Bloomberg: Leica owners are negotiating the sale of a controlling stake worth 1 billion euros

Leica, one of the world leaders in optics manufacturing, including cameras, may come under the control of different owners.

According to Bloomberg, Austrian businessman Andreas Kaufmann and American investment company Blackstone Inc., who own Leica Camera AG, are considering its sale.

What is known

The discussion concerns the sale of a controlling stake worth €1 billion. Negotiations are currently at an early stage and there are no guarantees yet that a deal will take place. The Kaufmann family may remain one of the largest investors in Leica Camera AG and influence the company’s future decisions.

Potential buyers include the Chinese investment group HSG (formerly Sequoia Capital China) and the Swedish company Altor Equity Partners.

All parties declined to comment to Bloomberg.

The idea of selling Leica seems somewhat strange, as it is known that at the end of the 2024 financial year, the company made a profit of €596 million, which is 7.6% higher than the previous period. However, there may be some non-public circumstances that force the owners to take such a step.

A Brief History of Leica

In 1849, Carl Kellner founded the Optisches Institut in the German city of Wetzlar, where he produced glasses and telescopes. This became the foundation of the future Leica.

From 1864 to 1869, Ernst Leitz joined the company, soon took charge of it, and renamed it Leitz. Under his leadership, the firm became a world leader in microscope manufacturing.

In 1911, engineer and photography enthusiast Oskar Barnack began developing a compact camera using 35mm film — a revolutionary idea for the time.

In 1925, Leica I was introduced at the Leipzig fair — the first serial compact camera that changed the history of photography, making it mobile and accessible.

In 2012, the Kaufmann family acquired shares and made the company private.

Today, Leica Camera AG produces premium cameras, lenses, and optical instruments, remaining a symbol of quality, engineering precision, and legendary photographic culture. The top flagship smartphone manufacturers use Leica sensors and consult its specialists for fine tuning.

Source: Bloomberg