Kering Eyewear is set to acquire 100% of the share capital of the French company UNT, Usinage & Nouvelles Technologies, to strengthen its position in the luxury eyewear industry.
Founded in 1989 in eastern France, UNT is a described as a key player in the manufacture of high-precision metal and mechanical components for luxury eyewear brands, and has been a long-term supplier of Kering Eyewear.
Kering Eyewear, founded in 2014, itself is a major global player in the luxury segment. It is a division of the Kering Group and is responsible for 17 eyewear brands, including LINDBERG, Maui Jim (read more here about this acquisition), ZEAL Optics, as well as the houses brands Gucci, Cartier, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga and more. Many Kering brands are supplied in Australia through Sunshades Eyewear.
UNT is located in the Upper-Jura, a region renowned for being the historical eyewear district in France and for its micro technical savoir-faire. With its integrated engineering department and state-of-the-art 3,000 sqm facility, UNT has a strong reputation in the luxury eyewear industry.
According to a statement, in addition to the acquisition of Manufacture Kering Eyewear in 2017 (previously Manufacture Cartier Lunettes) and the stake held in Trenti Industria Occhiali since 2019, the transaction represents another step in the industrial development strategy of Kering Eyewear.
UNT has been a longstanding business partner of Manufacture Kering Eyewear, providing many components over the years.
Mr Roberto Vedovotto, president and CEO of Kering Eyewear, was pleased to welcome UNT into the Kering Eyewear business.
“I truly admire the outstanding job that UNT has carried out so far and we are excited to embark on this new journey with a trusted and deeply valued partner,” he said.
“Being a long-term, high-quality supplier of Manufacture Kering Eyewear, this new acquisition represents the opportunity to create an integrated luxury eyewear platform with best-in-class manufacturing capabilities, facilities and talents, in addition to supporting and further elevating the Jura district.”
The transaction is subject to the clearance by the relevant competition authorities and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2023.
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