yesterday it is the unnamed suitor that agreed to acquire AFC Cable Systems Inc. for stock valued at $45 a share, or $575 million total.

AFC, a Providence, Rhode Island, maker of electrical and communications cable, said Monday it had agreed to be taken over by a buyer it declined to identify.

Tyco, based in Bermuda, is a diversified manufacturing and service company with annual revenue approaching $20 billion.

AFC had 1998 sales of $272.8 million.

Yesterday morning AFC Cable terminated a $490 million stock merger agreement made Jan. 27 with Thomas & Betts Corp. Memphis, Tenn.-based Thomas & Betts, notified last week of the existence of a higher bid for AFC, declined to increase its offer.

Thomas & Betts will receive a $16 million breakup fee from AFC, Tyco said.

AFC's shares rose $2.121 , or 5 percent, to $43 in Nasdaq trading. Tyco's shares rose $1.371 .