GE has partnered with Beacon Lighting to expand the reach of its LED business in Australia and New Zealand.

Cree and Epistar announced on Aug. 4, 2015, the two companies signed a global LED patent cross license agreement. The move signals large LED manufacturers strategy of maintaining market positions through patent advantages, said LEDinside analysts.

Multimedia and consumer electronic company Thomson, which left the Indian market in 2004, is returning to the market through its LED TV subsidiary, according to Indian media The Financial Express.

Cree and Epistar have signed a worldwide patent cross-license agreement for LED chips to further advance the growth of the LED lighting and LED bulb markets. Cree and Epistar both hold broad and substantial LED chip patent portfolios that are important for making blue LEDs, the foundation of white LEDs found in most lighting products manufactured worldwide. Under the terms of the agreement, each party receives a license to the other’s nitride LED chip patents and is granted certain rights to non-nitride LED chip patents. Over the term of the agreement, Cree will receive a licensing fee and royalty payments from Epistar.

Opple Lighting, which is in the process of applying IPOs in China, has seen its revenues reach RMB 3.9 billion (US $630 million) in 2014, according to a report by Chinese-language media The Time Weekly.

U.S. MOCVD equipment manufacturer Veeco latest financial results shows the company's revenues increased 38% compared to the same period last year. The company did not break down its earnings into particular market sectors or applications.

Seoul Semiconductor affiliate’s acquisition proposal of Sensor Electronic Technology (SETi) has been approved by the U.S. Department of Defense, according to a report by The Korea Times.

Chinese LED manufacturer Ledman announced it will be acquiring Infront Sports and Media for EUR 25 million (US $27.35 million) on Thursday.

A small Chinese LED manufacturer Zhongshan Sover Lighting Company (Sover) patent infringement plaintiff filed against four leading industry players in China has been compared to as the battle between an ant and the elephant, according to Chinese-language media www.jiajui.com.

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.