“I can’t thank Henry-Louis, Louis and Anne-Claire enough for their trust and confidence in our group. They helped transition us into a global leader and delivered a successful outcome for the whole team.”

Marc Abitbol, Founder and CEO, Luneau Technology

Luneau Technology

luneautech.com
Partnership to deliver international acquisitive growth.

The business

Global leader in ophthalmological diagnostic equipment, refractive optometry equipment and wider equipment for opticians. 

The deal

Luneau Technology is a recognised innovator in ophthalmic technology. Founded in 1994 by Marc Abitbol, the Group grew rapidly with the launch of cutting-edge products and following successful acquisitions, including some companies which were larger than itself. In 2014, Luneau Technology was looking for a partner to continue its international growth.  We built a strong relationship with Marc who was particularly impressed by our partnership approach and our international credentials. During our four-year partnership, we completed three acquisitions in France, the US and China to cement its position as the global leader. 

The exit

MML successfully exited its investment in Luneau Technology in 2019 to Caravelle, a family office.

Fund
Partnership Capital
Region
Europe
Deal Status
Realised
Sector
Healthcare

Catch up with Founder and CEO, Marc Abitbol, two years post exit.

What motivated you to found Luneau Technology?

After completing a PhD in Optics, I started Visionix in 1994 which launched the first wavefront product for ophthalmic diagnosis. In 2003, Visionix acquired Luneau Technology and more than doubled its size. Today we are proud to say that over 80,000 ophthalmic professionals use Luneau Technology devices worldwide.

What makes Luneau Technology unique?

Luneau Technology is all about innovation, developing break-through solutions for eye diagnosis. We recently launched the VX650 device which is the first and only multi-modal solution for early detection and follow-up of major anterior and posterior ocular pathologies in a single device. Our "new frontier" is the telehealth challenge: addressing the issue of doctor shortage in remote areas and providing access to eye diagnosis for everyone.

Why did you choose to partner with MML in 2014?

I thought Henry-Louis and his team were the right cultural fit for Luneau Technology and they gave me confidence they could help us deliver our strategic objectives. Luneau Technology generates more than 85% of its revenues outside of France and is distributed in 150 countries so it made sense to choose a partner who were culturally aligned and had the international credentials to support our growth.

How would you describe the partnership with MML?

It was an exciting journey with important milestones including acquisitions in the US, Asia and Europe. We had a rich and informal working relationship. The MML team are commercial, strategic and always available to brainstorm when required. They were strong strategic partners throughout the journey.

Related news

Transformation of Luneau Technology delivers MML a return of 2.1x
MML has successfully exited its investment in Luneau Technology, a global leader in ophthalmological diagnostic equipment, refractive optometry equipment and equipment for opticians. The Group directly operates in 11 countries, with partners in more than 75 countries, selling its products worldwide.
MML backed Luneau Technology makes a strategic investment in Chinese partner Ming Sing Optical
Luneau Technology Group (Luneau Tech), one of the global leading players in the optical medical equipment market (optometric and edging products) has finalised a strategic investment in Chinese partner Ming Sing Optical (MSOC).
MML backed Luneau acquires the French assets of Haag Streit
MML backed Luneau Technology Group (Luneau), led by CEO Dr Marc Abitbol, has acquired the French assets of Haag Streit further consolidating Luneau’s position as a leading player in the visual healthcare and ophthalmology markets.
A new step for Luneau Technology
MML Capital Partners has invested into The Luneau Technology Group (“Luneau”). Luneau is a world leader in the supply of diagnostic equipment, analysis and testing in ophthalmology, refractive optometry equipment and cutting equipment and mounting opticians. Luneau operates in 9 countries, and sells into over 100.

Associated deal team

Henry-Louis Merieux

Managing Partner (France)
Europe

Louis De Montille

Partner
Europe

Anne-Claire Lainé

Investment Director
Europe

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