The sale of DB Schenker, Deutsche Bahn’s logistics arm, might have found its suitor. Danish shipping giant DSV signed an agreement with two investment banks to gather enough funds to conclude the purchase. On the other hand, DHL officially withdrew from the race.
DSV is cooperating with French BNP Paribas and the British-Chinese credit institution HSBC to draft an acquisition offer, as various Danish media outlets mentioned. If DSV would end up taking over DB Schenker, it would become the world’s largest forwarder. One of the other possible buyers was DHL, which decided to continue with its strategy of bolt-on acquisition, which entails the purchase of smaller companies.
The sale process
Deutsche Bahn officially put DB Schenker up for sale in December 2023, after consulting with financial institutions throughout the past year. Their ears were open to offers between 19 December and 12 January. Dozens of parties showed their interest in taking over DB Schenker, which remains the most profitable asset of the DB Group. It now seems to be a clear frontrunner, DSV, but it is not yet quite clear how long the process will be.
DB Schenker’s value was set between 10 and 15 billion euros, meaning that the buyer will have to put out a significant financial effort. This is especially true considering that the German state, which owns the company, will be interested in cash rather than taking up shares. The sale of the logistics company was deemed necessary to cover DB outstanding debts, especially when it comes to DB Cargo.