Leica Camera AG, the iconic German camera manufacturer known for its premium rangefinders and optics, may be up for sale according to reports from Bloomberg. The controlling stake could be valued at approximately €1 billion (around $1.2 billion), marking a potential major shift in ownership for the legendary brand. The news comes on the heels of four consecutive years of record-setting revenue for Wetzlar-based company Leica, which reported sales of approximately €596 million in the fiscal year ending March 2025, representing a 7.6% increase year-over-year. For filmmakers and cinematographers who rely on Leica’s renowned optics for cinema lenses and still photography applications, any ownership change raises questions about the future direction of the brand. Who currently owns Leica? According to the reports, Austrian billionaire Andreas Kaufmann and private equity firm Blackstone Inc. are in discussions with advisers about a potential deal. The current ownership structure sees ACM Projektentwicklung GmbH (Kaufmann’s Austrian investment firm) holding 55% of Leica Camera AG, with Blackstone Group owning the remaining 45%. Kaufmann has been deeply involved with Leica’s operations since ACM Projektentwicklung GmbH purchased a controlling stake in 2005, when the company was reportedly on the brink of collapse. He currently serves as chairman of Leica Camera AG’s supervisory board, while his wife Karin Rehn-Kaufmann holds the position of Art Director and Chief Representative of Leica Galleries International. The Kaufmann family has been integral to Leica’s business and cultural endeavors for over two decades. Dr. Andreas Kaufmann (Leica) in 2019. Image credit: Christopher Michel, CC...
Published By: CineD - Tuesday, 27 January