Thélios, the eyewear entity of the LVMH group, announced on Tuesday the acquisition of the French brand Vuarnet from the British investment fund NEO Investment Partners. This is the first acquisition of Thélios which, until now, managed the design, production and distribution of sunglasses and optical frames for the brands of the LVMH group (Dior, Fendi, Celine, Givenchy, Loewe, Stella McCartney, Kenzo, Berluti and Fred). The transaction amount was not sent. “Thanks to its unique positioning at the crossroads of outdoor and fashion, Vuarnet will perfectly complement the portfolio of LVMH Maisons under license”, according to a press release from Thélios.
“Vuarnet is a legendary brand, with a remarkable history that deserves to be preserved and perpetrated. Its iconic design, its unparalleled know-how in mineral lenses and its recognized values of innovation, performance and elegance correspond perfectly to our philosophy and our positioning”, declares the CEO of Thélios Alessandro Zanardo quoted in the press release. . “This alliance will guarantee Vuarnet access to Thélios’ resources, particularly in terms of research and development and technical expertise. Vuarnet will also benefit from the global presence of Thélios, thus promoting the brand’s growth and global expansion.
The Vuarnet brand was founded in 1957 by Roger Pouilloux, an optician, and Jean Vuarnet, a French alpine skier and Olympic gold medalist in 1960. “It is one of the rare brands to produce its own mineral lenses”, underlines the press release. Its production site located in Meaux (Seine-et-Marne) has been declared a “Living Heritage Company”, a label awarded by the Ministry of the Economy to French craft and industrial companies “with rare and exceptional know-how”. .
