GaN-on-Si epiwafer expert ALLOS Semiconductor announced that its high power electronics and RF business have been sold to AZUR SPACE, a provider of III-V epitaxy for solar cells. AZUR SPACE will use the acquired technology to expand its III-V epi business into the booming market for GaN-on-Si high power electronics and RF epiwafers. ALLOS Semiconductors will continue its optoelectronics business with the focus on the emerging Micro LED display market. (200 mm GaN-on-Si epiwafer example for HPE application; image: ALLOS) Si...

Since the Austrian sensing company AMS won the bid of Osram in December 2019, it has been a long journey for it to complete the acquisition of the German company. Finally, on July 6, AMS announced that it has received unconditional regulatory approval from the EU commission for the acquisition of Osram and is going to close the takeover on July 9, 2020. As the acquisition announced last year, it was stated that the merger would be subject to antitrust and foreign trade approvals by the EU. In the press release of the EU Commission, the Commission concluded that ...

Kyocera Corporation announced that it entered into a share transfer agreement with NEC Corporation on March 25, 2020 to acquire all of NEC's shares in Showa Optronics Co (SOC), an optical components manufacture. With the transfer agreement, Kyocera will own 93.53% of SOC's shares and operate the company as its subsidiary on June 1, 2020, under the name Kyocera Showa Optronic. Kyocera's optical components business has engaged in producing diversified lenses in small to large diameters from a wide variety of materials. The products have been used in var...

Sensor solution supplier AMS updated the progress of its acquisition of Osram and reported its financial expectations for the first quarter of 2020 after assessing the COVID-19 situation. (Image: AMS) After AMS started its takeover process for Osram since December 2019 and reported further update that the deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2020. The Austrian sensor maker is processing its EUR 1.65 billion (US$1.78 billion) rights issues for the takeover and noted that they only require “the receipt of the required regulatory approvals&rd...

U.S.-based LED technology company Ecosense announced that it has acquired assets from Soraa, co-founded by Nobel Laureate Shuji Nakamura focusing on full-spectrum LED lamps. Under the terms of the deal, Ecosense acquires the Soraa name, intellectual property and lamps, including the company's signature VIVID, BRILLIANT™ HL and HEALTHY™ product lines. This move is the first foray into the professional lamp category for Ecosense. (Image: Soraa) "This acquisition accelerates our strategy into the next wave of lighting,&q...

Signify announced that it has completed the acquisition of Cooper Lighting Solutions from Eaton on March 2, which follows the schedule set by the two companies. Signify also introduced its new integrated charge controller which enable solar-powered lighting. Signify reported the purchase of Cooper Lighting Solutions from Eaton in October 2019 for US$ 1.4 billion with the aim to strengthen its market position in the North American lighting market. (Image: Pixabay) Meanwhile, the Dutch company launched the new integrated Philips Combo Charge Controller which e...

Legrand, North and Central America (LNCA), announced the acquisition of Focal Point, a manufacturer of architectural lighting products. This acquisition is Legrand’s fifth addition to its Lighting Sector and marks the company’s elevation to a full solutions provider in the architectural lighting space. Legrand provides a high degree of autonomy to its lighting companies and supports Focal Point's business leadership team in the pursuit of innovation and growth. Legrand’s scale and infrastructure will allow Focal Point to deliver innovative light...

French laser company Lumibird announced that it has signed an agreement with the Australian company Ellex Medical Lasers Limited to acquire Ellex’s laser and ultrasound business for AUD 100 million (US$ 69.17 million). This acquisition will help LUMIBIRD to enlarge its business into the diagnosis and treatment of ocular diseases. Under the transaction agreed on December 23, 2019, the Lumibird Group will acquire all of Ellex’s laser and ultrasound activities, with pro forma revenues of AUD 65.5 million based on the year ended June 30, 2019. The a...

Environmental Lights announced it has been acquired by private equity Pfingsten Partners, who has acquired 139 manufacturing, distribution and business services companies since inception in 1989. "Pfingsten's experience in the lighting industry, growth-oriented approach and focus on the customer will enable us to continue delivering industry-leading products and solutions with superior technical service," said Jamison Day, CEO of Environmental Lights, who will continue leading the business. (Image: Environmental Lights) Jordan Brooks, President of En...

Due to the extra tariffs, many US-based lighting companies turned to business expansion in North America to alleviate the impacts. Architectural LED lighting manufacturer Luminii announced the acquisition of Senso Lighting, a Canadian lighting producer who specializes in designing environmentally conscious lighting solutions. (Image: Luminii) Luminii also purchased Optic Arts in August 2019 to complete its product lines. Meanwhile, Blue Highway Capital announces that it has placed a first institutional investment into LEDdynamics for the company to under...

