Free cash flow amounted to 518 million euros (prior year: 806 million euros). The company's equity rose by 7% as compared to the prior year, totaling 4,287 million euros (30 September 2019: 3,990 million euros).
Investments in property, plant and equipment amounted to 484 million euros in the reporting period (prior year: 437 million euros) as compared to depreciations totaling 256 million euros (prior year: 234 million euros).
At the end of the reporting period on 30 September 2020, net liquidity totaled 1,531 million euros.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a discernible downturn in revenue, particularly in the regions EMEA and Americas. Conversely, the APAC region was once again able to grow slightly. ZEISS' global positioning and especially the growth in Asian countries like China and South Korea contributed to stability.
"The company's performance shows that our measures to counter the effects of the pandemic have worked quite well. We were able to continue pursuing our long-term, global investment strategy, which comprises investments in innovations, digitalization and the expansion of infrastructure," says Dr. Christian Müller, Chief Financial Officer of Carl Zeiss AG. "In this fiscal year, too, we have once again increased our research and development spending – to 812 million euros. This is the equivalent of 13 percent of our entire revenue."