ams Osram sells its CMOS image sensor business to indie Semiconductor

The Austrian-German semiconductor manufacturer ams Osram has reached an agreement to sell its CMOS image sensor business to the American company indie Semiconductor for 40 million euros, as part of a strategic refocus on photonics applied to AI and augmented reality. According to a company press release, the transaction includes 35 million euros in cash and a vendor note of 5 million euros payable in two years. The completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to occur within the next six months. This divestiture is a direct consequence of the strategic pivot announced by ams Osram in February 2026, when the company sold its non-optical sensor portfolio to Infineon and expressed its ambition to become a specialized leader exclusively in digital photonics. The CMOS image sensor business, although described as a solid technology platform, does not fall within the segments the company has identified as its primary growth drivers: optical interconnects for AI data centers and advanced display technologies for AR smart glasses. Approximately 20 million euros of the sale proceeds will be allocated to deleveraging ams OSRAM's balance sheet, as the transaction involves entities whose assets secure the group's convertible bonds and senior notes. “With the divestiture of our CMOS image sensor business to indie, we are further refining our profile as a leader in digital photonics,” said CEO Aldo Kamper in the press release. “At the same time, the expected cash proceeds further contribute to accelerating the deleveraging of our balance sheet.” indie Semiconductor, which focuses on semiconductor solutions for automotive and consumer applications, is described as a natural partner for the CIS business given its existing portfolio and strategic direction