Hensoldt calls for arms companies to be classified as "consistent"

FRANKFURT (Dow Jones) — In view of the Ukraine war and the new tasks for the defense industry, the Munich-based armaments group Hensoldt also expects a rethink of the EU sustainability rules (taxonomy). “From our point of view, it is of the utmost importance that the concept of sustainability is broadened to include the defense industry,” Hensoldt CEO Thomas Müller told the business newspaper Euro am Sonntag. “Because without security there is no sustainability,” said Müller. The discussion about the EU taxonomy rules will gain new momentum as a result of the Ukraine war. “I assume that our position will be heard.”

Hensoldt produces sensor and radar systems for military use. The company from Taufkirchen near Munich, a former Airbus division, has been listed on the stock exchange since autumn 2020. The main shareholders of Hensoldt are the federal government (25.1 percent) and the Italian armaments company Leonardo (25.1).

Müller continued to take corporate responsibility very seriously, “of course also with a view to our own share of emissions and resource consumption.” The ESG rating agency Sustainalytics has classified Hensoldt’s ESG risk as the lowest in the entire industry.

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 13, 2022 05:43 ET (09:43 GMT)