The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
PARIS, France — Ray-Ban sunglasses maker EssilorLuxottica SA is nearing a deal to buy Dutch eyewear retailer GrandVision NV, people familiar with the matter said.
The Franco-Italian company and GrandVision’s controlling shareholder, HAL, could reach an agreement as early as this week, said the people, asking not to be identified because the deliberations are private. Talks could still be delayed or fall apart, they said.
EssilorLuxottica is scheduled to report its financial results on Wednesday. Representatives for EssilorLuxottica, GrandVision and HAL declined to comment.
The companies have been in discussions about a deal that would value GrandVision at about €7.1 billion ($7.9 billion), or €28 a share, they said in July following a Bloomberg report on the negotiations. After buying HAL’s approximately 77 percent stake in GrandVision, EssilorLuxottica would bid for the rest of the Dutch company’s shares.
ADVERTISEMENT
By adding GrandVision, which sells prescription glasses, contact lenses and other eyecare products, EssilorLuxottica would gain more than 7,000 stores in more than 40 countries. GrandVision operates under retail brands including Brilleland and For Eyes. In addition to its well-known sunglasses labels, including Oakley, EssilorLuxottica owns retail chains including LensCrafters and Pearle Vision.
GrandVision raised about €1 billion in its initial public offering in 2015, plugging the money into expansion plans and valuing the company at about €5 billion at the time.
By Tommaso Ebhardt, Manuel Baigorri and Daniele Lepido, with assistance from Joost Akkermans and Ruben Munsterman; editors: Dinesh Nair, Rebecca Penty, Thomas Mulier and Amy Thomson.
From analysis of the global fashion and beauty industries to career and personal advice, BoF’s founder and CEO, Imran Amed, will be answering your questions on Sunday, February 18, 2024 during London Fashion Week.
The State of Fashion 2024 breaks down the 10 themes that will define the industry in the year ahead.
Imran Amed reviews the most important fashion stories of the year and shares his predictions on what this means for the industry in 2024.
After three days of inspiring talks, guests closed out BoF’s gathering for big thinkers with a black tie gala followed by an intimate performance from Rita Ora — guest starring Billy Porter.