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Cooper Acquires Thepitt Manufacturing and Major Liting

2 September 1997

Cooper Acquires Thepitt Manufacturing and Major Liting

    HOUSTON, Aug. 29 -- Cooper Industries, Inc.
announced today that it has acquired Thepitt Manufacturing Company and Major
Liting, Inc., subsidiaries of Rex Hide Incorporated.  Terms of the agreement
were not disclosed.
    Thepitt manufactures a wide variety of basic electrical products used in
new construction, renovation and repair markets such as metallic and non-
metallic outlet boxes, switch covers and conduit fittings.  Major Liting
manufactures weatherproof electrical boxes and outdoor lighting.  Located in
The Meadow Lands, Pennsylvania, Thepitt and Major Liting employ approximately
160 people and had 1996 revenues of about $26 million.  Thepitt and Major
Liting will become part of Cooper's Crouse-Hinds Division, which is
headquartered in Syracuse, New York.
    "Thepitt and Major Liting's electrical construction products complement
Crouse-Hinds' existing product lines and add to the wide offering available to
Crouse-Hinds' distributors,"  said H. John Riley, Jr., Cooper's Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer.
    Thepitt and Major Liting's electrical products are used in industrial,
commercial and residential applications.  Crouse-Hinds manufactures electrical
products for light and heavy industrial applications, including fittings,
enclosures, motor controls, lighting, plugs and intrinsically safe equipment
for abusive, hazardous or corrosive environments.
    Cooper Industries, with 1996 revenues of $5.3 billion, is a diversified,
worldwide manufacturer of electrical products, tools and hardware, and
automotive products.  Additional information about Cooper is available on the
 company's World Wide Web site: http://www.cooperindustries.com .

SOURCE  Cooper Industries, Inc.