Germany: Must think pragmatically when protecting activities against foreign takeovers

BERLIN (Reuters) - German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday that it was necessary to think pragmatically when protecting Germany's strategic activities against foreign takeovers.

Last month Economy Minister Peter Altmaier defended government efforts to shield some firms from foreign takeovers, arguing that the state had a responsibility to protect key technology and certain industrial sectors.

(Reporting by Gernot Heller; Writing by Michelle Martin; Editing by Riham Alkousaa)