Blog

May 9, 2018

Shire Agrees to Acquisition by Takeda Pharmaceutical

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company and Shire announced on Tuesday May 8 that they have reached agreement for Takeda to acquire Shire for $80.5 billion CAD.

Under the terms of the acquisition, each Shire shareholder will be entitled to receive $39.43 in cash for each Shire share and either 0.839 new Takeda shares or 1.678 Takeda ADSs.

The transaction has been approved by both companies’ boards of directors, and is expected to close in the first half of calendar year 2019.

Upon the closing of the transaction, Takeda shareholders will own approximately 50 percent of the combined group.

“Since its inception, Takeda has transformed into an agile, R&D-driven global pharmaceutical company that is well-positioned to deliver innovative and transformative care to patients around the world,” said Christophe Weber, president and chief executive officer of Takeda. “Shire’s highly complementary product portfolio and pipeline, as well as experienced employees, will accelerate our transformation for a stronger Takeda. Together, we will be a leader in providing targeted treatments in gastroenterology, neuroscience, oncology, rare diseases and plasma-derived therapies. We are looking forward to the benefits this combination will bring to patients worldwide, the opportunities it will bring for our employees and the returns it will deliver for our shareholders.”

Read the complete Press Release HERE.

May 9, 2018February 19, 2020

Webinar: Should I Stay or Should I Go? Exit Strategy Considerations for ODs

On Monday June 4th 2018 Canadian Eye Care Business Review hosted a panel discussion entitled: Should I Stay or Should I Go? Exit Strategy Considerations.

Drs. Jeff and Tina Goodhew, independent practitioners from Oakville, Ontario, guide the discussion an expert panel of Canadian Optometric opinion leaders actively involved in optometric practice transactions. Panelists included:

Dr. Daryan Angle – VP Business Development IRIS (Part of the NewLook Vision Group)
Dr. Paul Gray – Director and President of the Member Relations Committee, Optometric Services Inc.
Jackie Joachim, Chief Operating Officer, ROI Corporation
Grant Larsen, CEO, Eye Recommend
Dr. Al Ulsifer, CEO & President, FYi doctors

The webinar provide a comprehensive discussion of factors that indpendent optometric practice owners ought to consider as they approach the important decisions around exiting their practice. Topics covered include planning, use of a business broker, importance of assembling a trusted team of advisors, various valuation methods and the roller-coaster psychological aspects of a sale transaction.

The countries two leading practice aggregators,IRIS and FYi doctors, provided the benefit of their perspectives as did the two leading independent OD networks, Optometric Services Inc. and EyeRecommend.

The webinar is packed with solid practical tips and information: An essential read for any practice owner that has selling their practice even remotely on the horizon.

You may watch the video slide show and audio above, or listen to the audio only from the links below.

May 8, 2018May 3, 2018

Optik Unveils New Brand Identity

VuePoint IDS, publisher of Optik magazine and the InfoClip series of digital newsletters, announces the launch of a refreshed and unified brand concept. The new Optik branding simplifies the media properties and leverages the strength of the flagship brand, Optik.

The former InfoClip e-newsletter brands will be merged under the “Optik” brand. The new look modernizes and simplifies the branding concept using a stylized wide-open eye, which symbolizes the Optik brand’s promise of objectivity and integrity. The familiar “!” in the former logo is replaced by the more digital-friendly and simplified “i”.

Continuity will be maintained through the colour scheme. The former digital media titles will be reflected as a suffix to Optik. InfoClip DotClip and InfoClipXtra will now carry the Optik branding under the names Optik and Optik XTRA. The new website will be rebranded as Optik NOW.

In addition to refreshing the brand image, which has upheld a modern image since its inception in 2006, the new brand positions Optik as a full-spectrum eye care publication, covering a wide array of related topics in both print and digital media.

“In addition to a front-end refresh of the website, major changes have been made to the VuePoint data engine underlying the digital publications. These enhancements will help to deliver targeted content to viewers and in the development of advanced data services to our clients,” said David Pietrobon, President of VuePoint IDS Inc.

The new Optik brand will be revealed on the various publications and social media networks over the next several weeks.

May 4, 2018

AYA Announces Collaboration with Kathy Marianito

AYA Optical unveils an exciting new eyewear collaboration with Navajo master weaver Kathy Marianito. Launching this June, the capsule collection will be available at claudiaalan.com and at select opticians across North America.

Kathy Marianito is a descendant of master weavers, hailing from deep in the desert of the Southwest, amidst the dramatic scenery of Coyote Canyon. Kathy’s work is often sought by collectors and can be found at Nizhoni Ranch Gallery, located in Sonita, Arizona.

Says AYA Optical creator Carla D’Angelo: “AYA is a celebration of Indigenous Art, through collaborations that look to the past and future. I work together with indigenous artists with the goal of making their work less obscure by bringing their art and stories to a wider audience via our eyewear. It’s a small but important act of reconciliation. I have always been drawn to the beauty of Navajo textiles and love the strong geometric patterns in the weaving, and I am excited to incorporate this historic tradition into a modern medium.”

As always, with every AYA product purchased, proceeds are donated to indigenous communities in need.

May 4, 2018

Prevent Blindness Declares May UV Prevention Month

Prevent Blindness has declared May as Ultraviolet (UV) Awareness Month to help educate the public on the dangers that UV exposure may have on vision.

When purchasing sunglasses, Prevent Blindness recommends consumers always read labels carefully and only buy sunglasses that clearly state that they block 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays. Sunglasses should be worn in conjunction with a brimmed hat. Wrap-around sunglasses are best. For those participating in outdoor sports activities, Prevent Blindness recommends consulting with an eye care professional on eye protection that both blocks UV as well as protects eyes from injury.

“Consistently wearing effective UV eye protection is a habit that we should practice year-round, not just in the warm-weather months. By wearing UV-blocking sunglasses and a visor, we can help protect our vision today and for years to come,” said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness.

Click HERE for the full press release.