CHICAGO, February 12, 2008 - GE Healthcare Financial Services has partnered with Essilor Laboratories of America, Inc. to offer eye care professionals financing solutions to grow their practices.

"We are excited to be partnering with Essilor, the optometric industry leader, to support their customer's growth needs with financing options," said Catherine Estrampes, General Manager for GE Healthcare Financial Services' Vendor and Practice Solutions team. "We are pleased to provide creative financing solutions to help eye care professionals meet their business objectives and satisfy their customer's vision care needs."

The new Essilor Laboratories of America Growth Financing Program, with financing from GE Healthcare Financial Services, offers equipment financing; practice expansion with options for construction costs, working capital and leasehold improvements; and line of credit solutions. In addition, clients receive "rewards"-a quarterly credit on their lab bill based on such variables as the annual growth of the practice and the amount borrowed under the financing program.

"We are delighted that GE Healthcare Financial Services has tailored a solution to fit the needs of our customers-eye care professionals who continually strive to provide state-of-the-art eye services," said Réal Goulet, President, Essilor Laboratories of America, Inc. "These financing solutions are designed to build and grow the eye care professionals' practices, giving them a competitive edge."

For almost two decades, the life science finance team of GE Healthcare Financial Services has worked with more than 500 companies throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. With a dedicated focus on assisting life science companies large and small, from the first venture round to post-IPO, the team has provided over $2.5 billion in financing to the market.

Essilor is the leading manufacturer of optical lenses in the United States and is the market leader in progressive, high-index and anti-reflective coated lenses. A pioneer in the development and production of ophthalmic lenses, Essilor employs more than 8,500 people throughout North America. Essilor manufactures optical lenses under the Varilux®, Crizal®, Thin&Lite®, DEFINITY™ and other Essilor brand names. Essilor Laboratories of America (ELOA) is the largest, and most trusted, optical lab network in the U.S. and offers a wide choice of services and lens brands, including Essilor premium lenses, to eye care professionals across the nation. Essilor of America, Inc. (Essilor) is a subsidiary of Paris-based Essilor International, S.A., a publicly held company traded on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (Reuters: ESSI.PA).

GE Healthcare Financial Services is the premier provider of capital, financial solutions, and related services for the global healthcare market. With over $17 billion in assets, GE Healthcare Financial Services offers a full range of financing capabilities from equipment leasing and real estate financing to working capital lending, vendor programs, and acquisition financing. With a dedicated focus and a deep knowledge of the healthcare industry, GE Healthcare Financial Services collaborates with customers to create tailored financial solutions that help them improve their productivity and profitability. For more information, visit www.gehealthcarefinance.com.

Media Contacts

Deia Campanelli
GE Healthcare Financial Services
312-441-6169
deia.campanelli@ge.com