JDS Uniphase Plans Acquisition of Epitaxx

JDS Uniphase Corp. of San Jose, Calif., announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Epitaxx Inc. of Trenton, N.J., in a $400 million exchange of JDS Uniphase common stock. The deal is subject to antitrust review and government approval.

The co-chairman and CEO of JDS Uniphase, Kevin Kalkhoven, said the transaction will enable the company to expand its product lines for telecommunications applications. The agreement also will increase the relationship between the company and a subsidiary of Nippon Sheet Glass Co. Ltd. of Kanagawa, Japan, which holds a majority interest in Epitaxx and has been an important supplier of microlenses to JDS Uniphase.