Global law firm Clifford Chance has advised investment firm 3i Group plc, investment entities managed by 3i and the other shareholders of nexeye, a leading European value-for-money optical platform, on the intended sale of the company to investment funds and accounts managed by KKR. KKR’s investment enables nexeye to further accelerate its ambitions to expand its optical and hearing care services within existing and new markets, with a continued focus on customer service, product quality and innovation.
Under 3i’s ownership, nexeye has pursued a strategy focused on market expansion and championing a value-for-money offering for customers. nexeye operates under the Hans Anders, eyes + more and Direkt Optik labels and with its 3,500 employees provides affordable, high-quality eye and hearing care to customers across 719 stores in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Sweden.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
The Clifford Chance deal team was led by Tim Heerschop and Gregory Crookes, and furthermore consisted of Femke Buijs, Bruno Weisser Lopez, Dolyne Munyampeta and Bart Stuyfzand (Corporate M&A). The wider cross-border team consisted of Nancy Stoke, Hannah Van Dik (Corporate M&A), Jelle Hofland, Boudewijn Vermeer, Tyson Reid, Samuel Van Eijnatten, Menno Postma (Global Financial Markets), Floris van de Bult, Astrid Van Ommeren, Merle van den Berg, Iga Mamczarz, Marte Schaaf (Employment), Wijnanda Rutten (Pensions), Jurre Juriens, Forn Michael (Antitrust), Liesbeth Buiter, Lotte De Bruin, Mariam Al-Zubaidy, Kris Soomers (Real Estate), Andrei Mikes, Laura Bredschneijder (Tech//Digital, Michiel Sunderman, Stern Flik, Alec Sanderson, Cile Arnoldy (Tax) and Sabrina Spoor (Notary) in Amsterdam, Thomas Krecek, Vera Burdenski (Corporate M&A), Stefan Simon, Christopher Fischer, Anjuli Roesler (Employment), Lancelot Arenberg, Sabrina Fornataro, Chloé Petit (Real Estate), Holger Lutz and Michael Kümmel (Tech//Digital) in Frankfurt, and Niek De Pauw, Louis De Meulemeester, Valerie Pauwels (Corporate M&A), Gert Cuppens (Employment), Ruben Vermang (Real Estate), Yonathan Tison (Global Financial Markets) in Brussels.