Tank Maker KNDs to decide on IPO within months can take interest, says CEO says

* CEO, Alary, told the board to be ready for IPO, no decision * Company in talks with the German government, says CEO, * KNDs will call a new chairman in the coming weeks, says Alary by Sabine Siebold Amsterdam, September 8 (Reuters) -Franco-German Defense Provider will decide in the coming months to make an initial public offers. The Jean-Paul CEO of the Jean-Paul on Monday and proposed. Can take an interest in the business. Alary spoke to reporters in Amsterdam, saying that the KNDs board told him to be prepared for a bursary trading, but that a final decision had not yet been made. “As a first step, I can’t see … a reference shareholder who won’t be a German shareholder,” Alary told Reuters after the press conference in Amsterdam. Asked whether it means that the German government can take an interest in KNDs, he said: “It makes sense that there is a first step as it is.” Alary, who took over as CEO in April, confirmed that KNDs had talked to the German government about obtaining a blocking minority, among others. Stormed in 2015 with the merger of Germany’s Krauss -Maffei Rogmann (KMW) – known for making leopard tanks – and French state -owned arms manufacturer Nexter, KMW’s previous private owners and the French government remain joint shareholders. Reuters reported in February that KNDs are already considering a bursary ability at the end of this year. European defense firms have been boosted with the increase in military expenses provoked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, while governments strengthen their own safety while providing Kyiv weapons and ammunition. Alary said in the longer term that a listing could open the capital of the company to refer shareholders linked to other European countries and to provide the money with the money to finance the ‘daring’ acquisitions. An acquisition in Italy could be one option, he added, despite the latest setbacks suffered with regard to the bid for Iveco defense. “It would have been a wonderful opportunity to take a step forward in Italy. I hope it’s not the end of the game, ‘he said, underlining that it would be good for KNDs to have three major pillars in Europe, which consists of France, Germany and Italy. When asked about potential investors in KNDs, Alary excludes that Rheinmetall, who has been working on diversification while KNDs, said, it is decided to remain committed to manufacturing land systems. Airbus and Thales are also not considered, he said. KNDs, meanwhile, aimed to name a new chairman in the coming weeks, Alary said, before the possible announcement of a new capital structure. “I think the new chairman should be fully involved in finalizing this key decision,” he said. The company can also start using its French factory capability to produce components for weapons built in Germany, Alary said. Legal requirements have forced KNDs to produce KMW and Nexter Legacy Weapons in the countries where their intellectual ownership is held, creating a major obstacle to integrating the merged company. “We have some scenarios in mind that can be meaningful and deliver such manufacturing by 2026,” says Alary, adding that the plans would require approval by authorities. Asked when the first joint KNDs head fighting tank will be built – a vehicle to replace the German leopard and the French Leclerc, which can also be the first joint product of the Franco -German company – Alary said it could be ready at some point between 2032 and 2035 (reported by Sabine Siebold; Edit by Joe Bavier)