EssilorLuxottica stock in focus after EUR30 billion Delfin bid

EssilorLuxottica stock moved into focus after Czech billionaire Michal Strnad offered EUR 30 billion for Delfin, the investment vehicle of the Del Vecchio family and a key shareholder in the eyewear group. Reuters reported the approach on Thursday, October 29, citing two people close to the matter and a letter dated October 20.

Strnad is seeking to acquire the Luxembourg-based holding company, which owns a major stake in EssilorLuxottica as well as positions in Italian insurer Generali and lenders Monte dei Paschi di Siena and UniCredit. Reuters put the combined current market value of those holdings at EUR 43 billion.

Offer meets family ownership hurdle

The proposal comes as tensions among Delfin's owners have increased. The company's capital is divided equally among eight heirs of Luxottica founder Leonardo Del Vecchio: his six children, his widow Nicoletta Zampillo and her son from a previous marriage.

That structure makes a sale difficult. Reuters reported that a transaction would require a virtually unanimous decision by the heirs, who have taken increasingly different positions over the future of the holding company. The report did not indicate that shareholders had approved the offer.

Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, one of the heirs, said the work built by his father must remain part of Italy's heritage. His response signals resistance to transferring control of the family investment vehicle to a foreign buyer and adds a political and governance dimension to the proposal.

Implications for EssilorLuxottica

A change in control at Delfin would not by itself change EssilorLuxottica's operations, but it could alter the shareholder structure around one of the group's most influential investors. For shareholders, the immediate issue is therefore the approval process rather than a confirmed transaction.

EssilorLuxottica stock traded at 186.98 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 09:37 CET on Monday, November 2, 2026. Investors can follow the real-time quote of EssilorLuxottica stock.

Broader market sentiment can be followed through the CAC 40 market reports.

Further developments will depend on the heirs' response and on whether the offer leads to negotiations over Delfin's ownership structure. Read more news and analyses on EssilorLuxottica stock.