NeoPhotonics to Buy Emcore’s Tunable Laser, Transceiver Product Lines

NeoPhotonics will purchase Emcore Corp.’s tunable laser and transceiver product lines for $17.5 million.

The deal is expected to be finalized by January, and includes the external-cavity laser-based integrable tunable laser assemblies (ITLAs), micro-ITLA, tunable XFP transceiver and integrated coherent transmitter products.

A manufacturer of photonic integrated circuits for communications, NeoPhotonics said the product lines will help it meet demands for higher-capacity fiber optic networks.

“Emcore’s narrow-linewidth tunable laser product line is highly complementary to our broad existing portfolio of optical components for 100 Gb/s coherent transport systems, and this acquisition significantly expands our footprint in this rapidly growing segment,” said NeoPhotonics CEO Tim Jenks.

Based in Albuquerque, N.M., Emcore said its tunable laser and transceiver product lines represented approximately 25 percent of its overall revenue in the last fiscal year and that they had not been profitable.

Emcore will retain its broadband fiber optics products, which include cable TV transmitters and modules, FTTP transceivers, indium phosphide-based lasers, photodiodes and modulators, RF-over-fiber satellite communications products, video transport equipment and microwave and specialty photonics products.

Last month the company announced that it planned to sell its space photovoltaics business for $150 million to an affiliate of private equity firm Veritas Capital.

For more information, visit www.neophotonics.com and www.emcore.com.