Austrian sensor company AMS has successfully takeover Osram with its EUR 4.6 billion (US$5.9 billion) bid in the second attempt by achieving the acceptance threshold of 55% of share. Both AMS and Osram published the final result on December 6, 2019. AMS first offered Osram a bid at EUR 38.5 per share (US$ 42.6) in July, 2019 and raised the price to EUR 41 per share later in October to compete with other bidder. However, the first takeover failed as AMS did not achieve the minimum acceptance threshold of 62.5%. The sensor specialist soon launched new...

Canada-based automotive component provider Magna announced the acquisition of Wipac Czech, an automotive lighting engineering firm located in Czech Republic. The transaction was closed last week and will expand Magna’s engineering capabilities globally. Wipac Czech’s engineering team designs and develops automotive forward lighting, primarily for European exotic and luxury brand including Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls Royce, McLaren, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Audi, Daimler, BMW and Porsche. (Image: Magna) “We see Wipac Czech playing an imp...

Power management company Eaton and lighting company Signify announced that they have entered that Signify is going to purchase Cooper Lighting Solutions in cash with US$1.4 billion. Signify aims to strengthen its market position in North America with the acquisition. With the new business, the Dutch company hopes to improve the business mix in its Professional section. The transition is expected to finish in the first quarter of 2020. Eaton announced its plan to spin off its lighting business in March and is now selling it to Signify after a comprehensive review of v...

AMS failed to complete its Osram takeover plan despite that it has raised the bid to EUR 4.5 billion (US$ 4.9 billion) with the price of EUR 41 (US$ 45) per share. However, the sensor maker said that it will continue pursuing the acquisition of Osram. AMS reported on October 4 that it did not reach the minimum acceptance threshold of 62.5% required for completing Osram takeover. Instead, the final acceptances level was 51.6% including its direct shareholding of 20%, making AMS the current largest shareholder of Osram. The sensor company, however, still sees...

AMS is going to announce the result of Osram’s takeover bid on October 3 after it reported that it is holding 19.99% of all Osram shares on October 1 as a direct shareholding, before the offer expired at midnight. The sensor maker targeted for a minimum of 62.5% shareholding to win the bid against Bain and Advent. The consortium of Bain Capital and Advent reported their interests of joining the bidding with a better offer on September 26, which pushed AMS to raise its offer price from EUR 38.5 (US$ 42.17) per share to EUR 41 (US$ 44.91) on September 27...

Osram announced on September 25 that “the courtship” of the company continues as Bain Capitan and its new partner, Advent, are in talk with Osram with its willingness to make a new takeover for the German high tech company, confronting sensor maker AMS. According to Osram, the consortium of Advent and Bain Capital has indicated that “it may offer a ‘meaningful’ premium over the current offer from AMS of EUR 38.50 (US$42.14) per share.” The new bidders also said that their binding offer will be superior not only in terms of price ...

Acuity Brands announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Acuity Brands Lighting, has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire all of the equity interests of The Luminaires Group (TLG) including its five lighting brands: a-light, Cyclone, Eureka, Luminaire LED and Luminis. TLG generates annual sales of approximately US$100 million and employs over 350 associates located across five locations in the U.S. and Canada. Each TLG brand has its own business focus on indoor architectural lighting, outdoor decorative luminaires, indoor and outdoor contemporary d...

Osram announced that its Managing Board and Supervisory Board have waived the existing standstill agreement with AMS and signed a cooperation agreement. This clears the way for a voluntary public takeover offer by AMS. The offer, which is expected to be valid until the beginning of October, amounts to EUR 38.50 (US$ 42.70 ) in cash per share, with a minimum acceptance level of 70 percent. Olaf Berlien, CEO of OSRAM, commented, “Our shareholders now have two offers on the table, allowing them to choose between the different business concepts.” ...

US-based architectural LED lighting manufacturer Luminii announced the acquisition of its competitor Optic Arts, based in Los Angeles. With the acquisition, Luminii will include Optic Arts’ product lines into its portfolio, reinforcing its commitment of growing, according to the company’s CEO, Jeff Parker. (Image: Luminii) Parker noted that the distribution strategies of Luminii and Optic Arts are complementary and will remain in place after the Optic Arts acquisition. The team from Luminii remains agent focused, calling on the specification ...

Sensor maker AMS officially joined the bidding competition for Osram takeover against Bain Capital and The Carlyle Group. Osram confirmed the proposal from AMS on August 12 and will start negotiations with AMS. AMS announced on August 11 that it has submitted a takeover proposal to Osram at a price of EUR 38.50 per share (US$ 43.08), which is 10 percent higher than the price offered by Bain and Carlyle (EUR 35 per share). Based on the AMS’ offer, the value of Osram is around EUR 4.3 billion (US$ 4.81 billion).   The sensor maker a...

