Delft solar start-up buys out Nasdaq-listed U.S. rival

Relatively small Delft startup Eternal Sun bought out and took over Nadaq-listed American rival Spire Solar, RTL Z reports. "I heard that they were looking for 'strategic alternatives' and contacted our investor. A few days later I got on the plane and five months later the deal was done", Eternal Sun CEO Chokri Mousaoui said to the broadcaster.

We are proud to announce we have acquired the sun simulator business of @SpireSolar. Check https://t.co/NNjjvX1rzj

— Eternal Sun (@EternalSunNL) January 26, 2016

Eternal Sun is active world wide in the development and manufacture of test equipment for solar panels. The company is currently testing for, among others, TU Delft, ECN, TU Eindhoven and other research institutions worldwide. "In time we want to grow the manufacturing market more. In addition there is especially in Asia a major market for our products. With the acquisition of Spire Solar, we achieve these goals in one fell swoop." Mousaoui said. Spire Solar already has an office in the Asian market. Mousaoui now divides his time between the Netherlands and America, taking some changes along with him. For example, the American workers are now required to take lunch. "That is sacred to us in the Netherlands, but they usually eat a sandwich behind their PC's", he said to RTL. He will also have an open Skype connection installed in the canteens so that there is a non-stop connection between the two continents. Ultimately the acquisition must merge the two companies' know-how. Mousaoui thinks that together Eternal Sun and Spire Solar can become the second biggest player in the solar market. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njsvzaxd-Ls&feature=youtu.be