Last month Leica’s Dr. Andreas Kaufmann made a statement confirming his family’s continued confidence in supporting and developing Leica Camera AG — over the long term up to as far as 100 years — and touching on the rumours that Blackstone, which holds a 45 percent stake in the company, was looking for a buyer.
Now we hear that Blackstone has asked Morgan Stanley to help in the disposal. Zeiss, among others, has been tipped as an interested party but I believe the stake is more likely to go to another investment company similar to Blackstone.