Thyssenkrupp warship unit eyes German shipyard industry consolidation -Welt am Sonntag

　　div classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodivpBERLIN Reuters – Germanys secondlargest defence group Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems TKMS wants to play a leading role in consolidating the German and European shipyard industry, its new Chief Executive Officer told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.p

　　p“If the road to a European giant is still too difficult, a German champion could be formed first,” Oliver Burkhard was quoted by the newspaper as saying.pdivdivdiv classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodiv

　　pBurkhard said a merger, for example, could be formed with smaller German rivals Luerssen and German Naval Yards GNYK.p

　　pThe company has been building up additional capacity since the German governments announcement of a 100 billion euro special fund for the military after Russias invasion of Ukraine, Burkhard added.p

　　p“We are also actively looking for new production sites. There are a number of possibilities,” he said, adding that the company was interested in buying parts of cruise ship builder MV Werften, which filed for insolvency in January this year.p

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　　pp Reporting by Riham Alkousaa Editing by Kirsten Donovanp

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