Background
      
            

On 14 November 2025, the KNDS group notified the Autorité de la concurrence of its plan to acquire exclusive control of Texelis Defense. 



At the end of its examination, the Autorité has cleared the transaction unconditionally.
      
      

                
          
        
            The parties to the transaction



France-based company Texelis provides mobility solutions for the defence and transport sectors. Initially part of Arquus (formerly Renault Trucks Defense), Texelis’ defence business specialises in land mobility and the design of solutions for armoured vehicles. The newly-created entity Texelis Defense will take over Texelis’ defence business.



The KNDS group, formed from the merger of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Nexter, is active in the manufacture of military land systems. Its subsidiary KNDS France specialises in the design and manufacture of armoured vehicle systems (e.g. wheeled and tracked vehicles) and combat systems. It is also active as a supplier and manufacturer of artillery and ammunition. It develops and delivers armoured systems and weapons and ammunition systems for the French government, while also supplying other allied armed forces and third-party countries.



KNDS is part of the Scorpion programme, which aims to modernise certain French army equipment. As such, it is involved in the manufacture of Griffon and Jaguar vehicles alongside its partners Arquus and Thales, as well as the upgrade of the Leclerc main battle tank.



The temporary business grouping (groupement momentané d’entreprise – GME) comprising Texelis and KNDS France supplies the French army with the mobility solution for its new 4x4 vehicle, the Serval. Texelis provides the mobility platform, while KNDS France manufactures and assembles the vehicles and supplies the associated equipment.

The transaction is not likely to harm competition



On the basis the transaction is not likely to harm competition given the absence of any overlap between the parties’ activities and any risk of market foreclosure for competitors, the Autorité cleared the transaction unconditionally.
      
      
      

                
          
        
          
            Decision 25-DCC-314 of 9 December 2025
      
          
            on the acquisition of exclusive control of Texelis Defense by KNDS
 
      
        
                  
            
            The full text of the decision (in French) will be available soon
      
          
              
      

                
          
  
    Contact(s)
          
                
          
              
          
        
              


      
      
      
  
    
      
            Nicola Crawford
      
      
            Communications Officer
      
    
    
      
            +33155040151
      
      
     Contact us by e-mail

KNDS Group's Acquisition of Texelis Defense Cleared by French Authority

On 14 November 2025, the KNDS group notified the French competition authority of its intention to acquire exclusive control of Texelis Defense.

After a thorough examination, the authority concluded that the transaction would not harm competition, as there is no overlap in the activities of the two parties and no risk of market foreclosure for competitors.

Texelis, based in France, specializes in mobility solutions for the defense and transport sectors, particularly in land mobility and armored vehicle design. The newly formed Texelis Defense will take over these operations.

The KNDS group, a merger of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Nexter, is involved in manufacturing military land systems and has a subsidiary, KNDS France, that focuses on armored vehicle systems and combat systems.

Both companies are currently collaborating on supplying the French army with mobility solutions for the new 4x4 vehicle, the Serval, with Texelis providing the mobility platform and KNDS France handling manufacturing and assembly.



KNDS Group's Acquisition of Texelis Defense Cleared by French Authority

The French competition authority has unconditionally cleared the KNDS group's acquisition of Texelis Defense, citing no competition concerns.