Large private-equity firms might be proposing to acquire Philips lighting unit for EUR 5.5 billion (US $6 billion), a Bloomberg report cited a person familiar with the matter saying.

Eaton has silently absorbed U.S. stadium and sports lighting specialist Ephesus Lighting, according to a Syracuse report.

Acuity Brands announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire all of the equity interests of Juno Lighting LLC (“Juno Lighting Group”), a leading provider of downlighting and track lighting fixtures for both residential and commercial applications. Juno Lighting Group, a unit of Schneider Electric, serves customers throughout North America, including electrical distributors, lighting showrooms, homecenters, contractors, architects, engineers, lighting designers and commercial facilities. Juno Lighting Group operates manufacturing facilities in Des Plaines, Illinois, and Fishers, Indiana, and generates current annual revenues of approximately $250 million.

Philips plan to sell Lumileds to Chinese investment consortium led by Go Scale Capital for US $2.8 billion might “unravel following opposition from U.S. regulators,” reported Bloomberg on Monday.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are occurring at a rapid pace in the LED industry. Based on incomplete statistics compiled by LEDinside editorial team in China, more than 37 mergers have occurred in the LED industry during first half of 2015, averaging three acquisitions per month. Acquisitions in the industry are maturing, and new M&A trends have emerged.

HC Semitek board approved the acquisition of Chinese sapphire substrate manufacturer Crystaland during a recent shareholder meeting.

Acuity Brands  announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Acuity Brands Lighting, completed the previously announced acquisition of Distech Controls Inc., a leading provider of building automation and energy management solutions that allow for the seamless integration of lighting, HVAC, access control, closed circuit television, and related systems.  Acuity Brands Lighting acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Distech Controls for approximately 318 million Canadian dollars. 

The international lighting corporation Zumtobel Group has acquired as of today a majority holding in UK lighting company AC/DC LED Holdings Ltd (acdc). The company based in Barrowford, north of Manchester, is an innovative supplier of high-end LED lighting solutions with a focus on the architectural façade and hospitality segments. acdc started off its business with high brightness LED luminaires in 2001. 

Reuters recently broke Go Scale Capital’s US $1.93 billion loan to acquire Lumileds and former Philips automotive lighting business. The loan will mostly be used to merge with the $2.8 billion financing to acquire 80% of Lumileds shares.

Qualcomm announced that its indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary, Qualcomm Global Trading, has completed its acquisition of CSR, a leading fabless provider of end-to-end semiconductor and software solutions for the Internet of Everything (IoE) and automotive segments. The acquisition, which was completed at an enterprise value of approximately $2.2 billion ($2.4 billion equity value)*, complements Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.’s (Qualcomm Technologies) current offerings by adding a compelling portfolio of new products, sales channels and a large number of customers in the areas of IoE and automotive – both key growth priorities for Qualcomm Technologies.

Leyard Optoelectronic, a leading worldwide provider of LED display products and ancillary systems, and Planar Systems, a global leader in display and digital signage technology, announced they have entered into a definitive merger agreement, pursuant to which a U.S. affiliate of Leyard will acquire all of the common stock of Planar for a purchase price of US $6.58 per share. The merger values Planar’s equity at approximately $156.8 million on a fully diluted basis. The transaction is subject to specified closing conditions, including approval by the shareholders of both Planar and Leyard, and antitrust and other government clearance.

HC Semitek announced Tuesday night that it will be acquiring 100% of Crystaland shares for RMB 1.08 billion (US $170 million), according to a Chinese-language Securities Times report.

Chinese LED enterprises are spending a fortune in acquiring foreign manufacturers in 2015. A couple of examples include Shenzhen Kaifa Technology (Kaifa) recent acquisition of U.S. LED manufacturer Bridgelux, Shanghai Felio Acoustics interest in Osram’s distribution channels, and Go Scale Capital’s acquisition of Philips Lumileds. Why has there been an increase in international mergers? What are manufacturers motives? Below is a summary of Chinese media Alighting’s prove into these issues.

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.

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.

Epistar will be reaping benefits from China Electronics Corporation (CEC) acquisition of leading U.S. LED manufacturer Bridgelux, said Roger Chu, Research Director of LEDinside.

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.

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.

Chinese LED manufacturer Unilumen recently announced it has cancelled plans of acquiring a foreign firm for US $300 million, according to a cnledw.com report.

Chinese LED manufacturer Ledman announced it is planning to acquire a new LED luminaire company as of July 8, 2015.

AIXTRON SE, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of deposition systems for the semiconductor industry, today announced that it has acquired privately held Silicon Valley-based PlasmaSi, Inc. effective 1 April 2015. The purchase price is US $16 million and will be paid in cash.

Over the past year, the LED industry had pondered about the company that would eventually take over Philips lighting component (Philips Lumileds) and automotive business. Go Scale Capital's acquisiton of Lumileds just might be the solution to Chinese manufacturers lack of LED patents, said LEDinside analysts.

GO Scale Capital, an investment fund sponsored by GSR Ventures and Oak Investment Partners has announced today that it will acquire an 80.1% interest in Philips' combined LED components and Automotive lighting business, with Philips retaining the remaining 19.9%* interest. The transaction values the business at an enterprise value of approximately USD 3.3 billion. The transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2015, subject to closing conditions, including customary regulatory approvals.

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.

Last week LEDinside reported Epistar’s intention of acquiring TSMC SSL, a LED lighting subsidiary of leading Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer TSMC, the two companies have released a joint press release Friday (Taipei Time) confirming the deal.

Leading Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer Epistar is planning another merger to complete its white LED portfolio, according to a Chinese-language report by China Times.

With effect as of October 13, 2014 Osram has successfully completed the acquisition of Clay Paky, a leading provider of entertainment lighting for shows and events. All necessary approvals from the respective authorities have been granted regarding the acquisition. With this move, Osram will further expand its position in entertainment lighting. 

Vishay Intertechnology, one of the world's largest manufacturers of discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components, today announced that it has acquired 88.95 percent of the outstanding shares of Taiwan-based Capella Microsystems Inc. (GreTai Securities Market: 3582), a fabless IC design company specializing in optoelectronic products, pursuant to its previously announced tender offer.

Batteries Plus, the Wisconsin-based operator and franchisor of Batteries Plus Bulbs stores, announced today that it has acquired privately held LED Hut Ltd., a leading provider of LED lighting products, including bulbs and light fixtures, to customers throughout Europe.

Changfang Lighting announced on Aug. 15, 2014 that the company’s restructure application to absorb Kang Ming Sheng Industrial (KMSI) was halted by China Regulatory Commission over suspected insider trading by financial organization Guosen Consultant, according to several Chinese media reports.