23 August 2023
Translink Corporate Finance in the UK and Translink Corporate Finance in Spain acted as the advisors to CECOP, a leading global purchasing group for opticians, on the acquisition of National Eyecare Group (NEG).
Founded in 1979, NEG is the UK’s largest purchasing group dedicated to supporting independent opticians with over 1000 members.
The transaction included Optinet, a subsidiary of NEG that has developed a bespoke practice management software solution for opticians providing CECOP with the digital tools to facilitate the digital transformation of the industry.
The NEG acquisition represents a platform acquisition for CECOP in the UK and is the seventh transaction Translink has supported CECOP with in the last three years, having previously advised on three acquisitions in the USA, two in Germany and one in France.
CECOP CEO, Jorge Rubio, said: “For the whole family of CECOP, it is a pleasure to welcome NEG into the fold. With this important step, we become a reality in the biggest market in Europe and the Americas.
Our aim has always been to unite the best independent eyecare practitioners in the world, and to share knowledge between different countries, to improve the sector and bring enhanced eye health care solutions to patients.”
The cross-border Translink Corporate Finance team was led by Don Gray and Matt Scott in the UK with support from Oscar Llaudet in Spain.
Don Gray, Partner at Translink Corporate Finance in the UK, said “It was a pleasure to have advised Jorge Rubio and the CECOP team on their strategic acquisition of National Eyecare Group.
“Our international colleagues have completed several significant deals for CECOP over recent years and we’re delighted to have successfully advised them on a transaction that is a milestone moment in their strategic move to the UK.
“We look forward to seeing CECOP continue to build on their success in the UK and develop their fantastic reputation within the healthcare sector.”
Jorge Rubio added: “At the time when the seller and the buyer were in a ‘no-dating’ way, the support of the Translink team achieved a win-win deal”.
CONTACT OUR TEAM MEMBERS ADVISING IN THIS TRANSACTION:
ABOUT TRANSLINK CORPORATE FINANCE
Translink Corporate Finance is an independent partnership of firms dedicated to Corporate Finance and M&A advisory services through over 35 offices in the key markets in Europe, North and South America, Asia, Australia, and Africa. Translink has been successful in advising clients on thousands of transactions since its founding in 1972 and Translink offices have acted as advisers in over 100 M&A projects during the last twelve months.
ABOUT TRANSLINK CORPORATE FINANCE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
Translink Corporate Finance in the UK has 7 offices in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Leicester, London, Nottingham and Sheffield. The highly experienced team comprises of 30 M&A professionals, including 10 partners has a successful track-record of completing domestic and international M&A transactions across a variety of sectors.
ABOUT TRANSLINK CORPORATE FINANCE IN SPAIN
Translink Corporate Finance Spain is situated in one of the most beautiful and entrepreneurial cities in the Mediterranean, Barcelona. Its five partners bring more than 150 years of combined experience in M&A, having successfully advised over 300 transactions in a variety of sectors including packaging, IT, food, industry, logistics, agribusiness, pharmaceutical and retail, among others.
