Menicon to Acquire David Thomas Contact Lenses Ltd., Major U.K. Custom Lens Manufacturer

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

NAGOYA, Japan, November 19 - 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: 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).

    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: www.menicon.com

Image Attachments Links:
asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=140627

Toshio Matsushima, Global Strategies & Operations of Menicon Co., Ltd., +81-52-937-5021, fax, +81-52-935-1121, matsushima at menicon-net.co.jp