Redirecting focus onto the Chinese LED lighting market, Elech-Tech International (ETI) announced it will be transferring all its international lighting business assets to its Hong Kong subsidiary and sell the company to Jadestone China High-technology Industry Investment Fund (Jadestone).

Royal Philips announced that it has signed an agreement to sell an 80.1% interest in Lumileds, a leading supplier of LED components and automotive lighting, to certain funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, LLC (NYSE: APO) (together with its consolidated subsidiaries: “Apollo”). Philips will retain the remaining 19.9% interest* in Lumileds. 

In 2016, Epistar lead the Taiwan LED industry business model transition from unprofitable product portfolio to refocusing on more profitable client orders. Other LED companies have caught onto this trend, such as Unity Opto, which slashed LED bulb production capacity by 70%, reported China Times.

Kateeva, the OLED production equipment leader, announced the appointment of Mark Shaw, Ph.D. as Senior Vice President of Human Resources (HR). Previously, Shaw worked at Lam Research and Applied Materials. He joins Kateeva at a time of rapid growth. He’ll build a comprehensive HR infrastructure to support the company’s accelerating global business, with strategic initiatives to attract, inspire and reward top talent, world-wide.

Global Clean Energy, GCE has signed distribution agreements with EPG Source of Dallas, Texas a leading Smart Energy and LED provider.

Intense price competition in the blue LED market has urged Taiwanese manufacturers to transform their business models, among these include Arima Optoelectronics (Arima), which is one of the leading companies in the Greater China region to give up blue (InGaN) LEDs, reported UDN.

Osram announced Tuesday the sale of its general lighting lamp business, LEDVANCE, to a Chinese investment consortium headed by strategic investor IDG for EUR 400 million (US $439.58 million), Chinese leading LED package manufacturer MLS was named among a key member of the consortium, as well as financial investor Yiwu.

Panasonic announced it will be raising its lighting revenue from JPY 320.3 billion (US $3.02 billion) from 2015 to JPY 400 billion by 2018, according to a report from Nikkei.

Affected by oversupply issues in the LED industry, leading Taiwanese LED EPI-wafer manufacturer Epistar (the company) lowered production costs by adjusting its production capacity and integrating subsidiaries FOREPI and Huga Optic resources, reported Taiwan media Apple Daily.

IGNIS Innovation (IGNIS), a Canadian emissive display technology company, announced the execution of a Patent License agreement with LG Display, the Seoul-based world-leading display manufacturer. Under the agreement, IGNIS will provide LG Display under a non-exclusive license, access to its circuit technology to enhance the performance of OLED displays. As recognized by the display industry leaders, circuit technology is crucial for today’s AMOLED applications including TV, IT, high resolution smartphone, virtual reality, automotive and next generation printing.

Nichia Corporation (“Nichia”) and Hirose Radio & Electronics, (“Hirose”), a Japanese corporation manufacturing and selling electronic appliances, have reached an agreement to settle the case which was pending between the parties in the Tokyo District Court (“The Case”). The Case was a preliminary injunctions case, in which Nichia claimed that its Japanese patents Nos. 5177317 and 5610056 (both patents relate to white LEDs using YAG phosphors and will hereafter be referred to as “Nichia YAG Patents”) were infringed by some of the LED lights imported and sold in Japan by Hirose, and sought a preliminary injunction against the importation and sale of infringing products.

Universal Display Corporation, enabling energy-efficient displays and lighting with its UniversalPHOLED® technology and materials, announced today that through its wholly-owned subsidiary UDC Ireland Limited, it has acquired the OLED Intellectual Property (IP) assets of BASF SE, the world's leading chemical company. Representing 15 years of research and development, the assets include over 500 issued and pending patents around the world, in 86 patent families. Largely consisting of phosphorescent materials and technologies, BASF’s OLED portfolio has an average lifetime of 10 years. The purchase price for the acquisition is approximately EUR 87 million (US $96.26 million).

Having headed GE Current for eight months, Maryose Sylvester shares some insights about the challenges she faces in an interview with 5 On Your Side.

Main players in the LED industry, and large volume of visitors attended the annual Guangzhou International Lighting Show 2016, which runs from June 9-12. Although, fewer big lighting brands from U.S., Europe and China attended the show this year, there were plenty of newcomers. Many are focused on the international market, and plenty of manufacturers are hoping to use the platform to increase their exposure in China and the international market.

