The latest news, analysis and data on corporate strategic initiatives, the latest mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, insolvencies and cooperations in the eyewear industry.
Solstice Sunglasses files for bankruptcy protection
Solstice Marketing Concept LLC, owner of the Solstice Sunglasses retail chain, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week in the Southern District of New York, after its sales nose-dived by more than 50 percent last year from 2019 levels. The company highlighted the impact of the Covid-19 crisis and ...
Essilux to buy 50% of SightGlass Vision from CooperCompanies
EssilorLuxottica will buy a 50 percent stake of SightGlass Vision, which focuses on developing lenses to reduce the progression of myopia in children, from CooperCompanies, the parent company of CooperVision.
GlassesUSA.com raises $45m in funding
GlassesUSA.com has raised $45 million in funding from the Israeli private equity firm Tene Investment Fund.
CooperVision expands manufacturing facilities as demand grows
CooperVision announced the expansion of manufacturing facilities located in North America and Europe due to growing demand for its contact lenses. It also believes that the Covid-19 pandemic will force eye care professionals (ECP) to review their long-term business practices.
Cecop continues aggressive expansion in the U.S.
Cecop, the international buying group based in Madrid, continues its rapid expansion in North America with the acquisition of the Alliance Buying Group (ABG), based in Monmouth, Illinois, from Surgery Partners. No financial details were released.
Fielmann buys Óptica & AudiologÍa Universitaria in Spain
In spite of the Covid-19 pandemic, Fielmann, the German-based optical retailer, keeps expanding, as mapped out in its Vision 2025 strategic plan, with the acquisition of Óptica & AudiologÍa Universitaria, one of the leading retail groups in Spain. The transaction will complete on Dec. 31. The details of the deal ...
TechVision looks to expand one-stop components shop
TechVision, an Italian holding company owning companies producing metal components and providing surface finishing services for eyewear, aims to roughly triple its size in the next three to four years, as the eyewear sector recovers from the hit it has taken from the Covid-19 pandemic and management keeps an eye ...
Manager takes over GemOptics from Mondottica
As part of its strategy to focus on its eyewear distribution business, with licensed brands such as Christian Lacroix, Sergio Tacchini or Pepe Jeans among others, Mondottica International has sold its entire stake in the wholly-owned unit GemOptics to Robert Content, the general manager of the French company.
Inspecs buys Eschenbach for €95 million
Inspecs is buying the German company Eschenbach Holding for €94.85 million (£84.7m), a move that will enable the British eyewear company to obtain greater scale and provide it with the opportunity to acquire bigger global licenses.
Italy’s main buying groups merge
Italy’s two main buying groups, Vision Group and Netcity, will merge on Jan. 1, but will maintain their offices and staff based in Milan and Prato, near Florence.