Essilor reports sales increase

Essilor International's financial results for the first quarter of 2008 show a 3.6 per cent increase in sales, a rise the company claimed had been helped by new acquisitions.

Chief operating officer Philippe Alfroid said the adverse foreign exchange effect - particularly the weakness of the dollar against the euro - had contributed a negative impact of €48.5m on revenues.

Essilor also said it expected profit - excluding exchange rates - was expected to grow by around 10 per cent in 2008.

During the three months ended March 31, Essilor bought back 1.7 million of its own shares for €65m.