CG signs agreement with Bridgelux to Offer High Performance LED Lighting to the Indian consumer

Bridgelux technology offers consumers 50-60% advantage
in lighting energy savings!

Helps CG deliver broad range of high-performance, long-life lighting solutions

Mumbai, April 9, 2013: – CG has entered into a technology licensing agreement with Bridgelux, a Solid State Lighting (SSL) pioneer based in Livermore, California, for the company’s LED light engine, optics and luminaire expertise. This agreement will enable CG to deliver high performance, long-life, and cost-effective SSL products to business, government and mass market consumers, replacing traditional and inefficient technologies.

CG, an established player in lighting, has licensed proprietary technology developed by Bridgelux for LED streetlights, luminaires, LED arrays, drivers, optics, and other components. Bridgelux will provide technology and support on design, and application engineering for commercial and industrial lighting products such as streetlights, down lights, high bays and medium bays, and well glass.

As a result of the technical know-how gained, CG will be able to provide a 50-60% advantage in lighting energy savings to consumers. Bridgelux breatkthrough technologies, such as GaN-on-Si, provide a combination of chip-and-package-level innovation which are anticipated to not only reduce LED prices to consumers by 25-30% but also catalyzing package architecture change to integrate higher levels of features and functionality. These Bridgelux technologies will make LEDs more competitive in comparison to conventional lighting technology. Moreover, Bridgelux SSL products have a long lifetime – of over 50,000 burning hours – and limited maintenance requirements.

The agreement will drive synergistic benefits for both companies. CG will become a completely vertically integrated company, delivering the broadest possible range of high performance lighting solutions – from semiconductor (LED) all the way to LED luminaires. With a first-mover advantage in SSL and a strong brand image, the technology transfer will strengthen CG’s portfolio of products and place it in an optimal position to penetrate a wide range of lighting markets in India and other geographies. CG will continue to ramp up and align its capacity to meet the growing demand for SSL products.

The Indian LED market is projected to grow to Rs 1400 crore ($257.4 million) by 2016, and CG has a unique opportunity to generate substantial business value from this segment and significantly increase its market share. CG currently commands a 30% market share in India’s street lighting, which is rapidly adopting LED technology. Streetlights supplied by CG will provide a clean and green lighting solution, with 60% energy savings, and increased visibility and safety. In addition to enhanced streetlight offerings, Bridgelux will enable CG’s entry into the premium and retail indoor lighting product segment, even as CG’s brand image and reach help Bridgelux gain access to the fast-growing Indian market.

According to the International Energy Agency, demand for electric lighting will increase by 80% in 2030. With electric lighting illuminating new cities and replacing diesel generators in rural areas, demand for lighting products is set to accelerate in emerging nations like India, Brazil and China. CG’s SSL products can help meet this demand with cost-effectiveness and efficiency without placing stress on the grid.

Bridgelux CEO Brad Bullington said, “We are very proud to be working with CG in expanding the market for solid state lighting in India. Not only will the company’s LED streetlights and other fixtures save its customers tremendous amounts of energy, but LEDs also provide a way to economically integrate networking and communications into homes and buildings. When you hear people talk about the ‘Smart City’ they are really talking about the proliferation of LED.”

CG CEO and Managing Director Laurent Demortier said, “As India’s leading supplier of street lights, the technology agreement with Bridgelux further strengthens CG’s position, while simultaneously bringing down overall costs and promoting energy savings with the use of LEDs. I thank Bridgelux for placing trust in CG’s brand leadership and strength in the Indian market, and look forward to working with them to offer state-of-the-art lighting solutions to our consumers.”

About CG
CG is a global pioneering leader in the management and application of electrical energy. With more than 15,000 employees across its operations in around 85 countries, CG provides electrical products, systems and services for utilities, power generation, industries, and consumers. The company is organized into four business groups: Power, Industrial, Automation and Consumer. CG clocks US$ 2.3 billion in revenues from product lines that cover the entire value chain of engineering offerings. For more information on CG, please visit: www.cgglobal.com.

About Bridgelux
Bridgelux is a leading developer and manufacturer of technologies and solutions transforming the $40 billion global lighting industry into a $100 billion market opportunity. Based in Livermore, California, Bridgelux is a pioneer in solid state lighting (SSL), expanding the market for light-emitting diode (LED) technologies by driving down the cost of LED lighting systems. Bridgelux’s patented light source technology replaces traditional technologies (such as incandescent, halogen, fluorescent and high intensity discharge lighting) with integrated, solid state lighting solutions that enable lamp and luminaire manufacturers to provide high performance and energy-efficient white light for the rapidly growing interior and exterior lighting markets, including street lights, commercial lighting and consumer applications. With more than 550 patent applications filed or granted worldwide, Bridgelux is the only vertically integrated LED manufacturer and developer of solid state light sources that designs its solutions specifically for the lighting industry. For more information about the company, please visit www.bridgelux.com

About Avantha
The US$4bn Avantha Group is one of India’s leading business conglomerates. Its successful entities include BILT, Crompton Greaves, The Global Green Company, Avantha Power & Infrastructure, Solaris ChemTech Industries, Biltech Building Elements, Salient Business Solutions and Avantha Technologies. With a global footprint, the Group operates in 90 countries with more than 25,000 employees worldwide. The Group has business interests in diverse areas including power transmission and distribution equipment and services, paper and pulp, energy and infrastructure, food processing, farm forestry, insurance, chemicals, IT and ITES. Led by Gautam Thapar, Avantha demonstrates strong leadership globally and emerges as a focused corporate, leveraging its knowledge, leadership and operations, adding lasting value for its stakeholders and investors. For more information on Avantha, please visit www.avanthagroup.com

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Paula Sengupta
Global Head – Corp. Comms.
CG (Crompton Greaves Limited)
CG House, 1st floor
Worli, Mumbai 400 030, India
T: +91 22 24237516 / 67558771
paula.sengupta@cgglobal.com

Mrs. Shravani Dang
Group Head – Corporate Communications
Vice President – Avantha Group
5th Floor, Tower C, First India Place, MG Road
Gurgaon-122002, Haryana, India
T : +91 124 4099436
s.dang@avanthagroup.com