NEW YORK -- WL Ross & Co. has completed its acquisition of BST Safety Textiles GmbH (BST), formerly Berger Safety Textiles of Maulburg, Germany.

BST is an international manufacturer of flat and one piece woven ("OPW") fabrics for automotive air bags as well as narrow fabrics for seat belts and military and technical uses. BST operates facilities located in southern Germany, Poland and two facilities in Virginia in the U.S. The company employs approximately 1,250 people worldwide.

WL Ross previously acquired in December 2005 Safety Components International, Inc. (SCI), an independent supplier of air bag fabrics and air bag cushions. SCI was merged with International Textile Group, Inc. (ITG) on Oct. 20, and now operates as the Safety Textiles International (STI) business unit of ITG.

Wilbur Ross, chairman, said, "We are very pleased to have completed the BST transaction. The BST and STI/ITG businesses complement each other, and we believe there are many synergies and growth opportunities available to explore."