Deutsche Bahn has finalised the sale of its logistics subsidiary DB Schenker to Danish transport and logistics group DSV for €14.3bn.

Deutsche Bahn says it is focusing on its core business and will retain all proceeds from the sale to reduce its level of debt.

The sales process went according to plan and was finalised earlier than originally expected. In recent weeks, DSV obtained the last remaining approvals from the antitrust authorities of the European Union and the USA to acquire DB Schenker.

DSV said its aim in acquiring DB Schenker (www.dsv.com/en-gb/about-dsv/winning-as-one) was to create one of the world’s leading companies in the transport and logistics industry. DSV has announced that as the new owner it will invest some €1bn in Germany over the next three to five years.

“We have completed the largest corporate transaction in the history of Deutsche Bahn and the logistics industry,” said Richard Lutz, CEO of DB. “The sale of Schenker will reduce complexity for DB and allow us to fully focus on our core business. Over the next three years, we will turn our infrastructure, rail operations and profitability around. The acquisition by DSV will give DB Schenker a new owner that promises a unique market position and opportunities for international growth.”

Jens Lund, CEO of DSV, added: “With the completion of the acquisition of Schenker, we have reached a milestone in the history of DSV. We have been looking forward to completing the transaction and I am excited to welcome our new colleagues to the DSV organisation. With this acquisition, we become a world-leading player in global transport and logistics, at a time when global supply chains are more in focus than ever before, and our customers need a reliable and agile global network of services and products. By combining the two companies, we will create a unique flexible platform for long-term financial growth to the benefit of our customers, employees, shareholders and other stakeholders.”

And Jochen Thewes, CEO of DB Schenker, said: “This marks the close of what has been the most successful era to date in Schenker’s more than 150 year history. It is with great pride that we look back on our excellent performance over the past years with Deutsche Bahn as our owner. Now, with DSV, we have the opportunity to build the world’s largest logistics group. We look forward to working together on this great vision through responsible and collaborative partnership.”

DB (www.deutschebahn.com) began the open, transparent and non-discriminatory process to sell DB Schenker in accordance with EU law in December 2023. DSV (www.dsv.com) was selected in the competitive sale process because its offer was clearly the most financially advantageous for Deutsche Bahn. DSV and Deutsche Bahn signed the purchase agreement in September 2024. DB also completed the sale of DB Arriva, its subsidiary for European regional and local transport, in summer 2024.

With some 71,100 employees at more than 1850 locations in over 130 countries, DB Schenker (www.dbschenker.com) is one of the world’s largest logistics providers. The company operates land, air and ocean transport services for logistics and global supply chain management from a single source.