ThyssenKrupp is one of a number of groups apparently eyeing Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft (HDW), the world's leading maker of conventional submarines currently owned by One Equity Partners.

The French state-owned shipbuilding group Direction des constructions navales (DCN) signalled last month that it was examining whether a purchase of HDW might be interesting and did not rule out such a deal taking place.

And the French defence company Thales and US defence group Northrop Grumman are also believed to have set their sights on HDW.

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