Whirlpool to Sell Vacuum Cleaner Unit

By Bloomberg News

The Whirlpool Corporation, the world's largest appliance maker, will sell the Hoover vacuum cleaner unit it acquired as part of its .68 billion purchase of the Maytag Corporation, which closed in March.

Whirlpool said yesterday that it would also sell the Dixie-Narco vending machine business and the Amana commercial microwave and Jade commercial appliance divisions.

The chief executive, Jeff M. Fettig, said in a statement that the company had "strong interest" from potential buyers and expected to sell the units this year.

Whirlpool, based in Benton Harbor, Mich., also said yesterday that earnings would rise next year, to a share, at the combined company. Whirlpool cut its profit forecast for this year to as much as .25 from as much as .25 because of one-time costs from the Maytag deal.

The company raised its forecast for annual cost savings from the acquisition to more than 0 million, from a range of 0 million to 0 million. Whirlpool said this month that it would eliminate 4,500 jobs, or 5.6 percent of its work force, and close three former Maytag factories.

Whirlpool shares rose .38, to .