MyOptique Group acquired by Essilor International

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Aug 17, 2016

London-based online optical retailer MyOptique Group has entered into an agreement to be acquired by France's Essilor International, it announced on Wednesday.

MyOptique is a major online player with products across all eyewear categories including prescription glasses, contact lenses and sunglasses. It operates six retail brands (Glasses Direct, SunglassesShop, LensOn, Lensbest, Eyewearbrands and Netzoptiker) and has enjoyed double-digit growth over the last eight years.

Following the transaction, the management of MyOptique will remain in place. The deal will help the e-tailer leverage Essilor’s global supply chain and collaborate with operating businesses to improve the reach and effectivness of its business across Europe.

“This transaction represents a major milestone for the MyOptique Group,” said Kevin Cornils, CEO. “Our new ownership provides a tremendous platform from which to continue to build a very successful business on our proven multi-category, multi-brand model. My management team and I are delighted by the opportunity afforded from becoming part of the Essilor family.”

“The strong success of MyOptique in the European marketplace owes so much to its entrepreneurial founders, its smart and supportive investors and its visionary and talented management team led by Kevin Cornils. The business has achieved pan European scale, is growing fast and had a number of strategic options for its next stage. Joining Essilor, the world leader in ophthalmic optics, was by far the most compelling one,” said Maurice Helfgott, Chairman of MyOptique.

The company has an operations centre in Swindon, Wiltshire, and offices in Stockholm, Sweden and Kiel, Germany.