The manufacturing and technology services company said it will offer $25 per share for Avocent, a 22 percent premium over Monday's closing price.
Huntsville, Ala.-based Avocent makes network equipment and software and had sales of about $657 million last year.
St. Louis-based Emerson expects the deal to close around Jan. 1.
Avocent shares jumped $4.34, or 21.2 percent, to close at $24.86 after reaching a 52-week high of $25.13 earlier in the session.
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