as of December 31, 2023. Purchase accounting adjustments recorded in 2023 were not material.
(in millions)Amount
Cash and cash equivalents$
Receivables, net74 
Inventories 93 
Other current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net 173 
Goodwill1,153 
Other intangible assets 1,630 
Other assets10 
Accounts payable49 
Accrued expenses26 
Other current liabilities34 
Deferred income taxes
Other long-term liabilities10 
Total Purchase Consideration$3,021 
The estimated useful lives of the intangible assets acquired are based on our historical experience and expectations as to the duration of time we expect to realize benefits from those assets. The estimated fair value of the identifiable intangible assets acquired, their useful life and the related valuation methodology are as follows:
Millions of dollarsPreliminary Fair ValueEstimated Useful LifeValuation
Methodology
Preliminary fair value of intangible assets acquired:
Trademarks$1,300 IndefiniteRelief-from-royalty
Customer relationships330 16 yearsMulti-period excess earnings /
with and without method
Intangible assets acquired$1,630 
For additional information see Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The majority of the intangible asset valuation relates to the InSinkErator brand, which is an indefinite lived intangible. The Company’s assessment as to trademarks having an indefinite life was based on a number of factors, including the competitive environment, market share, brand reputation for quality and performance and product life cycles. The customer relationship intangibles of InSinkErator were mainly allocated to its traditional trade distributors, which have an estimated useful life of up to 16 years based on low historical and projected customer attrition rates among its retailers. The finite-lived intangible assets will be amortized using a straight-line method.
Goodwill of $1.1 billion which is not deductible for tax purposes, arose from this transaction and is allocated to the North America reportable segment, and consists of expected future economic benefits arising from expected future product sales, value creation opportunities, operating efficiencies and other synergies that might result from the acquisition. The allocation has been made on the basis that the anticipated synergies identified will primarily benefit this reportable segment.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we incurred transaction and other costs in connection with the acquisition of approximately $44 million which are included in Selling, general and administrative expense in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
Pro Forma Financial Information
The following table provides pro forma results of Whirlpool's operations for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, as if InSinkErator had been acquired as of January 1, 2021. The pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the results that would have occurred if the acquisition had occurred on the dates indicated or that may result in the future.
Year ended December 31,
Millions of dollars20222021
Net Sales$20,246 $22,565 
Net earnings available to Whirlpool$(1,493)$1,716 
These pro forma amounts have been calculated applying the company’s accounting policies and making certain adjustments, which primarily include: (i) depreciation adjustments relating to fair value step-ups to property, plant and equipment; (ii) amortization adjustments relating to fair value estimates of acquired intangible assets; (iii) incremental interest expense associated with the $2.5 billion term loan borrowing to fund the acquisition and amortization of related debt issuance costs; and (iv) transaction and debt financing related costs of approximately $44 million recorded in selling, general and administrative expense. Pro forma results do not include any anticipated cost savings or other effects of the integration of the acquisition.    
Latin America planned sale of Brastemp water filtration subscription business
On January 16, 2024, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement with a third-party buyer to sell the Company's Brastemp-branded water filtration subscription business in the Latin America region. The completion of the transaction is contingent upon regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, and is anticipated to occur in 2024.
The disposal group met the criteria of held for sale at December 31, 2023. The carrying amounts of the disposal group's assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively, are immaterial. The disposal group's earnings (loss) available to Whirlpool before income taxes for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively, are also immaterial.
Russia Sale Transaction
On June 27, 2022, Whirlpool EMEA SpA, a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a share purchase agreement to sell the Company’s Russia business to Arçelik A.Ş. (“Arcelik”), subject to customary conditions at closing. The sale included the entirety of the Company’s operations in Russia, including the Company’s manufacturing facility in Lipetsk, Russia, and the sales organization in Moscow, Russia, as well as sales operations in Kazakhstan and other select CIS countries.
On August 31, 2022, we completed the sale to Arcelik. The consideration includes contingent consideration based on future business and other conditions of the Russian operations. We will recognize the benefit of the contingent consideration when received due to the uncertainty in the Russian marketplace. Additionally, the contingent consideration is subject to a cap based on the agreed net asset value of the Russia business of €261 million at closing (approximately $262 million at August 31, 2022).
In connection with the sale, we recorded a loss on disposal of $346 million in the second quarter of 2022. The loss includes a charge of $333 million for the write-down of the net assets of the disposal group to fair value and $13 million of cumulative currency translation adjustments. On the closing date of August 31, 2022, we recorded an immaterial adjustment to the final loss amount, resulting in a total loss of $348 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Earnings before income taxes for Russia were not material for the periods presented.
For additional information see Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Whirlpool China Divestment
On August 25, 2020, Guangdong Galanz Household Appliances Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (“Galanz”) announced its intention to pursue a tender offer for majority control of Whirlpool China Co. Ltd. (“Whirlpool China”), a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company with shares listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. In its announcement, Galanz noted that it expected to offer RMB 5.23 per share (approximately $0.76 per share as of August 25, 2020) to obtain no less than 51% and no more than 61% of Whirlpool China’s outstanding shares. This share price offer was equal to the daily weighted average trading price for Whirlpool China stock over the 30 trading days prior to the announcement.
In the first quarter of 2021, our Board of Directors approved the sale of Whirlpool China, which was reported within our Asia reportable segment and met the criteria for held for sale accounting during the first quarter of 2021. The operations of Whirlpool China did not meet the criteria to be presented as discontinued operations.
On May 6, 2021, the tender offer was completed and the share transfer was executed for a consideration of RMB 1.25 billion (approximately $193 million on the date of completion). Subsequent to the share transfer, the Company holds an equity interest of 20% in Whirlpool China.
In connection with the sale, we recorded a gain, net of transaction and other costs, of $284 million during the second quarter of 2021. The gain on sale is equal to the difference between the total transaction amount and carrying value of Whirlpool China, which includes $74 million of cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments and $80 million of goodwill allocated to the disposal group.
The total transaction amount includes $193 million of consideration received from the sale of Whirlpool China shares, $214 million for the fair value of the interest retained and the $783 million carrying value of the equity interest in Whirlpool China. The fair value of the interest retained was based on the ownership amount and the stock price of Whirlpool China as of the closing date of the transaction and we account for the remaining minority interest under the equity method of accounting as of June 30, 2021.
Earnings before income taxes prior to the share transfer of Whirlpool China were not material to the Company for the periods presented.
Turkey Subsidiary Divestment
On May 17, 2021, we entered into a share transfer agreement with Arcelik to sell our Turkish subsidiary for a cash purchase price of €78 million (approximately $93 million as of June, 30 2021), subject to customary adjustments at closing.
On June 30, 2021, we completed the sale of the Turkish subsidiary. In connection with the sale, we recorded a loss on disposal of $164 million as of June 30, 2021. The loss includes a charge of $40 million for the write-down of the assets of the disposal group to fair value and allocated goodwill, and $124 million of cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments included in the carrying amount of the disposal group. During the third quarter of 2021, amounts for working capital and other customary post-closing adjustments were finalized and an additional $13 million loss related to the sale of business was recorded.
The Turkish subsidiary, whose primary asset was a manufacturing plant, was reported within our EMEA reportable segment. The operations of Turkey did not meet the criteria to be presented as discontinued operations. Earnings before income taxes for Turkey were not material for the periods presented.
See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.