Cooper Industries Completes B-Line Acquisition

Cooper Industries, Inc. (Houston, TX) finalized its purchase of B-Line Systems, an Illinois-based manufacturer of electrical construction materials, from Sigma-Aldrich Corporation. B-Line had 1999 revenues of $253 million (see "Cooper Industries to Acquire B-Line Systems").

B-Line will operate as a stand-alone division of Cooper Industries — as Cooper B-Line —headquartered in Highland, Ill. Tom Briggs, division president, will lead this operation.

Edited by: Jerry R. Borland, P.E.