The holding company could acquire a 4-5% stake, strengthening its collaboration in the smart glasses sector.
According to a rumor reported by the French broadcaster Bfm Business, Meta, Mark Zuckerberg’s holding company, may acquire a 4-5% stake in EssilorLuxottica, investing approximately 5 billion euros. This news has not yet been officially confirmed, and discussions also involve the possible assignment of a seat on EssilorLuxottica's Board of Directors to Meta.
Meanwhile, in Paris, EssilorLuxottica shares rose by as much as 3.3% to 224.2 euros, marking a new all-time high for the group, whose market capitalization now exceeds 100 billion euros—a significant milestone that fulfills one of founder Leonardo Del Vecchio’s objectives.
Francesco Milleri, chairman and CEO of the group, recently told the Financial Times that EssilorLuxottica, with Meta’s support, aims to become a leader in the wearable computing sector. The goal is to develop innovative technologies applied to eyewear that could one day replace smartphones, much like streaming services have replaced CDs.
Meta and EssilorLuxottica have been collaborating since 2018 and have launched two generations of smart Ray-Bans. The second generation, released in 2023, has already surpassed the sales of the first. Last September, Zuckerberg also hinted at his interest in strengthening ties with EssilorLuxottica through an investment, reiterating the vision of a long-term partnership between the two companies.