EssilorLuxottica Acquires Majority Stake in Heidelberg Engineering

Optical industry giant EssilorLuxottica announced it has reached a deal to acquire an 80% stake in Germany-based Heidelberg Engineering.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

Founded by Dr. Gerhard Zinser and Christoph Schoess in 1990, Heidelberg is a provider of ophthalmic device maker with technology in optical coherence tomography (OCT), real-time image processing and analytics, large-scale data analysis, and digital surgical navigation  As part of EssilorLuxottica, Heidelberg will continue to serve the market under their brand, delivering the same solutions and expertise their customers have come to expect and trust, according to EssilorLuxottica.

“Heidelberg Engineering, renowned for its expertise in early detection and diagnosis, is a perfect fit for EssilorLuxottica as it will bolster our presence in the med-tech space," Francesco Milleri, Chairman and CEOr, and Paul du Saillant, Deputy CEO at EssilorLuxottica, said in a company news release. "Heidelberg Engineering, with its commitment to research and development, rooted in excellence, shares our core values. By harnessing the full spectrum of our group's capabilities in the optical industry, from logistics to manufacturing to global distribution, we are dedicated to fostering their long-term growth while enhancing the doctor and patient experience."

"Innovation and quality have been key drivers for Heidelberg Engineering ever since Gerhard Zinser and I founded the company 35 years ago,” said Mr. Schoess, co-founder and Managing Director of Heidelberg Engineering. “Our mission has always been to develop products that provide comprehensive, accurate, and clinically relevant information to aid ophthalmologists in achieving better outcomes for their patients. Our future goals include enhancing image quality through higher resolution, expanding the applications of imaging technologies, and integrating AI solutions into the growing HEYEX Healthcare IT platform. We are delighted that EssilorLuxottica, a global leader in eyecare, embraces our vision for creating a shared care system spanning from research to home monitoring. Together, we are strongly positioned to significantly advance patient care and improve clinical outcomes.”

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2024 pending regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.