KIEL (dpa-AFX) - Schleswig-Holstein's Minister-President Daniel Günther (CDU) is open to the idea of the naval shipbuilder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) becoming an independent company. "The interest of Carlyle in a possible entry as an investor in Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is fundamentally positive from the point of view of the state government," Günther said on Wednesday in response to a dpa inquiry.

"Making TKMS independent would further strengthen Schleswig-Holstein and Kiel as a naval location and would be absolutely sensible and necessary, especially in view of the security policy situation." Naval shipbuilding is a key technology that needs to be strengthened ? this would be the case if the naval unit were to become independent. "But now we have to wait and see what further talks take place," emphasized the Minister President. "It is clear that, in addition to the future of the location, jobs must also be secured in the long term."

According to the company, Thyssenkrupp and the US investment company Carlyle agreed to enter into an in-depth review and valuation of Thyssenkrupp's marine division. The subject of this valuation is a possible partial sale of TKMS to Carlyle. At the same time, other options for a spin-off on the capital market are also being explored. At the same time, talks are being held with the German government regarding the state's participation in thyssenkrupp's marine business.

TKMS currently has 3700 employees at the Kiel site alone, and according to the company there are around 7500 worldwide with an annual turnover of around two billion euros. The shipyard claims to be the world market leader in conventional submarines and surface naval shipbuilding. TKMS is working to capacity until the 2030s./moe/DP/men