JDS Uniphase to Acquire SIFAM

In what has become something of a semimonthly ritual, JDS Uniphase Corp. (San Jose, CA) announced another acquisition, this time purchasing UK-based SIFAM Ltd. for approximately $97 million dollars (see JDS Uniphase to Acquire Optical Coating Laboratory, JDS Acquires Ramar, and JDS Uniphase to Acquire Epitaxx). SIFAM produces fused components are used to split, combine and filter light in optical fiber. Products include couplers, wavelength division multiplexers, and gain flattening filters, used for optical amplifier and network monitoring applications.

The acquisition has been made in the form of an offer to SIFAM security holders, and the holders of over 90% of the company's shares have executed binding agreements to accept the JDS Uniphase offer unconditionally. The deal is slated to close in December 1999, subject to certain closing conditions, including SIFAM's divestiture of its low-tech, plastic-molding-based business units not involved in its fiberoptic operations. Meanwhile, SIFAM is in the throes of an expansion, hiring at a rate of approximately five new people per week.