| | | | | Eindhoven, The Netherlands – Philips (NYSE:PHG, AEX: PHI) and Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) announced today that they have entered into a license agreement allowing Acuity Brands to access Philips’ LED-based patent portfolio. Philips makes its patent portfolio for LED systems and controls available via a licensing program to third parties in order to foster industry growth. The agreement will apply to worldwide sales of LED-based luminaires developed and marketed by all of the Acuity Brands businesses. Through the agreement, Acuity Brands will be able to incorporate Philips’ patented technologies related to the development and digital control of LED systems for general lighting, architectural and theatrical applications. “Philips has significantly invested in the research and development of solid-state lighting, particularly in the past several years. Our wide-ranging IP portfolio reflects the resulting innovations,” said Rudy Provoost, Chief Executive Officer of Philips Lighting. “At the same time, we’re committed to the growth of the industry and have a vested interest in accelerating adoption. We’re therefore very pleased to work with Acuity to stimulate the market and support customer choice by offering new LED lighting solutions to the market.” “Acuity Brands, utilizing its Lithonia Lighting®, Holophane®, Peerless®, Gotham®, Mark Architectural Lighting™, and other brands, has long been a leader in the development and sale of LED and other energy-efficient lighting fixtures and we are pleased to announce today the license agreement with Philips. We believe this agreement will enable us to continue our innovation and leadership in providing technologically advanced, sustainable LED lighting and controls solutions to our customers,” said Vernon Nagel, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Acuity Brands. This license agreement with Acuity follows earlier agreements of Philips with key lighting players like Zumtobel and Osram. Philips’ licensing program combines many LED luminaire-related inventions of Philips and several of its acquired companies to simplify the use of LED technologies by third parties. Philips has ensured a strong presence along the LED value chain in the past years through targeted investments and acquisitions. Apart from leveraging this strong position to provide best-in-class LED-based lighting applications and solutions, it aims to speed up market adoption and growth by making available its market-leading patented technologies to third parties. Additional information is available at www.ip.philips.com/licensing/ssl. |
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| | About Royal Philips ElectronicsRoyal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified Health and Well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 116,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 26 billion in 2008, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter. About Acuity Brands Acuity Brands, Inc., the parent company of Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc. and other subsidiaries, is one of the world's leading providers of lighting fixtures and related products and services with fiscal year 2009 net sales of over $1.6 billion. The Company’s brands include Lithonia Lighting®, Holophane®, Peerless®, Mark Architectural Lighting™, Hydrel®, American Electric Lighting®, Gotham®, Carandini®, MetalOptics®, Antique Street Lamps™, RELOC®, Lighting Control & Design™, Sensor Switch®, Synergy® Lighting Controls, SAERIS™, and ROAM®. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Acuity Brands employs approximately 6,000 associates and has operations throughout North America and in Europe and Asia. Forward looking information This release contains forward-looking statements. Statements that may be considered forward-looking include statements incorporating terms such as "expects," "believes," "intends," "anticipates," “may,” “should”, and similar terms that relate to future events, performance or results. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience and present expectations or projections. Further, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the companies undertake no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events. |
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