Press release
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH OFFERS OR SALES WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN ANY JURISDICTION, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, SOUTH AFRICA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN. NEITHER THIS ANNOUNCEMENT NOR ANYTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL FORM THE BASIS OF, OR BE RELIED UPON IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY OFFER OR COMMITMENT WHATSOEVER IN ANY JURISDICTION.
KNDS ANNOUNCES THE SUCCESSFUL SALE OF RENK SHARES
- Successful sale of 5,800,000 shares of RENK representing approximately 5.80% of RENK’ share capital through an accelerated bookbuilding placement.
- Following this transaction, KNDS holds a residual stake of c.10% in RENK and reaffirms its commitment to a long-term cooperation between both companies.
Amsterdam, 19 May 2026 – KNDS N.V. (“KNDS”, the “Seller” or the “Group”) announces the successful sale of 5.8 million shares of RENK Group AG (“RENK”), representing approximately 5.80% of RENK’s issued share capital, amounting to a total of c.€262 million. These shares have been placed as part of an accelerated bookbuilding placement reserved to qualified investors and to international institutional investors only (the “Placement”).
The proceeds from the Placement will be utilized to further optimize KNDS’s capital structure. Following this transaction, KNDS holds c.10% of RENK’s share capital. KNDS entered into a lock-up undertaking relating to its remaining shareholding for a 180-day period as from the settlement and delivery date of the Placement.
KNDS reaffirms its full support to RENK’s management and commitment to a long-term cooperation between both companies.
Settlement of the Placement is expected to take place on or around 22 May 2026.
The shares of RENK are listed on the regulated market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN code:DE000RENK730).
Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft and Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE have acted as Joint Bookrunners of the Placement. Lazard acted as financial advisor in connection with the Placement.
About KNDS
KNDS is the leading pan-European land defense company, uniting over 11,000 employees and generating €3.8 billion in revenue in 2024. With a strong order backlog of €23.5 billion, the group delivers innovative complete mission solutions built on state-of-the art technologies. Leveraging deep industrial expertise and strong partnerships, KNDS develops open, interoperable solutions combining manned and unmanned systems, designed to meet tomorrow’s operational challenges. As a prime contractor, it provides full system-of-systems capabilities, from platforms to ammunition and services, managing the entire value chain and encompassing complete product life cycles
Born from the alliance of Nexter and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, uniting key nations within a single group, KNDS embodies the path toward a collective and efficient future for the sovereignty and security of Europe’s defense by supporting the standardization and interoperability between European and NATO forces.
Trusted by 24 European armies and 19 worldwide, KNDS benefits from decades of combat-proven experience. KNDS embodies a united, efficient model to enhance stability and long-term security in Europe and beyond.
Important Regulatory Notice
This announcement is not for publication, distribution or release, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States of America (including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia), Canada, South Africa, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction where such an announcement would be unlawful. The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession this document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States without registration thereunder or pursuant to an available exemption therefrom. Neither this document nor the information contained herein constitutes or forms part of an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States. There will be no public offer of any securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction.
In member states of the European Economic Area and in the United Kingdom, this announcement and any offer if made subsequently is directed exclusively at persons who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (“Qualified Investors”). For these purposes, the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129. In the United Kingdom this announcement is directed exclusively at Qualified Investors (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”) or (ii) who fall within Article 49(2)(A) to (D) of the Order, or (iii) to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated; any other persons in the United Kingdom should not take any action on the basis of this announcement and should not act on or rely on it.
No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft or Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE (the “Bookrunners”) or by any of their affiliates or agents as to, or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this announcement or any other written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any interested party or their advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.
In connection with the offering of the shares of RENK Group AG (the “Shares”), the Bookrunners and any of their respective affiliates acting as an investor for their own account may take up as a principal position any Shares and in that capacity may retain, purchase or sell for their own account such Shares. In addition, the Bookrunners or their respective affiliates may enter into financing arrangements and swaps with investors in connection with which the Bookrunners (or their affiliates) may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of Shares. The Bookrunners do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation to do so.
The information contained in this announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy or completeness. This announcement does not purport to identify or suggest the risks (direct or indirect) which may be associated with an investment in the Shares. Any investment decision in connection with the Shares must be made solely on the basis of all publicly available information relating to the Shares (which has not been independently verified by the Bookrunners).
The Bookrunners are acting on behalf of KNDS N.V. and no one else in connection with any offering of the Shares and will not be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to clients of the Bookrunners nor for providing advice in relation to any offering of the Shares.