Aixtron and Grand Chip Investment GmbH (“Grand Chip Investment”), a 100% indirect subsidiary of Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund LP (“FGC”), have today entered into an agreement to take over AIXTRON. Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund LP is a Chinese investment fund; 51% of which is held by the Chinese business man Zhendong Liu and 49% by Xiamen Bohao Investment Ltd. 

Philips has decided on the price for its initial public offering for its lighting unit recently, and estimates the spinoff could raise between EUR 694 million and EUR 844 million (US $785 million to US$ 954 million), reported Wall Street Journal.

Hubbell Control Solutions announces the appointment of three new US Regional Sales Managers. Greg Ortt takes over the Southeast states, while Joe Osterwyk handles the North Central states and Mark Westgate takes the Western states. Hubbell Control Solutions leverages a history of innovation to create future-proof lighting controls.

At its meeting today, the supervisory board of OSRAM Licht AG decided key changes in the composition of the managing board. In line with the company’s stronger technology focus, the supervisory board appointed Stefan Kampmann, 52, as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) with effect from July 1, 2016. “We are happy to gain an experienced top manager and technology expert for Osram’s managing board,” said Peter Bauer, chairman of the supervisory board of OSRAM Licht AG. “His experience will give additional momentum to our innovation and growth initiative.” The supervisory board has also decided, for reasons of differing views regarding the strategic direction of the company and in best mutual agreement with Klaus Patzak, to launch a structured process to find a successor for the position of Chief Financial Officer.

Philips Lighting, the global leader in lighting and a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Philips, announced that it entered into a patent license agreement with the Italian company iGuzzini. The license, based on the terms and conditions of the EnabLED Licensing Program, provides iGuzzini with full, worldwide access to a wide range of basic LED control and system-level technologies. Both companies have also agreed to dismiss all outstanding litigations related to patents offered under Philips’ EnabLED Licensing Program for LED Luminaires and Retrofit Bulbs.

Humanscale® announced that it has recently acquired VesselTM, an architectural lighting solution from celebrated designer Todd Bracher. Available to ship in May, this clear cylindrical light is made of the highest quality quartz crystal, providing beautiful, glare-free light in a simple, refined form. Architectural lighting is a new category for Humanscale, although the company has long been the worldwide leader in task lighting for individual workstations. 

Forest Lighting (formerly branded as MLS) announced recently it had acquired 80% shares from Hong Kong lighting vendor Super Trend Lighting Chairman Jiangguo Yen (嚴建國), which is expected to bolster the Chinese player’s  LED filament bulb market share.

The oversupply situation in the LED industry this year has urged large Korean LED companies to size down, according to a Money DJ report by citing Korean media ETNews.

Siemens has been indiscreet about its dissatisfaction with Osram’s R&D strategy recently. A report from German media Handelsbatt on Monday pointed out the lighting company’s largest shareholder intends to sell its 17% stake to an Asian buyer, just one week after Siemens announced it was unsupportive of Osram new business strategy.

Two years ago, Guangdong Rising Assets Management (GRAM) was a relatively unheard name in China’s LED lighting industry, but recently it has become one of the most recognized companies in the local LED industry, according to a Dazhaoming report. The motives behind the state-owned enterprise’s investments in top Chinese LED players Nationstar and Foshan Lighting reflect the involvement of important government strategies.

GE announced recently the creation of Current, a startup that combines energy hardware with a digital backbone to make power simpler and more efficient for customers.

Osram announced Wednesday it would be selling its 13.5% stake in Foshan Electrical and Lighting (Foshan Lighting) to a subsidiary of Guangdong Rising Assets Management (GRAM) for more than EUR 350 million (US $392.51 million).

Osram’s transformation is making further progress: the company has agreed to sell its 13.5% stake in the Chinese company Foshan Electrical and Lighting (Felco) to a subsidiary of Guangdong Rising Assets Management With this move, Osram will dispose of a non-strategic investment. The agreed selling price is more than EUR 350 million (US $392.51 million), which corresponds to a premium of more than 30% over the current share price. Osram expects to have a pre-tax gain of around EUR 300 million from the transaction, which is expected to be booked in fiscal 2016.

Originally a battery maker, Indian manufacturer Eveready is transiting into the LED lighting market recently with the aim of acquiring at least 10% market shares, according to a Business Standard report.

Panasonic intends to close two LED factories in Japan by late September 2015 to raise the company’s profitability, reported Japanese media Kyodo News.

Shanghai Yaming Lighting Co, a trusted brand and pioneer in lighting technology development based in China, today marked the official opening of its regional headquarters at Dubai Silicon Oasis, the integrated free zone technology park.