ESSILOR (EPA:EL) ESSILOR - News Release

Transparency directive : regulatory news

10/06/2010 19:00

News Release

     Essilor to appeal against the BKA's decision on anti-cartel rules

Charenton-le-Pont Pont (10 June 2010 7:00 p.m.) - Essilor was notified today by
Germany's antitrust authority, the BundesKartellAmt (BKA), that it was being
fined for allegedly creating a cartel with several optical retail store
suppliers operating in the German market. The fine levied on Essilor's two
German subsidiaries, Essilor GmbH and Rupp + Hubrach Optik GmbH, amounts to
EUR50 million.

Essilor contests the validity of the BKA's conclusions as well as the amount of
the fine, and plans to lodge an appeal with the Düsseldorf Court. No payment
will be made pending a ruling by the Düsseldorf Court.

Since the beginning of the BKA inquiry, Essilor has set aside provisions of
EUR9.2 million in respect of this dispute in its 2008 and 2009 accounts. The
market was duly notified of the inquiry and the related provisions. Any
appropriate additional provisions will be booked following a detailed analysis
of BKA's notification.

As previously stated, Essilor is fully committed to the principle of free
competition. The Company applies a zero tolerance approach to anti-competitive
practices and expects all members of its organization to behave in an exemplary
manner in this regard.

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

                                 Media Relations
                                 Paolo Ghilardi
                                i&e Consultants
             Phone: +33 (0)1 56 03 13 02 - +33 (0)6 88 38 28 71
                                pghilardi@i-e.fr

The world leader in ophthalmic optical products, Essilor International
researches, develops, manufactures and markets around the world a wide range of
corrective lenses to improve and protect eyesight. Its flagship brands are
Varilux(r), Crizal(r), Essilor(r), Definity(r) and Xperio(TM).

Based in France, the company reported consolidated revenue of more than EUR3.2
billion in 2009, with nearly 35,000 employees and operations in 100 countries.

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

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

Codes and symbols: ISIN: FR FR0000121667; Reuters: ESSI.PA; Bloomberg: EI:FP

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