JDS Uniphase tucks in GenComm as Wall Street focuses on earnings

Contact: Thejeswi Venkatesh, Ben Kolada

JDS Uniphase (JDSU) on Tuesday announced that after reselling GenComm’s test and measurement products, it has decided to acquire its OEM partner. GenComm provides wireless test and measurement hardware and software for troubleshooting, installation and maintenance of wireless base stations and repeaters.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but JDSU positioned the pickup as a tech and talent play, and further stated that revenue from GenComm’s products accounted for more than $7.5m of JDSU’s Communications Test and Measurement business division revenue in its fiscal 2012. The acquisition of Seoul-based GenComm will expand JDSU’s reach in the Asia-Pacific region.

The small tuck-in is likely to be quickly overshadowed by JDSU’s earnings call, which is scheduled after the closing bell today. Wall Street analysts expect the company’s fiscal year revenue to dip 7% to $1.67bn, due to the economic slowdown. JDSU isn’t the only company struggling in this sector, however. Danaher, a competitor to JDSU’s communications test and measurement business, recently reported Q3 earnings per share (EPS) below analysts’ estimates, and lowered its full-year 2012 EPS expectations.