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New Look Revenue Growth Hits Record Highs

New Look Vision Group reports the results for the second quarter and the year-to-date period ended July 1, 2017, their quarterly dividend and comments on the outlook of the business.

The second quarter was a solid quarter with respect to revenue growth from both comparable and recently acquired stores. The quarter ended successfully as New Look Vision entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of IRIS, The Visual Group. The acquisition is expected to close on or about October 1, 2017.

Second quarter results

New Look Vision reported record revenues of $55.4 million and adjusted EBITDA of $10.9 million for the second quarter ended July 1, 2017, representing increases of 9.7% and 5.2% respectively over last year. The increases were mainly due to the net addition of 15 stores in the last twelve months as well as same store sales growth of 4.6% over last year.

Adjusted net earnings attributed to shareholders, defined as net earnings adjusted to remove the impact of acquisition-related costs, equity-based compensation, and other non-comparable costs, for the second quarter were flat at $4.6 million compared to last year.

Adjusted net earnings per share for the quarter compared to the second quarter of 2016 were also flat at $0.33 per share. Net earnings attributed to shareholders were $2.6 million, compared to $4.1 million last year, the decrease being mainly due to higher acquisition costs, equity-based compensation, and other non-comparable costs.

Cash flow from operating activities before income taxes paid and changes in working capital items was $9.1 million or $0.66 per share in the second quarter of 2017, down from $9.8 million or $0.71 per share last year. However, when adjusted for acquisition related costs and other non-comparable costs, adjusted cash flows from operating activities are $10.8 million or $0.78 per share, an increase of $499 thousand, or 4.9% over last year. Income tax instalments paid in the second quarter of 2017 were $0.7 million compared to $1.5 million for 2016.

Year-to-date results

Year-to-date revenues and adjusted EBITDA reached a record of $106.4 million and $18.8 million respectively, which represent increases of 11.9% and 6.5% respectively over last year. Net earnings attributed to shareholders were $3.9 million ($0.28 per share) compared to $5.9 million last year ($0.43 per share). Net earnings adjusted to remove the impact of acquisition-related costs, equity-based compensation, and other non-comparable costs were $7.0 million, or $143 thousand over last year. Adjusted net earnings per share (diluted) remained flat at $0.50 in comparison to last year, despite additional depreciation and amortization and additional shares issued since the beginning of the second quarter of 2016. Comparable store sales year-to-date were up 3.3% over last year.

Cash flow from operating activities before income taxes paid and changes in working capital were $16.2 million or $1.17 per share in the year-to-date period compared to $16.5 million or $1.19 per share last year, the decrease being mainly attributable to increased acquisition-related costs and other non-comparable costs. Whereas, adjusted cash flows from operating activities were $18.6 million or $1.34 per share, an increase of $1.2 million, or 7.1% over last year. In the first six months of 2017, New Look Vision made total tax payments of $2.4 million compared to $4.2 million in 2016, including prior period adjustments and current year instalments.

Click HERE for the full report.

 

Transitions and the OAC Now Accepting Scholarship Applications

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. – Transitions Optical is partnering with the Opticians Association of Canada (OAC) to support the next generation of eye care professionals through the 2017 Students of Vision Scholarship Program. Currently enrolled (for 2017-2018 school year) opticianry, optometry and optometric assistant students from across Canada are all eligible to apply for the chance to win one of three prizes of $2,500, $1,500 and $500 scholarships.

To enter the scholarship program, students must develop a project in the form of an essay, video or presentation about ways to communicate the importance of Sun Protection Solutions, and how they will implement this into their practice as a future eye care professional.  A flyer detailing the scholarship program challenge can be found at Transitions.com/StudentsofVision. Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges against on the following criteria: creativity, strategic thinking and ethics.

The theme of Sun Protection Solutions was inspired by recent research from Transitions Optical, which showed that while Canadians are equally as concerned about protecting their eyes from the sun’s UV rays as they are their skin (88% each); they are more likely to take steps to protect their skin than their eyes.  Millennial patients, specifically, could benefit from education, as they are the least likely generation to be concerned with sun protection and generally less likely to see their doctors. The research also reflected confusion about blue light, which is at the forefront of people’s minds because of the increased use of digital devices. Most people don’t know (including 83% of Millennials) that the sun is the largest singular source of harmful blue light, scattering it through the atmosphere and emitting over 100 times the intensity of electronic devices and screens.

