“The largest transaction in the history of Deutsche Bahn”: DB has completed the sale of its logistics subsidiary DB Schenker to the Danish transport and logistics group DSV for an enterprise value of 14.3 billion euros.
This is a key step in DB’s planned focus on its core business. The proceeds from the sale are to remain entirely within the Group and significantly reduce its debt.
According to an official statement, the sales process went “according to plan” and was successfully completed “earlier than planned”. In recent weeks, DSV had received the last outstanding approvals for the acquisition of DB Schenker from the antitrust authorities of the European Union and the USA. DSV’s declared aim is to create one of the world’s leading companies in the transportation and logistics sector. As the new owner, DSV has announced investments of around one billion euros in Germany over the next three to five years.
DB wants to concentrate on its core business
Richard Lutz, CEO of DB, said: “Today we have completed the largest transaction in the history of Deutsche Bahn and in the history of the logistics industry. For DB, the Schenker sale means less complexity and full concentration on our core business, which we will fundamentally restructure over the next three years in the three dimensions of infrastructure, operations and profitability. With DSV, DB Schenker will have a new owner that promises a unique market position and international growth prospects.”
Jens Lund, CEO of DSV, added: “With the completion of the acquisition of Schenker, we have reached a milestone in DSV’s history. We have worked hard to finalize the transaction and I am very pleased to welcome our new colleagues to DSV. With this acquisition, we are a global leader in the transportation and logistics industry at a time when global supply chains are more in focus than ever and our customers need a reliable and agile global network of services and products. By combining the two companies, we are creating a unique, flexible platform for long-term growth. This will benefit our customers, employees, shareholders and all our stakeholders.”
DSV wants to build the world’s largest logistics group
According to CEO Jochen Thewes, this marks the end of “the most successful era in Schenker’s more than 150-year history”. The company looks back on the outstanding results with “great pride”. DSV now offers the opportunity to build the largest logistics group in the world.
In December 2023, DB launched the open, transparent and non-discriminatory process for the sale of DB Schenker in accordance with EU law. DSV and Deutsche Bahn signed the contract for the sale in September 2024. DB had already completed the sale of its European local transport subsidiary DB Arriva in summer 2024.
