ST. LOUIS (AP) — Emerson Electric Co., a diversified manufacturer, said Thursday it sold its Brooks Instrument unit to a private equity company for $100 million in cash.
American Industrial Partners Capital Fund IV bought the Hatfield, Pa.-based unit, which makes gas- and liquid-flow measurement and control devices, mainly for the chemical and semiconductor industries. Brooks' fiscal 2007 sales were about $90 million.
American Industrial focuses on building middle-market companies.
The Dec. 31, 2007, sale is part of Emerson's plan to focus on high-growth, high-return business. Over the past 18 months it has sold its Western Forge hand-tool unit and Buehler materials-testing business, as well as its stake in Industrial Motion Control.
