Cooper Industries, Ltd. today announced the acquisition of Wheelock, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of fire safety and emergency incident communications systems and devices. Based in Long Branch, N.J., Wheelock is a privately held company with 2005 annual revenues of approximately $46 million. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Wheelock manufactures a comprehensive fire notification product line that includes electronic strobe horns, mini-horns, strobes, speakers and speaker strobes, and power supplies. The company also manufactures communication systems that combine background music, messaging, and emergency voice evacuation and telephone zone paging for military bases, retail establishments, factory and warehouse operations, and campus environments.

Wheelock becomes part of Cooper Menvier, which is based in the United Kingdom. With the acquisition, Cooper Menvier gains complementary capabilities to enhance its core product offerings in fire safety and security detectors, panels and signaling devices, including strobes, sounders, call points and bells. Additionally, Wheelock provides Cooper Menvier with UL-approved products.

"With its strong history of innovation, Wheelock provides a strategic extension to our European portfolio with products specifically designed and manufactured for the U.S. market," said Cooper Industries Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kirk S. Hachigian. "We can now offer an even broader range of products that meet UL, IEC and other major electrical standards to customers and distributors in our international distribution network, including the multi-standard Asia and Middle East markets. This acquisition augments our global reach with new Cooper products that meet fire safety, electronic security and emergency lighting requirements for every region of the world."

Cooper Menvier manufactures fire detection systems, emergency lighting and security equipment for industrial and commercial buildings in Europe, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific Rim. Headquartered in Royal Leamington Spa, England, Cooper Menvier operates manufacturing, sales and distribution facilities across Europe.

Cooper Industries, Ltd. is a global manufacturer of electrical products and tools, with 2005 revenues of $4.7 billion, approximately 30 percent of which are international sales. Incorporated in Bermuda with administrative headquarters in Houston, Cooper employs approximately 29,000 people and operates nine divisions: Cooper B-Line, Cooper Bussmann, Cooper Crouse-Hinds, Cooper Hand Tools, Cooper Lighting, Cooper Menvier, Cooper Power Systems, Cooper Power Tools and Cooper Wiring Devices. Cooper Connection provides a common marketing and selling platform for Cooper's sales to electrical distributors.