Emerson Electric Bids to Buy National Instruments for Nearly $7 Billion

Emerson Electric Co.

EMR -6.82%

has disclosed a nearly $7 billion offer to acquire

National Instruments Corp.

NATI 10.79%

, which it said it has been trying to buy for more than eight months.

Emerson, a St. Louis-based technology and engineering company, said it was offering $53 a share in cash for National Instruments, which it said represents an…