Philips to spin off LED components business

Philips has announced that it will start the process to combine its Lumileds (LED components) and Automotive lighting businesses into a stand-alone company within the Philips Group.

Philips will explore strategic options to attract capital from third-party investors for this business. Philips intends to remain a shareholder and customer of the new company, and will continue the existing innovation collaboration.

“Philips’ strategy in Lighting is to intensify its focus on connected LED lighting systems and services, LED luminaires and LED lamps for the professional and consumer markets. Both our Lumileds and Automotive lighting businesses are strong players in the lighting industry and ready to pursue more growth and scale, independently of Philips Lighting. As a world-leading lighting components business, they will have increased flexibility to attract additional investors to accelerate growth,” said Frans van Houten, chief executive officer of Royal Philips.

“I am confident that the combined business will be able to extend its leading portfolio of digital lighting components and achieve robust growth, serving even more customers in the industry, including of course Philips Lighting,” said Eric Rondolat, Philips Lighting chief executive officer.

Sales of the combined businesses were approximately EUR1.4 billion in 2013. The chief executive officer of the new company will be Pierre-Yves Lesaicherre, the current chief executive officer of Lumileds. The process to combine Lumileds and Automotive into an integrated business within the Philips Group is expected to be completed in the first half of 2015.

Costs associated with setting up the combined business are expected to amount to EUR30 million in the second half of 2014.