Safilo, the Italian eyewear maker, is to receive a capital injection of up to €330m ($492m) from a Dutch investor, ending months of uncertainty over the search for an investor to revive its ailing fortunes.

HAL Holding, which among other assets owns stores around the world selling eyewear and hearing aids, will acquire between 37 per cent and 49.9 per cent of Safilo under the deal, and will pay €20m to take over the Italian group’s retail operations in Spain, Australia and China.