Market Chatter: Germany Reportedly Negotiates 50% KNDS Stake Deal as IPO Plan on Hold

12:56 AM EDT, 10/15/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Germany is in discussions to purchase a 50% stake in Franco-German tank manufacturer KNDS from Wegmann Holding, its German owner families' holding company, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing a person familiar with the matter. The parties are not far apart on the purchase price, according to the report. A same-day report by German newspaper Handelsblatt said a decision could be reached in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, two people told Reuters that plans for KNDS' initial public offering have been put on hold after the company said in July that it would resume the listing process "when capital markets conditions are supportive." In the initial IPO plan, Germany would buy Wegmann's 40% stake in KNDS, while France would sell 10% of its 50% ownership in the company to investors. Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and KNDS did not immediately respond to requests for comment from MT Newswires. (Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)