Essilor Continues to Expand in the United States

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CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France--(Business Wire)--
Regulatory News:

Essilor (Paris:EI) is continuing to strengthen its positions in the United
States, the world`s leading market for ophthalmic lenses, with the acquisition
of a lens manufacturer and a new prescription laboratory.

The Company has announced the acquisition of an 80% share in X-Cel Optical, a
manufacturer of ophthalmic lenses based in Minnesota (US). Leveraging its widely
recognized, high performance technical expertise, X-Cel Optical offers a wide
range of niche products, the vast majority of which are bi- and tri-focal, stock
and variable-tint lenses. The line-ups are produced in various materials,
including Trivex. With a refraction index of 1.53 and impact resistance
comparable to that of polycarbonate, Trivex is enjoying rapid sales growth.

X-Cel Optical produces just over two million lenses a year and generates
full-year revenue of approximately $33 million.

The development of the X-Cel Optical product line, which fits very well with
Essilor`s, will be led by the Group`s various distribution networks in the
United States, comprising both proprietary and independent laboratories, and
around the world. The X-Cel Optical offer may also be moved upmarket, using
Essilor`s leading-edge technologies, in particular the Crizal® range of surface
coatings, as a lever.

In addition, the partnership will enable Essilor to optimize its sourcing
strategy. Lastly, Essilor and X-Cel Optical may also share their engineering
skills and capabilities to optimize their production processes.

Essilor is also continuing to deepen its local distribution network in the
United States to capture the market`s growth potential for value-added lenses.
The Company has signed a partnership with Lenstech Optical, a prescription
laboratory in Indiana that generates annual revenue of $6 million.

In the future, Essilor will activate the usual value-creation levers by
providing Lenstech Optical with new technologies that will speed the
distribution of its flagship brands, including Varilux® and Crizal®, in the
partner`s catchment area.

About Essilor

The world`s leading ophthalmic optics company, Essilor designs, manufactures and
markets a wide range of lenses to improve and protect eyesight. Its corporate
mission is to enable everyone around the world to access lenses that meet his or
her unique vision requirements. To support this mission, the Company allocates
around €150 million to research and development every year, in a commitment to
continuously bring new, more effective products to market. Essilor`s flagship
brands are Varilux®, Crizal®, Definity®, Xperio®, Optifog and Foster Grant®. It
also develops and markets equipment, instruments and services for eyecare
professionals.

Essilor reported consolidated revenue of €4.2 billion in 2011 and employs around
48,700 people in some 100 countries. It operates 19 plants, a total of 390
prescription laboratories and edging facilities, as well as several research and
development centers around the world.

For more information, please visit www.essilor.com.

The Essilor share trades on the NYSE Euronext Paris market and is included in
the EuroStoxx 50 and CAC 40 indices. Codes and symbols: ISIN: FR0000121667;
Reuters: ESSI.PA; Bloomberg: EI:FP.

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