The Belgian group UNION MINIERE will acquire, through its subsidiary UMI - UNION MINIERE USA INC, the American company LASER POWER of which it already holds 10%. It will launch, with this aim, an acquisition offer, in June, on all the shares in LASER POWER at the price of USD 4 per share, representing a total amount of USD 38.7 million. LASER POWER (turnover of USD 35 million in 1999 with 230 employees) makes high performance optical devices notably destined for laser systems manufacturers. It will become a 100% subsidiary of UMI and will integrate the ELECTRO-OPTIC MATERIALS division (turnover of EUR 50 million in 1999).