BERLIN, July 17 -- Berliner Glas KG Co. has acquired a majority interest in SwissOptic, a subsidiary of Leica Geosystems AG, to form one of the leading precision optics companies in Europe. Leica Geosystems AG and Berliner Glas KG Herbert Kubatz GmbH & Co., Berlin, announced that they have agreed to a takeover of 75 percent of the share capital of SwissOptic AG by Berliner Glas KG. Twenty five percent of the SwissOptic shares coupled with controlling interests will remain in the possession of Leica Geosystems. The transaction will be complete by the end of July and will apply retroactively from April of this year.
    The two companies will form a new European force for quality high-tech optics solutions. SwissOptic employs 180 people and is one of Switzerland's leading suppliers of precision optics -- especially in the field of highly precise lenses and prism systems. Berliner Glas KG employs 450 employees in Berlin, Schwabisch Hall and Syrgenstein-Landshausen. The company specializes in the field of highly precise surface processing for planar, cylinder and spherical optics. SwissOptic will be run unchanged under the same name, management and with the same employees at the location in Heerbrugg.