Luxottica Group Spa

The eyewear maker said it expected to close its proposed merger with Essilor by mid-2018, while forecasting steady growth in its own sales and profits for the year.

The merger of Luxottica and Essilor is good for both sides — especially Luxottica and its 81-year-old founder Leonardo Del Vecchio.

Luxottica, the maker of Ray-Ban sunglasses, has accuses BCBG Max Azria of knowingly infringing its famous Wayfarer trademark.