STUTTGART, Germany, May 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
Good start to the fiscal year - cautious outlook
ZEISS has concluded the first six months of the 2013/14 fiscal year with an increase in revenue to EUR 2.074 billion (first half of 2012/13: EUR 1.978 billion). Earnings (EBIT) grew by EUR 57 million to EUR 166 million (first half of 2012/13: EUR 109 million). "We have benefited from the strong demand in the semiconductor market and also achieved further gains in the Medical Technology and Industrial Metrology business groups," said Dr. Michael Kaschke, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss AG. However, negative exchange rate effects and a slowdown in momentum in the emerging economies both left their mark on the half-year financial figures of ZEISS. Also for this reason, Kaschke was not totally satisfied with the development: "We set our sights slightly higher and need to intensify our efforts in the second half of the year in order to step up the pace again and grow in some markets under the difficult conditions facing us."
Headcount has remained stable at 24,791. With a total of EUR 211 million, the company maintained its expenditure on research and development at a high level. Investments in property, plant and equipment totaled EUR 67 million.
More information at http://www.zeiss.de/pressconference.