REM to absorb De Rigo’s U.S. headquarters in Florida.
De Rigo Vision, an Italian eywear maker and distributor, has agreed to acquire REM Eyewear of Los Angeles, one of the biggest eyewear distributors in the U.S.
De Rigo says the acquisition is part of its plan for further international expansion as it aims to reinforce its distribution platform in the American market. REM will continue to operate as usual from its Los Angeles-area headquarters and will soon absorb De Rigo’s U.S. headquarters operations located in Florida, according to the release announcing the deal.
The consolidation of the American sales structure into a single organization under the new name De Rigo REM “will permit the creation of a vast sales network qualified to take advantage of opportunities for growth on the American market for the varied portfolio of De Rigo brands sold through the distribution channel of American opticians,” the release says. The acquisition also adds American brands such as Converse, John Varvatos, Lucky Brand, Jones New York and Jonathan Adler to the De Rigo’s portfolio.
“I’m proud to announce this agreement with REM, with whom we share the attitude of a family-run business: one of the keys to our companies’ success,” says De Rigo Group founder and Chairman Ennio De Rigo. “The union of the enterprising spirit of Mike Hundert and Donna Gindy’s company with our group will strengthen De Rigo Vision’s global distribution system.”
Commenting on the deal, now 90-year-old Chairman Gerry Hundert says: “The alliance between REM and De Rigo Vision crowns 45 years of hard work, guaranteeing the future of our company and the professional development of our employees in the cultural context of a family-run company that has always characterized our way of doing things.”
Hundert and Gindy, along with the company’s present leadership, including President Steve Horowitz and Vice President Keith Kamalich, will continue to lead the new company, De Rigo REM.