PPG Industries and Essilor International announced July 29, 2013, the companies have reached an agreement for Essilor to acquire PPG Industries’ 51 percent stake in Transitions Optical. Essilor has held a 49 percent share of Transitions Optical since the joint venture company’s formation.
Commenting on the transaction, Dave Cole, President, Transitions Optical, said: “Since the founding of our business 23 years ago, our parent companies have been key to Transitions Optical’s success. We appreciate PPG’s long investment in and collaboration with our organization. We look forward to a continued strong relationship with PPG as they will be providing ongoing research and development services and optical dyes to Transitions Optical under multi-year agreements with Essilor.
“Essilor has been a collaborative partner with us from the beginning, and this transaction is a continuation and enhancement of a relationship that has brought value to us and to our industry. There are tremendous opportunities to boost expansion of photochromic products, particularly in fast-growing markets.”
According to the news releases from PPG and Essilor, the transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2014, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals. In the interim, Transitions Optical will continue to be a separately managed and operated company. Supply of Transitions lenses to our customers will not be affected by this announcement, and Transitions lenses will continue to be available through other lens manufacturers.
The Transitions Optical leadership team will continue to run the business as usual. Cole said, “We will continue to focus on strengthening our mutually beneficial relationships with all of our valued customers across the optical industry; leveraging the talents of our passionate, talented people; and providing the highest quality photochromic lenses to consumers.”
For more information, visit www.TransitionsPRO.com or contact Transitions Optical Customer Service at (800) 848-1506 (United States) or (877) 254-2590 (Canada).
