Lear to Buy Eagle Ottawa?

Lear Corp. is near a deal to acquire automotive seat leather supplier Eagle Ottawa LLC for more than $800 million, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Eagle Ottawa, which is based in Auburn Hills, Mich., is a 149-year-old company that describes itself as the world's largest supplier of premium automotive leather. The company is owned by Everett Smith Group Ltd., an investment firm in Milwaukee.

Seatmaker Lear has signaled for a year that it intends to expand its leather operations. The company also has shown experimental etched and printed leather seating surfaces.

The Journal says the deal is likely to be announced in the next several days.