Shamir Optical Industry Ltd. (US Headquarters) Announces Receiving a Lawsuit

KIBBUTZ SHAMIR, Israel, Jan. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Shamir Optical Industry Ltd. (Nasdaq: SHMR) ("Shamir"), a leading provider of innovative products and technology to the ophthalmic lens market, today announces that Shamir and Inray Ltd., its partly owned subsidiary, were served with a lawsuit by Dymotech Ltd., Shamir's co-shareholder in Inray Ltd. The lawsuit was filed with the Central District Court, located in Petach-Tikva, Israel.

The claim alleges, among others, that Shamir illegally used the intellectual property of the Technion Israel Institute of Technology to seek unjust enrichment. In addition to the request for an order to pay damages and other monetary orders, Dymotech requested a restraining order against future use of its alleged intellectual property. The total amount claimed (limited for court filing fee purposes) is NIS 100 million (approximately US$ 28.17 million based on the January 14, 2011 representative rate of exchange).

Shamir is reviewing and assessing the lawsuit and is unable, at this preliminary stage, to evaluate, with any degree of certainty, the probability of success of the lawsuit or the range of potential exposure.

About Shamir

Shamir is a leading provider of innovative products and technology to the spectacle lens market. Utilizing its proprietary technology, the company develops, designs, manufactures, and markets progressive lenses to sell to the ophthalmic market. In addition, Shamir utilizes its technology to provide design services to optical lens manufacturers under service and royalty agreements. Progressive lenses are used to treat presbyopia, a vision condition where the eye loses its ability to focus on close objects. Progressive lenses combine several optical strengths into a single lens to provide a gradual and seamless transition from near to intermediate, to distant vision. Shamir differentiates its products from its competitors' primarily through lens design. Shamir's leading lenses are marketed under a variety of trade names, including Shamir Creation(TM), Shamir Piccolo(TM), Shamir Office(TM), Shamir Autograph(TM), Shamir Attitude(TM) and Shamir Smart(TM). Shamir believes that it has one of the world's preeminent research and development teams for progressive lenses, molds, and complementary technologies and tools. Shamir developed software dedicated to the design of progressive lenses. This software is based on Shamir's proprietary mathematical algorithms that optimize designs of progressive lenses for a variety of activities and environments. Shamir also has created software tools specifically designed for research and development and production requirements, including Eye Point Technology software, which simulates human vision.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements concerning and assumptions made or expectations as to any future events, conditions, performance or other matters, are "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined under U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in such statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to the factors detailed in Shamir's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Shamir assumes no obligation to update the information in this release.

Investor Relations Contacts:


Roni Gavrielov

Jeffrey Goldberger/Marybeth Csaby

KM / KCSA Investor Relations

KCSA Strategic Communications

+972-3-516-7620

212-896-1249/212-896-1236

roni@km-ir.co.il

jgoldberger@kcsa.com / mcsaby@kcsa.com



SOURCE Shamir Optical Industries Ltd.

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