Digital design

11 October 2016 By Rachel Morarjee

China’s Sanan is circling Osram, the $7 bln lighting firm backed by Siemens. The recent takeover of Kuka, a German robotmaker, could be a precedent. That suggests Sanan needs to offer job guarantees and other concessions to keep Berlin onside, as well as a big premium in cash.

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Chinese chipmaker Sanan Optoelectronics said on Oct. 10 it had been in "preliminary contact" with Germany's Osram.

Four days earlier, a report in WirtschaftsWoche magazine said Sanan wanted to buy the lighting firm, sending Osram shares to a record high.

Sanan said it had held one meeting with Osram's management and had not discussed the scope or price of any potential deal.

A full takeover of Osram, which has a market capitalisation of 6 billion euros ($6.7 billion), would mark the biggest Chinese acquisition in Germany.

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