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Google to invest in Himax
MUMBAI: Taiwan based Himax Technologies announced that Google will acquire 6.3 per cent interest in the company‘s subsidiary, Himax Display (HD).
The purpose of the investment is to fund production upgrades, expand capacity and further enhance production capabilities at HD‘s facilities that produce liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) chips and modules used in applications including head?mounted display (HMD) such as Google Glass, head?up display (HUD) and pico?projector products.
Under the Agreement, Himax will also invest additional amount in HDI to fund its ongoing capacity expansion. HDI will also use a portion of the proceeds to substantially reduce its loan from Himax. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2013 subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.
Google also has an option to make additional investment of preferred shares at the same price within one year from closing. If the option is exercised in full, Google will own a total of up to 14.8 per cent in HDI. Himax Technologies holds 81.5 per cent of HDI at present and will remain the major shareholder of HDI after the transaction. Google will join the core group of HDI share holders including KPCB Holdings, Khosla Ventures I, L.P. and Intel Capital Corporation.
Google‘s investment in HDI will not have a dilutive effect on Himax‘s Nasdaq?traded shares, HIMX.
Founded in 2004, Himax Display has focused on developing commercial applications for LCOS technologies, in?house manufacturing expertise and production lines with proven, high?volume shipment track records. Over the last few years, HDI has devoted its research and development of its LCOS technology for new applications of head? mounted display and other wearable computing applications.
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
