Also. . .

L’Oreal, the world’s largest seller of cosmetics, agreed to buy Matrix Essentials from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. for an undisclosed price. Matrix, which is based in Solon, Ohio, had 1999 sales of $342 million and employs 1,000. Paris-based L’Oreal said Matrix will make it the top U.S. seller of professional hair products.

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