Calcutta, July 6: Philips India, a subsidiary of Dutch major Royal Philips, today passed a resolution in a court convened shareholders' meeting to demerge its lighting division, marking the end of an era for the company which started as a maker of light bulbs over a century ago.

In the meeting held here, some minority shareholders opposed the demerger, which is in line with the Dutch parent's move to hive off the lighting business on May 7 with overwhelming shareholders' approval.

Philips wants to globally focus on the healthcare division, which makes everything from toothbrush to hospital scanner.

Public shareholding in Philips is only 3 per cent and shareholders will get stocks in the new demerged lighting unit on 1:1 basis.

The company, in a notice to shareholders, said the transfer and vesting of the lighting business to a separate company from February 1, 2016, was in line with the company's global separation plan.

After the demerger, Philips India will have its healthcare and consumer lifestyle business.

Philips started off making bulbs in 1891 at Eindhoven in Netherlands.

The development marks the latest in a series of demergers over the past few decades, which has seen Philips transforming itself from a conglomerate making televisions to toasters into a company focused on healthcare.

"After delisting, now with the demerger it seems you want to sell the lighting division," minority shareholder M. K. Bubna said during the meeting.

Another shareholder, A.K. Banerjee, questioned the intention of demerger, "Was it necessary given the explanation provided."

The management, however, did not reply to the shareholders' concerns.