SOLA International Inc. (NYSE:SOL) today announced that it has acquired certain net assets of Vision Systems Inc., including two prescription laboratories located in Atlanta, Georgia and Petersburg, Virginia. Vision Systems has annual sales of approximately $10.8 million, employs 70 people and processes approximately 850 orders per day. The purchase price consists of $2.6 million in cash consideration and the assumption of $1.2 million of debt. Contingent payments total an additional $4.0 million.

Jeremy C. Bishop, President and Chief Executive Officer of SOLA, said, "The acquisition of Vision Systems represents another important step in the Company's strategic plan to strengthen our competitive position in the United States. These laboratories are among the top 25 premier prescription labs in the country and we are pleased they have chosen to join SOLA."

Barry J. Packham, Executive Vice President and General Manager North America, commented, "Vision Systems will be integrated into our existing North American prescription laboratory network and complement rather than replace our relationships with independent labs. As in the past, we have no intention of migrating sales of our products away from our independent lab partners to SOLA-owned labs. Rather, our goal is to increase the Company's distribution platform for key products including our flagship progressive lens, SOLAOne(TM), and Teflon(R) EasyCare lens coatings, while concurrently supporting our existing customers."

Richard W. Hughes, Co-Founder of Vision Systems, stated, "We are excited to be joining the SOLA organization. This will allow us to continue providing excellent service and products to our customers, while enabling us to utilize SOLA's alliances, technologies, breadth of value-added products and most importantly marketing and financial resources to meet growing customer demand in the markets we serve. We strongly believe our existing customers and loyal employees will benefit from this new relationship."

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements relating to SOLA's potential growth prospects. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of SOLA. Actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of, among other things, the highly competitive nature of the eyeglass lens and coating industry; SOLA's need to develop new products; potential adverse developments in the domestic and foreign economic and political environment, including exchange rates, tariffs and other trade barriers and potentially adverse tax consequences; potential difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations; and the other factors described in SOLA's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The words "believe," "expect," "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "expectation," "intention," "intend," "guidance," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. SOLA undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOLA International Inc. designs, manufactures and distributes a broad range of eyeglass lenses, primarily focusing on the faster-growing plastic lens segment of the global lens market, and particularly on higher-margin value-added products. SOLA's strong global presence includes manufacturing and distribution sites in three major regions: North America, Europe and Rest of World (primarily Australia, Asia and South America) and approximately 6,600 employees in 27 countries servicing customers in over 50 markets worldwide. For additional information, visit the Company's web site at www.sola.com.