LEICA GmbH? LEICA NOW 100% PRIVATELY OWNED

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.