The all cash transaction taking New Look Vision Group private announced on March 18th was finalized on June 6th.  Under the deal, FFL Partners (FFL), a San Francisco-based private equity firm, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), a global investment group, and the Dr. H. Doug Barnes Family acquired all of the outstanding Class A common shares of the Company  for $50.00 in cash per Share.

Shares of New Look Vision were delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) as of  May 28, 2021 end of day,  removing the company from public trading, a move which New Look management referred to as a kind of “freedom day’ for the company.

FFL has a strong track record of investing in and building leading eyecare and optical retail businesses, including Eyemart Express, the second largest independent, value-focused optical retailer in the U.S.; and EyeCare Partners; one of the leading vision care providers and a former portfolio company of FFL.

New Look had previously (2019) entered the US market with the acquisition of twelve Edward Beiner banner stores in Florida, marking the first Canadian-based optical acquisition of significance in the US market.

Strong Q1 Posts Gains over prior quarter
As a backdrop to the acquisition, New Look reported strong financials for the period ending March 31.  Adjusted net earnings increased by 69.3 percent compared to the prior quarter and cash flows related to operating activities reached $16.6 million, an increase of 126.2 percent.

New Look continued to pursue its significant acquisitions in Canada and the U.S., acquired 15 stores in the quarter.

President and CEO Antoine Amiel, stated, “New Look Vision showed remarkable resilience this past quarter and year to overcome unprecedented challenges driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing market headwinds. Despite closures and disruptions in the first half of 2020, New Look Vision continued to execute on its strategy and delivered strong results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.”

Related Posts: 

Dr. Daryan Angle discusses Aquistion with EWO Podcast Host Dr. Glen Chiasson.

View the Full Optik Interview with Antoine Amiel in Optik Magazine

New Look Vision Group Regains its Freedom 


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By store count, Canada’s largest optical and eye care organization, the NEW LOOK VISION GROUP announced plans to take the corporation private and and alleviate the onerous burden of public company reporting. Dr. Daryan Angle, IRIS VP Business Development introduces the new investors and talks about the rational for the move with Eyes Wide Open Podcast host, Dr. Glen Chiasson.

 


About the Guest

Dr. Daryan Angle graduated from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry in 2001. He joined IRIS in 2002 as a practicing optometrist in British Columbia, and shortly thereafter became a franchise partner with IRIS. In 2006 Dr. Angle relocated to Ontario. He currently holds the title of Vice President Business Development and in that role, primarily focuses on buying, partnering and integrating optical stores and optometry practices into the IRIS network.

 


Episode Notes

With over 400 locations and five banners including IRIS, New Look, Vogue, Greiche & Scaff  and Edward Beiner (USA), the New Look Vision Group is the largest optical and eye care entity in Canada.

The New Look group recently announced the company will remove itself from the Toronto Stock Exchange and be taken private through a $50 cash per share purchase by an investor group headed by a US-based private equity firm and the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ).

Dr. Daryan Angle, representing New Look, provides insights to the pros and cons of being a public company and how New Look will benefit from the new structure.

Angle explains why the New Look President & CEO, Antoine Amiel, attributed being a publicly traded company to a “quarterly strip-tease”.

Angle introduces the new equity partners and outlines what they bring to the table. He also delves into what the buy out means for New Look brands, their Eye Care Professional partners and associates, and clients.

Angle, and Eyes Wide Open podcast host, Dr. Glen Chiasson, also discuss the ongoing consolidation of independents into corporate entities and the impact on independent optometry.

Details on the transaction and new equity partners are available from the resources links.

Resources

 

 

Dr. Glen Chiasson

Dr. Glen Chiasson

Dr. Glen Chiasson is a 1995 graduate of the University of Waterloo School of Optometry. He owns and manages two practices in Toronto. In 2009, he co-hosted a podcast produced for colleagues in eye care, the “International Optometry Podcast”. He is a moderator of the Canadian Optometry Group, an email forum for Canadian optometrists. As  a host of  “Eyes Wide Open”, Glenn  looks forward to exploring new new technologies and services for eye care professionals.

Dr. Chiasson enjoys tennis, hockey, and reading. He lives in Toronto with his wife and two sons.

Dr. Chiasson splits EWO podcast hosting duties with Roxanne Arnal.


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