Carl Zeiss Meditec announced today that it completed its $1 billion acquisition of D.O.R.C. (Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center).
In December 2023, Carl Zeiss entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in D.O.R.C. The Germany-based company acquired DORC from the France-based investment firm Eurazeo, valuing the deal at €985 million (approximately $1.07 billion).
It expects the acquisition to enhance and complement its broad ophthalmic portfolio and range of digitally connected workflow solutions. The company develops offerings that address eye conditions such as retinal disorders, cataracts, glaucoma and refractive errors.
Euan S. Thomson, president of Zeiss’ ophthalmology unit and head of the digital business unit, called the deal an “incredible opportunity.” He said in a news release that the company aims to become the “top player in the world for ophthalmology.” This deal enhances Zeiss’ portfolio and expands the company’s presence in the posterior surgery market, he said.
“Today holds significant importance for us as we bring our teams together and turn our collective attention toward delivering breakthrough innovations and solutions for our customers. We are very excited to welcome D.O.R.C.’s team members to our ZEISS family and to begin integrating our products and practices as we work toward a brighter future together,” said Dr. Markus Weber, president and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG.
More about the Zeiss acquisition of D.O.R.C.
According to Zeiss, D.O.R.C. brings critical contributions as a leader in the retina surgical devices and consumables market. The company expects the combination of D.O.R.C.’s Eva Nexus platform with its range of visualization, diagnostic and therapeutic devices, plus surgical instruments and consumables, all connected to a digital ecosystem should enable the creation of efficient clinical workflows.
Altogether, the company believes the combined portfolios can reshape the ophthalmology market, benefitting both surgeons and patients.
D.O.R.C.’s Eva Nexus comes as part of a portfolio that features a range of accessories, instruments and liquids. Zeiss said it offers best-in-class solutions across vitreo-retinal (VR) and combined cataract procedures.
“With four decades behind our amazing business and surgeon-inspired innovation, we look forward to writing the next chapter of our success story together with ZEISS Medical Technology,” said Pierre Billardon, CEO of D.O.R.C. “By joining forces, we can extend our reach, scale our efforts, and accelerate ophthalmic surgery advancements for more surgeons faster than before. I am filled with a great sense of pride and gratitude for every D.O.R.C. team member. Together, we have achieved so much to arrive at this pivotal moment in our journey. And together with Zeiss, we have so much more to accomplish in our bright future ahead to help patients see again.”
