By Ruth Bender
PARIS--French lens maker Essilor International (EI.FR) Thursday
said net profit more than doubled in the first half of the year,
boosted by the company's recent acquisitions.
Net profit for the first six months rose to 699 million euros
($923.6 million) from EUR310 million the same period a year ago, as
revenue rose 7.9% to EUR2.78 billion from EUR2.58 billion.
Essilor has made several acquisitions over the past year,
including U.S. sunglass maker Costa Inc. for $270 million.
"...The Group has boosted its presence in three fast-growing
optical segments - the photochromic lenses, sun and online
businesses - while delivering a further improvement in its
operating margin," Chief Executive Hubert Sagnières said in a
statement.
Essilor said for the full year it expects revenue, excluding the
impact of currency shifts, to grow over 13%, a slightly more
ambitious target than given previously.
Write to Ruth Bender at ruth.bender@wsj.com
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