Highlights this week:

Chinese investors Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund (GCI) is proposing to acquire Aixtron for EUR 6 per share, which would bring the acquisition value to about EUR 670 million. The investment will mostly be used for accelerating Axitron’s MOCVD R&D, and receiving the needed capital. Company management, structure, and patent portfolio will remain unchanged after the acquisition.

But there is a catch.

The German MOCVD maker Aixtron stated as part of its acquisition conditions “a minimum approval threshold of 60% outstanding shares,” which in layman terms means it requires approval from all shareholders that combined have at least 60% stake in the company.

This could complicate acquisition process significantly. The reason? Aixtron has a very fragmented shareholder structure, where its top six shareholders each have less than 10% stake in the company. Its largest shareholder Argonaut Capital, which has a 7.7% stake in the company is already slightly skeptical about the business transaction, so the outcome of the acquisition will largely depend on shareholders vote.

Other developments to look out for include Epistar’s decision to shutdown its FOREPI EPI-wafer production capacity in Longtan, Taiwan. The company has denied it is laying off 100 employees from the FOREPI factory, and is offering affected employees the option to transfer to a different business department or receive a severance package.

For more news please see below:

Editor recommendations

1. [Update] Debunking Rumors Associated with Aixtron Sales to Chinese Investor
2. Chinese Investment Group GCI Acquires Aixtron for EUR 670Ｍ
3. Aixtron Largest Shareholder Argonaut Capital Critical About Proposed Takeover
4. Aixtron to Remain a German Company and Keep Patents after GCI Acquisition
5. Epistar Rebuts Reports Claiming it Laid Off 100 Employees
6. Unveiling Osram’s Core Competitiveness in IR LED Technology
7. China and Belgium Sign LED Partnership Agreement
8. Samsung To Expand Quantum Dot Technology Applications
9. RayVio Eyes Disinfection Sector with Strong UVC LED Product Portfolio
10. Taiwanese Banks Tightens LED Industry Credit

RadTech 2016 overview

• New UV LED Package Product Trends at RadTech UV+EB 2016
• UV Curing Market Opportunities and Challenges Observed at RadTech UV+EB 2016
• [Update] Ultra-high Power Optics and Thermal Solutions from SolidUV/ PlayNitride Enable High-end Pioneering Curing Development- RadTech UV+EB 2016 Show Report 

Innovative technologies

• LEDs Might Help Locate Cancer Tumors in Future
• LED Matrix Headlight Designs for Improving Road Safety
• Researchers Find Consumers Make Healthier Choices in Brightly Lit Restaurants

Government projects and resources

1. LED Streetlight Project Developments in Varanasi and Ambattur in India
2. Irish City Council to Upgrade to LED Streetlights
3. Adelaide in Australia to Roll out First Smart Streetlight Pilot Project
4. Gujarat in India Launches Affordable LED Lighting Scheme
5. New Hampshire City to Switch 5,500 Streetlights to LEDs

Industry news

1. Samsung Electronics Forgoes OLED TV Jumps Straight into QLED Technology
2. Leaders in Online Wholesale Trade and Exhibitions to Debut "O2O2O Solution" Service at SIGN and LED CHINA 2016 Expositions
3. HPL Provides Optimized UV LED Curing Solution
4. Panasonic To Supply Large LED Displays to Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games
5. Orion Seals US $2.4 M Retrofit Lighting Project with Global Fortune 50 Retailer
6. TetraGear Keep Wheel Riders Visible and Safe at Night
7. UMass to Receive LED Upgrade from Eversource
8. Event alert! Wellmax products Will exhibit at the Incoming Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition/ Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition invitation from Wellmax
9. Alpha Assembly Solutions to Showcase LED Soldering Materials at GILE 2016
10. LIA Council of Management for 2016 Elaborates on Strategy and Vision

New products

1. Diodes Releases High Power-factor Buck LED Driver
2. Apple Rumored To be Equipping MacBook Pro with OLED Touch Bar on Keyboards
3. Fairchild Unveils New IC LED Driver Solution for Smart Lighting Applications
4. Cree Expands OSQ Series Area and Flood LED Luminaire Lineup
5. MaxLite Launches DiscMAX LED Post Top Luminaire for Parking and Outdoor Areas
6. Panasonic Showcases X-GaN Gate Driver at PCIM Europe 2016
7. RAB Unveils High Output LED Outdoor Lights for 1,000 Watt HID Retrofit
8. MaxLite Introduces Three-way LED Lamp as Incandescent Replacement
9. Porsche Incorporates LED Headlighting from Osram in its Le Mans Package
10. Taris Luminaires Featuring Osram LEDs Eliminates Glare for Office Applications
11. LG's New Curved OLED TV Line Hits U.S. Retail Market
12. GlacialTech Unveils New LED Flood Light Knock Down Kit
13. iDevices Launches Socket that Upgrades Conventional Lamps to Connected Lights
14. NXP Unveils New High Performance GaN RF Power Transistors for Cellular Base Stations
15. UL Approves Samsung’s LED Component Test Lab for UL Total Certification Program
16. Samsung’s New Bendable OLED Display is Expected to Boost Gadget Demand Once Commercialized

Lighting projects

1. Osram's LEDs Turns the Noma Earth Tubes into an Interactive Light Installation
2. Zumtobel and Tridonic Jointly Develop Special Car Park Lighting Solution in Qatar
3. Vivid Sydney Lights up Toranga Zoo with Animal Light Sculptures for the First Time
4. Hong Kong Lighting Project Gets Pulled Due to Political Undertone
5. Soraa LEDs Illuminate the“Fairy Grottoes” in Germany
6. Solar Soccer Marks an Unofficial Start of UN Environment Summit
7. Communications Made Easy with Philips' Luminous Carpets
8. Lunera's LED Lighting Proved to Slash Half Energy Use in GSA Green Proving Ground Program Report
9. Osram Sheds Light on Corals with Oslon LEDs
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