NEMA's Electroindustry Business Conditions Index (EBCI) for current conditions in North America measured 58.3 in November as a larger share of panelists reported conditions improved (33%) than reported they deteriorated (17%). The November EBCI reading was a substantial increase from the 44.7 recorded in October. In contrast, the EBCI for future North American conditions fell to 55.6 in November, down from 68.4 in October.

LED bulb prices in India are nearing CFL prices, but might be priced down a further INR 20 (US $0.30) following the government’s 50 million LED bulb purchase tender to be issued in the next ten days, reported The India Times.

A Massachusetts federal jury in U.S. has decided recently, Epistar, Everlight Electronics and Lite-on need to compensate $ 13.7 million to Boston University (BU)for willfully infringing LED patents, reported Law360.

pureLiFi, the light communications technology company that leads the market in development and commercialization of LiFi (the high speed, bidirectional, networked and mobile wireless communications using light) and Lucibel, the French company that specializes in the design of new-generation lighting solutions based on the LED technology, are to co-develop and market Europe's first, fully industrialized LiFi luminaire.

The sluggish global economy triggered the downtrend in the LED industry in 2015, and next year is expected to be just as challenging for manufacturers in the backlight and general lighting market, said Katsuyuki Akutagawa, Chief Legal & IP Officer and Company Board Director of Nichia (the company) at a press conference held in Mandarin Oriental Taipei, earlier Wednesday. 

The capital of Indian State Karnataka will initiate its LED bulb scheme from Dec. 11, 2015, according to a report from The Times of India.

CEA-Leti and its partners in the European FP7 project PLAT4M today announced they have built three silicon photonics platforms. The four-year project, which launched in 2013, aims at building a European-based supply chain in silicon photonics and speeding industrialization of the technology. PLAT4M, which is funded by a European Commission grant of 10.2 million euros, includes 15 leading European R&D institutes and CMOS companies, key industrial and research organizations in design and packaging, as well as end users in different application fields, to build the complete supply chain.

Several Canadian cities have announced plans to swap their old traditional streetlights for more energy efficient LED lights, but the country’s sixth largest capital Mississauga, located in Southern Ontario underestimated the finance it would need to replace the city streetlights.

Highlights this week: The India market’s demands for star labelled efficient products has doubled with falling prices and increased participation of private companies, as the country follows its commitment to lower carbon footprint ahead of climate change talks to take place in Paris later this month. Following Osram’s announcement last week that the company is to invest EUR 1 billion in a new Malaysia-based plant for LED chips, a leading investor in Osram expressed opposing opinions about Osram’s latest strategy. LEDinside’s analysts initial estimates that about 30% of the EUR 1 billion investment will go into constructing the factory, and probably 30% in chip processing while Osram might be investing around EUR 400 million in MOCVD equipment. ON Semiconductor and Fairchild Semiconductor announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for ON Semiconductor to acquire Fairchild for in an all cash transaction valued at approximately US $2.4 billion.

Key Transaction Highlights: Creates a leader in the power semiconductor market with a broad and deep product portfolio Highly complementary product lines offering the full spectrum of high, medium and low voltage products Strengthens presence in key strategic areas – industrial, automotive and smartphone end markets Immediately accretive to non-GAAP earnings per share and free cash flow Expect significant accretion to non-GAAP EPS within a few quarters post close Clear line of sight to $150 million in annual cost savings within 18 months of the transaction close

Oversupply situations in the LED chip sector, and fierce competition in the general lighting sector over the past few years has aggravated the pricing situation in 2015. White LED chip prices for the large part have reflected a consistent downtrend over the past few years. Despite the ominous cloud hanging over the LED chip and general lighting sector, German LED chip manufacturer Osram announced last week it would be injecting in total EUR 2 billion (EUR 2.14 billion) in R&D and EUR 1 billion in LED manufacturing in the next five years.

Chinese LED manufacturer Nationstar announced recently, it will be scaling up its investments in two subsidiaries including Foshan Nationstar and Zhejiang Invenlux.

This agreement opens up a new and exciting market for AgiLight and keeps the company on its dramatic growth trajectory.

Energy Focus, a leader in LED lighting technologies, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2015.

Future Electronics recently announced immediate shipping availability of lighting OLED displays for illumination, from Vishay.

