[Leica] Panasonic takeover

[al.crouch at earthlink.net (al crouch)]

Seems to have a lot of detail for an early leak of information.  I suspect 
some April 1 effect.



-----Original Message-----
>From: H&ECummer <cummer at netvigator.com>
>Sent: Apr 1, 2015 9:21 PM
>To: lug at leica-users.org
>Subject: [Leica] Panasonic takeover
>
>Hi Luggers,
>
>Got this in from a Malaysian friend who works in high tech in Georgetown 
>Penang, Malaysia.
>
>I think it is an April Fool joke but there is enough reality in it that 
>there may be some truth behind it;
>
>On March 26th  Panasonic stock jumped 5.7% to 1,614 yen, the highest since 
>November 2008, after the company said it was ready to spend 1 trillion yen 
>(US$
>8 billion) on acquisitions over the next four years. So far, the Japanese 
>company is planning to joint venture in Tesla?s Gigafactory for the 
>production of lithium car batteries. They have announced a US$286 million 
>investment in a solar powered power plant in the Northern Corridor Economic 
>Region of West Malaysia that has the highest levels of solar irradiation on 
>the Peninsula.
> 
>Among smaller value investments, Panasonic is rumoured to be in private 
>discussions with Blackstone to buy the venture company?s 44% share of 
>Leica. When asked, Panasonic would not confirm or deny offering ACM 
>Projektentwicklung GmbH (Andreas Kaufmann?s holding company) an undisclosed 
>premium for enough of its 51% in order to take control of the Leica Camera 
>company. If successful in its acquisition of majority control, Panasonic 
>plans to limit digital M camera production in Germany and move new lines to 
>Japan. There, in addition to some digital M production, a new line of 
>digital EVF cameras would be produced with M mount AF lenses based on 
>Panasonic?s advanced AF technology.
>M Lens design and production for manual lenses would remain in Germany. The 
>new M EVF camera / AF lens line would draw on the superior lens design 
>expertise from Germany and be manufactured exclusively in Japan. This would 
>allow the latest Japanese technology to be introduced to the Leica digital 
>lineup and stringent Japanese quality control standards would be applied. 
>These details were provided by a source close to Panasonic who did not want 
>to be identified due to the sensitivity and timing of on-going discussions.
>
>What do you all think?
>
>Howard.
> 
>
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