Quantum Computing Inc. selected as stalking horse bidder for Luminar assets
Quantum Computing Inc. was selected as the stalking horse bidder for selected remaining assets of Luminar Technologies and submitted an initial bid tied to Luminar's Chapter 11 process, a step that is subject to approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and to a court-supervised auction and sale process.
The company described that, together with its recently announced proposed acquisition of Luminar Semiconductor, Inc., the transaction would extend QCi's presence across the photonics value chain, encompassing photonic chip design and packaging through system delivery and customer deployment, and that the combination would extend its photonics and quantum optics capabilities into deployed sensing systems.
Luminar's LiDAR hardware and software platforms were described as leveraging a high-performance optical architecture designed for light detection in demanding applications. Quantum Computing Inc. provides quantum optics and integrated photonics technology, offers quantum machines and foundry services for production of photonic chips based on thin-film lithium niobate, and designs products to operate at room temperature and low power.
Under the stalking horse agreement, QCi agreed to serve as the initial bidder for the remaining Luminar assets at a purchase price of approximately $22 million, subject to higher or better offers and customary terms and conditions. The filing materials said QCi planned to support Luminar's ongoing Research and Development (R&D) efforts, sustain targeted product offerings, maintain continuity across relevant customer programs and deployed systems, retain key technical, engineering and manufacturing teams, and continue investing in R&D aligned with its broader photonics and quantum technology plans.
“Being selected as the stalking horse bidder reflects our conviction in the strategic fit of these assets and our commitment to building a scaled photonics platform with real-world impact,” said Yuping Huang, CEO and Chairman of the Board of QCi. “LSI strengthens our core photonics design, packaging, and manufacturing capabilities, while Luminar brings proven expertise in system integration, software, and scaling complex optical technologies into production. Together, these assets would accelerate our ability to commercialize advanced photonic platforms today while building the operational foundation required for future quantum sensing and emerging applications. If completed, the transaction is expected to bring a group of outstanding engineering and technical personnel to QCi, whose experience and expertise we believe would support the execution of our strategy and long-term growth objectives.”
The proposed transaction is subject to approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, to the completion of a court-supervised auction and sale process, and QCi said it expected the transaction to close in the first quarter of 2026 if approved.