Germany mulling direct EADS stake in 2010

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2007

FRANKFURT (AFP) — Germany might take a direct stake in the aerospace group EADS in 2010, replacing a consortium of investors and German states, but is keeping all options open, a government spokesman said Wednesday.

Ulrich Wilhelm stressed that "nothing concrete" had been decided after the Financial Times Deutschland quoted deputy economy minister Peter Hintze as saying: "We are all preparing to be able to exercise rights options," on a 7.5 percent stake in EADS currently held by the consortium.

"A political decision has not yet been taken on this issue," Hintze had also said.

Wilhelm said the mooted acquisition "is just one scenario among others."

In March, the consortium of mainly German investors bought the 7.5 percent stake in the European...