All Article articles – Page 112
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Small increase in U.S. optical business rating
The overall rating of the U.S. optical business environment was 3.69 in June, up from May's rating of 3.65, according to the Optical Business Barometer compiled by Jobson Optical Research. Comparatively, the rating stood at 3.70 in June 2012, 3.62 in June 2011 and 3.43 in June 2010. For the ...
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A.T. Cross will concentrate on eyewear
A.T. Cross, which markets the Costa and Native brands of eyewear, signed last July 13 a definitive agreement to sell its Cross Accessory Division to a newly formed affiliate of Clarion Capital Partners, for a cash price of $60 million. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of ...
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Europe was a ‘superstar’ in Luxottica’s second quarter
“I would list Europe as the region which has been a superstar,” said Andrea Guerra, chief executive of Luxottica in a conference call with financial analysts while commenting on the regional spread of the group's sales in the second quarter. After several tough quarters, the strong rebound of European markets, ...
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Vedovotto’s exit hits Safilo’s results
The departure of Safilo's chief executive, Roberto Vedovotto, affected the group's second-quarter results. The group reported non-recurring pre-tax charges of €7.4 million for the quarter, €6.0 million of which were related to the manager's exit and €1.4 million to the restructuring of its European business. Vedovotto announced his resignation on ...
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Leading online retailer may go public
Prescription Eyewear, the British company behind Glasses Direct and other online retail operations, is re-branding itself as MyOptique Group, using the name of its website for luxury eyewear. It also has hired an adviser to review new strategic financing options including a potential future stock exchange listing.In addition to Glasses ...
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Spy reports higher sales and margins
The Spy brand enjoyed a sales increase of 7 percent to $10.0 million in the second quarter ended June 30, representing the ninth consecutive year-on-year improvement. For the parent company, Spy Inc., sales were up by 6 percent to the same level of $10.0 million as the company had no ...
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Optic 2000 associates donations with culture
A cast of actors is touring France for the third year in a row in an interesting initiative financed by Optic 2000, the French cooperative of independent opticians, and by Essilor. Customers of the two companies and other people from all walks of life, including the poor, are invited to ...
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Essilor acquires 50% of Polycore
After announcing an interesting licensing deal with Polaroid Eyewear (see our previous issue), Essilor is consolidating its development in the sun lens segment, which is growing around twice as fast as the corrective lens market, with the acquisition of a 50 percent stake in Polycore Optical, one of the world's ...
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Stable Optical Business Barometer ratings for May in the U.S.
The Optical Business Barometer (OBB), a monthly survey designed to gauge business attitudes among independent eye care professionals in the U.S., remained stable at a 3.65 rating for May 2013, indicating no change from the overall rating for April 2013. For the period from January through May, the average rating ...
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New change at the top of Logo
Richard Vives, the French entrepreneur who took over the Logo Group in 2011 with another investor, has taken over the position of chief executive from Pascal Brouard, whom he had appointed to the position after the takeover. Vives, who is also involved in automotive distribution, remains chairman of the French ...
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Changing of the guard at Safilo
The board of directors of Safilo Group decided last month to appoint one of its non-executive directors, Luisa D. Delgado, as the company's new chief executive, replacing Roberto Vedovotto. She will formally take over the position on Oct. 15, but she will join the group already on Sept. 15. Company officials ...
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Safilo strengthens its collaboration with the LVMH group
Shortly before the appointment of a new chief executive for the company, Safilo announced that it has become the licensee for sunglasses and optical frames of Fendi, the famous Rome-based fashion house bought by LVMH many years ago. The deal, which runs through 2022, takes the place of the contract ...
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Zeal Optics commits to reforestation
Zeal Optics, the American company recently acquired by Maui Jim, has unveiled a new initiative to help reforest part of the Rocky Mountains near its Boulder, Colorado headquarters, which are heavily impacted by the pine-beetle epidemic. The sunglass maker, in partnership with American Forests, will plant 5,480 trees across the ...
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Specsavers’ growth slows down
The growth in Specsavers' total revenues slowed down during the financial year ended last February. Global sales went up by 6.9 percent to about £1.8 billion (€2.1bn-$2.7bn), compared with increases of 10.3 percent in 2010/11 and 10.9 percent in 2011/12. On the other hand, the company says in its annual ...
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Essilor signs eight other new partnerships
Before reporting yesterday on its acquisition of a 50 percent stake in Polycore Optical, Essilor International announced eight other new deals to acquire stakes in operations in the U.S., Brazil, South Africa, India and Asia representing a combined value of around €30 million in annual revenues.In the sun lenses segment, ...
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New head for Oakley Europe
We understand that another Frenchman, Olivier Cantet, has taken the place of Frank Heissat as vice president and general manager of Oakley for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who has left the company after three years to run a French sportswear brand, Le Coq Sportif. Like Heissat, Cantet ...
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Italia Independent floats on the Milan stock exchange
After its successful launch a few days ago on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the Milan Stock Exchange, Italia Independent is already targeting its quotation on the main counter of the Italian Bourse 18 months from now, provided it continues to perform well. The chances look good as the ...
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Optrafair London is filling quickly
The organizers of the first London edition of the British Optrafair show, due to take place in the Kensington Olympia convention center on Apr. 11-13, 2014, hope to attract a greater number of overseas visitors to the event than in the last few years, when it was staged only in ...
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Sport helps Optometry Giving Sight
Associating donations to aid the visually impaired with sport can be an effective fund-raising strategy. For example, at a unique event held at the Wimbledon tennis tournament in London on Sunday, June 23, Walter F. Hester III, founder and chief executive of Maui Jim Sunglasses, handed over a check for ...
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Rodenstock's Ebitda rises by 11%
Rodenstock registered a sales increase of 6 percent to €387 million for the 2012 financial year, despite a challenging and competitive environment, thanks to the strong demand for its products in emerging markets. The German manufacturer of spectacle lenses and frames also saw its operating profit before amortization (Ebitda) increase by ...
