Nine-Month 2005 Sales





Further Growth in the Third Quarter






Charenton-le-Pont, France (October 20, 2005) -- Essilor, the world leader in ophthalmic optics, today announced its consolidated sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2005:

in € millions

Sept. 30, 2005

IFRS

Sept. 30, 2004

IFRS

% Change (reported)

Sales

1,803.1

1,665.2

+8.3%



Sales rose 11.4% in the third quarter, of which 3.5% from acquisitions and 1.6% from a positive currency effect. Like-for-like growth was 6.2% for the quarter. This strong performance lifted growth for the first nine months of the year to 5.2% like-for-like, compared with 4.7% in the first half. Companies acquired in 2004 and 2005 accounted for 3.3% of the nine-month growth, while the currency effect was a slightly negative 0.2%.

Sales by region

in € millions



Sept. 30, 2005


IFRS

Sept. 30, 2004

IFRS

% Change (reported)

% Change

(like-for-like) *



Europe

833.5

801.7

+4.0%

+2.3%

North America

764.1

693.8

+10.1%

+6.4%

Asia-Pacific

149.2

129.8

+15.0%

+12.2%

Latin America

56.3

39.9

+41.1%

+21.5%

* At constant scope of consolidation and exchange rates


In the third quarter, business was very strong in North America, Asia and Latin America, driving like-for-like gains of respectively 7.3%, 14.2% and 24.9%, while in Europe, a 2.8% like-for-like increase sustained the upward trend observed since the second quarter.

Growth continued to be led by progressive lenses, especially the Varilux® line, the new generation of Transitions® photochromic lenses and the Crizal® Alizé™ anti-reflective lenses. In addition, September saw the launch of the new Essilor® Anti-Fatigue™ unifocal, whose innovative design makes it more comfortable for non-presbyopic adults to wear.

Outlook
Essilor expects consolidated sales to end the year up by 8-9%, excluding the currency effect, with an improvement in profitability compared with 2004.

Three new acquisitions
France
Essilor has completed the acquisition of the business assets and goodwill of OMI, its exclusive lens distributor in the French West Indies (Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana). OMI is a long-standing partner with €7 million in sales and a prescription laboratory in Guadeloupe. The acquisition has strengthened Essilor’s local presence through its flagship Varilux® and Crizal® brands.

North America
Essilor has acquired an 80% interest in MGM, a Puerto Rico based prescription laboratory and Varilux® distributor with $2 million in sales. It has also acquired the assets of Canada’s Optical Software Inc., which makes prescription laboratory management software and has $1.2 million in sales.



Next release : 2005 Sales, January 25, 2006.


Investor Relations and Financial Communication
Véronique Gillet
Phone: +33 (0)1 49 77 42 16
www.essilor.com