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January 4, 2010...Solyndra, Inc., a Fremont, California-based maker of cylindrical copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) photovoltaic systems for commercial rooftops, has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the proposed initial public offering of its common stock.
Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.
will be the joint book-running managers of the proposed offering. The company hopes to raise $300 million with its initial public offering.
During 2009 Solyndra opened its European headquarters, got a $535 million loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy, broke ground on a 500 MW solar plant, signed a framework agreement with Italy’s Sun System for about $105 Million, and signed a framework agreement with a German roofing company.
(Ref: Past Solyndra News),
Solyndra New Release Ritek to Invest Additional NT$800 in CIGS Thin-film PV Module Joint Venture
CompoundSemi News StaffJanuary 4, 2010...Ritek, a maker of blank optical disks located in Taiwan will reportedly invest an additional NT$800 million in PVNext, a copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) thin-film PV module joint venture with Scheuten Solar Holding BV of the Netherlands. Ritek's additional investment will bring its stake in the venture up to 40 percent, according to Ritek and a Digitimes article.
Ritek noted in the article that the reason for the added investment is because PVNext will issue new shares to raise NT$2billion additional paid-in capital.
PVNext has reportedly succeeded in trial production of 600 x 1,200mm CIGS thin-film PV modules with an energy conversion rate of 17%. Ritek said in the article that PVNext plans to start volume production in the first quarter of 2010.
The joint venture was established in October 2008. Other stake holders in PVNext include National Development Fund of Taiwan, Scheuten Solar Holding BV of the Netherlands, and Ritek's Subsidiary U-Tech Media Corp.
Fairchild and Infineon Settle Patent Dispute with Cross License Agreement
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 30, 2009...Fairchild Semiconductor and Infineon have apparently settled their patent dispute, which began in November 2008. The dispute was settled with a patent cross licensing agreement. The dispute relates to fourteen U.S. patents concerning power transistors and metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs). Terms of the licensing agreement were not disclosed.
Infineon reports that it is also in patent licensing discussions with other semiconductor companies. Fairchild Semiconductor News Release II-VI Incorporated Announces Agreement to Acquire Photop Technologies, Inc.
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 30, 2009...II-VI Incorporated of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Photop Technologies, Inc. (Photop).
Photop of Fuzhou, China deals in optics, lasers, fiber optics and photonic crystal materials.
The initial consideration for the acquisition consists of cash of approximately $45.6 million and approximately 1,150,000 shares of II-VI common stock. Also, the agreement offers earn-out opportunities based upon Photop achieving certain future financial targets and is subject to customary closing adjustments. The shareholders and board of directors of Photop and the board of directors of II-VI have approved definitive agreement. The transaction is scheduled to close during January 2010.
"We are excited to partner with Photop to combine efforts and enhance our collective expertise in crystal materials and optics," said Carl J. Johnson, Chairman of II-VI Incorporated. "Led by its strong, experienced and skilled management team, Photop has developed very impressive technology and a robust component product portfolio in the growing photonics markets and offers immediate access to the growing Chinese markets for engineered materials and components, including the optical communications and micro-optics display markets." II-VI Inc. News Release
3S Photonics to Acquire Avensys and its Canadian Subsidiaries
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 21, 2009...3S Photonics, a French manufacturer of optical and optoelectronic components for telecommunications networks, has entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire Avensys Group subsidiaries, Avensys Inc. and ITF Laboratories Inc., for a total of 6.5 million Euros.
The holding company Avensys Corp., owns two companies: Avensys Inc, its wholly-owned subsidiary and ITF Laboratories Inc., in which it owns a 42% interest. The majority of the remaining shares belong to the Canadian State. Avensys Inc. employs 200 people. It designs, manufactures and distributes optical components and modules for the telecom market as well as high power devices, sub-assemblies and fiber-based sensors for the industrial market. It also develops environmental monitoring solutions and services for air, water, soil and geo-structures.
ITF Laboratories handles Avensys's research & development and produces integrated Photonics solutions and reliable components and fiber-based systems for fiber lasers and optical sensing applications. Upon closing, assets of Avensys Inc.'s two divisions, Avensys Technologies and Avensys Solutions, and the assets of ITF Laboratories Inc., will be merged with 3S Photonics. The closing of the sale is expected in January 2010.
"We are proud of this acquisition, which corresponds to the implementation of the external growth strategy that we planned last July when we raised funds. We are also delighted to welcome such a great company, armed with know-how which will complement our own, and to establish links across the Atlantic with our Canadian friends," declared Alexandre Krivine, President and CEO of 3S Photonics. 3S Photonics News Release Oclaro to Acquire Xtellus
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 21, 2009...Optical component maker Oclaro (a company formed from the merging of Avenex and Bookham), reports that it will acquire Xtellus a provider of reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) technologies for agile optical networking systems. With the acquisition, Oclaro will add wavelength selective switches which can power ROADM applications.
Oclaro points out that WSS is one of the fastest growing segments of the optical component market, and that the acquisition of Xtellus will play an important role in its continuing growth. Oclaro indicated that the acquisition also completes the overall portfolio of product areas required to support the metro and long haul applications in the telecommunication market.
Oclaro News Release First Solar Exceeds 1GW of PV Module Production and Shipment in 2009
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 16, 2009...First Solar Inc. reports that in 2009 it has manufactured and shipped more than 1 gigawatt of its photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. Thus, the company, a maker of CdTe solar cells, became the first PV company to attain over 1GW produced and in a single year. First Solar estimates that one gigawatt of solar modules produces enough electricity to serve the needs of approximately 145,000 average American homes and saves roughly 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
First Solar has increased its manufacturing capacity from approximately 75 megawatts (MW) per year at the beginning of 2007 to more than 1GW per year today. The company boasts that the it is the largest PV producer in the world.
"This proof that the solar industry can achieve the manufacturing scale necessary to fight climate change is especially timely in light of the Copenhagen conference that began last week," said Bruce Sohn, First Solar president. "Our efforts in scaling our technology are critical to creating a more sustainable energy infrastructure and reducing greenhouse gas emissions."
First Solar says it has continually lowered the cost of manufacturing solar modules, and it reported breaking the $1 per watt barrier earlier this year. Company News Release SemiLEDs to Boost 4-inch LED Epiwafer Production at Taiwan Facility
CompoundSemi News StaffDecember 16, 2009...After recently opening a new production facility in Foshan, Guangdong Province, China, SemiLEDs is apparently getting ready for a production ramp at its 4-inch LED chip line in Taiwan, according to MOCVD equipment maker, Aixtron.
Semileds reportedly oredered Aixtron's Close Coupled Showerhead CRIUS MOCVD system in a 7x4 inch configuration. Aixtron says that the system will be delivered in the fourth quarter 2009 and installed at the company's 4-inch LED chip line at its production facility in Taiwan.
Dr. Chuong Tran, President and COO of SemiLEDs, commented, "We have chosen the Aixtron CRIUS system equipped with the Dynamic Reactor Height Adjustment feature, which facilitates growth at elevated pressures, providing an advantage for our proprietary MVP structure. Plus, we particularly appreciate their responsive back-up service ensuring we can meet our production obligations.”
Dr. Christian Geng, Vice President Greater China of Aixtron, added, “We are looking forward to this 4-inch project as it is the first Close Coupled Showerhead Reactor to complement the existing manufacturing line of Planetary Reactor systems at SemiLEDs.”
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