JDSU acquires Agilent unit for $165 million

<p>JDSU, which makes optical technology in Santa Rosa, said Thursday it is acquiring Agilent Technologies' network solutions test business for $165 million in cash. </p><p>The unit is part of Agilent's Electronic Measurement Group, which is headquartered in Santa Rosa. </p><p>But Agilent's Santa Rosa operation won't be affected, because most of the network solutions unit's 700 employees work in Colorado, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Beijing. </p><p>The sale includes Agilent's test technology for next-generation wireless networks, called Long Term Evolution or 4G. It will become part of JDSU's communication test and measurement business based in Germantown, Md. </p><p>JDSU plans to keep the Agilent locations and “substantially all” of the employees, said Jim Monroe, a JDSU spokesman. </p><p>The acquisition won't affect JDSU's operation in Santa Rosa, where it makes optical thin-film coating technology.</p><p>The purchase gives JDSU a strong position in the market for testing advanced wireless networks, said CEO Tom Waechter. </p><p>“This acquisition establishes JDSU as a market leader in wireless test instruments and systems and enables us to provide customers with new innovative LTE solutions as they deploy this next-generation mobile data technology,” he said. </p><p>“JDSU gains market-leading technology and a talented employee team that will fit well with JDSU's customer-centric culture.” </p><p>Agilent said it decided to sell the unit because it is more suited for a company like JDSU, which focuses on communications network testing. </p><p>Most of Agilent's test and measurement business targets electronics manufacturing, computer applications, aerospace and defense. Most of the world's cell phones are tested on Agilent equipment. </p><p>Agilent's network solutions unit had $162 million in sales last year, compared to $2.3 billion for the Electronic Measurement Group as a whole. </p><p>“We believe JDSU is an excellent fit for this business,” said Ron Nersesian, president of Agilent's measurement group. “Their leadership and commitment to this market will benefit our customers and employees, and we are committed to a smooth transition over the coming few months.” </p><p>The deal is expected to close by the end of July.</p>