| Item 1.01 |
Entry into a Material Contract |
Issuance of Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2031 and 2034
On June 16, 2026, Whirlpool Corporation (the “Company”) issued $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of its 7.500% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2031 (the “2031 Notes”) and $1.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of 7.875% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2034 (the “2034 Notes” and, together with the 2031 Notes, the “Notes”). The Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of June 16, 2026 (the “Indenture”), by and among the Company, the other guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent. The sale of the Notes was not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Notes were sold on a private placement basis to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes, together with borrowings under its new asset-based revolving credit facility (the “ABL Credit Facility”), to (i) pay the consideration for all 1.250% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Existing Notes”) and 1.100% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “2027 Existing Notes” and, together with the 2026 Existing Notes, the “Existing Notes”), in each case issued by Whirlpool Finance Luxembourg S.à r.l., a wholly owned subsidiary of Whirlpool, that were validly tendered to the Company in a tender offer and consent solicitation (the “Concurrent Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation”), (ii) satisfy and discharge, in accordance with the indenture governing the Existing Notes, as amended pursuant to the Concurrent Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation (the “Existing Notes Indenture”), any such Existing Notes that remain outstanding following the completion of the Concurrent Tender Offer and Consent Solicitation, by irrevocably depositing with the trustee under the Existing Notes Indenture funds sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on such Existing Notes as and when due, (iii) repay the amount outstanding under the Company’s existing unsecured revolving credit facility, and (iv) pay fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing.
The 2031 Notes will mature on July 1, 2031 and bear interest at a rate of 7.500% per annum. The 2034 Notes will mature on July 1, 2034 and bear interest at a rate of 7.875% per annum. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on January 1 and July 1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 2027, and accrues from June 16, 2026.
The Notes are guaranteed by each domestic and Canadian subsidiary of the Company that is a borrower under, or a guarantor of, the Company’s obligations under the ABL Credit Facility (the “Guarantors”). The Notes and related guarantees are secured, on a second-priority basis, subject to Permitted Liens and Excluded Assets (each as defined in the Indenture), by substantially all the assets of the Company and the Guarantors that secure the obligations under the ABL Credit Facility on a first-priority basis. Some of the Company’s assets are excluded from the collateral, such as its domestic manufacturing facilities and other real estate, shares of capital stock of its subsidiaries or debts owing from its subsidiaries to the Company.
The Company may redeem all or part of the Notes of a series at any time prior to July 1, 2028, in the case of the 2031 Notes (the “2031 Notes First Call Date”), or July 1, 2029, in the case of the 2034 Notes (the “2034 Notes First Call Date” and, together with the 2031 Notes First Call Date, a “First Call Date”), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus a make-whole premium, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. The Company may also redeem all or part of the Notes of a series at any time on or after the applicable First Call Date at the redemption prices set forth in the Indenture. In addition, at any time prior to the applicable First Call Date, the Company may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of a series using proceeds of certain equity offerings, at the redemption prices specified in the Indenture. Further, if the Company or certain of its subsidiaries sell certain assets, the Company may be required to offer to use the net proceeds thereby to purchase the Notes of a series at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date.
Upon the occurrence of specified kinds of changes of control and a ratings downgrade with respect to the Notes of a series, holders will have the right to require the Company to purchase all or any part of their Notes of such series at 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date.