Mueller Industries has agreed to acquire Nehring Electrical Works Mueller Industries, Inc., (Nehring) and some of its affiliated firms, for approximately US$575 million. The deal is subject to customary purchase price adjustments.

A press release said that Nehring, based in DeKalb, Illinois, produces wire and cable solutions for the utility, telecom, electrical distribution and OEM markets. Operating through its three business units (Nehring Electrical Works Company, Conex Cable, LLC and Unified Wire & Cable, Inc.), Nehring supplies numerous utilities, REAs, municipalities, telecoms and electrical distribution companies throughout the U.S. For its last fiscal year, Nehring’s annual net sales were approximately US$400 million.

At Nehring’s website, the company notes that it is one of the few U.S.-based companies manufacturing both copper and aluminum conductors. Also, it “has been producing wire and cable products longer than any wire mill in the Midwest.” The company was founded in 1912 by Paul A. Nehring, who invented many of the machines used for covering copper with braided cotton. The family business was sold several times, including to Coleman Cable Company, and had been owned by a private partnership group since 1995.

“This acquisition provides a substantial platform for long-term growth in the electrical and power infrastructure space and complements the other critical infrastructure sectors we support,” said Mueller CEO Greg Christopher. “With its operational culture, which is well aligned with our own, the addition of Nehring leverages our deep expertise in metals, particularly copper and aluminum extrusion, and provides synergies to both companies.”

Based in Collierville, Tennessee, Mueller manufactures copper, brass, aluminum and plastic products. It operates locations throughout the U.S. as well as Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, South Korea, the Middle East and China.