MAY 17, 2011

Zeiss Sports Optics to Distribute Hensoldt Line in the U.S.

CHESTER, Va., May 12, 2011 - Carl Zeiss Sports Optics today announced that it is taking over distribution of the Hensoldt line of optics in the United States effective May 1, 2011. The Hensoldt line of riflescopes and other state-of-the-art optical instruments for military, law enforcement and civilian applications is produced by the Carl Zeiss Optronics division and had been distributed in the U.S. by HDC, LLC since 2008. Nathan Hunt, president of HDC, has joined the Carl Zeiss Optronics division in the U.S. as Vice President, Sights. He will focus on the military market in this new role and help with the transition of the Hensoldt line to the Carl Zeiss Sports Optics team in Chester, Va.

"The Hensoldt line offers exceptional quality and versatility for elite marksmen, and Carl Zeiss Sports Optics is pleased to take over distribution of these optics to select dealers throughout the United States," said Erik Schumacher, President of Carl Zeiss Sports Optics. "At this year's SHOT Show in Las Vegas, the Hensoldt line was shown in the same booth as the ZEISS Sports Optics line for the very first time and the response from dealers was overwhelmingly positive. We look forward to expanding the footprint of the Hensoldt line in conjunction with our sports optics business."

The customer base for Hensoldt optics is comprised of police and law enforcement agency sniper units as well as the most discerning competitive marksmen and shooting enthusiasts who are looking for the absolute finest optics available. From telescopic sights for long-range precision to reflex sights for close-quarters combat and light intensifiers and thermal imagers for poor light conditions, Carl Zeiss provides the solutions to help snipers and sportsmen complete their missions accurately and effectively in all conditions.

For more information, see zeiss.com/sports.

About Carl Zeiss:
Carl Zeiss is an international group of companies in the optical and optoelectronic industries. The company has representatives in more than 30 countries. Carl Zeiss is a stock corporation which is wholly owned by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation).

The products and services from Carl Zeiss set the standards in the Medical and Research Solutions, Industrial Solutions and Lifestyle Products markets. The ZEISS brand has stood for innovative ideas, precision and quality for more than 165 years. Around 13,000 employees work for Carl Zeiss around the world. During fiscal year 2009/10, they generated revenues of EUR 2.98 billion. As part of the Carl Zeiss Group, Carl Zeiss Sports Optics is responsible for sales, marketing and distribution of its state-of-the-art binoculars, spotting scopes, riflescopes and laser rangefinders throughout the United States and Canada.

For more information, visit: zeiss.com/sports or call 1-800-441-3005.