The international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has advised EssilorLuxottica, global leader in ophthalmic lenses and frames, on setting up a €3.2 billion bridge loan to help the company issue the guarantee required under Italian financial market law and finance the mandatory exchange bid to be launched by EssilorLuxottica in Italy for minority shareholders' shares in Luxottica Group S.p.A. further to the merger between EssilorLuxottica (formerly Essilor International (Compagnie Générale d’Optique)) and Luxottica Group S.p.A.

Herbert Smith Freehills advised EssilorLuxottica with a team led by partner Louis de Longeaux, together with associate Florie Poisson, on negotiating and drafting bridge loan documentation.