Christopher Wyse
                                                                    616/923-3417
                                          christopher_j_wyse@email.whirlpool.com



                   WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION FINALIZES SALE OF 
                           CONSUMER FINANCE BUSINESS

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Jan. 2, 1998 -- Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) today 
announced that it completed the previously announced sale of the consumer 
finance business of Whirlpool Financial Corporation (WFC) to Transamerica 
Distribution Finance Corporation (TDF).

     The sale of the consumer finance business and certain international finance
assets was completed at the close of business on December 31, 1997, pursuant to
an agreement between the companies announced on September 18, 1997. Under that
agreement Whirlpool Corporation agreed to sell the inventory, consumer and
international finance businesses of WFC to TDF as part of a strategic
partnership.

     "The completion of this transaction puts in place the last major piece
necessary to complete the sale of these assets and to develop our strategic
partnership with Transamerica," said Ralph F. Hake, senior executive vice
president and chief financial officer.

     Transamerica Distribution Finance Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of San Francisco-based Transamerica Corporation, one of the world's largest
independent financial services companies with nearly $50 billion in assets. TDF
has been financing manufacturers, distributors and retailers in various
industries for over 40 years.

     Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of
major home appliances. Headquartered in Benton Harbor, the company manufactures
in 13 countries and markets products under 11 major brand names in about 140
countries.

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