EssilorLuxottica CEO says Meta would be welcome as shareholder

MILAN (Reuters) – The head of eyewear company EssilorLuxottica said he would welcome Meta as a shareholder after media reports that the U.S. tech company planned to take a small stake in the group.

Speaking in a post-earnings call, CEO Francesco Milleri said he had been informed of the potential Meta investment but added that the Ray-Ban maker did not plan a capital increase in order to bring Meta on board.

“We are proud that the company that know us very well now after years of partnership is convinced that our company, our group, can grow,” Milleri told analysts.

“We have no plan for a capital increase dedicated to Meta,” he added, saying any share purchase would have to be made on the market.

The two groups already have a partnership for smart glasses and Milleri said the relationship was really strong and it would be a long-term one.

(Reporting by Elisa Anzolin; Writing by Keith Weir)