I don't think I can say anymore about this that hasn't already been said. I think I'm going to go lie down and cry myself to sleep.

I hope you guys are right.... My fear is Lux wants the eyewear sport market and will strip and eliminate... (or greatly cheapen) the rest....

do you know though who is the actual deed holder? Is it corporate, or Jannard through a private venture? Kind of interesting thinking materials from all this

I'd have to read through the press releases and reports. There's a lot of information.

http://investor.oakley.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=67365&p=irol-news&nyo=0

is any one else listening to this? this one guy from luxottica is making it sound like Oakley is unknown to Asia and south America. yup and he (Andreas) just said that the new group plans on using the technology across all its eyeware.

i feel you..josh
i have had a rough year and the worst month ever..
reasons already mentioned.

will we now see the prices on ebay go up.
and description

oakley before the merge.
or before oakley/luxottica?

i saw the table too.

will arnette join oakley..?

will they come with oakley lenses.?
or will arnette no longer be avail.

how will oakley be the leader if they are going to tear him apart and use it in other brands.

Talking about sleeping with the enemy.

yeah maybe there is hope.

but time will tell.

i think the biggest changes will be seen begining next year.

bong warned us.
lenscrafters got Oakley RX.
Sgh got the square O

man how could we have been so blind.

Will start seeing all the point less color and print frame color on oakley.

man i need a drink.

and the f-ck-d up thing is am alone , can't share this with my girl.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

btw. am wearing black

The graphice that Julien posted above, and Adam before, I think it means that Oakley will take advantage of Lux distribution and worldwide retail presence. And that Oakley is a stronger sports brand than the 2 the Lux owns already that Revo and Arnette may benefit from, as well as the fashion stuff, from Oakleys tech. And Oakleys tech from Lux fahsion items for other markets and demos.

I can't believe it... I never thought this would happen. I was so glad that Jim didn't sell to Nike back in the day, so I find this very surprising and disturbing. It is not good news for Oakley. The fact that Oakley stood alone was one of the things that I most admired about Oakley. I have been a fan since the first Blade came out and I REALLY hope that things don't change! They should never sell out!!!

It's too late they just did.

Back from the conference call via webcast. I heard something which is rather disappointing. there are plans to manufacture (13% or 30%) of Oakley glasses in China (No offense China). Personal point of view, I feel this may flood the market with more "high grade" fake Oakleys in the future.

I can't sleep! I need sleeping pills!

after the initial shock and talking to a couple of O-Review members on the phone, i'll try to remain optimistic with the whole situation. like what Phil said, to my basic understanding Oakley will remain Oakley and Lux will help with sales and distribution. i'm hoping Oakley will retain it's designs, technology, and intellectual property but as with many mergers, something will always end up being integrated... only time will tell. i sincerely don't want Oakley to become "just another brand." please... keep it exclusive and special!

but for the near future, i'll try to keep an open mind.

there are plans to manufacture (13% or 30%) of Oakley glasses in China

that is what was said they also said that ALL
wire and acetate frames will be made in china but that lenses will be made in USA. Did you catch the part were Colin said that he will report directly to that Andreas guy? Correction he just said wire and acetate he did not say All, like it makes a difference.

I am shocked and surprised as well. However, I am probably taking the 'give it time' approach before I jump to any doomsday conclusions. The biggest factors for me will be the future products and the customer service/warranty levels.

I'd be willing to bet that Lux can do a decent job of slapping an o icon on new eyewear that we still eat up fairly well. But I'd be a bit scared if the warranty and service that I have long enjoyed and coveted starts eroding away. I think I might start to falter if I lose the safety net of being able to send in a pair of 5-10 year old eyewear and get a new pair for $40 out of warranty fee.

I was kind of ignoring this thread until I saw the news on Google.

I'm really dissapointed that JJ would decide to sell out the company. I guess the 1.5 Billion that JJ was offered for his share of the "O" was just too much to ignore.

