Taiwanese copper and electronic cable manufacturer Walsin Lihwa (Walsin) board has decided to sell its LED subsidiary Xian Walsin Technology in China’s assets for RMB 166 million (US $26.72 million) to Shangxi Electronic Information  Group, marking Walsin’s exit from the LED industry, according to a report from China Times.

Moderate economic growth in 2015 has become the “new norm” for the stabilizing Chinese economy. With the Chinese government introducing industry restructures, explosive economic growth has become history. Gone are the good days for businesses, lighting manufacturers orders have plummeted, but costs are rising. The impact from e-commerce has misled some manufacturers, and the market has briefly become a “besieged fortress.” Some manufacturers are hanging on, while others are seeking alternative options to leave the industry, or quietly withdraw from the market, according to Guzhen Lighting Weekly.

One year ago, Seoul Semiconductor filed a patent infringement lawsuit in U.S. Federal District Court asserting that Craig’s sales of LED backlighting unit products infringed five of Seoul’s patents. On July 23, 2015, the court finally issued the judgment in favor of Seoul Semiconductor stating that Craig acknowledged infringement of all the asserted patents and their validity.

Adjusted EBITA margin increases to 9.5%in the third quarter Revenue up 12%; almost stable on a comparable basis Carve-out of lamps business planned to be completed by spring 2016

Net profits improved for Dutch lighting giant Philips, mostly due to strong sales growth in its Healthcare and strong margin improvements in Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting businesses. However, performance in emerging markets including China, Russia and Latin America had declined.

Chinese LED manufacturer Leyard intends to expand its business in the Indian market by investing in Indian LED manufacturer MIC Electronics, according to a report from Indian newspaper The Economic Times.

Large players oversupply situation in the LED industry led to LED bulbs continual downward price trend, according to a report by Chinese-language Commercial Times.

Royal Philips, the global leader in lighting, aims to collaborate with the world’s top technology start-ups, pushing the boundaries of connected lighting for the Internet of Things (IoT). The company has teamed up with Silicon Valley’s Plug and Play Tech Center, one of the world’s largest accelerators, to mentor and partner with some of the newest, most exciting IoT innovators.

Samsung Electric senior executives of its LED business arm and Chinese lighting manufacturer Luming Technology have signed a LED strategic framework partnership agreement.

Bridgelux’s strategic partnership with one of China’s largest electronic company China Electronics Corporation (CEC) and its LED industry strategy has made CEC the ideal acquisitor among potential buyers, wrote Bridgelux CEO Bradley Bullington in an email correspondence with LEDinside.

Speaking at a conference on Thursday, Indian Power Minister Power Piyush Goya urged LED manufacturers to correct LED bulb prices, reported Can-India News.

LG Display announced on Thursday it will be investing 1.05 trillion won (US $908 million) to construct a new OLED display plant, reported Reuters.

OSRAM, a leading global lighting manufacturer has announced the appointment of Grant Wright as CEO/CFO of OSRAM Americas and President and CEO/CFO of OSRAM SYLVANIA effective July 1, 2015. He succeeds Jes Munk Hansen who was appointed CEO of the recently formed Lamps Business Unit. Wright will be responsible for the OSRAM business in North, Middle and South America. 

Bridgelux, a leading developer and manufacturer of solid state lighting (SSL) technologies, today announced it has entered a definitive agreement to be acquired by an investment group led by the China Electronics Corporation (CEC), and ChongQing Linkong Development Investment Company. Established in 1989, CEC controls 61 second-level subsidiaries, including 13 listed holding companies. With over 70,000 employees, CEC is one of the largest IT companies in China, with manufacturing facilities in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Shenzhen, Nanjing, Changsha, and Xiamen. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

It has been two months since Chinese LED power manufacturer Moso halted trade on the Chinese bourse as it planned to acquire more financing on May 20, 2015.

San’an Opto announced its wholly-owned subsidiary, Wuhu Anrui Opto (蕪湖安瑞光電), has signed the cooperation framework agreement with automaker BAIC Yinxiang Automobile on July 17, 2015.

Chinese LED manufacturer Yankong Lighting announced Monday, it received RMB 91.88 M (US $14.80 million) subsidy from China’s Ministry of Finance.

Sensity Systems, the pioneer of Light Sensory Networks (LSNs), has closed a private funding round of $36 million led by Cisco Investments and includes industry leaders Acuity Brands, GE Ventures and Simon Venture Group (corporate investment arm of Simon Property Group). Sensity has now raised a total of $74 million since its inception from venture investors Almaz Capital, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Radar Partners and Silver Creek Ventures, in addition to these four industry-leading lighting, networking and retail organizations. The investment will be used to scale Sensity’s NetSense platform and application developer program globally.

iFixit recent teardown of iPod touch 6 revealed the absence of sapphire covered lens, reported Apple Insider.

Shenzhen Kaifa Technology (Kaifa) announced its LED subsidiary Kaistar will be acquiring 100% shares of a major U.S. LED company for US $130 million recently, reported China’s Securities Daily.

A new white LED patent which covers, among others, YAG phosphors has been granted by the European Patent Office in favor of Nichia Corporation ("Nichia"), namely EP 2 197 053.

Chinese LED manufacturer Unilumen recently announced it has cancelled plans of acquiring a foreign firm for US $300 million, according to a cnledw.com report.

Further details of Ledman’s acquisition of a Chinese LED luminaire company has finally been confirmed today.

Royal Philips, the global leader in lighting, today announced that Hubbell Lighting, a division of Hubbell Incorporated has joined its LED Luminaires and Retrofit Bulbs Licensing Program. Through membership of its open Licensing Program, Hubbell Lighting, Inc. will benefit from Philips’ patented and leading-edge innovations in LED control and system-level technologies.

Royal Philips  announced the appointment of Andy Ho as Chief Executive Officer for Greater China per November 2, 2015, succeeding Patrick Kung, who will retire on December 31, 2015. To ensure a seamless transition, Mr. Ho will join Philips on August 3, 2015, as Executive Vice President, Royal Philips, reporting to Philips CEO Frans van Houten. Mr. Ho joins Philips from IBM Corp., where he has held a wide range of sales, technology and senior management roles across Greater China, Canada and the United States in a career spanning over 30 years. His latest roles at IBM were General Manager for Greater China North and, subsequently, General Manager Technology Partnership and Strategic Alliances for Greater China.

China’s A-shares started off with a strong rebound this week, after plunging to an all-time low last Thursday and Friday. In the short term, A shares are stabilizing on the market. Many listed LED manufacturers that suspended trade to avert impacted by the volatile stock market have gradually resumed trade. More than 350 listed Chinese companies resumed trade as of Monday, according to latest statistics.

To protect investors rights, San’an Opto suspended trade on the Chinese bourse on July 8, 2015, due to the uncertain outcome of an important company decision that potentially could have impacted its stock performance. The company explained the trade suspension was to ensure all information was transparent, open and fair.

Nationstar announced Monday it will be acquiring electronic manufacturer Guangdong Desheng company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Guangsheng, for RMB 250 million (US $40.60 million).

Leading LED small pitch display manufacturer Leyard, has seen continual growth in the industry as the company reaps benefits from transforming its LED plant into a wholly automated production line, according to an industry insider.

In its latest fiscal report for first half of 2015, Absen Opto announced its net profit has declined compared to the same period a year before.