KNDS would seek IPO as soon as possible, CEO says

MUNICH, Oct 19 (Reuters) - KNDS CEO Jean-Paul Alary told Reuters on Monday he would prefer an initial public offering as soon as market conditions allow, adding he welcomed the German government taking a stake in the company.

• "The IPO remains a central part of our strategy. We will move forward with it as soon as the market conditions allow," Alary said.

• He would prefer an IPO before the presidential elections in France, starting April 18, 2027.

• The German government is in talks to acquire a 50% stake in the Franco-German tank maker from its German owner families, a person close to the matter told Reuters last week.

• Alary sees this merely as an intermediate step on the way to a market listing: "The only thing that has changed now is that there could be two steps instead of just one."

• He reiterated that the federal government would be "very welcome" as a shareholder in KNDS.

(Reporting by Alexander HuebnerWriting by Linda PasquiniEditing by Ludwig Burger)