Bell Industries Rejects Takeover Offer

Bell Industries Inc., an electronics and computer-products maker and distributor based in El Segundo, said it rejected as inadequate a $5.30-a-share offer by Steel Partners II. Bell told the New York-based investment fund that it would consider a higher offer. Bell’s shares, which reached a 52-week high of $6 last month, rose 31 cents, or 7%, to close at $4.88. The shares have jumped 21% during the past year. Steel Partners is Bell’s largest shareholder, with a stake of 15%, as of last March. News of the bid came after the close of trading.