Essilor : Acquisition of a New Instrument Technology CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France, June 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Essilor, the world leader in ophthalmic optics, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of the industrial and marketing assets of National Optronics, a lens processing equipment manufacturer based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1979, National Optronics designs and manufactures precision edging systems, primarily for prescription laboratories, based on its specific technology. In 2004, it reported $16 million in revenues, with 120 employees. National Optronics will consolidate Essilor's position as the worldwide leader in edging systems, as well as add a complementary technology to Essilor's portfolio of edging techniques that is particularly well suited to polycarbonate, high-index and high base curve lenses. In addition, Essilor intends to step up the international development of National Optronics, whose know-how, quality and dedication to customer service are widely recognized in the US ophthalmic industry. National Optronics will keep its current management team in place, and will continue to lead its North American business as usual. Essilor International is the world leader in ophthalmic optical products, offering a wide range of lenses under the flagship Varilux(R), Crizal(R), Airwear(R) and Essilor(R) brands to correct myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia and astigmatism. Essilor operates worldwide through 16 production sites, 185 lens finishing laboratories and local distribution networks. The Essilor share trades on the Euronext Paris market and is included in the CAC 40 index (ISIN: FR 0000121667; Reuters: ESSI.PA; Bloomberg: EF FP). Investor Relations and Financial Communication Veronique Gillet Phone: +33-(0)-1-49-77-42-16 http://www.essilor.com/ DATASOURCE: Essilor CONTACT: Investor Relations and Financial Communication, Veronique Gillet, Phone: +33-(0)-1-49-77-42-16 http://www.essilor.com/

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