Vishay Intertechnology, one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components, today acquired all of the remaining outstanding shares of Taiwan based Capella Microsystems Inc. (GreTai Securities Market: 3582) for approximately NT$668.2 million or US$21.0 million, pursuant to the terms of its previously announced merger agreement with Capella. Capella is a fabless IC design company specializing in optoelectronic products.

In late 2013, LEDinside team forecasted major company restructure market trends will continue throughout the year. The trend has been consistent in 2014, as more lighting manufacturers take necessary restructure measures to remain competitive in the market, such as Philips, Epistar or NVC Lighting.

In late 2013, LEDinside team forecasted major company restructure market trends will continue throughout the year. The trend has been consistent in 2014, as more lighting manufacturers take necessary restructure measures to remain competitive in the market, such as Philips, Epistar or NVC Lighting. Top players restructure decisions in the fast changing LED industry landscape further reinforces the trend that large companies will become even bigger and influential, while smaller manufacturers will find it increasingly difficult to compete.

Veeco Instruments announced that it has acquired privately held Solid State Equipment Holdings LLC (“SSEC”), based in Horsham, Pennsylvania. SSEC is a leading innovator in single wafer wet etch, clean and surface preparation equipment targeting high growth segments in advanced packaging, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and compound semiconductor.

The LED industry has been engulfed in a wave of M&A as it moves into the lighting era. The past few years have been an intense restructuring period for Taiwanese LED chip manufacturers, said Chein Fen-ren, Chairman of FOREPI. The M&A wave has recently hit Chinese LED manufacturers and Chein estimates that within two to three years, Chinese manufacturers will be whittled down from the current 20-30 to only five. 

Looking back in 2013, the LED industry has finally rebounded after years of depression. Large manufacturers are taking advantage of other companies during their weak moments, burying the hatchet with well matched companies, or joining hands to defeat competitors. Many less competitive weaker companies  receded from the market this year. The survival of the fittest is anticipated to continue well into 2014. Restructuring of LED chip and package manufacturers will continue until 2015-2016, remarked Epistar chairman B.J. Lee.