Menicon to Acquire David Thomas Contact Lenses Ltd., Major U.K…

-Deal provides base of operations for Menicon’s expansion in U.K.-

Menicon Co., Ltd. (Menicon) and David Thomas Contact Lenses Ltd. (DTCL)
announced on November 19 that the two companies reached agreement on November
16, 2009 for Menicon to acquire 100% of the ownership of DTCL. The acquisition
of DTCL will enable Menicon to build on DTCL’s successful business in the U.K.
and abroad. Menicon has an important presence in the European rigid gas
permeable (RGP) lens and lens care market, though not in the U.K. The existing
directors and staff will remain with DTCL and customers will continue to
receive the same levels of service as before. All existing DTCL products will
continue to be available and, over time, other products from Menicon will be
introduced through DTCL, including Menicon’s growing range of soft contact
lenses.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091116/MENICONEXECUTIVES)

Mr. William Thomas, Managing Director of DTCL, commented: "We are very excited
and pleased about the acquisition as it will bring additional skills, expertise
and resources to enable DTCL to continue growing and innovating in the custom
contact lens field. We see the acquisition as a new beginning, which will
strengthen DTCL and make available to our customers an exciting new range of
products."

Dr. Hidenari Tanaka, President of Menicon, added: "We have watched David Thomas
Contact Lenses evolve into a leading specialty lens manufacturer in the U.K.
and we see great potential to work together with DTCL to grow Menicon’s
business in this very important market. The quality of its products and the
business model fits very well into our company culture. We are extremely
pleased to be able to work with William Thomas and his excellent team in
Northampton to further grow their specialty business while taking on the
responsibility for growing Menicon’s U.K. business. I am confident that both
Menicon and DTCL will benefit substantially from the synergy of working
together as part of the same family."

About DTCL:
David Thomas Contact Lenses, Ltd. (www.davidthomas.com), founded by Mr. David
Thomas, has been making contact lenses since 1972. Today, it is one of the
largest independent manufacturers of custom lenses in the U.K., supplying a
wide range of both gas permeable (GP) and soft lenses. DTCL is the largest
supplier of Keratoconus contact lenses in the U.K., marketed under the Rose K
brand. DTCL is also the leading exporter of Rose K lenses, with customers in 47
countries.

About Menicon:
Menicon Co., Ltd. (www.menicon.com), founded by Mr. Kyoichi Tanaka in 1951, is
Japan’s first and largest contact lens manufacturer, and now is represented in
over 30 countries. Menicon is a manufacturer dedicated to all areas of soft and
GP contact lens related businesses including material development, lens
designing, and manufacturing of contact lenses and care solutions. Menicon is a
world leader in the development of hyper-Dk GP (Menicon Z) and soft contact
lenses (Menicon PremiO).

SOURCE: Menicon Co., Ltd.

Contact:
Toshio Matsushima
Global Strategies & Operations
Menicon Co., Ltd.
Phone: +81-52-937-5021
Fax: +81-52-935-1121
E-mail: matsushima@menicon-net.co.jp
URL: http://www.menicon.com

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