Here's an article from Electronic Buyers' News from last month. Maybe it might hold interest for some. Sorry about the formatting.
> Electronic Buyers' News
> Manhasset
> Nov 29, 1999
>
> > Authors: Mark LaPedus
> Silicon Valley- JDS Uniphase Corp.'s acquisition of passives supplier
> Sifam Ltd. last week will quickly augment the company's offerings in
fiber
> optics.
>
> The $97.2 million all-cash deal marks JDS Uniphase's fifth major
acquisition
> this year, and will give it a strong foothold in the burgeoning
fiber-optics
> equipment market, industry analysts said.
>
> Devon, England-based Sifam manufactures fused-coupler products,
gain-flattening
> filters, and related fiber-optic components. Fused- coupler products are
> used to split, combine, and filter light in optical fiber, while
gain-flattening
> filters improve the signaling quality in high-capacity fiber-optic
networks,
> dense-wavelength- division multiplexers, and other systems.
>
> These types of products are also used in fiber-optic amplifier systems
> and modules, which JDS Uniphase produces. JDS Uniphase also sells
component-level
> products for fiber-optic equipment.
>
> "We're already a significant customer of Sifam and expect our use of
> [Sifam's] fused couplers and other products to grow," said Kevin Kalk-
> hoven, co-chairman and chief executive of JDS Uniphase, which has dual
> headquarters in San Jose and Nepean, Ontario. "The acquisition of Sifam
> also enhances our ability to provide another category of advanced
component
> technology."
>
> The move also expands the company's offerings in the fragmented but
> booming worldwide fiber-optic-component business, which has grown from
> $2.5 million in 1975 to about $13 billion this year, according to
ElectroniCast
> Corp., a San Mateo, Calif.-based market research firm. ElectroniCast
predicts
> the market will grow to $15.8 billion next year.
>
> "There's a huge demand for fiber [and fiber-optic components]," said
> Stephen Montgomery, president of ElectroniCast. "Fiber optics have been
> primarily used in long-haul applications, but it's also happening in
shorter
> lengths. We're even seeing demand for fiber optics in buildings."
>
> Consequently, the demand for chip- and component-level products for
> use in fiber-optic networks is huge, with suppliers scrambling to boost
> their portfolios via in-house development or acquisition, according to
> Montgomery.
>
> Still, shortages of passive components pervade this market, he added.
> "We're seeing lead times of three, four, or five months out there,
depending
> on the product," he said.
>
> The industry is also consolidating. For example, JDS Uniphase itself
> was formed last January by the $6.2 billion merger of two
fiber-optic-component
> suppliers: JDS Fitel Inc. and Uniphase Corp.
>
> Since then, JDS Uniphase has acquired AFC Technologies Inc., a
supplier
> of amplifier components, for an undisclosed price. In early October, the
> company purchased Epitaxx Inc., a supplier of optical detectors, for $400
> million.
>
> Also in October, it bought Ramar Corp., a maker of optical components,
> for an undisclosed price. And earlier this month, the company purchased
> Optical Coating Laboratory Inc., a supplier of thin- film coating and
components,
> for $2.8 billion.
>
> Under the terms of the latest agreement, Sifam will be folded into JDS
> Uniphase. Sifam, which employs roughly 200, posted about $10 million in
> sales last year.
>
> For its first fiscal quarter, ended Sept. 30, JDS Uniphase reported
> a profit of $51.4 million on sales of $230 million. This compares with
> a profit of $23.2 million on sales of $112.6 million in the like period
> a year ago. The company reported a profit of $124.9 million on sales of
> $587.9 million for fiscal 1999, ended June 30.
>
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