2014 Q4 call transcript 8k/a released and reveals
Post# of 2207
Key words: Brand Extension Research.
This makes it very clear - and there are many helpful websites on the topic. It answers all of everyone's "why hoover" -- and the whole "what are they thinking" isn't so out of the oridinary. As a matter of fact it is quite ordinary and commonplace practice in the marketing industry.
Although the research was conducted by Radius - as per the call transcript - the website that I found very helpful so far is here:
http://www.brandextension.org/business.html