Netherlands-based contactless inlay manufacturer Smartrac has announced it is acquiring the RFID business of Finland-based UPM, making Smartrac the largest supplier of NFC tags, according to the companies.

The acquisition gives Smartrac–which bills itself as the largest supplier of chip-antenna inlays for electronic passports and contactless payment, transit and ID cards, by revenue–an expanded role in the NFC ecosystem.

The deal follows on the heels of Smartrac’s announcement Dec. 14 of a €24 million (US$31.3 million) acquisition of Germany-based inlay supplier KSW Microtec.

The purchase of the UPM RFID unit is a pure stock transaction that will give UPM RFID's parent, UPM-Kymmene Corp., a 10.6% stake in a holding company that controls Smartrac.

Source: http://www.nfctimes.com/news/smartrac-purchases-upm-rfid-unit-claims-no-1-spot-nfc-tag-supply