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.

Chinese LED manufacturer Ledman announced it is planning to acquire a new LED luminaire company as of July 8, 2015.

Cree, a market leader in silicon-carbide (SiC) power and RF products announced the acquisition of APEI, a global leader in power modules and power electronics applications. Combining two highly complementary innovators, the acquisition enables Cree’s Power and RF business to extend its leadership position and help to accelerate the market for high-performance, best-in-class SiC power modules.

Chinese LED manufacturer Leyard has halted trade on China’s bourse as the company prepares to acquire Mingji Electronic Technology (Beijing) (Mingji) and LEDAVENUE.

The Chinese LED industry is very familiar with subsidies, the country’s government has offered financial support to local companies since 2009. Subsidies issued by the central government over the last six years has spurred the explosive growth witnessed in the country’s LED industry. LED enterprises all want a share in government subsidies. Listed companies in particular often covet subsidies to give their financial performance a facelift. LEDinside editor Flora Wu has ranked manufacturers that have received the most subsidies in 2015 in the following order below:

Avnet Abacus, one of Europe’s leading interconnect, passive, electro-mechanical and power distributors and a business unit of Avnet Electronics Marketing EMEA, a business region of Avnet, has signed a pan-European distribution agreement with Taiwan-based MechaTronix, an important player in the global market for LED cooling solutions.

Following China’s stock market nosedive in recent weeks, more domestic listed companies have chosen to suspend trade. More than 760 listed companies combined have suspended trade on the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses as of July 7, which is roughly equivalent to 27% of the total companies listed on both bourses. More than 100 companies applied for trade suspension on July 6 alone.

NVC Lighting recently was notified by Chongqing First Intermediate People's Court that a Chinese bank has filed a plaintiff against the company for outstanding loans left by former CEO Wu Changjiang.

Chinese LED manufacturer ETI announced Monday, eight company executives will be increasing shareholdings in their company to boost investors’ confidence.

Australia’s largest online retailer of server racks, network cabling, and fiber optics, 4Cabling, has successfully acquired 5 year-old e-commerce lighting retailer OzLighting.

LG Display will be investing 900 billion won (US$802.75 million) to build a new production line for small and medium OLED displays, reported Korean newspaper DongA Ilbo.

Nova Scotia Power (NSP), is seeking regulatory approval of CA$ 36 million (US $28.43 million) to convert its streetlights to LED, reported The Chronicle Herald.

Following Chinese governments declining subsidies in 2015, industry insiders projected a slowdown in global LED production capacity growth rates, according to a Chinese-language Commercial Times report. The industry, though, still faces oversupply situation as the total volume of MOCVDs will reach 2,000 this year, said Epistar Chairman B.J. Lee.

German lighting manufacturer Osram has started a round of talks with potential buyers of its lamp business, the lineup of candidates includes several large Chinese lighting companies, according to a Reuters report.