French HERMES INTERNATIONAL SCA (turnover FF 6 billion in 1999), specialised in luxury products in leather and silk, is to acquire a 30% share in the capital of LEICA CAMERA (turnover DM 275.7 million for the financial year ending March 2000 with 1,500 employed), a German company reputed for its top quality photographic cameras, for the sum of EUR 17 million (12.5 euros per share).