DenseLight begins new chapter under Chinese ownership
Singapore-based photonics integration technology company DenseLight Semiconductors has begun a new chapter as an independent organisation, following its divestment by TSX Venture Exchange-listed POET Technologies to DenseLight Semiconductor Technology (Shanghai) for $26 million.
This comes three years after its acquisition by POET, during which it was able to expand its market presence in China and the US. The company recorded a year-on-year revenue growth of 29 percent in 2017 and 39 percent in 2018. It is on track to surpass this growth in 2019.
DenseLight’s management, which has been steering the company for nearly three years, will remain unchanged.
Advised by the China Prosper Group, DL Shanghai shareholders are a consortium of industry players and investors in technology and communications, including Dynax Semiconductors and other leading advanced electronic component, product and system companies in China.
Commenting on the transaction, Rajan Rajgopal, president and CEO of DenseLight Semiconductors, said: “DenseLight was founded about 20 years ago from a breakthrough in photonics integration and is considered one of the pioneers in InP technology. Over the years, we have been working hard to realise our vision of becoming a global leader in providing innovative integrated photonics solutions that enable our customers to excel and win in the sensing and data communications markets. The support of our new shareholders brings us another step closer to realising this vision.”
The change in DenseLight’s ownership brings with it several positive implications. As part of the terms of the transaction, DenseLight and POET have also entered into a preferred supply and strategic cooperation agreement, which will see the company maintaining an ongoing relationship with POET.
The support of the new shareholders will afford DenseLight more resources to strengthen its balance sheet, and enhance its capabilities and talent pool. The expansion into China will bring DenseLight closer to a significant part of its customer base, and increase its flexibility and responsiveness.
Following the transfer of ownership, plans in the pipeline will include the upgrade and expansion of its Singapore facility to support its commitment to its worldwide customer base, as well as the future construction of an assembly and testing facility, followed by a high-volume wafer fabrication plant, in China. In addition, DenseLight will be scaling up sales and marketing efforts across the board, including in Singapore, China and the United States.
“DenseLight is a Singapore based SME with a global footprint and the focus and vision of an MNC. Our leadership position in photonics-based R&D places us in good stead to create a unique product portfolio and this new chapter allows us to continue this innovation with the tenacity, focus and vision of an MNC, and the nimbleness of an SME. We are extremely excited about our future,” said Rajgopal.
