Jean-Paul Alary, Chief Executive Officer of KNDS, said the planned IPO marked a strategic step for the company’s future development. “This project opens a new chapter in KNDS’s development as a unique European champion and global leader in land defence. With this dual listing IPO project, KNDS is determined to create a more agile and responsive structure to continue investing in technology, capacity and talent. KNDS’s model, uniting key nations within a single group, embodies the path toward a collective and efficient future for Europe’s defence, driven by one shared goal: to contribute to greater stability and lasting security across Europe and beyond.”
Tom Enders, Chairman of the Board of Directors of KNDS, said the decision followed extensive preparatory work and reflected the company’s readiness for public markets. “I’m happy the Board has decided, after intensive work, to prepare for an IPO. The time is right and the company is ready. And I’m happy that we can onboard Christian Schulz, with all his valuable finance and IPO experience. In the months ahead, we will further strengthen Board and management, increase speed and efficiency, and support Jean-Paul Alary as best we can.”
KNDS also announced the appointment of Christian Schulz to its Board of Directors with effect from 1 January 2026, replacing Werner Frank, who is stepping down. Schulz, former Chief Financial Officer of RENK Group AG, brings experience from leading the RENK IPO and supporting major industrial listings, while the Board thanked Werner Frank for his decisive contribution to KNDS’s development in recent years.
The company said it enters its next growth phase with a solid financial base and strong long-term prospects, supported by record operational performance. In 2024, KNDS recorded an order intake of €11.2 billion and an order backlog of around €23.5 billion, with sales rising to €3.8 billion, continued momentum through 2025, and 5,000 new employees hired since 2023 to support expanding industrial capacity.
Source: KNDS (press release).
