As previously communicated, Philips continues to simultaneously prepare for an initial public offering (IPO) or a private sale of Philips Lighting. With equity markets’ sentiment improving compared to the first couple of months of the year, an IPO increasingly appears a more likely outcome, subject to further market developments and other relevant circumstances.

Today Current, powered by GE (NYSE: GE), announced the acquisition of Daintree Networks, an Industrial Internet provider of building controls solutions for commercial facilities. This acquisition will enable Current to expand its building automation platform and its energy-as-a-service offering to small- and medium-size facilities through the deployment of Daintree’s open, standards-based wireless control systems.

Planar Systems, a global leader in display and digital signage technology, announced today that it has closed its sale to Leyard American Corporation, a subsidiary of Leyard Optoelectronic Co., Ltd., which designs, produces, and distributes a range of LED display products and its ancillary systems.

Hongliopto announced it cancelled the acquisition of Shenzhen Wisdom GPS on Tuesday, according to a Securities Times report.

Samsung announced its acquisition of Logan, Utah-based YESCO Electronics, LLC, a leading LED sign and display manufacturer with more than 2,000 installations across the U.S. and abroad. The acquisition reinforces Samsung’s entry into the LED display market, extending the reach of the company’s pioneering technologies and expertise beyond large-format displays (LFDs) using LCD panels, where the company has been the worldwide market leader for six consecutive years.

The main objective of Epistar’s acquisition of TSMC SSL is to obtain key LED substrate technology to prevent Japanese manufacturer Toshiba from taking the lead in GaN-on-Si technology, according to a Chinese-language Wealth Magazine report.

Epistar and FOREPI stockholders have approved the proposed merger between the two companies today, according to a report by Cynes.com. FOREPI stocks will be swapped at a rate of 3.448 per Epistar share. 

LiteOn Technology announced on the 19th that the merger date with Leotek Electronics will be pushed back from April 7th to June 29th due to business requirements.

Samsunng Display has integrated the company’s OLED dicision and LCD division according to an announcement on December 11th.

Applied Materials, Inc. and Tokyo Electron Limited announced a definitive agreement to create a global innovator in semiconductor and display manufacturing technology via an all-stock combination which values the new combined company at approximately US$29 billion (¥2.8 trillion). This combination, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, brings together complementary leading technologies and products to create an expanded set of capabilities in precision materials engineering and patterning that are strategically important for customers.

Luminus Devices signed a merger agreement with LED components maker Lightera Corporation, a wholly owned U.S. affiliate of Sanan Optoelectronics, having broad experience in LED epitaxial materials, chip/package design, and lighting systems. Luminus will operate as an independent business unit and subsidiary of Lightera. The business will operate with expanded capability, financial support, a global research and development (R&D) team. Luminus will continue to focus on specialty markets and applications for its current and expanding product as well as customer portf...