Essilor buys Satisloh

Essilor has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire the shares of Satisloh, the world's biggest optical solution and prescription laboratory equipment manufacturer, from its parent company, Schweiter Technologies.

The agreement is subject to a number of conditions, including approval by the competition authorities in Satisloh's principal host countries. If the conditions are met, the acquisition could go ahead in the second half of 2008.

With the intention of offering industry participants a broader, more competitive range of products and services, the acquisition of Satisloh will open a new area of business according to Essilor.

Satisloh, which also manufactures and markets anti-reflective coating units and surfacing machines as well as consumables, reported revenues of €161m in 2007 and employs 400 members of staff.