23/03/2021 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 23 March, the European Commission approved the acquisition of GrandVision by EssilorLuxottica. This authorisation is subject to full compliance with the commitments proposed by EssilorLuxottica. EssilorLuxottica (optical products) could have reduced the access of competing opticians to EssilorLuxottica branded eyewear in Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands, thereby reducing choice and increasing the price of eyewear for consumers in these countries. EssilorLuxottica has proposed several measures: - in Belgium, the GrandOptical chain and its 35 stores will be sold, but without the brand name; - in Italy, the merged entity will divest a total of 174 stores, including all of EssilorLuxottica’s VistaSi chain and 72 stores of the GrandVision chain; - in the Netherlands, 142 stores of the EyeWish chain will be sold with the brand. See the European Commission’s press release: https://bit.ly/398qAkN (LC)