Essilor International is an industrial society specialized in ophthalmic glasses (corrective for Lunettes of sight and solar lenses), world leader of its branch of industry.

History

Essilor was born in 1972 from fusion from the two companies which dominated the French optics-spectacle industry then: Essel and Silor. Silor invented plastic glass Orma® 1.000 (1959), Essel the multifocal lens Varilux® (1959).

The Essilor Group has a wallet of marks with very strong notoriety: at the head the multifocal lenses Varilux. Inventor of the multifocal lens, Varilux® does not cease innovating since 1959. For more information on Varilux®, go on www.varilux.fr. and www.varilux.com. In the world, a multifocal lens on two is Varilux. World company, committed in many partnerships (Nikon, PPG, CNRS, Transitions), Essilor counts, at the end of 2005,215 prescription laboratories in the world, 16 production units and holds 3300 patents.

ESSEL: Founded in 1849 with Ligny-in-Barrois, at the date of fusion the largest French manufacturer of mineral glasses is (glass). Exit of a working co-operative called Société of the Opticians, which will become S.L then Essel, it brings a practical solid of the participation and dialog.

SILOR: The company of Brothers LISSAC creates in 1931 is then 6° on the worldwide market of optics spectacle industry. It is at the origin of the creation of organic glasses in the world.

R & D: Research and development at Essilor

5% of the sales turnover produced by Essilor are invested for research.

Half of the benefit of Essilor were carried out thanks to invented products there is less than 5 years. From where the paramount place of research within Essilor, and importance of the patents protecting the techniques developed by Essilor.

The most important center is in Saint Maur. There are research laboratories everywhere in world (Japan, the USA, Singapore).

Trades

• corrective Lenses: 95%
• Others (instruments for opticians…): 5%

Market

By Geographical Areas:

• Europe: 46,2%
• North America: 42,3%
• Asia and others: 11,5%

Management of the firm

Board of directors

At June 30th, 2006:

General President-director:

• Xavier Fontanet

Delegated general director:

• Philippe Alfroid

Independent administrators:

• Alain Aspect
• Michel Besson
• Jean Burelle
• Yves Chevillotte
• Philippe Germond
• Olivier Pécoux
• Dominique Reiniche
• Michel Rose

Administrators representing the internal shareholders:

• Juan Boix
• Alain Thomas
• Serge Zins

Executive committee

At June 30th, 2006:

• Xavier Fontanet - Pdt Managing director
• Henri Vidal - human Resources
• Laurent Vacherot - Finance manager:
• Philippe Alfroid - Delegated general director
• Thomas Bayer - Directing of the network Essilor Europe
• Claude Brignon - Directing of the Operations
• Patrick Cherrier - Directeur Asia
• Bertrand of Filed - Executive director of the Latin America and the instruments
• Didier Lambert - Directing of the systems of information
• Thierry Robin - President d' Essilor Canada
• Bertrand Roy - strategic Marketing director
• Hubert Sagnières - Executive director Europe and North America
• Jean-Luc Schuppiser - Directing of the research and the development
• Jean Carrier - President d' Essilor off America
• Carol Xueref - Directing of the legal affairs and the development
• Alain Pierre - President BBGR

Financial data

Stock exchange data

• Shares quoted with the Paris Bourse - Euronext
• Member of the index CAC 40
• Code Value ISIN = FR0000121667
• Reuters Code: ESSI.PA
• Local Code:
• Face value =
• Principal shareholders
• Public: 91%
• Paid Essilor: 8%
• Essilor SA: 1%

References

Random links:

Poligny (Hautes-Alpes) | Glaire (the Ardennes) | -1165 | Jean Acker | Individual (music)