PARIS, France and HEIDELBERG, Germany—EssilorLuxottica and Heidelberg Engineering announced yesterday that they have entered into an agreement for EssilorLuxottica to acquire an 80 percent stake in Heidelberg Engineering, a Germany-based company specializing in diagnostic solutions, digital surgical technologies and health care IT for clinical ophthalmology. EssilorLuxottica indicates that the agreement represents a step forward in the group’s continued growth in the med-tech space, and as part of the company, Heidelberg Engineering will continue to serve the market under its established brand, delivering the same solutions and expertise.

Founded by Dr. Gerhard Zinser and Christoph Schoess in 1990, Heidelberg Engineering offers technological and scientific expertise in optical coherence tomography (OCT), real-time image processing and analytics, large-scale data analysis and digital surgical navigation, to serve medical professionals, scientists and researchers across a broad range of ophthalmic areas. With a presence in more than 100 countries for more than three decades, Heidelberg Engineering has been a reference in early detection of sight-threatening conditions such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, according to the announcement.

“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," said Francesco Milleri, chairman and chief executive officer, and Paul du Saillant, deputy chief executive officer at EssilorLuxottica. "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,” added Christoph 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," Schoess continued. "Together, we are strongly positioned to significantly advance patient care and improve clinical outcomes.”

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