CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France, January 29 /PRNewswire/ --

- A New Year of Growth in 2008

- Revenue Up 9.7% Excluding the Currency Effect

- Higher Earnings Expected

Essilor International, the world leader in ophthalmic optics, today announced consolidated revenue of EUR3,074.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, representing a reported 5.7% increase on the previous year. Excluding the currency effect, growth for the year was a strong 9.7%.

After two years of robust growth, the ophthalmic optics market slowed in 2008, particularly in the final quarter. Nevertheless, Essilor gained new market share during the year by leveraging the quality of its product portfolio, the effectiveness of its networks and the more dynamic pace of its acquisitions strategy. This performance confirms, once again, the soundness of the Company's growth model.

In all, Essilor confirms that it will report higher earnings in 2008, with in particular an improvement in the contribution from operations(1) in value.

Despite the highly uncertain global economy, the Company expects to see a further increase in revenue at constant exchange rates in 2009. Acquisitions will play a dominant role in driving growth, as the strength of the Company's balance sheet enables it to seize a large number of opportunities.

Fourth quarter: faster acquisitions-led growth

In the fourth quarter, consolidated revenue rose by a reported 12.6% year-on-year (2.2% like-for-like) to an estimated EUR796.7 million. The consolidation of Satisloh and the targeted acquisitions made during the year accounted for a particularly high 8.7% of reported growth. The currency effect was positive for the first time since the beginning of the year, at 1.7%.

As the general economic environment steadily deteriorated during the quarter, the Company's business slowed worldwide, particularly in the United States where sales to optical chains declined. Operations in emerging markets continued to enjoy strong growth.

Consolidated revenue - fourth quarter 2008

EUR millions 4th 4th % change % change Impact from quarter quarter (reported) (like-for-like) changes in 2008 2007 scope Total 796.7 707.8 12.6% 2.2% 8.7%* Europe 339.7 330.3 2.9% 1.5% 3.1% North America 322.9 281.8 14.6% 0.6% 5.5% Asia-Pacific 71.3 65.9 8.2% 8.2% 2.3% Latin America 28.7 29.8 -3.7% 10.9% - Satisloh 34.1 - - - - *of which 4.8% from Satisloh

Fourth-quarter highlights

Satisloh, the world's leading supplier of prescription laboratory equipment, has been consolidated since October 1. It reported EUR39.4 million in revenue for the quarter, of which EUR34.1 million from outside customers.

During the quarter, Essilor has acquired at least a majority interest in seven new US prescription laboratories, based across the country and representing aggregate full-year revenue of some $60 million. Three of the companies are Varilux distributors: Pech Optical Corp. in Iowa ($37 million in revenue); SouthWest Lens Corp. in Texas ($5 million); and Collard Rose Optical Laboratory in California ($7.5 million), which has been consolidated since July 2008. The Company also acquired all outstanding shares of Next Generation Ophthalmics Inc. in Minnesota ($3.5 million in revenue), as well as a majority stake in Dependable Optics Inc. in New York State (around $2 million). Lastly, Essilor acquired the assets of Hi-Tech Optical Inc. and Pinnacle LLC, two Nebraska-based labs with combined revenue of $3 million.

Full-year 2008: consolidated revenue up 9.7% excluding the currency effect

EUR millions 2008 2007 % change % change Impact from (reported) (like-for-like) changes in scope Total 3,074.5 2,908.1 5.7% 4.6% 5.1%* Europe 1,362.3 1,317.5 3.4% 2.4% 2.4% North America 1,267.9 1,214.2 4.4% 5.0% 6.1% Asia-Pacific 282.9 266.9 6.0% 8.6% 3.2% Latin America 127.2 109.5 16.1% 17.6% - Satisloh 34.1 - - - - *of which 1.2% from Satisloh

Growth was driven by the following factors:

- A 4.6% like-for-like increase in revenue over the year, of which 5.4% in the first half and 3.9% in the second. This increase reflected: - 4.9% growth in the corrective lens business, led by volume gains. - Successful new products, in particular the sixth-generation of Transitions(R) variable-tint lenses and the new Crizal(R) anti- reflective lenses. - Around a 2% decline in instrument sales caused by the delay in launching a new-generation edger. - A negative 4.0% currency effect, primarily attributable to the decline in the US dollar, the Canadian dollar, the British pound and the Korean won against the euro. - A 5.1% increase from changes in the scope of consolidation (including Satisloh), reflecting the Company's assertive acquisitions strategy.

