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10 Feb 2005
The leading supplier of liquid crystals invests in rival OLED technology.
The German liquid crystal specialist Merck KGaA has purchased the OLED materials and polymer electronics businesses of Avecia, UK for EURO 50 million in cash. The deal is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2005 and is Merck’s second acquisition in the area in the past few weeks. In December, it purchased the OLED R&D activities of the German glass specialist Schott.
The latest acquisition includes Frankfurt-based Covion Organic Semiconductors (which Avecia owned) and Avecia’s polymer R&D facilities in Manchester, UK. Both activities, comprising a total of about 100 staff, will now be integrated into Merck’s Liquid Crystals Division. Merck also has its own polymer electronics laboratory in Chilworth, UK.
“We see this acquisition as an opportunity to explore alternative technologies [to LCDs] for the future, which is a prudent step for any market leader,” said Merck’s chairman Bernhard Scheuble.
Covion is one of the leading suppliers of organic light-emitting materials for use in next-generation displays and had sales of EURO 8 million in 2004. Its materials are used by Philips in its polymer displays that are entering portable electronics such as shavers and music players. It was formed in 1999 by Avecia and Aventis Research & Technologies and was then fully acquired by Avecia in 2002.
Author
Oliver Graydon is editor of Optics.org and Opto & Laser Europe magazine.
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