CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France, April 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Essilor, the world leader in ophthalmic optics, today announced its consolidated revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2007:
EUR millions 1st quarter 1st quarter % change Like-for-like 2007 2006 as reported growth Consolidated revenue 735.6 692.8 6.2% 8.1% Europe 334.5 300.0 11.5% 8.6% North America 311.7 309.1 0.9% 6.7% Asia-Pacific 65.3 60.3 8.3% 12.8% Latin America 24.1 23.4 2.9% 8.4%
Consolidated revenue for the first three months of 2007 amounted to EUR735.6 million, up 6.2% as reported and 8.1% like-for-like. Changes in the scope of consolidation accounted for 2.9% of growth, while the currency effect was a negative 4.9%.
The 8.1% like-for-like gain was particularly robust given the high basis of comparison with first-quarter 2006, when revenue rose 11.5% like-for-like.
For Essilor, early 2007 was shaped by strong demand and an improvement in the Company’s positions in its leading regional markets, especially Europe and Asia.
New products, such as the Varilux Physio(R) introduced in 2006, made a major contribution to business performance for the period. Strong growth was also reported in anti-reflective lenses, led by the new Crizal(R) Alize(R) with AST(TM) antistatic coating, and in variable-tint lenses. In early 2007, the Company introduced Anateo(TM)/Accolade(TM), a progressive lens for the second distribution network.
Changes in the scope of consolidation, which added 2.9 points to reported growth, concerned the companies acquired in 2006 and early 2007, such as Novacel in France and two prescription laboratories in the United States.
The negative 4.9% currency effect reflected the appreciation of the euro against the dollar, the yen and most other currencies between first-quarter 2006 and first-quarter 2007.
A conference call will be held today at 10:00 a.m., Paris time.
The number to dial is: +44-(0)161-601-89-20
The conference will be available for later listening at: http://hosting.3sens.com/Essilor/20070418-114CAAE4/en
Next financial announcement
First-half 2007 revenue: July 12, 2007
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, 244 lens finishing laboratories and local distribution networks.
The Essilor share trades on the Euronext Paris market and is included in the CAC 40 index.
Codes and symbols: ISIN: FR 0000121667; Reuters: ESSI.PA; Bloomberg: EF FP. Investor Relations and Financial Communications Veronique Gillet Phone: +33-(0)-1-49-77-42-16 www.essilor.com
Essilor
CONTACT: Investor Relations and Financial Communications, VeroniqueGillet, Phone: +33-(0)-1-49-77-42-16, www.essilor.com
