It has been reported Leica is
now 100% privately owned. The main shareholder, Lisa Germany Holding GmbH,
announced earlier this week that it had successfully bought out the remaining 2.44%
of stock still in the hands of third-party shareholders, for a set price of
€30.18 (~$39) for each of the shares.
The stock will also be
removed from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
This move is being taken as a cost saving measure because now the
management will no longer need to worry about the hassles that come with being
a publicly traded company.
This also means that we will
see a change in the name of the company.
The AG in Leica AG stands for Aktiengesellschaft, meaning stock
company. We will most likely see the
name change to Leica GmbH, Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung, limited
liability company.
Here is the official Leica
press release:
Main shareholder acquires 100 per cent shareholding in
Leica Camera AG
Lisa Germany Holding GmbH, which previously held
97.58% of the shares in camera and sport optics manufacturer Leica Camera AG, has
now become the company's sole shareholder. This squeeze-out, whereby the stakes
held by minority shareholders were transferred to the main shareholder in
return for a fair cash settlement, came into force with the entry of the
transaction in the Commercial Register at Wetzlar Lower Court on 26 September
2012. The decision to transfer the shares had been taken by resolution of the
extraordinary general meeting held by Leica Camera AG on 30 March 2012.
Via the entry in the Commercial Register, the minority
shareholders' shares have been transferred to Lisa Germany Holding GmbH in
return for a cash settlement of EUR 30.18 per share.
Frankfurt Stock Exchange had already suspended the
quotation of Leica Camera AG's share, and the discontinuation of their listing
is expected imminently.
Maybe they will go back to the former Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH title.
ReplyDeleteThat is highly doubtful.
DeleteBut then again, never say never.
Delete