PPG Ind. selling Transitions Optical to Essilor Intl. for $1.73B
Essilor also acquires PPG's optical sun lens business; PPG to continue to supplying optical dyes and R&D services.
PITTSBURGH – PPG Industries Inc. will sell its majority stake in lens supplier Transitions Optical to Essilor International for about $1.73 billion in cash.
Essilor will also acquire PPG’s optical sun lens business, and PPG will continue to supply optical dyes and research and development services.
PPG Industries makes paints and coatings for autos, aircraft and other industries. The Pittsburgh company owns a 51% stake in Transitions Optical, while Essilor holds a 49%. It plans to use proceeds from the deal on acquisitions and share repurchases, which it will resume doing after suspending buybacks earlier this year.
Transitions Optical supplies photochromic lenses and had about $800 million in revenue last year. Essilor designs and makes a range of lenses to improve and protect eyesight.
The companies expect the deal to close in the first half of next year, if regulators approve it.
©The Canadian Press