U.S. and Japan Eye Synthetic Diamond Plant
The United States and Japan are considering building a synthetic diamond production facility on U.S. soil, Reuters reported Tuesday. The project would form part of Japan’s $550 billion investment package and could be among the initiatives announced ahead of a U.S. visit by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The plant would reportedly involve Element Six, a unit of De Beers Group, as the allies push to secure materials critical for semiconductor and high-precision manufacturing.
PE-Backed Leica Considers €1 Billion Sale
Leica Camera, backed by private equity giant Blackstone, is in talks to sell a controlling stake in a transaction that could value the company at about €1 billion, or roughly $1.2 billion, Bloomberg reported Jan. 23.
Blackstone acquired a 44% stake in Leica in 2011. Now, the firm and Leica board chairman Andreas Kaufmann are said to be working with advisers, with HSG and Altor Equity Partners among the potential bidders.