In 2008, Essilor completed 25 acquisitions that contributed around EUR93 million in revenue over the year. The largest involved Satisloh, which reported EUR139 million in revenue in 2008 (CHF219.4 million). Nearly two-thirds of the acquisitions were carried out in the United States. The drive concerned every region around the world, however, with transactions in Europe (Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria), Asia (India and Malaysia), Brazil and Canada.

Solid growth in unit sales worldwide

- Demonstrated effectiveness of the multi-network strategy in Europe (up 2.4% like-for-like)

In a challenging market shaped by more aggressive competition, the Company's strategy of using multiple networks (Essilor, BBGR, Nikon and local distributors) enabled it to capitalize on the growing popularity of generics and increase market share by volume. Operations in Central and Eastern Europe turned in the best performance for the year.

- A good year in North America (up 5.0% like-for-like)

Essilor continued to successfully expand in the United States, in particular through its network of prescription laboratories, which enjoyed growing demand from independent eyecare professionals. Economic conditions weighed on business with some of the large optical chains. Growth in Canada was supported by effective development of the product mix.

- Growth in Asia was led by India, South Korea and the ASEAN countries (up 8.6% like-for-like)

An improved product mix drove fast growth in China and especially India during the year. Operations in South Korea and the ASEAN countries also reported a very strong performance. In Japan, Nikon-Essilor gained ground in a market that declined in value. After a difficult first-half, business in Australia turned sharply upwards in the second six months of the year.

- An improved product mix in Latin America (up 17.6% like-for-like)

Operations in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina experienced strong growth thanks to rising sales of anti-reflective coatings and of progressive lenses.

Appendix: quarterly revenue data

EUR millions Q4 08 Q3 08 Q2 08 Q1 08 Q4 07 Q3 07 Q2 07 Q1 07 Consolidated revenue 796.7 757.6 758.1 762.2 707.8 723.3 741.2 735.6 Europe 339.7 325.5 350.7 346.4 330.3 311.3 341.2 334.5 North America 322.9 319.6 307.2 318.3 281.8 310.0 310.7 311.7 Asia-Pacific 71.3 74.6 67.9 69.2 65.9 72.3 63.3 65.3 Latin America 28.7 37.9 32.3 28.3 29.8 29.7 26.0 24.1 Satisloh 34.1 - - - - - - - Growth excluding the currency effect 10.8% 8.8% 9.0% 10.2% 10.7% 12.9% 13.1% 11.0% ------------------------- A conference call in French will be held today at 9:00 a.m. CET. The number to dial is: +33(0)-1-70-99-42-84 The conference will be available for later listening at: http://hosting.3sens.com/Essilor/20090129-6ABF3746/fr/ A conference call in English will follow at 10:00 a.m. CET. The number to dial is: +44(0)2071-38-08-45 The conference will be available for later listening at: http://hosting.3sens.com/Essilor/20090129-6ABF3746/en/ ----------------------- Next financial announcement: 2008 earnings will be released on March 5, 2009. -----------------------

Essilor International is the world leader in ophthalmic optical products, offering a wide range of lenses under the flagship Varilux(R), Crizal(R), Essilor(R) and Definity(R) brands to correct myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia and astigmatism. Essilor operates worldwide through 15 production sites, 292 lens finishing laboratories and local distribution networks.

The Essilor share trades on the Euronext Paris market and is included in the CAC 40 index.

Codes and symbols: (ISIN: FR 0000121667; Reuters: ESSI.PA; Bloomberg: EI:FP).

(1) Operating profit before share-based payments, restructuring costs and other non-recurring items, and goodwill impairment.

------------------------ Investor Relations and Financial Communications Veronique Gillet - Sebastien Leroy Phone: +33(0)1-49-77-42-16 http://www.essilor.com ------------------------

Investor Relations and Financial Communications, Veronique Gillet - Sebastien Leroy, Phone: +33(0)1-49-77-42-16