Crédit Agricole Private Equity Invests in Online Eyewear Retailer Confortvisuel.com

Crédit Agricole Private Equity has announced an investment in Confortvisuel.com, a French e-commerce site selling eyeglasses and optical equipment. Founded in 2004 by Yves Jacquot, the company initially focused on non-corrective eyewear such as sunglasses and magnifiers.

In late 2009, Confortvisuel.com expanded its offerings to include prescription eyeglasses, following the legalization of online sales for such products in France. The company now offers a range of eyeglasses and sunglasses for general consumers, as well as optical equipment for professionals, including doctors and dentists.

Confortvisuel.com aims to become a leading online optician in France, featuring a broad selection of both branded and private-label frames. The company seeks to capitalize on the newly opened market for online prescription eyewear sales.

Yves Jacquot, Founder and President of Confortvisuel.com, stated his satisfaction with the investment: "We are delighted to have the support of a reputable financial investor like Crédit Agricole Private Equity. This fundraising will enable us to accelerate the development of our online optician business, particularly in the sale of prescription eyeglasses."

Renaud Poulard, Associate Director at Crédit Agricole Private Equity's venture capital team, highlighted the opportunity presented by the recent legalization of online prescription eyewear sales in France. He noted the success of similar companies in European countries where this market has been established for years, anticipating that consumers will benefit from competitive pricing and a wider product selection.