Press Release

ZEISS acquires Saxonia Systems

ZEISS acquires an additional digital company with Saxonia Systems

27 November 2019

Oberkochen/Munich, Germany | 27 November 2019 | ZEISS Group

As early as September 2018, the technology company ZEISS had acquired a 25 percent stake in Saxonia Systems. Both companies are now announcing that ZEISS will completely take over the specialty enterprise for individual software solutions. The acquisition will take effect with the approval of the German Federal Cartel Office, which is expected in February 2020. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. With this acquisition, ZEISS is systematically expanding its software competence and securing the expertise and resources of Saxonia Systems to realize digital projects of strategic significance. Both companies know each other well from their long-standing collaboration: Saxonia Systems has been an important software development partner for ZEISS for more than ten years. The joint projects include innovative cloud-based solutions in the field of medical technology.

"As the world's leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics, this acquisition strengthens our expertise in digital product development and agile management principles," says Dr. Ludwin Monz, member of the ZEISS Group Executive Board responsible for the Medical Technology segment. "In addition, we are improving our understanding of customer needs in relation to digital applications. Saxonia Systems will continue to grow as a powerful unit of ZEISS and expand our software development capabilities.” In addition, ZEISS will establish an innovation hub in Dresden similar to the one in Karlsruhe, with the goal of strengthening networking with local research and science, in particular the TU Dresden.

The founders of Saxonia Systems, Viola Klein and Andreas Mönch, are remaining on board and will accompany the integration in 2020: "ZEISS brings a high degree of job security, high stability and new technological perspectives to our team as an excellently positioned company," explains Andreas Mönch. "Furthermore, ZEISS has a strong brand and an excellent reputation."

The integration is expected to be completed in 2020. Saxonia Systems will then operate under the ZEISS brand, but will continue to develop existing customer relationships alongside ZEISS projects. At the six Saxonia Systems sites in Germany, the responsible executives will remain in their functions and the business will continue unchanged. All 235 permanent employees will continue in their positions. They will strengthen the existing ZEISS units in the digital sector and thereby form another important pillar for the continuing digital development of the ZEISS Group.

Press contact Jörg Nitschke

Head of Corporate Brand, Communications and Public Affairs
ZEISS Group

About ZEISS

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the optics and optoelectronics industries. In the previous fiscal year, the ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling more than 5.8 billion euros in its four segments Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (status: 30 September 2018).

For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for the life sciences and materials research, and medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world's leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses and binoculars.

With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare and Smart Production and a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping the future far beyond the optics and optoelectronics industries. The company's significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS' technology and market leadership.

Today the ZEISS Group is represented in almost 50 countries. About 30,000 employees worldwide work at around 60 sales and service locations, more than 30 production sites and around 25 development sites. Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. The Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the largest foundations in Germany committed to the promotion of science, is the sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG

Further information at www.zeiss.com

About Saxonia Systems AG

As a medium-sized and owner-managed company, Saxonia Systems AG has been supporting its customers in the development of individual software solutions since 1994. The company covers the entire life cycle for professional digitalization solutions, from process, technology and software architecture consultations to requirements management, implementation and quality assurance, all the way to commissioning and subsequent maintenance. Saxonia Systems AG currently employs 235 people in Dresden, Munich, Berlin, Görlitz, Leipzig and Hamburg. In the fiscal year 2018, a turnover of approx. €32 million was generated. A special feature of Saxonia Systems AG is the comprehensive and successful practical application of agile principles in corporate management.