Reuters reported this week that a group of Chinese bidders for a majority stake in Osram Licht AG, Munich, has chosen to walk away from negotiations for the lighting company. Citing unnamed sources, Reuters said Sanan Optoelectronics and venture capital firm GSR Go Scale Capital Advisors have stopped pursuing a bid for the whole company, but might consider a minority stake. The reasons for the change involve signs of increasing political opposition to Chinese acquisitions in Germany and a recent move by the U.S. to block the sale of Aixtron, a German maker of semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
Osram sold its general lamps business earlier this year to a group led by MLS, one of the largest producers of LEDs in China. Osram is now focused on LED components, specialty lighting systems and automotive lighting. Siemens, which spun off Osram in 2013, still holds a 17.5% stake.
