Deutsche Bahn (DB) has signed an agreement to sell its logistics subsidiary, DB Schenker, to the Danish transport and logistics group DSV for an enterprise value of 14.3 billion EUR.
As the new owner of the company, DSV plans to invest around 1 billion EUR in Germany over the next three to five years.
Central functions of the logistics subsidiary will remain in Germany, including the Schenker headquarters in Essen. DSV has also committed to offering more jobs in the country post-transaction than the current combined workforce of the two organisations.
This sale aligns with DB’s Strong Rail strategy, which emphasises strengthening public rail infrastructure and enhancing climate-friendly passenger and freight transport within Germany and Europe.
DB plans to use the proceeds from the sale to significantly reduce its debt and focus on improving infrastructure, rail operations, and profitability over the next three years.
“The sale of DB Schenker to DSV marks the largest transaction in the history of DB and gives our logistics subsidiary a clear growth perspective. In line with our Strong Rail strategy, we are concentrating on the public welfare-oriented rail infrastructure in Germany as well as climate-friendly passenger and freight transport in Germany and Europe. At the same time, the reduction of debt makes a substantial contribution to the financial viability of the Group. The focus over the next three years will be on the structural restructuring of the infrastructure, railway operations and profitability. In this way, we are creating a stable basis for the continued growth path of Strong Rail and our contribution to the federal government's transport and climate policy goals.”
DSV now plans to leverage DB Schenker’s strengths to build one of the world’s largest companies world’s in the field of transport and logistics.
“We have a clear plan on how we want to become the world's leading transport and logistics company together. Hand in hand and under one roof, the employees of DSV and Schenker will combine our strengths to create a true global market leader in the industry. This strategic merger with significant investments in competitiveness will secure long-term growth and create sustainable jobs in Germany.”
The sale of DB Schenker follows an open process launched by DB in December 2023, in accordance with EU law. DSV’s offer was deemed the most economically advantageous for Deutsche Bahn. This transaction comes after DB’s earlier sale of its European local transport subsidiary, DB Arriva, in mid-2024.
The deal is subject to approval by DB’s Supervisory Board and the German Federal Government, with completion expected by 2025 after regulatory clearances.
The agreement also includes social commitments that safeguard jobs for two years after the transaction is finalised.
