Cree Buys Gallium-Nitride Substrate Business

For $10.25 million, Cree Inc. of Durham, N.C., has acquired the gallium-nitride substrate and epitaxy business of Advanced Technology Materials Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of ATMI Inc., based in Danbury, Conn. Besides a technical team and a core technology that could benefit lasers and microwave devices, the purchase has brought Cree 17 US patents and additional patent applications that complement its intellectual property portfolio. A patent for white LEDs and related technology is expected to strengthen the company's XLamp business and its position in the LED-based lighting market. Cree's products include blue, green and near-UV LEDs, near-UV lasers, and radio-requency, microwave and power-switching devices.