Essilor: audited financial results for 2004

The Board of Directors of Essilor International today announced its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2004.

The group reported excellent 2004 sales and earnings in a generally favorable environment for the ophthalmic optics industry.

The year's highlights included:
- consolidated sales totaled € 2,260 million, a 6.8% rise. Excluding a 3.6% negative currency effect, the increase was 10.4%. On a like-for-like basis, sales were up 5.8%. Excluding Germany, the rise was 8.6%;
- operating income rose 10.7% to € 403.9 million, net income after minority interests increased by 13.4% to € 227.1 million, for a net margin of 10%, versus 9.5% in 2003. Earnings per share rose 12.9% to € 2.24;

The Board of Directors will ask shareholders to approve a dividend of € 0.76 per share of common stock, an increase of 35.7% over 2004. The dividend will be paid from May 18, 2005.