ZEISS generates around 90 percent of its business outside Germany. The pace of growth differs greatly by region. This positive business trend is borne in particular by the dynamically developing economies in the APAC region.
ZEISS has increased expenditure on research and development by around 20 percent: in the first half of fiscal year 2017/18 this amounted to EUR 298 million (1st half of 2016/17: EUR 247 million).
Investments in property, plant and equipment amounted to EUR 115 million in the reporting period (1st half of 2016/17: EUR 75 million). These compared to depreciations totaling EUR 77 million (1st half of 2016/17: EUR 76 million).
On 31 March 2018, net liquidity amounted to EUR 2,036 million, which was EUR 50 million above the figure posted at the end of fiscal year 2016/17.
Free cash flow totaled EUR 349 million (1st half of 2016/17: EUR 264 million). With a figure totaling EUR 3,549 million, the company’s equity rose by around 3 percent over the end-of-year figure for fiscal year 2016/17 (30 September 2017: EUR 3,429 million).
The number of employees increased by 8 percent. Almost 800 new employees were hired in Germany alone. On 31 March 2018, ZEISS had a global workforce of around 28,300 employees.