Florian Hohenwarter, the chief of the German defense manufacturer KNDS, has issued serious warnings regarding hybrid threats to the German economy. Speaking to the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, he stated that “all of Germany is being spied on,” pushing the idea that Germany must better prepare for such dangers, urging society to finally realize that it is in a critical situation.
Hohenwarter also commented on the potential initial public offering (IPO) of the defense conglomerate and the planned involvement of the state. Following the cancellation of the IPO in July, which occurred because the owning families, Bode and Braunbehrens, were unwilling to sell their shares given the current market conditions, Hohenwarter remains confident they will proceed to the stock market. He affirmed that Germany and France are expected to take on anchor shareholder roles.
Regarding state involvement, Hohenwarter noted that it offers certain advantages, suggesting that “some strategic discussions must be conducted differently when I am purely organized as a private enterprise.” Although discussions were recently held in Berlin circles about whether the German state could participate in KNDS alongside France with a 50 percent stake-a possibility that arose after the IPO fell through-Hohenwarter deems this option improbable.
