Please use another Browser

It looks like you are using a browser that is not fully supported. Please note that there might be constraints on site display and usability. For the best experience we suggest that you download the newest version of a supported browser:

Internet Explorer, Chrome Browser, Firefox Browser, Safari Browser

Continue with the current browser
Press Release06 November 2014Siemens AGBerlin

Siemens to sell hearing aid business to EQT and Strüngmann family

"The Siemens audiology business has a very strong heritage for innovative, high quality products and we have been particularly impressed with the strong track record over the last couple of years. EQT is fully committed to supporting the management and employees in developing the business further," said Marcus Brennecke, Partner at EQT Partners.
EQT is a growth-oriented investment company managing around €22 billion in assets and with proven expertise in the healthcare and medical engineering sector. EQT is also the owner of LBX, one of the largest pharmacy chains in China's growth market. Germany's Strüngmann family of entrepreneurs is also known for its focus on long-term growth. In 1986, the family founded Hexal, which has since become Germany's leading provider of generic drugs.
In fiscal 2014, Siemens' globally active audiology business, with over 5,000 employees, generated revenue of €693 million and a reported EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of €145 million. The transaction will provide the audiology business with additional entrepreneurial freedom and flexibility while enabling it to continue its successful growth track of the last few years – with positive prospects for customers and employees. Agreements have been reached to ensure job security for the business's employees in Germany, who are working at locations in Erlangen and Herford. The transaction, which still requires regulatory approval, is expected to be closed in the first quarter of calendar year 2015 and will be financed in a solid manner, with roughly €1.1 billion of equity.
Siemens has been active in the audiology business for more than 100 years. The company launched first industrially produced hearing instrument, the Esha-Phonophor, onto the market in 1913. At the end of the 1950s, Siemens presented the first behind-the-ear hearing aid, followed by the first in-the-ear device in 1966 and the first digital hearing system in 1997. In 2004, Siemens was the first producer to introduce wireless technology that synchronized hearing aids in both ears. In 2012, the company, together with the University of Oldenburg, was awarded the German Future Prize by the German President for developing a binaural hearing system that enables communication between hearing aids in both ears. A few weeks ago, Siemens presented its new binax hearing aid platform, which is based on binaural technology, at the 59th International Congress of Hearing Aid Acousticians (EUHA) in Hanover, Germany, attracting major customer interest. The latest-generation of Siemens hearing aids is capable of sharing and exchanging audio signals in real time and can thus reproduce natural hearing processes in a binaural customization for both ears.

For this press release

Links

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world's largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is No. 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading supplier of combined cycle turbines for power generation, a major provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2014, which ended on September 30, 2014, Siemens generated revenue from continuing operations of €71.9 billion and net income of €5.5 billion. At the end of September 2014, the company had around 357,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at http://www.siemens.com.
Read more

Contact

Wolfram Trost

Siemens AG

Wittelsbacherplatz 2
80333 Munich
Germany

+49 (89) 636-34794