July 31 (Reuters) - EssilorLuxottica ESLX.PA in a conference call with analysts after H1 results:
* CONFIRMS STRATEGIC RATIONALE OF PLANNED GRANDVISION ACQUISITION
* SAYS THERE WAS IMPROVED TREND IN JULY BUT REMAINS CAUTIOUS DUE TO FURTHER LOCKDOWNS IN SOME PARTS OF WORLD
* DOES NOT EXPECT DECISION FROM EUROPEAN COMMISSION ON GRANDVISION DEAL BEFORE Q4
* THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE 2021 PROFITABILITY CANNOT BE BETTER THAN IN 2019
* TRENDS IN U.S., CANADA, AND EUROPE IN JULY ARE "VERY ENCOURAGING"
* IN STATE OF VICTORIA DECLINE IN TRAFFIC MATERIALLY HIGHER THAN REST OF AUSTRALIA DUE TO LOCKDOWNS
* OPTICAL RETAIL BUSINESS COMP-SALES TRENDING ON HIGH-SINGLE DIGITS IN JULY IN MOST OF AUSTRALIA Further company coverage: ESLX.PA
(Gdansk Newsroom)