MILAN, Nov 17 (Reuters) - The offer by Hal Holding on the bond of Italian eyewear maker Safilo SpA's (SFLG.MI) has met with acceptances that are well below the threshold needed, a source close to the deal said on Tuesday 17 November.

Hal Holding, a Safilo shareholder, has set a 60 percent threshold to complete the cash tender offer for the 195 million euros ($290.5 million) bond which is key to Safilo's recapitalisation plan.

With the offer facing a deadline of 1600 GMT on Wednesday 18 November, acceptance was at 40 percent, the source said, little moved from last week.

Safilo, the loss-making maker of Gucci and Dior sunglasses, last month announced the recapitalisation plan that depends on the cash tender offer being completed by the deadline.

"As of today there's been 40 percent acceptance. Another 2 percent has been added to the initial 38 percent," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Safilo said on Wednesday 18 November 1.03 percent had been tendered at the "early bird date", in addition to the 38.76 percent committed before the tender offer by existing noteholders.

The plan foresees Netherlands-based Hal buying the notes for a price equal to 60 percent of their nominal value as well as the restructuring of Safilo's senior debt facilities with its main financing banks.

An analyst said last week the slow take-up could be explained by bondholders maybe waiting to see whether conditions would change or a new offer could come at the last minute.

Safilo had 586.4 million euros in debt at the end of September. The shares closed down 3.2 percent at 0.515 euro. (Reporting by Cristina Carlevaro; Writing by Ian Simpson; Editing by David Holmes) ($1=.6712 Euro)