Hopefully Lux will buy the company and then leave them alone at The Ranch so that nothing changes. But with the way all of the top personal are "being offered positions with Lux" it doesn't look so good.

Who would have ever thought that JJ would actually become a true businessman/entrepreneur and sellout? It always seemed that JJ did Oakley as a lifestyle business - that he wasn't building it with the intention of selling it later on.

Sad day in the O-world...

another concern..

the older pairs, what will happen to them.

glasses made in China!? especially all Wires!? now that's something i completely disagree with; this effin' sucks.

I guess the 1.5 Billion that JJ was offered for his share of the "O" was just too much to ignore.

So does Janard actually get this 1.5 billion?

that is what was said they also said that ALL wire and acetate frames will be made in china but that lenses will be made in USA. Did you catch the part were Colin said that he will report directly to that Andreas guy?

ALL?? I heard 13% or 30% but nevertheless, they are going to have the same problem like the vaults, especially the soft vaults, in poorer quality. I have always trusted Oakley's quality control until recently when I received 2 defected soft vaults that came with my Radars.

that is what was said they also said that ALL
wire and acetate frames will be made in china but that lenses will be made in USA. Did you catch the part were Colin said that he will report directly to that Andreas guy? Correction he just said wire and acetate he did not say All, like it makes a difference.

corrected. I wonder what will happen with the SI line, wires are included and military contracts can only provide products that are manufactured in the US.

Im planning to make a trip to HQ next month to see it for the last time before Lux completely Fs it up

2 years a ago the company that i work for was merged. since then the only thing that has changed is the emils server. they say that they were interested in us because were have the larges market share in the world for our product. so why change thing if that was why they were interested in the first place. they just wanted the extra money not to asimalte us in to them.

You are talking like the world is going under....

I won't touch anybody here, but if the quality will be the same and the rest also will be the same (made in USA, style, concepts), so what is the difference if Lux earn some bucks or every buck is going to Jim? Lets see what happen, due to the projects which are planned, we can expect no big changes, even by oakley.com was redesigned not long ago.

So does Janard actually get this 1.5 billion?

If it is truly a 100% cash offer at 2.1 Billion and Lux is truly buying all of the oustanding shares and options, then in theory, JJ should receive approximately 1.34 Billion for his share of Oakley - 64% of the 2.1 Billion offered. Of course, he has to pay taxes, but still, he will proabaly come out with a cool billion in cash after the deal is complete.

Being an Oakley adept myself, I feel as sad as most of us. I can, however, from a businesspoint of view, completely understand Jim for selling out. Being a succesful businesman you'd have to act without emotions. He did...and made a lot of money selling. He wins, but we don't have to loose!
Having been an optician for years I have known Luxotica as a suplier for years. I can tell you, it's a very fine company to work with. There's very good quality products coming from China. As a matter of fact, it wouldn't surprise me if some of the Oakley frames are already being manufactured in China.
As far as the future of Oakley (or Oakley by Luxotica, if you like) is concerned...I'm not worried. Oakley as it is has proven to be succesful, so why would you change a winning team?
As far as the job offers to the top guys: it's common for boardmembers to have several possitions at several companies. Being a boardmember at both Oakley and Luxotica is more possitive than it is negative, to me.

I'm not smiling, but not crying either!

Who would have ever thought that JJ would actually become a true businessman/entrepreneur and sellout? It always seemed that JJ did Oakley as a lifestyle business - that he wasn't building it with the intention of selling it later on.

JJ has stated in the past, that the only reason he made the jump from grips to goggles was the ability to see the Oakley name better on the goggles. From day one, he has been about growing the Oakley name, the rest of the technology was just the vehicle to get there. So in hindsight, I shouldnt be suprised that he has sold the Oakley brand.

What would be interesting is if he has a no complete cause in the sale. The inventor of Arnette sold to Lux and then started the Electric brand. Could JJ start all over again? I personlly dont think so, but just throwing it out there.