The single largest move towards consolidation in the history of the European lighting industry took place in 2000 when the Austrian lighting group, Zumtobel AG (5,000 employees), acquired Wassall PLC, the parent company of Thorn Lighting.

IMC was responsible for announcing the acquisition throughout all of Europe. The announcement coincided with Europe's largest lighting fair, Light + Building, and more than 100 major articles, radio broadcasts and television coverage resulted in less than a 5- week period.