Osram saw its solid-state lighting performance grow rapidly in the third quarter and a faster than expected decline in traditional general illumination business. Against that backdrop, the company announced plans to continue on its cost-cutting path in its legacy business by eliminating 7,800 jobs worldwide over a period of three years —around 1,700 in Germany and 6,100 in the rest of the world.
Osram’s LED Lamps & Systems segment recorded revenue growth of 68% in the third quarter due to the fast-growing LED demand. The segment’s EBITA margin also improved in a year-on-year comparison but was still significantly negative at around –20%. The company’s Classic Lamps & Ballasts (CLB) segment’s revenue was down 14% on a comparable basis, while the EBITA margin excluding special items fell to slightly above six percent.