Benzinga | Feb 4, 2021 09:09AM EST

Kulicke and Soffa Acquired Uniqarta To Gain LED Die Transfer Technology.

* Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: KLIC) acquired Massachusetts tech company Uniqarta, Inc., including its portfolio of patents and other intellectual property rights for undisclosed terms.

* Kulicke & Soffa had extensively worked with Uniqarta to monetize the latter's LED die transfer technology.

* Uniqarta's contactless Laser-Enabled Advanced Placement (LEAP) technology reflects the precision, speed, and cost economies compared to the conventional ones.

* The LED transfer approach will be a significant thrust to the mini-LED backlighting along with a positive catalyst for direct-emissive micro-LED applications.

* The mini and micro-LED wafer volumes have a CAGR potential of over 200% through 2025 from the surging demand for consumer televisions, tablets, and notebooks as per TrendForce.

* "Our acquisition of Uniqarta strengthens and extends the overall mini and micro-LED technology portfolio at K&S. This investment emphasizes important strategic additions to our competencies, value proposition, and participation in the rapidly-evolving advanced display market," said Kulicke & Soffa CTO Bob Chylak.

* The new advanced display system is estimated to debut by the end of FY21.

* Cash and equivalents stood at $576.7 million as of January 2, 2021.

* Price action: KLIC shares are up 7.3% at $40 in the pre-market session on the last check Thursday.