Whirlpool Corp. said it has agreed to...

Whirlpool Corp. said it has agreed to buy Roper Corp., an Augusta, Ga.-based manufacturer of appliances and lawn equipment, for $350 million. Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool, one of the nation’s leading appliance makers with $4.2 billion in sales last year, will pay $37.50 a share for all outstanding stock in Roper, Whirlpool said. Roper employs about 4,750 people and had sales of $703 million in the 12 months ending July 31, 1987.