Hostile Raid to Swallow the Whole Animal

“On March 4, 1995, he launches a "hostile" takeover bid, i.e., not agreed upon with the management, worth 1.8 trillion lire to take control of US Shoe. The offer is financed for 1.45 billion dollars by Credit Suisse. This was the big move that Leonardo had in mind when he decided to list his Luxottica in New York. A raider's move, some compare it to Gordon Gekko from the film Wall Street, who reveals his predator nature to the financial world. The goal is to take over LensCrafters and sell off the other divisions of the American conglomerate, breaking it up into parts and selling them to the highest bidder. The Americans aren't having it, they counterattack using all the "poison pills" they have at their disposal to block the advancing Italian. In Ohio, where LensCrafters is based, they call it the eyewear war.”

“On April 18, the agreement is reached. Luxottica acquires US Shoe for 1.4 billion dollars, as written in a lengthy article by the New York Times. Italy, for the first time, openly celebrates the timid Leonardo. "Luxottica, winning move in the USA," opens the economics section with a full-page headline and a callout on the front page in Corriere della Sera.”