Sure, people love their cars. But can they also bond with their major appliances? Officials at Whirlpool Corp. are counting on it as they introduce a new lineup of washers and dryers Wednesday at the start of a four-day trade show in Orlando, Fla. It’s the first of four Whirlpool product launches scheduled for this year.
At the 2006 International Builders’ Show & tecHOMExpo, the company will roll out the Duet Sport, a smaller version of its front-loading Duet system; the large-capacity, energy-saving, glass-topped Cabrio pair; and an updated version of its top-loading “classic” washer and dryer.
Three members of the four-person design team that helped develop the new Whirlpool-branded laundry products used to work in the automotive industry, which has for decades used design to create emotional connections between cars and consumers.
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The Good Housekeeping Institute is always turning up new and unusual kitchen products. Here, three that really impressed the food-appliance pros.
The Griddler from Cuisinart ($190; 800-366-5391; www.cuisinart.com) is a different type of indoor grill ‑- and the most versatile the Good Housekeeping Institute has tested. Its unique design makes it a grill and a griddle, so this machine can cook everything from steaks to pancakes.
You might think all side-by-side refrigerators are pretty much alike. But the Good Housekeeping Institute says the Whirlpool Gold Side-by-Side Refrigerator with Fast Fill Dispensing System ($2,199; 800-253-1301; www.whirlpool.com) is unique. It fills any container with filtered water especially fast and has a pullout shelf that makes the process hands-free.
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The Good Housekeeping Institute is always turning up new and unusual kitchen products. Here, three that really impressed the food-appliance pros.
The Griddler from Cuisinart ($190; 800-366-5391; www.cuisinart.com) is a different type of indoor grill ‑- and the most versatile the Good Housekeeping Institute has tested. Its unique design makes it a grill and a griddle, so this machine can cook everything from steaks to pancakes.
You might think all side-by-side refrigerators are pretty much alike. But the Good Housekeeping Institute says the Whirlpool Gold Side-by-Side Refrigerator with Fast Fill Dispensing System ($2,199; 800-253-1301; www.whirlpool.com) is unique. It fills any container with filtered water especially fast and has a pullout shelf that makes the process hands-free.
More: local6.com
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Fitch Ratings expects to rate Whirlpool Corporation’s (WHR) $2.5 billion U.S. commercial paper (CP) program ‘F2′ upon completion of the Maytag merger, which remains subject to Department of Justice clearance. All of Whirlpool’s ratings remain on Rating Watch Negative by Fitch pending completion of the acquisition of Maytag. For additional information regarding Fitch’s expectations for Whirlpool’s ratings, see the Fitch press release dated Oct. 13, 2005 (’Fitch: Downgrade Likely for Whirlpool after Maytag Acquisition’) and available on the Fitch Ratings web site at www.fitchratings.com.
WHR is increasing its CP program to improve its flexibility regarding the financing of the Maytag acquisition and upcoming debt maturities of the combined company. WHR’s CP is fully backed by the company’s credit facilities, which were amended on Dec. 2, 2005. The facilities provide for an aggregate of $2.7 billion in committed unsecured revolving credit facilities and amend and restate its existing credit facilities. WHR has entered into a $2.2 billion five-year revolving credit agreement and a $500 million 364-day revolving credit agreement. Borrowing capacity of $1.2 billion became available on Dec. 2, 2005. Borrowing capacity of $500 million under the 364-day credit agreement and the remaining $1 billion under the amended agreement will become available upon final clearance of the acquisition of Maytag Corporation by the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. Borrowings under the credit facilities will be available to WHR and designated subsidiaries for general corporate purposes, including commercial paper support. At no time will outstandings under the CP program exceed WHR’s committed and available credit facilities.
The credit facilities require WHR to meet certain covenants including financial tests. Maintenance tests for leverage and interest coverage are defined as total debt/EBITDA of less than or equal to 3.0 times (x) to 1.0x and EBIT to interest expense greater than or equal to 2.0x to 1.0x, respectively.
WHR is increasing its CP program to improve its flexibility regarding the financing of the Maytag acquisition and upcoming debt maturities of the combined company. WHR’s CP is fully backed by the company’s credit facilities, which were amended on Dec. 2, 2005. The facilities provide for an aggregate of $2.7 billion in committed unsecured revolving credit facilities and amend and restate its existing credit facilities.
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