Luminar buys G&H's laser module unit to expand chip business- CEO

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Luminar Technologies, a maker of lidar sensors for self-driving cars, has purchased the optoelectronic components and laser modules business of Britain's Gooch & Housego (G&H) to expand its semiconductor operation, its CEO said.

The Nasdaq-listed firm launched its semiconductor arm Luminar Semi last year based on the prior acquisition of three companies: laser manufacturer Freedom Photonics, custom chip design house Black Forest Engineering and photodetector firm Optogration.

Luminar Semi is breaking even and will further expand into aerospace and defence following the acquisition of the G&H unit, EM4, Luminar chief executive Austin Russell told Reuters.

"We have now over 100 active customers and programs across the board for Luminar Semiconductor," the 29-year founder said in his first interview on Luminar's chip business.

"Companies are leveraging the same IP and technology that we had first developed for our Lidar systems for the broader sensing industry," he said.

Lidar, which stands for light detection and ranging, shoots out light pulses that are reflected off objects, allowing self-driving systems and driver-assistance software to gain a three-dimensional map of the road. Many self-driving companies and experts regard it as a crucial component, especially during low-light situations.

Russell declined to comment on the size of the deal, which was agreed in March, but G&H said that month that it had sold EM4 to a U.S. tech company in a deal worth up to $12 million without naming the buyer.

Clients for Luminar's chip business range from the U.S Department of Defence and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to technology companies, Russell said.

(Reporting by Fanny Potkin; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Conor Humphries)