CASSIDIAN takes over shares in optronics division of Carl Zeiss 13 July 2012
- Strategic expansion allows creation of a future-oriented 'Sensor House' - Cassidian acquires 75.1% of shares in Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH - Carl Zeiss to opt out of defence technology in the medium term
Cassidian and Carl Zeiss AG have agreed to run the optronics and optics activities of Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH jointly in future. In a contract signed on 13 July 2012 between EADS Deutschland GmbH – Cassidian's German legal entity – and Carl Zeiss AG, the two partners stipulated that Cassidian would acquire 75.1 per cent of the shares in Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH, headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. Carl Zeiss will retain the remaining 24.9 per cent. The ownership interests are to be assigned to Cassidian once all the necessary authorisations and anti-trust approvals have been granted, announced the two companies in Munich and Oberkochen.
Incorporating this sector of Carl Zeiss is a strategic expansion on the part of Cassidian of its existing sensor product portfolio in the area of sensors. Carl Zeiss Optronics will be able to make use of Cassidian's global sales channels, offices and subsidiaries, as well as its know-how in the area of business development, and gains long-term prospects for its existing business activities as a result of this venture. All in all, the two partners expect the new enterprise to improve their global market access and international competitiveness. The agreement includes a site and job security guarantee until 2015. The company will be part of Cassidian's Sensors and Electronic Warfare Business Line.
Cassidian CEO Dr. Stefan Zoller said: "The acquisition of Carl Zeiss Optronics complements our existing industrial capabilities in the area of sensors, and will enable us in the coming years to develop an innovative, future-oriented and comprehensive 'Sensor House' which will provide the customer with complete sensor solutions from a single source and become well-established on the global markets."
Dr. Michael Kaschke, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss AG, emphasised: "Our greatest concern is to provide optronics with a successful, long-term future. In a market which has to cope with the drastically sinking defence budgets of NATO states and profound upheavals in regions such as Asia and North Africa, first-class market access and the strength of a globally leading company are among the most important factors for success. Cassidian possesses both of these assets. In its capacity as the Cassidian centre of competence for sensors, combined with the technological excellence of Carl Zeiss, the company has all the ingredients for a successful future. We are confident that optronics has better perspectives at Cassidian than at Carl Zeiss."
The Carl Zeiss optronics division develops and manufactures optronic, optic and precision-engineered products for military and civil applications at its German sites in Oberkochen and Wetzlar and in Irene, South Africa, and has around 780 employees. Among its main focuses are border surveillance systems, optical and opto-electronic devices and components for vehicles such as sensors and optics, as well as submarine periscopes.
About CASSIDIAN
Cassidian, an EADS company, is a worldwide leader in global security solutions and systems, providing Lead Systems Integration and value-added products and services to civil and military customers around the globe: air systems (aircraft and unmanned aerial systems), land, naval and joint systems, intelligence and surveillance, cyber security, secure communications, test systems, missiles, services and support solutions. In 2011, Cassidian – with around 28,000 employees – achieved revenues of € 5.8 billion. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2011, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of € 49.1 billion and employed a workforce of more than 133,000.
About Carl Zeiss AG
The Carl Zeiss Group is an international leader in the fields of optics and opto-electronics. In fiscal year 2010/11 the company's approximately 24,000 employees generated revenue of about € 4.237 billion. In the markets for Industrial Solutions, Research Solutions, Medical Technology und Consumer Optics, Carl Zeiss has contributed to technological progress all over the world for more than 160 years. With its innovative technologies and leading-edge solutions, Carl Zeiss is successful in the fields of Semi-Conductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Metrology, Microscopy, Medical Technology, Vision Care and Consumer Optics/Optronics. Carl Zeiss AG is fully owned by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation).
Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH develops and manufactures optronic, optic and precision-engineered products for military and civil applications at its German sites in Oberkochen and Wetzlar, as well as in Irene, South Africa, and has around 780 employees. They fulfil the requirements of the Air Force, Army and Navy in a special way, as well as meeting the high demands of border patrols and preserving homeland security. In fiscal year 2011, the company generated revenues of approximately € 160 million.
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