The Platform Group SE & Co. KGaA has expanded its Optics & Hearing segment through the acquisition of optical company Blickpunkt GmbH Brillen und Contactlinsen, located in Starnberg, Bavaria. This acquisition follows the establishment of the dedicated Optics & Hearing segment in the 2025 financial year, which was created to connect local optical stores with the MyGlasses online platform. The acquirer was TPG's subsidiary, Feine Augenoptik Beteiligungs-GmbH, with closing expected by April 2026.
This expansion is significant because it demonstrates The Platform Group's continued investment in the optics industry as part of a long-term strategic plan. Since establishing the segment in 2025, the company has acquired five companies comprising over 30 locations nationwide, including Beste Aussichten GmbH, Karrasch & Nolte, and Freudenhaus Optik Handels GmbH based in Munich. The latest acquisition adds a premium location in Starnberg with what Dieter Meis, Managing Director of the Optics & Hearing segment, describes as "strong quality and a very high-value customer base."
The strategic importance of this expansion lies in The Platform Group's approach of combining physical retail locations with digital platforms. Dr. Dominik Benner, CEO of The Platform Group SE & Co. KGaA, stated that "the implementation of expanding nationwide locations and linking them with online activities ensures that we are building a stable and highly profitable segment." This hybrid model represents a modern approach to retail that leverages both local expertise and digital reach, potentially reshaping how optical services are delivered to consumers.
For the optical industry, this expansion signals continued consolidation and the growing importance of digital integration in traditional retail sectors. The Optics & Hearing segment has demonstrated strong financial performance with an EBITDA margin ranging from 20-25%, indicating the profitability potential of this business model. The Platform Group's broader strategy involves integrating local opticians into their platform ecosystem, which could create new opportunities for independent optical businesses while expanding the company's market presence.
The Platform Group, a Europe-wide operating software company active in 26 industries through proprietary platform solutions, reported preliminary revenue of EUR 728 million in 2025 with adjusted EBITDA of EUR 55 million. The company's partner network comprises more than 16,000 partners who use platform solutions to address both B2B and B2C customers across various industries including luxury portfolio, furniture retail, machinery trading, dental technology, and electronics. More information about the company can be found at https://corporate.the-platform-group.com.
This acquisition represents another step in The Platform Group's methodical expansion within the optics sector, combining premium physical locations like FreudenHaus and Söhnges with digital capabilities to create a comprehensive service offering. The approach reflects broader trends in retail where traditional brick-and-mortar businesses are increasingly integrated with online platforms to enhance customer reach and operational efficiency.
