HOYA Corporation Announces Agreement to Acquire Performance Optics, LLC

PR66114

TOKYO, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

     - Acquisition strengthens global HOYA Vision Care business

    HOYA Corporation (HOYA) today announced a definitive agreement to acquire

Performance Optics, LLC (Performance Optics), including its subsidiaries VISION

EASE and Daemyung Optical. Performance Optics is a global ophthalmic lens

manufacturer specializing in polycarbonate, photochromic, polarized and high

index eyeglass lenses. This acquisition will strengthen HOYA's ability to

provide customers with a broader portfolio of leading products, while

continuing to provide best-in-class services to the eyewear industry.

    "The acquisition of Performance Optics expands HOYA's customer reach,

particularly through VISION EASE's presence in the Americas and its strengths

in polycarbonate products and technologies," said Girts Cimermans, CEO of HOYA

Vision Care. "Performance Optics provides HOYA with additional capabilities in

polycarbonate, photochromic and polarized lens technologies, as well as an

expansion of our global footprint in high index lens casting to reinforce our

position as a global technology leader in lens manufacturing. Importantly, we

also will augment our global research & development capabilities, creating a

new technology center of excellence outside of Japan."

    Performance Optics is a global eyeglass lens manufacturing company

employing over 2,000 people around the world. With manufacturing facilities in

the United States, Korea, China, Thailand and Indonesia, Performance Optics

serves the worldwide needs of eyewear customers. "Performance Optics'

subsidiaries, VISION EASE and Daemyung Optical, have capabilities and cultures

of innovation, quality and service that strongly complement HOYA's footprint

and long-standing reputation in the eyewear industry," said John Weber, CEO of

Performance Optics. "By joining forces, we will better meet our customers'

global needs across geographies."

    "Our acquisition of Performance Optics continues HOYA's strategic

initiatives in the Life Care segment," said Augustine Yee, Chief Legal Officer

and Global Head of Corporate Development and Affairs at HOYA Corporation.

"Performance Optics enables HOYA to become a more broad-based leader in Vision

Care, our largest division."

    About HOYA

    Founded in 1941 in Tokyo, Japan, Hoya is a global technology and med-tech

company, and a leading supplier of innovative high-tech and medical products.

Hoya is active in the fields of healthcare and information technology,

providing eyeglasses, medical endoscopes, intraocular lenses, optical lenses,

as well as key components for semiconductor devices, LCD panels and HDDs. With

over 150 offices and subsidiaries worldwide, Hoya currently employs a

multinational workforce of over 34,000 people. For more information, please

visit http://www.hoya.com.

    About HOYA Vision Care

    For over 60 years, HOYA Vision Care has been a global leader in the

eyeglass lens business. With a presence in over 50 countries, Hoya Vision Care

has a proven expertise in lens designs and freeform surfacing technology

combined with a leading position in high performance, quality AR coating. HOYA

Vision Care's solid market portfolio includes SEIKO and PENTAX optical lenses,

as well as innovative products such as Hoyalux iD MyStyle V+ progressive lenses

and Yuniku, vision-centric 3D tailored eyewear. The company employs over 16,000

employees worldwide with mass production facilities in Asia & Europe and over

40 local Rx laboratories globally.

    About Performance Optics, LLC

    Performance Optics, LLC is a portfolio company of Wind Point Partners that

is focused on optical company investments. It comprises ophthalmic lens

manufacturers VISION EASE and Daemyung Optical Co. Ltd., and includes

production facilities in the United States, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea

and China.

    VISION EASE is a global ophthalmic lens marketer and manufacturer offering

lenses that are now industry standards - including polycarbonate, photochromic

and polarized lenses.

    Daemyung Optical Co., Ltd. is the second largest optical lens manufacturer

in Korea and specializes in high-index plastic lenses.

    Additional information available at http://www.visionease.com and

http://www.dmo.co.kr/eng

    Investors and security holders may obtain additional information and other

documents, filed by the Company with the Tokyo Stock Exchange, regarding the

acquisition for free at HOYA's website at http://www.hoya.com.

SOURCE: HOYA Vision Care Europe