
STUTTGART/Germany, 14.05.2014.
ZEISS has concluded the first six months of the 2013/14 fiscal year with a five percent increase in revenue to a figure totaling EUR 2.074 billion (first half of 2012/13: EUR 1.978 billion). With a total of EUR 2.246 billion, incoming orders were 16 percent higher than the prior year (first half of 2012/13: EUR 1.935 billion), a clear improvement primarily attributable to the increased demand on the semiconductor market. Earnings (EBIT) grew by around EUR 57 million to EUR 166 million (first half of 2012/13: EUR 109 million). Exchange rate effects negatively impacted the half-year financial figures of ZEISS. Without these effects, a revenue increase of seven percent* and earnings of EUR 186 million* would have resulted when calculated on a comparable basis.
"Overall, we continued to grow in the first half of the 2013/14 fiscal year despite the negative currency conditions facing us. We benefited from the strong demand in the semiconductor market and also achieved further gains in the Medical Technology and Industrial Metrology business groups," said Dr. Michael Kaschke, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss AG. However, Kaschke is not totally satisfied with the development: "We set our sights slightly higher and need to intensify our efforts in the second half of the year in order to step up the pace again and grow in some markets under the difficult conditions facing us."
Expenditure on research and development remains at high level
With a total of EUR 211 million, ZEISS maintained its expenditure on research and development at a high level in the first six months of the fiscal year. This equates to 10 percent of revenue. A large proportion of the funds was channeled into the further development of future-oriented Extreme Ultra Violet (EUV) lithography. "The chip manufacturers are sending clear signals to both ourselves and our strategic partner ASML that they see EUV as the production technology of the future," is how Kaschke explained this high level of financial commitment, "even if the volume production of microchips with EUV will happen later and more slowly than originally planned due to the complexity of this technology." ZEISS has been pursuing the development of EUV technology for just under 20 years.
Portfolio strengthened through acquisition
To strengthen and expand the business of the Medical Technology business group, ZEISS acquired the company Aaren Scientific, headquartered in Ontario/California (USA), at the beginning of 2014. Aaren Scientific is specialized in the production of intraocular lenses.
Financial highlights
Direct business accounted for just under 80 percent of revenue. The remaining 20 percent was generated with cooperation partners. In the first half of the fiscal year the business with cooperation partners increased by 41 percent over the weak equivalent period the previous year. This is due, above all, to the growth in revenue of the Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology business group ( 27 percent over the prior year). The company generates most of its revenue outside Germany. In the first six months of the year ZEISS was particularly successful in the Asia/Pacific (APAC) region with revenue totaling EUR 419 million. This corresponds to growth of 15 percent* over the previous year (first half of 2012/13: EUR 395 million) when calculated on a comparable basis. In Germany ZEISS reported revenue amounting to EUR 256 million, an increase of five percent (first half of 2012/13: EUR 244 million).
In the first half of fiscal year 2013/14 ZEISS invested EUR 67 million in property, plant and equipment (first half of 2012/13: EUR 107 million). These compared to depreciations totaling EUR 71 million (first half of 2012/13: EUR 65 million). After the end of the first six months net liquidity totaled EUR 128 million (first half of 2012/13: EUR 211 million). "The decrease in net liquidity is attributable to special effects," explained Thomas Spitzenpfeil, CFO of Carl Zeiss AG. "This reflects acquisitions and negative currency effects."
After the heavy investments of the prior year, the free cash flow is now clearly positive again and totals EUR 101 million (first half of 2012/13: EUR 34 million). After the first six months of the fiscal year the companys equity amounted to over one billion euros, equating to an equity ratio of 24 percent.
Headcount in Germany slightly up
In the first six months 24,791 employees worked for ZEISS worldwide (31 March 2013: 24,803). In Germany, headcount increased by around 70 employees to 10,809 (31 March 2013: 10,739). At the end of the first half of the year ZEISS employed approximately 430 trainees in Germany (31 March 2013: around 400).
Trends in the business groups
Revenue (in EUR million)
1st half of 2013/14 1st half of 2012/13 Change Change on comparable basis*
Industrial Metrology 271 264 2% 5%
Microscopy 314 303 4% 2%
Medical Technology 510 494 3% 9%
Vision Care 384 419 8% 4%
Consumer Optics 84 90 6% 4%
Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology 499 392 27% 27%
The values deviate from the published figures of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG as a result of different consolidation models.
Cautious outlook for the second half of the fiscal year
For the second half of the 2013/14 fiscal year, ZEISS expects a slowdown in the growth momentum in the emerging economies, continued negative exchange rate developments and political uncertainties, and therefore little impetus for business. Against this background, the company anticipates a modest trend in revenue and earnings. "We aim to also reach our targets in the difficult scenario confronting us. Therefore, our focus lies on further improving our productivity and efficiency and on accelerating the implementation of market-dominating innovations in all areas," Kaschke emphasized. "We a
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
18/08/2026
SMT will provide race technology for FOX Sports' coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. on August 23, when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races ...
18/08/2026
The live, YouTube-native roundtables combine fan voices, credentialed reporters,...
18/08/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
18/08/2026
The industry legend sounds off on replacing the Heat's iconic Medusa score...
18/08/2026
William F. Rasmussen, the sports fan-turned broadcaster and entrepreneur whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the ...
18/08/2026
DAZN Group has completed its acquisition of ViewLift, a provider of streaming and digital solutions for sports content owners. The acquisition was first announc...
18/08/2026
The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) has added SI TV, Sports Illustrated's 24/7 streaming channel, as a broadcast partner for the remain...
18/08/2026
The Esports Foundation has announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to Novemb...
18/08/2026
Diversified has announced a new Global Managed Services Practice, consolidating the company's managed services capabilities into one organization. Rob Mello...
18/08/2026
Appear has completed a proof of concept with Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP), demonstrating multi-camera remote live production over bonded 5G cellular an...