Deutsche Bahn has been exploring the separation from its logistics subsidiary, DB Schenker, since the end of 2022. Recent media reports suggest that a potential bidder from the United Arab Emirates has expressed interest.
In December 2022, the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Bahn AG (DB) tasked the Board of Directors with examining and preparing a possible sale of up to 100 percent of DB Schenker‘s shares. As of now, there is no specific date for the initiation of a sales process.
The examination process and the potential sales process do not have fixed dates. “We are preparing everything with the necessary care and without pressure,” stated Schenker CEO Jochen Thewes and Supervisory Board Chairman Levin Holle in May of this year.
Handelsblatt now reports on a potential bidder from Abu Dhabi showing interest in acquiring the logistics subsidiary DB Schenker. According to the publication, the interested party is ADQ, an investor from the United Arab Emirates and one of the three sovereign wealth funds in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The possible sale of Deutsche Bahn’s subsidiary to the Arab investor ADQ is reportedly facing resistance within parts of the federal government, as per Handelsblatt.
The report further states that the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Bahn plans to address the issue of the Schenker sale on Wednesday, December 13th.