Free cash flow amounted to 1.125 billion euros (prior year: 518 million euros). The company's equity rose by 28 percent to 5.494 billion euros (30 September 2020: 4.287 billion euros) as compared to fiscal year 2019/20, which equates to company equity of 52% (prior year: 47%).
Expenditure on research and development was further increased and amounted to 943 million euros, or roughly 13 percent of revenue (prior year: 812 million euros). This was done primarily through the ZEISS Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology segment's development roadmap as well as in the areas of digitalization and product innovation.
Investments in property, plant and equipment were ramped up to 756 million euros in the reporting period (prior year: 484 million euros), as compared to depreciations totaling 263 million euros (prior year: 256 million euros).
At the end of the reporting period on 30 September 2021, net liquidity totaled 2.120 billion euros.
Distinct revenue growth was achieved in the Americas and APAC regions in particular. Growth was also reported in the EMEA region. ZEISS' global structure therefore contributed to stability once again.
"To continue impressing customers with our innovations, we are making sizeable investments in research and development and have taken major steps in the name of sustainability," said Dr. Christian Müller, Chief Financial Officer of Carl Zeiss AG. "Sustainability is an integral part of our strategic ZEISS Agenda 2025. Five different working groups are focusing on topics like green infrastructure, green business models and social engagement in a bid to achieve outcomes that are both far-reaching and sustainable," said Müller. "That's because ZEISS aims to operate in a carbon-neutral way in its own activities worldwide by 2025."
ZEISS' targeted innovation strategy, combined with substantial expenditure on research and development and other investments, is a cornerstone of the company's accelerated growth. This also includes the targeted expansion of infrastructure, for example at the headquarters in Oberkochen, the ZEISS high-tech site construction project in Jena, and the newly opened ZEISS Innovation Center in Dublin (California, USA).
ZEISS' new collaborations and acquisitions in the past fiscal year include its partnership with global technology player vivo in the area of mobile imaging, which was announced in December. This partnership focuses on a jointly developed camera system.
Moreover, ZEISS acquired a majority stake in arivis AG in order to expand its offering in the microscopy business with innovative 3D and big data software solutions. This is how the company is bolstering its software skills and market position in the field of 3D visualization and analysis technology.
ZEISS recently announced its acquisition of Capture 3D, a top US-based company that distributes solutions for optical 3D metrology. With the completion of this transaction, Capture 3D became part of the ZEISS Industrial Quality & Research segment.
At the end of the fiscal year (30 September 2021) ZEISS had a global workforce of 35,375 employees (prior year: 32,201 employees). Headcount thus increased by 10% as compared to 30 September 2020. The ZEISS Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology segment experienced the strongest growth and hired over 800 new people.