Rodenstock achieves solid growth in 2022 thanks to continued increase in the B.I.G. VISION product portfolio
The Rodenstock Group has just announced its results for the 2022 financial year. Driven by the continuously increasing demand for the B.I.G. Vision product portfolio for biometric lenses and the successful launch of the B.I.G. NormTM portfolio in 2022, Rodenstock was able to increase consolidated pro forma net sales to 505 million euros. In 2021, it amounted to 486 million euros on a comparable basis.
B.I.G. Vision remains central to Rodenstock's ambition to shape the paradigm shift in customized ophthalmic lenses and drive its transformation into a leading med-tech company for ophthalmic lenses. With its patented DNEye technology, the company has further expanded its international business and its range of individual biometric ophthalmic lenses in 2022.
The acquisition of Indo Optical, which was completed in September 2022, and the sale of the eyewear business to De Rigo, announced in December 2022, will allow Rodenstock to fully focus on commercial efficiency, global expansion and further innovation in ophthalmic lenses in the coming years. The legal transfer of the eyewear business to De Rigo is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2023.
Overall, the 2022 financial year was characterized by a deteriorating macroeconomic environment. The Russian invasion of Ukraine led to a further disruption of international supply chains, rising inflation rates and considerable uncertainty among companies and consumers. Rodenstock acted early and decisively and withdrew from the Russian market by transferring ownership of the Russian business to local management. Despite the reduced sales growth in the second half of the year, Rodenstock was able to generate an EBITDA of 118 million euros, a decrease of 4 percent compared to the previous year (including the withdrawal from the Russian market and the sale of the bill business).
Successful despite difficult market environment
Marcus Desimoni, CEO of Rodenstock: "Despite the difficult market environment, we have continued to successfully implement our B.I.G. Vision strategy and expand our global ophthalmic lens business. I would like to thank the entire team for their hard work and commitment over the past year. With strategic milestones such as the acquisition of Indo Optical and the sale of the eyewear business, we have laid the foundation for further profitable growth in the coming years."
Marcus Desimoni took over the role of CEO of the Rodenstock Group in February 2023, having previously served as CFO of the company. On April 1, 2023, Mani Herold joined the Rodenstock Group as CFO, completing the management team. The management team will maintain the Group's strategic direction and continue to invest in research and development as well as in the Group's product and service portfolio and its state-of-the-art production facilities.
