This recent and relentless wave of acquisitions is the result of the gradual maturation of the Chinese LED industry, and the process began with LED package companies in 2014. By 2015, the deal-making was officially in full swing with Lumileds, Bridgelux and other international companies becoming targets.
Yu pointed out that the competition in the Chinese LED package market has always been fierce, especially in the lighting LED segment. Chinese industry participants furthermore have lower margins for their products, reflecting their relatively weak profitability. Acquisition is thus one of the various methods that these players can use to help change their business models or boost their competitiveness. The following are some common types of deal-making that have taken place so far:
1. Horizontal integration: An LED company can either acquire or merge with another company belonging to the same industry or the same level of supply chain as to rapidly expand, pool resources and complement each other’s technological strengths. Notable cases in the Chinese LED industry are Honglitronic’s acquisition of Smalite and Refond’s acquisition of LT Photoelectricity.
2. Vertical integration: This type of deal-making involves buying companies up or down the supply chain as to obtain raw materials at cheaper prices or secure sales channels for end products. Examples in the Chinese LED industry include Natinstar’s deal with Invenlux Technology (LED chip maker), Honglitrongic’s deal with Lianyou (lead frame supplier) and Mason Technologies’ takeover of Rishang (LED advertising signage specialist).
3. Cross-industry merger/acquisition: Cross-industry deals help companies to spread their risks. One prominent example is Honglitronic’s attempt to enter the Internet of Vehicles sector via investments in DINA and Wisdom GPS. At the same time, Honglitronic is also branching into the Internet of Finance sector with its investments in Wang Li Finance Corporation.
In addition to these types of deal-making, Chinese LED companies that have amassed significant funds are establishing their own investment firms to rationalize their resources with various financial instruments and improve their overall competitiveness. For their acquisition targets, the injection of additional fund will relieve them of their cash flow pressure as well as helping them increase their production capacities and scale of their business operations. |