Carl Zeiss Meditec aims to expand its offering in the field of ophthalmology. To this end, the leading medical technology company has reached an agreement to acquire the Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center (DORC), as stated in a statement published on Friday. The transaction amounts to a total of 985 million euros.

The majority of the purchase price is intended to be paid from existing net liquidity. In addition, the company plans to take on a shareholder loan from Carl Zeiss AG amounting to 400 million euros, which will have a term of three years. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2024. The company's stock in Jena showed little movement on the Tradegate trading platform after market hours.

By purchasing, Carl Zeiss Meditec expands its business in the field of ophthalmology for a variety of eye conditions and diseases, including retinal diseases, cataracts, and glaucoma. The Dutch company DORC specializes in eye surgery and plans to achieve a revenue of nearly 200 million euros and an operating profit in the mid double-digit million euros range in the coming year.

The medical technology giant expects that the acquisition will likely provide a "modest positive contribution in the single-digit percentage range" to earnings per share in the first full fiscal year. However, the acquisition is still subject to regulatory approval.

With this strategic decision, Carl Zeiss Meditec reaffirms its commitment to further expand its leading position in the field of ophthalmology. The acquisition of DORC will not only enable the company to offer a wider range of services but also strengthen its global market presence and competitiveness.