German SpaceX customer OHB to delist as KKR takes minority stake

FILE PHOTO: Trading information for KKR & Co is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., August 23, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's OHB said U.S. financial investor KKR was buying a minority stake in the space company, which plans to delist to give it more flexibility to capitalise on a boom in the commercial satellite market.

KKR will give OHB, which is the biggest customer for Elon Musk's SpaceX launchers for institutional satellites in Europe, the chance to focus on its operational business, OHB CEO Marco Fuchs told Reuters, adding that being a listed company slowed down decision-making.