Why the $49 billion merger of eyewear giants Luxottica and Essilor worries some antitrust experts
May 18, 2019 at 07:00 AM EDT
Since its founding in 1961, Luxottica has transformed glasses from a necessary medical device to a fashion statement. It owns several popular brands, like Ray-Ban and Oakley, manufactures frames for dozens of luxury fashion houses, owns several glasses retail chains, and even operates the vision insurance company EyeMed. And in 2017, Luxottica announced a merger with Essilor, a French lenses manufacturer, leading some experts to question whether it has too much power.