Hermès buys 30% of Leica

Leica Camera, the German manufacturer of cameras and optical instruments has announced that Hermès International will purchase 30% of its capital. Jean-Louis Dumas Hermès, the President of Hermès, is renowned for his “friendly” (as opposed to hostile) takeovers which allows his group to approach companies practising the same sort of philosophy - illustrated by the fact that Hermès serenely acquired 35% of the capital of the couturier Jean-Paul Gaultier last year.