M&A

Zayo Group is expanding its fibre-optic empire further, this time with a definitive agreement to buy privately-owned telecommunications provider Spread Networks for $127 million in cash.

Divestment to an affiliate of The Carlyle Group in exchange for a minority equity stake in newly-capitalized venture allows MACOM to participate in NewCo’s potential long-term value creation

Network test specialist EXFO has signed an agreement to acquire Yenista Optics for an undisclosed sum. The deal is subject to a number of conditions to be completed before closing.

Yenista Optics, a privately held company based in Lannion, France, supplies advanced optical test equipment for the R&D and manufacturing markets. Its product portfolio includes benchtop optical spectrum analysers, tunable lasers, tunable filters and passive optical component test systems for network equipment manufacturers and optical component vendors.

Scotland-based blown fibre specialist Emtelle has acquired German duct manufacturer Moore GmbH. The acquisition is part of a €30 million investment by Emtelle to expand its overall manufacturing capacity and presence in Europe.

Network test specialist EXFO hopes to expand its service assurance activities with the eventual acquisition of French mobile analytics firm Astellia. The pair have signed agreements for EXFO to acquire a 33.1 per cent equity stake in Astellia, worth €8.6 million, with plans to acquire the remaining equity.

Privately owned Calient Technologies has been acquired by Suzhou Chunxing Precision Mechanical Co., Ltd., who will buy a controlling stake in the company and provide manufacturing services to help it expand.

Founded in 2001, Chunxing is a publicly traded Chinese manufacturer of precision metal alloy and plastic structures for the automotive, consumer electronics, industrial, and telecom market segments.

The optical circuit switch developer will continue to operate from its Goleta, California, headquarters under the Calient brand.  

Test instrumentation specialist Viavi Solutions has snapped up Trilithic, a provider of broadband test equipment, for an undisclosed sum.

A privately held company based in Indianapolis, Trilithic has products in two main areas: broadband instruments for installation and troubleshooting inside the home, and emergency alert systems that allow service providers to transmit public alerts and warnings across any kind of network. The company is profitable with revenues in the mid $20-million range, according to Viavi.

On 30 May 2016 HUBER+SUHNER signed the contracts to take over Polatis, a developer of all-optical network switches, for an undisclosed sum.

Polatis’ technology enables huge data streams to be managed speedily, efficiently and securely, which in turn enables improved capacity utilisation in data centres and advanced data management in large telecom networks. Both applications are strategic growth areas of HUBER+SUHNER, the company says.