[bc]SAFILO GROUP ACQUIRES OUTLOOK EYEWEAR WITH THE BRANDS LIZ CLAIBORNE AND J. LO BY JENNIFER LOPEZ [/bc]
PADUA – 3 July 2003 – Safilo Group today announced its acquisition of Outlook Eyewear, the eyewear distributor based in Denver (USA).

As a result of this agreement, Safilo Group will add all Liz Claiborne licensed eyewear brands to its portfolio, including Liz Claiborne, LizSport, Claiborne, Liz Claiborne Readers, Crazy Horse, First Issue and Villager. (Safilo Group previously obtained the Liz Claiborne ophthalmic license in December 2002). This agreement makes Safilo the only producer of all the sun and optical eyewear collections bearing the Liz Claiborne brand. Safilo Group will present the first collection of Liz Claiborne sunglasses for the American market in August 2003.

Through the same transaction Safilo Group has also acquired the J. Lo by Jennifer Lopez and B.U.M. Equipment sunwear brands.

The new brands acquired through Outlook will be distributed in the United States and Canada only.

Commenting on this latest agreement, Safilo’s President Vittorio Tabacchi said, “Outlook is a completely self-sufficient company with its own product development, marketing, sales and distribution capabilities. Its significant market share in the mid-segment sunwear market in the USA and Canada made it an extremely attractive acquisition for Safilo in view of the Group’s continued expansion into this important retail category.”