Cooper Industries Announces Key Executive Appointments and Responsibilities; Ralph E. Jackson, Jr. Named Chief Operating Officer COOPER INDUSTRIES LOGO Cooper Industries' logo. (PRNewsFoto)[DM] HOUSTON, TX USA 05/13/1999

3 January 2001
    HOUSTON, Jan. 3 Cooper Industries, Inc. today
announced the following changes in its executive management structure:  Ralph
E. Jackson, Jr. has been promoted to the newly-created position of chief
operating officer.  In addition, Cooper has designated Terry A. Klebe, senior
vice president, Strategic Sourcing, as the Company's chief information
technology officer and David A. White, Jr., senior vice president, Strategic
Planning, as the Company's new venture development officer.
    In his new position, Jackson will be responsible for all of Cooper's
worldwide business operations:  Cooper B-Line, Cooper Bussmann, Cooper Crouse-
Hinds, Cooper Lighting, Cooper Menvier, Cooper Power Systems, Cooper Wiring
Devices and Cooper Tools.  Previously, Jackson was executive vice president,
Operations, with responsibility for Cooper's Electrical Products segment.  He
moved into this position in 1992 after several years as president of the
Cooper Bussmann division.
    "Ralph Jackson is an experienced, knowledgeable executive with outstanding
strategic and marketing skills," said H. John Riley, Jr., Cooper's chairman,
president and chief executive officer.  "Under his leadership, Cooper's
Electrical Products segment has produced a solid record of profitable growth.
Ralph also has played a vital role in enhancing Cooper's reputation for
operational and customer service excellence, while helping to execute our
strategy of transforming the Company into a global manufacturer of electrical
products and tools and hardware.  I am confident that under Ralph's guidance,
Cooper's operating units will continue to improve upon their already strong
market-leading performance."
    In his expanded role as Chief Information Technology Officer, Klebe will
be responsible for coordinating company-wide information systems and
developing common standards and platforms to support the Company's future
technical requirements.  Klebe also will be responsible for the development
and implementation of Cooper's global electronic commerce initiatives.  In
addition to his new responsibilities, Klebe will continue to head the
Company's Strategic Sourcing initiative, which is significantly lowering costs
through the centralized procurement of commodities and other purchased
materials.  Klebe was named senior vice president, Strategic Sourcing in 1999
after four years as vice president and controller.  Before joining Cooper in
1995, Klebe was a partner at Ernst & Young in Houston.
    White will continue his responsibilities for developing and coordinating
Cooper's strategic planning and acquisition activities.  As Cooper's New
Venture Development Officer, White also will have worldwide responsibility for
identifying new opportunities for Cooper through strategic investments and the
acquisition of innovative, higher-growth product technologies to expand the
breadth and scope of Cooper's business platforms.  White was named senior vice
president, Strategic Planning in 1996 after seven years as Cooper's vice
president, Planning & Development.  Prior to that, White was vice president
and general manager of Cooper Power Tools.
    "Terry Klebe and David White are both well qualified to lead these
initiatives within Cooper," Riley said.  "Over time, their efforts will create
additional opportunities to generate faster core growth, increase
profitability and expand Cooper's operations into higher-growth markets."
    Ralph Jackson, Terry Klebe and David White will continue to report
directly to H. John Riley, Jr., Cooper's chairman, president and chief
executive officer.
    "These key executive appointments and increased responsibilities reflect
their importance to Cooper as we execute our strategy to enhance growth and
profitability in an increasingly competitive technology-driven marketplace,"
continued Riley.  "Each individual offers a unique set of skills and
experience which will ensure Cooper's ability to continue to deliver value for
our shareholders."
    Cooper Industries, with 1999 revenues of $3.9 billion, is a worldwide
manufacturer of electrical products, tools and hardware.  Additional
information about Cooper is available on the Company's Internet site:
http://www.cooperindustries.com.
    Statements in this news release are forward-looking under the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements are subject to
various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the
Company, such as the level of market demand for the Company's products,
competitive pressures and future economic conditions.  These factors are
discussed in the Company's 1999 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other
Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

     Contact: John Breed of Cooper Industries, Inc., 713-209-8835.