ZEISS is a leading optics and optoelectronics company with a rich history spanning over 175 years. The company was founded in 1846 by Carl Zeiss in the city of Jena, Germany. Since its inception, ZEISS has grown to become a global leader in the production of optical instruments and imaging solutions for a wide range of applications. But over its long history, the ownership and management structure of the company has gone through many changes. So who owns ZEISS today? Here’s a quick overview of the company’s history and evolution to understand its current ownership structure.
Early History
The origins of ZEISS date back to 1846 when Carl Zeiss opened a workshop in Jena, Germany to produce microscopes. This marked the beginning of ZEISS as a company. In 1866, Carl Zeiss took on a partner, Ernst Abbe, who was a physicist, mathematician and entrepreneur. Abbe brought in his expertise in optical design and introduced advanced production methods that helped improve the quality of Zeiss microscopes significantly. This partnership formed the basis of the Zeiss brand that we know today.
In 1875, physicist and glass technologist Otto Schott joined Zeiss and Abbe to establish a glassworks for developing new optical glass. This completed the trilogy of founders who laid the foundations of the company – Carl Zeiss with his mechanical and optical expertise, Ernst Abbe with his mathematical and optical knowledge, and Otto Schott with his glass technology. Their collaboration enabled Zeiss to make rapid advancements in optical instrument production.
By the late 19th century, Zeiss had gained international recognition for its expertise in microscopy and other optical devices. The company continued to operate as an independent family-owned business in its early decades.
Carl Zeiss Foundation
A major shift in Zeiss’ ownership structure occurred in 1889 when Ernst Abbe created the Carl Zeiss Foundation. This was established with the aim of ensuring Zeiss retains its independence and uses its profits for the welfare of its employees and for scientific research.
As part of this move, Abbe reorganized Zeiss from a privately owned company into a foundation with no external shareholders. The Carl Zeiss Foundation became the sole owner of Zeiss and held rights to the Zeiss brand name. Abbe served as the first president of the foundation.
This structure enabled Zeiss to operate as an independent, nonprofit organization focused on advancing science and empowering its workforce. The foundation model protected Zeiss from hostile takeovers and acquisitions by external entities. It ensured that the profits were reinvested into the company, its employees and scientific research, rather than being distributed to external shareholders.
World War II and aftermath
The next major shift in Zeiss’ history came about after World War II which brought huge changes for the company.
Zeiss’ factories in Jena ended up in East Germany which was under Soviet occupation after the war. The foundation’s assets were confiscated and it lost control over the company. In response, the foundation established a new subsidiary called Opton Optische Werke in Oberkochen, West Germany in 1946. This new company focused on producing optical devices for civilian applications.
Meanwhile, the original Zeiss enterprise in Jena was reconstituted as a state-owned company under Communist rule and traded as Zeiss Jena. It focused mainly on defense and military optics.
For nearly four decades, there were two companies operating under the Zeiss brand – Zeiss Jena in East Germany and Opton Zeiss in West Germany. Both had the rights to use the Zeiss trademark.
It was only after German reunification in 1990 that the two halves of Zeiss were reunited. The assets of the Oberkochen company were transferred back to the Carl Zeiss Foundation. The foundation once again became the sole owner of the reunified company.
ZEISS Group in modern times
Today, ZEISS continues to be owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation which holds 89% of the shares. The remaining 11% are held by the German state of Baden-Württemberg and the city of Heidenheim.
The foundation manages the ZEISS Group which operates as four independent segments under a common brand umbrella:
– Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology – photolithography optics for chip manufacturing
– Industrial Quality & Research – microscopes, measuring tools, etc. for industrial QA
– Medical Technology – ophthalmic devices, microscopes, etc. for healthcare
– Consumer Markets – eyeglass lenses, camera lenses, binoculars, etc. for consumers
So in summary, the non-profit Carl Zeiss Foundation remains the parent company owning the various ZEISS business segments. The foundation framework has enabled ZEISS to maintain its independence and focus on technology leadership and research. This structure has been a key factor in ZEISS’ longevity and success over nearly 175 years.
Conclusion
ZEISS has evolved from a small microscope workshop into a global technology powerhouse over its long history. Its ownership has shifted between family ownership, state control and foundation ownership at different points. Since the reunification of Germany, the nonprofit Carl Zeiss Foundation has held the majority ownership of ZEISS group. This foundation model has enabled ZEISS to pursue excellence in optics and maintain independence from external shareholders. So the Carl Zeiss Foundation is the answer to the question – What company owns ZEISS today? This framework allows ZEISS to focus its profits on research, employee welfare and business growth.
