Multi-national electronics and defence group Thales is closely watching developments at struggling German shipyard HDW, in particular what the US investment fund One Equity Partner (OEP) will decide to do with its stake in the yard in the next weeks, says French newspaper Les Echos. Thales is a global electronics company serving aerospace, defence and information technology markets and employs 65 000 in 30 different countries. Its intentions vis-a-vis the German shipbuilder are not yet clear, but the group has made no secret of its major ambitions in the naval sector in Europe, which could pave the way for investments in foreign yards with a major position in the sector like HDW. Thales recently secured significant participation in the construction of two 60 000 tonne aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy. Early this year in France, Thales formed a naval arm, Armaris, in association with the country's naval shipyards.

 With acknowledgements to Fairplay Daily News Service.