Essillux enters Romania, acquires Optical Investment

(ANSA) - MILAN, 30 LUG - EssilorLuxottica is entering optical retail in Romania by acquiring Optical Investment Group, a leading player in the country from Innova/6, a private equity fund of Innova Capital Group, and a group of individual minority shareholders. The deal, the financial terms of which are not disclosed, "will allow us to further strengthen our retail presence in the CEE region, growing the local market and supporting the goal of fostering access to quality eye care for the benefit of all our stakeholders," explains chairman and a. d Francesco Milleri.
    Romania, recalls a note from EssilorLuxottica, has 19 million inhabitants, and in the country the group already has "more than 1,800 optical partners and customers, who have always been pillars of the group's strategic vision, to whom it will continue to offer its innovative products." Optical Investment Group, founded in 2019 with the support of Innova Capital, was born from the combination of two optical retail brands, OPTIblu and Optiplaza. "Over the years, Optical Investment Group has significantly consolidated its network of stores and developed its e-commerce channels, thanks to the talents of more than 650 employees and optometrists. Optical Investment Group operates one of the largest optical retail networks in the country, with 99 stores under the OPTIblu, Optiplaza and O51 brands," recalls the note announcing the transaction. "We are happy to welcome Optical Investment Group, a reference company in Romania in the optical market, with an experienced management and a deep knowledge of the dynamics of the sector in the country," Essilux chairman Francesco Milleri stressed, commenting on the deal, which is expected to close in the last quarter of 2024, after the green light from the relevant regulatory authorities.
    (ANSA).