King & Wood Mallesons has advised The Hilsinger Company (Hilco), a portfolio company of U.S. based private equity-fund Blue Point Capital Partners (Blue Point) on the acquisition of Breitfeld & Schlieckert GmbH (B&S) and LEXXOO International GmbH (LEXXOO) from EyeConomics Investments GmbH (EyeConomics). Part of the transaction was also the acquisition of the Hong Kong and Shanghai operations of B&S and certain other assets.

Hilco is a leading supplier of smart optical solutions to independent eye care professionals and optical chains. Serving over 25,000 customers globally, Hilco supplies more than 20,000 products in a broad range of categories, including prescription protective eyewear, consumer and professional optical accessories, and ophthalmic products. Hilco is headquartered in Plainville, U.S.A., and has additional operations in North America, Europe and Australia. Blue Point acquired Hilco in 2014 and follows its growth strategy by this add-on acquisition.

B&S, founded in 1927 and based in Karben, Germany, is a well-known provider of eye-care products ranging from instruments and machines to accessories for opticians. LEXXOO is a leading international producer and distributor of eye care-accessories, in particular sun glasses, reading glasses and contact lenses. The main customers of B&S and Lexxoo are large supermarkets and discounters, drug stores, gas stations, as well as opticians.

This cross-border transaction was led by Frankfurt partner Michael Cziesla and associate Norman Wasse, supported by partners, counsels and associates from different practice areas within the KWM offices in Frankfurt, Munich, London, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Baker & Hostetler LLP advised on US legal aspects of the transaction.
Advisors to The Hilsinger Company
King & Wood Mallesons, Germany

Michael Cziesla (partner), Norman Wasse (associate, Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt),

Barbara Geck (partner), Franziska Fiedler (associate, both Employment, Frankfurt),

Lars Reubekeul (partner), Florian Biesalski (counsel, both Real Estate, Munich),

Manuela Finger (partner), Miriam Siegle (associate, both IP and Commercial, Frankfurt),

Markus Hill (partner, Tax, Frankfurt),

Clemens Niedner (partner), Michael Beyer (associate, both Banking and Finance, Frankfurt),

Tilman Siebert (partner), Helge Aulmann (associate, both Competition, Munich).
King & Wood Mallesons, UK

Mark Sanders (partner), Dominique Manguiat (associate, both Corporate/M&A, London)
King & Wood Mallesons, Hong Kong

Raymond Wong (partner), Pulcheria Chung (associate), Amy Chen (associate, all Corporate, Hong Kong)
King & Wood Mallesons, China

Mark Schaub (partner, Corporate/M&A, Shanghai)