Whirlpool Must Make Maytag Offer by Tuesday

Whirlpool Corp. must submit a firm offer to buy Maytag Corp. no later than noon Tuesday, according to an agreement outlined in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A confidentiality agreement between Whirlpool and Maytag signed July 26 specifies that for a period of three years after Maytag opened its books to Whirlpool, neither company can try to acquire control of the other without permission.

Whirlpool’s offer, which remains tentative, stands at $18 a share, or $1.43 billion.