Neil Gould wrote:

I can easily understand that, from a marketing perspective. Fuji has
considerable penetration into the world of film. A collaboration between
two major names in film would make the marketing of new photographic
products easier. Panasonic is all but invisible in that realm.

Ah, no, it wasn't anything involving film that Leica needed Fuji for.

Since Leica has no digital-know-how, they were looking to use that of Fuji
to get Leica started on the digital path.

When they fell out over the X-Pan / TX-1, Panasonic was selected as
partner/supplier of technology.