The latest news, analysis and data on corporate strategic initiatives, the latest mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, insolvencies and cooperations in the eyewear industry.
Jimmy Fairly to boost international business under new ownership
The vertically integrated French eyewear brand Jimmy Fairly is changing hands after its founders, Antonin Chartier and Sacha Bostoni, and the investment fund Experienced Capital, their main financial partner since 2017, agreed to sell a majority stake of the company to the HLD investment fund. Experienced Capital will exit the ...
Essilux opens smart eyewear innovation center in France
EssilorLuxottica announced earlier this week the creation of a smart eyewear innovation center in France. Located at the group’s production site in Dijon, the new Smart Eyewear Technologies Center aims at reinforcing the company’s expertise and expanding its capabilities in electrochromic – electronically-powered and automated change of the tint of ...
Kering Eyewear acquires Lindberg
Kering Eyewear, an entity of the French luxury group Kering, announced on July 8 the acquisition from the Lindberg family of 100 percent of the share capital of LINDBERG, the Danish-based independent eyewear company. The details of the transaction, which is expected to complete later this year after regulatory clearance, ...
GLCO to boost DTC under new ownership
Garret Leight Califiornia Optical (GLCO), the Los Angeles-based eyewear brand, has announced a strategic investment by The Untitled Group, an investment company specializing in consumer brands based in New York. According to the terms of the agreement, Untitled is investing $20 million in exchange for a majority share in the ...
Essilux-GV: transaction closed
As expected since EssilorLuxottica’s previous announcement two days ago, the group completed on July 1 the acquisition of HAL’s 76.72 percent stake in GrandVision at the price of €28.42 per share agreed in July 2019. The transaction will amount to a payment of approximatively €5.5 billion and the Italo-French group ...
Safilo to launch €135m capital increase
The board of directors of Safilo has decided to propose a share capital increase of up to €135 million, the company announced on June 30. The group said that the main objectives of the capital increase were the reimbursement of a shareholder loan to Multibrands, a subsidiary of HAL Holding, ...
Fashion-focused Mondottica upbeat about post-Covid rebound
Mondottica International, the eyewear company specializing in licensed eyewear, is preparing for the launch of its first Vivienne Westwood eyewear collections in the second half of the year. The new license is the first addition to the Hong Kong-based company’s portfolio since the departure of Michael Jardine, founder and former ...
Essilux to close GV acquisition
EssilorLuxottica announced yesterday that its board of directors has approved the completion of the acquisition of HAL’s 76.72 percent stake in GrandVision at the price of €28.42 per share that was initially agreed on July 2019.
Mister Spex, Warby Parker: omnichannel retail going public
In a press release dated June 22, Mister Spex’ announced that its floatation at the Frankfurt stock exchange was scheduled for next week, July 2. The company set a price of between €23 and €27 for its initial public offering (IPO), corresponding to a valuation of up to €895 million. ...
Essilux free to terminate GV deal following arbitral decision
Just half an hour apart, EssilorLuxottica and GrandVision both announced yesterday evening that the arbitration proceedings between them ended with a decision favorable to the Italo-French group. The arbitral tribunal declared by majority that GrandVision had breached its obligations under the Support Agreement for the sale of HAL’s 76.72 percent ...