Cooper expands lighting offering

Cooper Industries, Inc. (Houston, TX) has acquired Shaper Lighting (Richmond, CA) — manufacturer of specification and commercial grade lighting fixtures. Shaper's product line includes custom and standard interior ceiling-mounted fixtures and interior and exterior wall-mounted fixtures. Shaper has annual sales of approximately $11 million. Shaper will become part of the Cooper Lighting division of Cooper Industries.

"Shaper is the fifth strategic product line acquisition that we have added to our Cooper Lighting division since 1998," said H. John Riley, Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer, Cooper Industries. "As a result of these additions and aggressive new product development, Cooper Lighting now offers one of the lighting industry's most comprehensive product lines - with products designed for consumer, commercial, industrial and architectural applications. At the same time, these additions have expanded Cooper Lighting's participation in both the retail and commercial lighting markets."

Acquired for approximately $8 million, Shaper Lighting is expected to contribute to Cooper's earnings beginning in 2001. Further information is available on a Form 8-K that will be filed today with the SEC.

Edited by Jerry R. Borland, P.E.
Managing Editor, EC Online
jborland@vertical.net