China’s ecommerce giants announced their breaking revenue results for Single’s Day on Nov. 12, 2015. The country’s online total revenue on the anti-Valentines day, commonly known as Single’s Day to locals, soared 52.7% to reach RMB 122.94 billion (US $19.29 billion), compared to last year’s RMB 80.5 billion according to data compiled by Syntun. Internet packages and deliveries climbed up 65.7% to reach RMB 678 million.

Osram, a global leader of lighting manufacturer based in Germany recently announced an additional investment of EUR 3 billion (US $3.24 billion) by the year 2020, in line of becoming a semiconductor company following the planned disposal of its traditional lamps and light bulbs business.. The additional investments comprised of EUR 1 billion for the construction of a new light emitting diode (LED) chip plant in Kulim, Malaysia. The new plant will be the largest and latest 6-inch LED chip production site worldwide. The balance EUR 2 billion will be invested in research and development (R&D) for the Osram Group globally.

Revolution Lighting Technologies, a leader in advanced LED lighting technology solutions, today announced that its division, Tri-State LED, secured an agreement for $1.2 million with the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District, as well as a $976,000 contract in collaboration with RVLT's division, Value Lighting, to supply its G3 LED tubes for the New Rochelle Public School System.

Singles Day celebrated by China every November 11 is one of the biggest shopping spree days in the country that can only be comparable to Black Friday in U.S., or Boxing Day in UK. Online Chinese retailer Alibaba has set a brand new record this year, completing business transactions at a much faster rate than last year.

 Investments of around EUR 2 billion (US$) planned in research and development by 2020.  Additional EUR 1 billion intended for the construction of a new LED chip plant by 2020.  “Diamond” initiative promotes growth and sustained enterprise value Until 2020, average annual growth rates of 8% for revenue and 9% for EBITDA expected

Osram managed the challenges of the changing lighting market very well in the fiscal year that ended in September 2015 and laid a strong foundation for future growth. EBITA1 excluding special items rose 26 percent on a year-on-year basis to €567 million, translating into a margin of 10.2 percent. Cost savings, positive currency effects as well as simplified corporate structures have contributed to this earnings increase. The reported EBITA margin reached 5.3 percent despite high transformation costs, while net income declined to €171 million. Revenue, on the other hand, rose eight percent to almost €5.6 billion. On a comparable basis, i.e., adjusted for portfolio and currency effects, revenue remained almost stable with a decline of around one percent. Based on the current corporate structure, the company expects comparable revenue in fiscal 2016 to be slightly below the prior year’s level. The adjusted EBITA margin is likely to be substantially below the level of fiscal 2015, among other things due to expenses attributable to the “Diamond” innovation and growth initiative. In contrast, net income is expected to increase sharply due to the anticipated book gain from the announced sale of the shares in Foshan Electrical & Lighting Co., Ltd. (Felco). Osram confirms that a dividend of €0.90 per share will be proposed for fiscal 2015 to the Annual General Meeting. For fiscal 2016, the company also intends to pay a dividend of at least €0.90 per share.

The word was out last Friday that Osram is in the process of selling its lamp business, which comprises traditional lighting businesses and LED luminaires, with Chinese manufacturers showing the greatest interest in bidding for the German company’s prized luminaire businesses.

Taiwanese police have busted a group suspected of stealing business secrets from leading international GaN wafer supplier Win Semiconductors, reported CNA.

The lighting industry has been steadily developing over the last two decades, with China becoming one of the largest manufacturing base and consumer market. According to data compiled by Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) lighting products manufactured in China was up 10.7% YoY to RMB 418.5 billion (US $) in 2014.

The LED industry survived the economic downturn, and has started to rebound in 3Q15. Their financial results will reveal whether manufacturers are in the lead with a overflowing treasury, passing, or in the red zone.

GT Advanced Technology and Apple reached an agreement that will settle the sapphire supplier’s $439 million outstanding debt, reported Wall Street Journal, AppleInsider, and other media reports.

Large private-equity firms might be proposing to acquire Philips lighting unit for EUR 5.5 billion (US $6 billion), a Bloomberg report cited a person familiar with the matter saying.

Solid State Supplies has announced a franchise distribution agreement for the UK with Luminus Devices, a global manufacturer of high-performance LEDs.

After suspending trade for four months, Mason Technologies announced its reconstruction plan of acquiring two companies to expand its presence in the internet advertisement industry.

MLS announced its revenue for 3Q15 was down 8.62% year on year (YoY) to RMB 887 million (US $139.7 million). The company’s net income attributable to shareholders was plunged 79.32% YoY to RMB 17.19 million (US $2.7 million).