Rodenstock to sell its eyewear business to De Rigo advancing on its transformation to become a leading lenses Med-Tech company

Munich, December 12th, 2022 – The Rodenstock Group, a global leader in eye health innovation and manufacturer of biometric, ophthalmic lenses, has reached an agreement to sell its eyewear business to De Rigo, a family-owned global market leader in the design, production, and distribution of high-quality eyewear. The transaction is expected to be completed towards the end of second quarter of 2023.

Rodenstock has been a global leader in prescription lenses for over 140 years, with a strong track record of innovative product development. With the introduction of B.I.G. VISION™ for all in 2020 and the launch of its B.I.G. NORM™ technology in early 2022, Rodenstock reinforced its capabilities in developing market leading technologies and setting benchmarks in the industry.

Having carefully examined different options, the Rodenstock management is taking the strategic decision to sell the eyewear business, thereby achieving another major step on its transformational path to become a leading Med-Tech company in vision care. Rodenstock will continue to invest in its R&D capabilities as well as product and service portfolio to best meet its customer’s needs, and further strengthen its leadership position in biometric lenses.

Rodenstock and De Rigo are trusted, long-standing business partners sharing a unique promise of quality and a strong heritage as family businesses. De Rigo is ideally positioned to further drive the development of the eyewear business and strengthen its brands Rodenstock Eyewear and Porsche Design Eyewear. Both companies will closely work together to ensure a smooth transition and business continuity for employees, customers, and business partners.

Anders Hedegaard, CEO of Rodenstock, said: “This strategic move serves our overarching goal of continuing Rodenstock’s growth as a Med-Tech company through innovation, commercial execution, and digitalization. Rodenstock’s strong and growing pipeline of innovation and the ability to reinvent itself and thus drive the industry transformation is and has always been our biggest asset combined with the highest level of service for our customers and partners.”

Marcus Desimoni, CFO of Rodenstock, adds: “The clear focus on our B.I.G. Vision glasses and our lens business will allow Rodenstock to continue its financial growth path. Additionally, we ensure that Rodenstock Eyewear and Porsche Design Eyewear are enabled for future growth by giving them in the hand of De Rigo, a world leader in the eyewear business. With De Rigo, we have found a buyer that will ensure business continuity for our eyewear business, and we look forward to our continued collaboration.”

Maurizio Dessolis, Executive Vice Chairman of De Rigo Vision, commented: “We are delighted to complement our portfolio of premium products with the prestigious Rodenstock Eyewear and Porsche Design Eyewear brands, building a new champion in the eyewear business. Rodenstock and De Rigo are trusted partners, and we look forward to expanding this partnership in the future and to support the continued growth of the eyewear business.”


About Rodenstock:
The Rodenstock Group is a worldwide leading manufacturer of high-quality ophthalmic lenses. With the philosophy "B.I.G. VISION™ FOR ALL” the lens manufacturer stands for a paradigm shift in individual progressive lenses. The company, which was founded in 1877 with its headquarters in Munich, Germany, employs around 5,100 people worldwide and is represented with sales offices and distribution partners in more than 85 countries. Rodenstock maintains production plants at 14 locations in 13 countries. For more information, visit www.rodenstock.de/presse.

About De Rigo:
De Rigo is at the helm of a world-leading group in the design, manufacture and distribution of high-end prescription glasses and sunglasses. The Group is one of the most important players in the field of optics retail thanks to the chains owned by General Optica (Spain), Mais Optica (Portugal), Opmar Optik (Turkey) and the subsidiary Boots Opticians (UK). Thanks to the extensive wholesale network managed by De Rigo Vision S.p.A., the Group’s products are distributed in approximately 80 countries, mainly in Europe, Asia and the Americas, through 18 companies and over 100 independent distributors. Today, the Group is present in all the most important markets in the world with its brands Lozza, Police, Sting and Yalea and with the licenses Aramis, Blumarine, Chopard, Diff Eyewear, Escada, Fila, Furla, Gap, John Varvatos, Jones New York, Just Cavalli, Lucky Brand, Mulberry, Nina Ricci, Philipp Plein, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini, Roberto Cavalli, Tous, Trussardi, TUMI, Victor Hugo, Zadig&Voltaire. For more information, please visit www.derigo.com.