Altair Eyewear, Inc. and Bluestar Alliance LLC Announce Renewal of Long Term Global Licensing Agreement for bebe Eyewear

Today, bebe has emerged to become one of the leading fashion eyewear brands in the industry. The brand's ophthalmic and sun collections are sold worldwide through optical retailers, department and select specialty stores. In the U.S., bebe eyewear is sold at over 10,000 points of distribution through Altair and Marchon, and outside the U.S., the brand is distributed in select regions through Marchon.

"The bebe eyewear brand has grown and benefitted greatly from innovative designs and Altair's unique distribution model. We believe Altair and Marchon have significant long term growth potential given their distinct market positioning, multiple channels of distribution and global presence and awareness," said Joey Gabbay, Chief Executive Officer of Bluestar Alliance LLC, a strategic partner of bebe stores, inc.

"Over the past four decades, bebe has established itself as a go-to brand for women around the world seeking chic fashion eyewear. The brand's distinctive attributes have allowed us to create a diverse, fashion-forward collection for every attitude and age," said Nicola Zotta, President & CEO of Marchon Eyewear, Inc., one of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of quality eyewear and sunwear. "Together, we will continue to create eyewear that embodies bebe's hip and sophisticated look as a complement to our current women's collections."

About Bluestar Alliance, LLC
Founded by Joseph Gabbay and Ralph Gindi in 2006. Bluestar Alliance owns, manages, and markets a portfolio of consumer brands that span across many tiers of distribution from luxury to mass market with a heavy emphasis on department store retail brands. Brands within the portfolio include Tahari, bebe, Kensie, Catherine Malandrino, Nanette Lepore, Joan Vass, Michael Bastian, English Laundry and Limited Too. We specialize in licensing, branding and marketing consumer brand companies through extensive relationships with leading retailers, brand licensing manufacturers and strategic partners. Our vision is to expand brand presence and grow revenue through creative marketing strategies. 

Bluestar Alliance's current network of international and domestic partners offers the opportunity to take a niche brand to a visible worldwide lifestyle brand. Since its inception, Bluestar Alliance has acquired select brands with retail sales exceeding $2 billion and with the Tahari acquisition retail sales will reach $2.5 billion. The current portfolio of brands manages over 200 licensees who distribute product throughout North America, Europe, Australia, South America, Asia, Middle East and India.

About bebe®
Unique, sophisticated and unapologetically seductive, bebe emerged as the first contemporary fashion destination in 1976. Today, the bebe brand continues to define next-generation chic while staying true to its assertive, provocative origins. Inspired by Shakespeare's immortal words "To be, or not to be," the brand is, at its essence, about living, standing out and truly existing. 

About Altair Eyewear, Inc.
Altair® supports independent eye care professionals with advanced eyewear technologies and distinctive brands including Anne Klein®, bebe®, Cole Haan®, Joseph Abboud®, JOE Joseph Abboud®, and Revlon®. Altair is sold through more than 10,000 independent optical retailers. Altair is a division of Marchon® Eyewear, one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of quality eyewear and sunwear, and a subsidiary of VSP Global®, a diverse group of leading companies within the worldwide optical industry. Visit altaireyewear.com for more information.

About Marchon Eyewear, Inc.
Marchon Eyewear, Inc. is one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of quality eyewear and sunwear. The company markets its products under prestigious brand names including: Airlock, Calvin Klein, Chloé, Columbia, Diane von Furstenberg, Dragon, Etro, Flexon®, G-Star RAW, Karl Lagerfeld, Lacoste, Liu Jo, Longchamp, Marchon NYC, Marni, MCM, Nautica, Nike, Nine West, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sean John and Skaga. Marchon distributes its products through a global network of subsidiaries and distributors, serving over 80,000 accounts in more than 100 countries. Marchon is a VSP Global® company, which as a doctor-governed company, connects its 85 million members to affordable, accessible, high-quality eye care and eyewear. Its industry-leading businesses combine to bring quality eye care insurance, high-fashion frames, customized lenses, ophthalmic technology, and connected experiences to increase access to eye care around the world.

SOURCE Marchon Eyewear, Inc.