CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France—Essilor International, (ESSI.PA) posted €762.2 million in consolidated revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2008, up 3.6 percent from the first quarter of 2007.

Like-for-like growth amounted to 6.2 percent, in line with Essilor’s announced annual growth target, according to an announcement from the company. Changes in scope of consolidation accounted for 4 percent of growth for the period, corresponding mainly (3.3 percent) to acquisitions made in 2007, with the rest contributed by businesses acquired since Jan. 1. The 6.6 percent negative currency effect primarily reflected the 13.9 percent fall in the dollar against the euro and, to a lesser extent, the 12.6 percent decline in the British pound, according to Essilor.

Essilor reported strong growth in North America with consolidated revenue of €318.3 million, up 2.1 percent from the first quarter a year ago or 8.2 percent, like-for like. In the U.S., where demand generally remained strong, growth was led by the successful launch of the sixth generation of Transitions variable-tint lenses and of the Crizal Avancé with Scotchguard Protector lenses, according to Essilor.

In Europe, Essilor posted consolidated revenues of €346.4 million, up 3.6 percent from the first quarter of 2007 or 3.7 percent, like-for-like. According to Essilor there were substantially fewer selling days than in the year-earlier period, however, Germany and the Eastern European countries reported a strong performance.

Consolidated revenue for the Asia-Pacific region was €69.2 million, representing a 5.9 percent increase over the year-ago period or 6.6 percent like-for like. Consolidated revenue for Latin America was €28.3 million, a 17.6 percent increase from the first quarter of 2007 or 14 percent like-for like.

Since the beginning of 2008, Essilor has announced 10 acquisitions in North America, Europe and Asia, which are expected to contribute an aggregate €64 million in full-year revenue, according to the company.

Prescription laboratories acquired in North America included Interstate Optical, Advance Optical Sales, Empire Optical of California and Future Optics in the U.S.; Rainbow Optical Labs in Puerto Rico and WestLab Optical in Canada.

In Europe, Essilor acquired Galileo, a leading Italian marketer of prescription and stock lenses; Optymal, the company’s distributor in Bulgaria; and O’Max, a Dutch distributor of optometry and lens edging instruments. In India, Essilor purchased Rx 20/20, a prescription laboratory. And finally, Nikon-Essilor purchased a minority stake in Encore Optics, a Connecticut-based prescription laboratory in the U.S.