Luxium Solutions Acquires Inrad Optics for $19 Million

Luxium Solutions Acquires PLX Inc. and PLX UK from Tinicum-led Investor Group

March 4, 2024

Manufacturing

Luxium Solutions, a PE-backed provider of high-performance crystals for photonics and radiation detection, has agreed to acquire PLX Inc. and PLX UK, Ltd. from an investor group led by Tinicum. The acquisition broadens Luxium's detection-enabling technology capabilities by adding PLX's monolithic optical assembly, optomechanical engineering and systems-integration expertise; debt financing was provided by KeyBanc Capital Markets and a unitranche by Stellus Capital Management.

Excelitas Technologies Acquires Luxium Solutions

September 1, 2022

AI & Machine Learning

Excelitas Technologies Holding Corp. has completed its previously announced acquisition of Luxium Solutions, a specialty crystals and photonics materials business headquartered in Hiram, Ohio. Luxium was a portfolio company of SK Capital Partners and Edgewater Capital Partners, and the acquisition is positioned to expand Excelitas’ technology, product portfolio, and global market reach.

Luminar Technologies Acquires OptoGration Inc.

July 19, 2021

Manufacturing

Luminar Technologies has acquired its exclusive InGaAs photodetector design partner and specialized fabrication partner, OptoGration Inc., securing chip IP and production capacity to support series production of its Iris lidar sensor. The deal brings OptoGration’s founders into Luminar, secures roughly one million InGaAs chips per year capacity (expandable), and deepens integration with Luminar’s Black Forest Engineering assets to accelerate production and reduce costs.

EssilorLuxottica Acquires Optical Investment Group (Romania)

July 30, 2024

Retail

EssilorLuxottica has agreed to acquire the entire share capital of Optical Investment Group (OIG), Romania’s leading optical retailer, from Innova/6 (an Innova Capital fund) and a group of individual minority shareholders. OIG operates 99 stores under the OPTIblu, Optiplaza and O51 banners, with over 650 employees; the transaction is expected to close in Q4 2024 subject to regulatory approvals.

IDEX Corporation Acquires Iridian Spectral Technologies

May 22, 2023

Industrial Services

IDEX Corporation entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Iridian Spectral Technologies for CAD 150 million, subject to customary adjustments and closing conditions. Iridian is a privately held thin-film optical filters manufacturer based in Ottawa, Ontario, and the acquisition is expected to expand IDEX’s optical filter capabilities serving laser communications, telecommunications, and life sciences markets. IDEX later completed the acquisition on May 22, 2023.

Luminar Technologies Acquires Freedom Photonics

March 21, 2022

Industrial Services

Luminar (Nasdaq: LAZR) announced it is acquiring Freedom Photonics, a high-performance laser chip and photonics components company used for lidar and other optical sensing applications. The all-stock deal follows years of collaboration and is expected to close in the second quarter, with Freedom Photonics’ leadership continuing to run and expand the business after closing.