Essilor Places €800-million Bond Issue

Regulatory News:

Last week, Essilor International (Paris:EI) successfully placed an €800-million bond issue under very favorable terms and conditions.

Rated A2 (stable outlook) by Moody’s, the issue comprised two fixed-rate tranches:

• A €500-million tranche of seven-year, with a 1.750% coupon.
• A €300-million tranche of ten-year, with a 2.375% coupon.

This was the lowest coupon ever obtained on an inaugural seven-year issue by a non-financial issuer and the lowest ten-year coupon obtained by a non-financial issuer so far this year.

The issue was amply oversubscribed, illustrating investor confidence in Essilor’s business model and the quality of its credit profile. It has enabled Essilor to diversify its sources of financing and investor base and to support its growth strategy.

About Essilor

The world’s leading ophthalmic optics company, Essilor designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of lenses to improve and protect eyesight. Its corporate mission is to improve lives by improving sight. To support this mission, the Company allocates more than €150 million to research and innovation every year, in a commitment to continuously bring new, more effective products to market. Essilor’s flagship brands are Varilux^®, Crizal^®, Transitions^®, Definity^®, Xperio^®, Optifog^TM, Foster Grant^®, Bolon^® and Costa^®. It also develops and markets equipment, instruments and services for eyecare professionals.

Essilor reported consolidated revenue of over €5 billion in 2013 and employs more than 55,000 people. It distributes its products in some 100 countries with 28 plants, more than 450 prescription laboratories and edging facilities, as well as several research and development centers around the world.

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

The Essilor share trades on the NYSE Euronext Paris market and is included in the Euro Stoxx 50 and CAC 40 indices. Codes and symbols: ISIN: FR0000121667; Reuters: ESSI.PA; Bloomberg: EI:FP.