Press Release

Acquisition of Saxonia Systems AG

ZEISS to expand site in Dresden with another Innovation Hub

2 March 2020

Oberkochen, Dresden / Germany | 02 March 2020 | ZEISS Group

ZEISS has successfully concluded its acquisition of Saxonia Systems AG, a specialist for customized software solutions. The company will now operate as Carl Zeiss Digital Innovation. In the future, the new unit Carl Zeiss Digital Innovation will further support the ZEISS segments with their digital projects and play a leading role in terms of innovation. It will also continue its existing business for customers outside of ZEISS.

The use of digital technologies is a key part of the ZEISS future business strategy. With this new acquisition, ZEISS is systematically expanding its own software development know-how and also securing the expertise and development capacities of Saxonia Systems to realize digital projects of strategic significance in the whole ZEISS Group. The longstanding collaboration between the two companies means they know each other well: Saxonia Systems has already been a key ZEISS software development partner for over ten years. Joint endeavors include innovative medical technology solutions.

With the acquisition, ZEISS is further expanding its presence in Dresden. In addition to the first ZEISS Innovation Hub at KIT in Karlsruhe (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), a second hub is set to be established adjacent to Carl Zeiss Digital Innovation and the Technical University of Dresden. The hub will act as an interface between science and research, and it will fly the ZEISS flag. It will be open to students and scientists from the Technical University of Dresden and other colleges, to new companies such as university carve-outs, and to ZEISS research groups and product development units. The intention is to assist with networking and the implementation of joint projects.

Carl Zeiss Digital Innovation helps its customers develop customized software solutions. The unit covers digitalization solutions, from process, technology and software architecture consultations all the way to requirements management, implementation, quality assurance and maintenance. In fiscal year 2018, the roughly 250 employees now working at the new Carl Zeiss Digital Innovation in Dresden and at five other sites in Germany generated revenues of more than 30 million euros. In fiscal year 2019, the company achieved two-digit growth in both its revenue and earnings.

ZEISS aims to considerably expand its activities and employee base at Carl Zeiss Digital Innovation. This March, it will be adding a Hungarian partner unit belonging to Saxonia Systems and welcoming another 60 employees, thus raising the total headcount to over 300.

Press contact Jörg Nitschke Head of Corporate Brand and Communications 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 6.4 billion euros in its four segments Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (updated: 30 September 2019).

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, as well as 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 Industry 4.0 as well as a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping technological progress and, through its solutions, is extending the horizon of the world of optics and associated areas. 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.

With over 31,000 employees, ZEISS is active globally in almost 50 countries with around 60 sales and service companies, 30 production sites and 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