Fielmann drives international expansion, enters Slovenian market / Acquisition of Slovenian market leader Optika Clarus part of Vision 2025

Hamburg (ots) - Fielmann AG acquires a 70% equity ownership stake
in Optika Clarus, thereby adding the 14th European market in which
the Group operates stores. The transaction is effective as of
September 1, 2019. Both parties agreed to keep the financial terms of
the transaction confidential.

With 26 optical stores and a unit market share of 30% Optika
Clarus is the undisputed market leader in Slovenia. Within the
Fielmann Group Slovenia is the country with the highest purchasing
power (GDP per capita: 22.000 EUR) east of the Group's Core Markets.

"Fielmann shapes the optical industry in Europe to the benefit of
customers. With Optika Clarus we not only invest in the Slovenian
market leader but also in a strictly customer-oriented business. With
fashionable eyewear at the best prices, outstanding service and our
digital capabilities we will transform the market to the benefit of
Slovenian customers. In the long-term we plan to sell more than
100.000 glasses in Slovenia. This is a decisive step in our
internationalisation as defined in the Vision 2025", says Marc
Fielmann, CEO of Fielmann AG. "Until 2025 Fielmann is going to enter
another four new markets through organic expansion and acquisitions."

Tihomir Krstic, founder of Optika Clarus, retains a 30% equity
stake and remains involved in the business: "The digitisation and the
internationalisation are the two key developments affecting our
industry. With Fielmann Optika Clarus not only gains access to an
international supply chain and a superior omnichannel business model
but also wins a family business with values as a strategic partner. I
am looking forward to growing Optika Clarus' market leadership in
Slovenia together with Fielmann." In 2019 Optika Clarus plans to open
two new stores in Slovenia. In the mid-term the company plans to
operate more than 30 stores across Slovenia.

About Fielmann AG

Fielmann stands for fashionable eyewear at fair prices. The
stock-listed family business operates 742 stores, serves more than 24
million customers across 14 countries. In Germany the company sells
every second pair. Fielmann covers the whole value chain of the
optical industry, is designer, manufacturer and optical retailer.

About Optika Clarus

In 1989 Tihomir Krstic founded his first optical store with a
special focus on children. Through fashionable, high-quality eyewear
Optika Clarus became the market leader in Slovenia. Today Optika
Clarus delivers services at the highest level to 250,000 customers in
26 stores across Slovenia.

Further information:
Ulrike Abratis, Head of Communications & PR,
Telephone: +49 40/270 76 - 457
Ulrich Brockmann, Head of Investor Relations,
Telephone: +49 40/270 76 - 442

Original-Content von: Fielmann AG, übermittelt durch news aktuell