“Educating consumers on why it is equally important to take steps to help protect their eyes as they do with their skin is a big priority for us, which is why this year’s topic was chosen,” said Patience Cook, director, North America Marketing, Transitions Optical.  “We are excited to learn each student’s approach to how they will think differently about ways to communicate with their future patients, especially the Millennial demographic.”

“We are happy to partner with Transitions Optical again on this program to encourage students to educate and inform vision care consumers about matters related to their eye health, which is the OAC mission,” said Robert Dalton, Executive Director, Opticians Association of Canada. “Sun protection is an important topic in the industry and it’s pivotal that our eye care students of today are well-informed on the subject, as they are the eye care professionals of the future. We are looking forward to seeing their entries.”

All submissions should be sent to StudentsofVision@Transitions.com by November 1, 2017. The winners will be announced on November 10, 2017.

Click HERE to read the full press release.

 

 

 

Learn How to Photograph an Eclipse Without Damaging the Eyes or Camera

The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Optometry are teaming up to offer tips on how to safely photograph an eclipse. On Aug. 21, people of all ages will come together to witness a single, inspiring event – a total eclipse of the sun. The last time anyone saw the sun disappear in North America was in 1979. But there is one thing that sets this month’s total eclipse apart from others: Smartphones. Millions of ordinary people are expected to use smartphones and digital cameras to photograph this eclipse. Eye care professionals are concerned that first-timers might train their cameras on this phenomenon, unaware of the damage they can do to their eyes.

The most important safety tip to remember is to never look directly at the sun. Viewing the sun directly, even for brief periods, can cause permanent damage to the retina and result in blindness. Your eyes need specially designed solar eclipse glasses, and your camera needs a specially designed solar filter.

“Before pointing your camera at the sun, you need to get a special-purpose solar filter and put it over the camera lens,” said Russell N. Van Gelder, M.D., Ph.D., a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Never look at the sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device. The concentrated solar rays will damage the filter, and injure your eyes. Also, do not use solar eclipse glasses to look through a camera, binoculars or a telescope. The sun can melt the filter and damage your eyes.”

Make sure you purchase solar eclipse filters and glasses from reputable manufacturers. There have been reports that some companies are selling counterfeit products labeled as if they conform to international safety standards. The American Astronomical Society has listed on its website companies whose products are known to conform to international standards.

Click HERE for full press release.

 

Two Presidents of the Judging Panel for the Silmo d’Or Awards

An exceptional edition merits an exceptional event: Silmo’s 50th anniversary will see a unique Silmo d’Or awards ceremony. The panel of judges will be chaired by a duo of designers – Livia Stoianova and Yassen Samouilov, who head the ON AURA TOUT VU fashion house.

The designs created by ON AURA TOUT VU reflect the free-spirited nature of Livia Stoianova and Yassen Samouilov, who like to innovate and blend ancestral know-how, sophisticated design and precious materials… with a dash of humour thrown in! They love to distort fashion and glamour, garments and accessories, along with everyday items… setting out to surprise and “re-dress” the era in which they live. All their lines and collections are in the same unconventional creative vein. Their exhilarating ingenuity and desire to play with materials, light and colours blur the lines between what is real and false. They harness the exceptional talents of the best artisans and artistic professions to ensure the creation of unique and always surprising products with a “couture” ethos.

To be more in tune with this creative yet fashion-based dimension, the Silmo D’Or optical frames and sunglasses categories will be split into two: OPTICAL FRAMES – FASHION and OPTICAL FRAMES – DESIGN, SUNGLASSES – FASHION AND SUNGLASSES – DESIGN. They will be included within the usual categories that cover the whole spectrum of the industry’s talents: VISION, LOW VISION, EQUIPMENT, SPORT, CHILDREN AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

Click HERE for the full press release.

 

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