MILAN, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Italian eyewear maker Luxottica SpA (LUX.MI) will propose a dividend of 0.22 euros per share as prospects now look brighter, it said on Friday 18 September.

Luxottica

In April, Luxottica shareholders approved the suspension of the dividend on 2008 results with the aim of further reinforcing its balance sheet. "During the first eight months of the year, the group posted positive results and strong cash flow generation," Chief Executive Andrea Guerra said in a statement on Friday 18 September.

"This performance further strengthened our balance sheet and puts us in a position to look more positively towards the year-end. Consequently, we believe that this is the right time for our shareholders to share in these results," he said.

Luxottica turned in a 3.5 percent rise in second-quarter sales in July although net income fell 12.7 percent to 115.7 million euros. But free cashflow reached 260 million euros in the second quarter and it has said it expects this to be nearer 500 million euros than 400 million euros by year-end.

Luxottica shares ended up 2.03 percent at 18.06 euros before the statement was released. (Reporting by Danilo Masoni; Editing by David Cowell)