Whirlpool's profit advances 48% in the quarter to $ 181 million

SAO PAULO-the American manufacturer Whirlpool appliances showed net profit of $ 181 million in the fourth quarter, an increase of 48.4% in same period in 2012. As the balance sheet published on Thursday morning, the Government benefits in Brazil boosted the result.
Net revenue advanced 6.2 percent on the same comparison, and reached $ 5 billion between October and December. The owner of the marks and Consul Brastemp in Brazil continued to register the largest gains with sales in North America, with sales of $ 2.7 billion, a rise of 9%.
The only region that had drop in sales was Asia, where the group performed revenue of $ 177 million, 12.8% lower level in a year. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, progress was made of 6.7%, to $ 847 million.
Brazil
But it was the Latin America that brought more changes to the final result of the Whirlpool. On behalf of the Befiex program, to encourage export of manufactured in Brazil, the company had an extraordinary gain of $ 40 million in the balance sheet, which boosted its profit. In addition, the multinational had to pay $ 11 million for the refinancing of debt in Brazil.
Net revenues in the Latin American countries ended at $ 1.4 billion, slight increase of 7.6% on the same bases. The operations were affected by both the adverse currency effect of period as the jump in the prices of raw materials for their manufacture.
In 2013, the accumulated net profits of the company reached $ 827 million — or $ 10.24 per share —, expansion of 106%. Revenue was $ 18,77 billion in the year, up 3.4 percent. Whirlpool's projections indicate advance of up to 13% on profit to range between $/and $ 11,55 by role. The Brazilian program Befiex must respond by up to 2% of that figure.