Record business: Bahn subsidiary Schenker sold to Danish logistician DSV

The sale of the previous rail subsidiary DB Schenker to the Danish logistics company DSV has been completed. This announced buyers and sellers in the morning. With a company value of 14.3 billion euros, it is “the largest transaction in the history of Deutsche Bahn and in the history of the logistics industry,” said rail director Richard Lutz. The sales proceeds should remain completely in the DB group and significantly reduce the debt of the federal company.

DB and DSV announced the takeover by the Danes in September 2024. Since then, the Federal Government, the Bahn Supervisory Board and the Competition Authorities had to give their approval. The business is a record deal for both companies.

Train focuses on the core business

DSV spoke of creating a global market leader in the transport and logistics industry with the Schenker takeover. Based on the financial figures of the previous year, DSV and Schenker together have an estimated 310 billion Danish crowns (EUR 41.5 billion) and an overall workforce of almost 160,000 employees in more than 90 countries.

According to an earlier internal DSV presentation, important central functions of Schenker in Germany, such as IT in Essen, are to be preserved, but 1,600 to 1,900 full-time positions should be reduced in the administration in the medium term.

For the train, the sale means a stronger focus on your own core business, rail traffic in Germany. At the same time, he represents a separation from one of the few well -running business areas of the group: the division had always improved the balance of the parent company with high profits. In 2024, the logistical giant also generated an operational plus of around one billion euros.