CHICAGO – There were 11 completed EMS transactions in the first quarter, on par with M&A activity sequentially, as the industry is still making more moves than in 2009, according to a new report by Lincoln International.

Continued economic and credit market improvements combined with the general market need to deploy cash is driving further M&A, the firm says.

Both EMS consolidation and private equity investment represented four transactions each, or 36% of total activity in the quarter, respectively. While EMS consolidations remained relatively steady, this number of private equity investment transactions is double the amount exhibited in either of the previous two quarters. This highlights the current focus of private equity firms to deploy capital and a renewed desire to invest in the EMS industry, the firm says.

Six transactions occurred within the US and Canada in the first quarter, or 55% of total transactions, highlighting a trend of continued increased M&A activity in the regions year-over-year. Three European deals occurred, equivalent to the level exhibited in each of the last two quarters.

Two cross-border transactions occurred during the period, the highest number in more than two years.

Small tier companies (9) accounted for 82% of all transactions. The large and mid tiers each had one transaction, or 9% of activity each, says Lincoln.

EL SEGUNDO, CA – The impact of the recession and rising sales of smartphones will deal a setback to contract manufacturers in the global handset market, limiting the companies to less than a 30% share of the wireless handset market during the next four years, says IHS iSuppli.

COLLEGE PARK, MD – CALCE and IPC will sponsor a technical seminar May 24 and 25 here: JISSO Forum on Reliability of Electronics.

This seminar is intended to provide an interactive forum to discuss the latest concerns, trends and technologies in electronics that impact product reliability.

CALCE, IPC and members of the JISSO International Council will speak on embedded technologies, batteries, environmental regulations, counterfeit avoidance, test and simulation methods, and the emerging field of prognostics.

Attendees will get a snapshot of integrated electronics development and manufacturing, and receive input on technologies that will impact the electronics industry over the next 10 years.

JISSO North America will also host the Annual JISSO International Conference (May 25 – 27) and a standards meetings for the IEC Technical Committee 91 on printed circuit boards (May 23 – 25), both also at the University of Maryland. 

BANNOCKBURN, IL – An estimated one-third of all printed circuit boards for US defense or military systems are produced outside North America, according to recent IPC data.