Rheinmetall CEO Woos Berlin in Push for European Tank Merger

Rheinmetall AG Chief Executive Officer Armin Papperger is making a fresh pitch to buy part of rival KNDS NV and create a European land defense champion that would consolidate the continent’s fragmented market, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Papperger has spoken to politicians in Berlin and representatives of state-owned development bank KfW in recent months about investment options to more closely tie up the two tankmakers, the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private.