On January 10, 2019, Marco announced that the company would be joining the ‘Advancing Eyecare Holdings’ group, a construct of the Atlantic Street Capital private equity firm. The Advancing Eyecare portfolio includes Lombart Instruments, Innova Medical, Enhanced Medical Services (EMS), and now, Marco Ophthalmic. This powerful alliance of leading instrument providers will now blanket all of North America with a far greater armamentarium of Ophthalmic equipment and services.

Though the full press release is presented, we want to clarify a few important issues regarding this exciting partnership that impact you directly. Marco will continue to provide the exemplary sales and support you’ve come to depend on across the years. This means that you should continue to contact your Marco Area Manager for all your sales needs. In addition, the same 800.874.5274 number will provide you with the same customer care and technical service you may require. In short – nothing has changed concerning the contacts you’ve used and the quality of care provided for your practice.

Of course, for many months now, the management teams of Marco, Lombart, EMS, and Innova have been discussing integration plans that will benefit our entire customer base in terms of greater representation and more localized service. As additional benefits become available, we will continue to share them with you throughout the coming year.

We remain your sustained partner in Eyecare.
Marco Ophthalmic

PRESS RELEASE

STAMFORD, CT, January 10, 2019 – Atlantic Street Capital, a private equity firm targeting entrepreneurial businesses poised for the next level of growth, announced today that it will form Advancing Eyecare Holdings with the partnership of its portfolio company Lombart Instrument (Lombart), the leading U.S. distributor of ophthalmic instruments to ophthalmologists and optometrists, and Marco Ophthalmic Inc (Marco), a market leading, high-tech instrumentation supplier.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2019.

Founded in 1967 and based in Jacksonville, Florida, Marco, is a market leading brand and U.S. based supplier of diagnostic ophthalmic equipment, offering a complete suite of high quality advanced technical and traditional classic lane products. Marco’s brand is well known for its focus on optimizing the refraction lane, a reputation that has allowed them to capture some of the largest institutional customers and buying groups in the industry. For more information, visit www.marco.com.

Gordon Siteman, Chief Executive Officer of Lombart, said, “Creating Advancing Eyecare with the partnership of two leaders in the eyecare instrumentation marketplace increases our ability to provide the doctor both the service and product offerings that suit their budget and their technology requirements. When completed, the combined organization will deliver the best solution at the best price for every practice’s needs.”

Upon completion of the transaction, David Marco will continue as a meaningful investor in the business and will join Advancing Eyecare as Co-Chairman of the newly-formed company and help advise the senior management teams. Mr. Marco, commented, “With this strategic partnership we will be ideally positioned to maximize value for both our customer and employees. It allows for expanded service capability for Marco and greater technology offerings for Lombart. The combined entity enhances and accelerates our unique abilities to modernize and maximize efficiencies of the Eye Care platforms.”

Bryan Bevin, Senior Operating Advisor to Atlantic Street Capital’s portfolio companies, will serve as Co-Chairman of the Advancing Eyecare Board. Both he and Mr. Marco will oversee the operating and strategic guidance of all Lombart assets in the medical eye care marketplace in North America – including Lombart Instrument, Marco Ophthalmic, Enhanced Medical Services, and INNOVA Medical Ophthalmics (Canada & Mexico).

Andy Wilkins, Managing Partner of Atlantic Street Capital, said, “Since our acquisition of Lombart in 2016, we have steadily built the business through organic growth, as well as expanded into Canada with the acquisition of INNOVA and enhanced our pre-owned ophthalmic business with the acquisition earlier this year of Enhanced Medical Services. The addition of Marco is another significant investment to strengthen Lombart’s position as a key partner for its customers, further extending our ability to deliver a breadth of clinical solutions.”

Marco proudly serves our customers and Greg does it with complete dedication! He’s a superstar in every sense of the word. Thank you, Greg!

Brian O’Donnell, OD describes how getting new Marco equipment helped with the re-branding of his practice, New Era Eye Care.

“Our technology investments also made us more efficient. For example, our purchase of the Marco TRS-5100 Digital Refractor allowed us to see more patients per day, and to improve the quality of the patient experience. Not only is time saved per patient encounter, but the exactness of the refraction is apparent as judged by a patient satisfaction survey about their vision with their new spectacle prescription. Patients also continuously express pleasant surprise at the automation and time saved with this advanced refractor and EHR integration.

The awe expressed by patients after experiencing the Marco TRS-5100 Digital Refractor provides a value that cannot be quantified. Further, the precision of the final refraction allows for truly excellent vision, a great reduction in remakes and, most importantly, happy patients. From the data upload to final refraction is 3-5 minutes, allowing for more than two patients more per day, which, in turn, generates an increase in revenue of $696. Our optical sales have increased each year at least 15 percent on average.”

Brian O’Donnell, OD, owns New Era Eye Care in Shavertown, Penn.

You can read the full article on the Review of Optometric Business website here:

Marco is proud to announce that the Tabletop Refraction System TS-310 and the Auto Lensmeter LM-7P received the “Red Dot Award 2018”, one of the three world design awards in Germany. (*1)

The Red Dot Design Award is an internationally recognized design award presented by the German organization: Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen Design Center since 1954. The Red Dot Design Award has been awarded to product designs, which are commercialized in past 2 years. Winning designs are selected according to the strict criteria, preceding Innovative conception, Functionality, Human Engineering, Ecology, and Duration.

The review committee presents awards to 3 categories, and the TS-310 and the LM-7P were awarded as “Medical Instruments and Technology” in “Product Design 2018″beating out companies from 59 countries which applied for the Product Design category.

For more information about TS-310, please click here.

For more information about LM-7P, please click here.

*1) The three major international design awards: iF (Germany), International Design Excellence Awards (USA) and the Red Dot Design Award (Germany)

WHY? “I find that small, portable equipment is less intimidating for patients and gives them a better patient experience,” says Dr. Adam Ramsey of Iconic Eye Care in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

HOW? “I use Marco’s HandyRef autorefractor for kids and anyone in a wheelchair. Instead of moving the patient around, I bring the equipment into the exam room when their eyes are dilated and this is less cumbersome and more efficient.”

SOURCE: INVISION

The Vision is Priceless non-profit was featured on local Jacksonville network Channel 4’s River City Live. The interview was set up with the Arlington Lions Club and Eye Clinic to discuss the relationship with Vision is Priceless and the wonderful vision services they provide together to the community.

Marco works closely with Vision is Priceless. In February 2018, a Vision is Priceless free clinic was held at the Marco headquarters.

• 70 Eye Exams
• 68 Pair of Glasses (Prescribed and Fit)
• Scheduled 16 for follow up services:
• Eight people referred for glaucoma issues
• Two for cataracts
• Three for retinal issues
• One for glaucoma and cataracts
• One for a cornea issue
• One for an eye trauma issue