Osram announced the financial results of fiscal 3Q19 which marked “no signs of business revival” for the company. The quarterly revenue dropped by 14.9% YoY to EUR 850 million (US$ 948.28 million). Its EBITA fell by 66.2% YoY with EUR 42 million (US$ 46.86 million). EBITDA adjusted for special items was EUR 58 million (US$ 64.72 million), which was down by 58% compared to previous year’s figure; net income amounted to minus EUR 35 million (US$ 39 million). All three business segment of Osram, Opto Semiconductors, Automotive a...

Osram announced that it Austrian company ams has approached with the interest of a public takeover of Osram with a value of EUR 38.50 (US$ 43.36) per share. However, right after Osram’s announcement, ams decided to withdraw the offer as the company did not see “sufficient basis” for continually talking with Osram. According to Osram, ams showed the interest of acquiring Osram by EUR 38.5 per share. The announcement noticed that to support the offer, ams will need a temporary bridge-loan facility of EUR 4.2 billion (US$ 4.73 billion) and a capital i...

Soon after Osram’s announcement of the bidding offer from Bain Capital and the Carlyle Group, the German company said that it will support the public takeover offer. On July 4th, Osram announced that its Managing Board and Supervisory Board decided to support the legally binding transaction offer for the public takeover of all the shares of Osram by Bain Capital and the Carlyle Group. Osram and the consortium have also concluded an investor agreement that includes comprehensive commitments. “Bain and Carlyle are the right partners for Osram at the rig...

Osram announced a confirmation of receiving a binding offer from Bain Capital and The Carlyle Group, the US-based private equity firms who have been in talk with the German company for a buyout since the end of 2018. According to Osram, the inventors have offered an amount of EUR 35 (US$39.5) per share for the buyout, which will be approximately 3.4 billion euro ($3.8 billion) for concluding the investor agreement and to make a public takeover offer. Osram said, “The responsible decision bodies will discuss and decide on this offer shortly.” Osram has b...

Osram moved a step forwards to its transformation to a high-tech company by selling its Siteco luminaires business to Stern Steward Capital, the investment arm of Stern Steward & Co. based in Munich. According to Osram, “Separation from Osram gives Siteco entrepreneurial freedom,” and Stern Stewart Capital will continue the current transformation approach. Despite that the financial details of the transaction were not revealed by both parties, Osram noted that its cost situation would also be improved with the elimination of previous Group structures. ...

Acuity Brands announced that it has acquired WhiteOptics, a manufacturer of advanced optical components used to reflect, diffuse and control light for LED lighting used in commercial and institutional applications. According to Acuity Brands, the acquisition is not expected to impact the company’s fiscal 2019 consolidated financial performance and acquisition detials were not disclosed. “Optical systems have become increasingly complex as LED technology has evolved,” said Tommy Harris, Vice President – Indoor Product Solutions, Acuity Br...

GE announced that it has completed the sales of Current, powered by GE business unit to American Industrial Partners (AIP), following the agreement signed in November 6, 2018. Current, powered by GE was established by GE in 2015 as a startup subsidiary offering smart lighting and control services through the integration of LED technology, networked sensors and software. The business delivers energy savings and operational productivity for its customers, which include commercial offices, retail stores, industrial facilities and cities. Under a long-term licensing agre...

II-VI announced that its acquisition of Finisar, the optical communications solutions provider and an Apple supplier, has been approved by shareholders of both companies, bringing the merge of the two firms a step forward. In November 2018, the optoelectronic component manufacturer II-VI revealed that it is acquiring Finisar with a deal worth US$3.2 billion cash and stock. The companies now announced that the merger agreement received supports by their shareholders respectively. 97% of the shares of II-VI common stock voting at II-VI’s special meeting voted...

Cree is selling its lighting business to Ideal Industries, an Illinois-based electric power control and management company, to continue its strategy of becoming a more focused, powerhouse semiconductor company. Cree announced the execution of a definitive agreement to sell Cree Lighting, the lighting products business unit, which includes the LED lighting fixtures, lamps and corporate lighting solutions business for commercial, industrial and consumer applications. According to Cree, the deal is about US$310 million before tax. The company expects to receive an initial cash...

WESCO International announced that its WESCO Services subsidiary has completed the purchase of Sylvania Lighting Solution (SLS), the North American service business of Osram, following the previous announcement in January. Osram has planned to sell the SLS business in the U.S. and Canada since May 2018. On January 16, 2019, Osram announced the sale of the business to WESCO International. SLS offers a full spectrum of energy-efficient lighting upgrade, retrofit, and renovation solutions with annual sales of more than US$100 million and appro...