The pool of candidates vying to acquire the German logistics company DB Schenker, controlled by Deutsche Bahn, is narrowing. After the withdrawal of the Danish giant Maersk, the Saudi transportation and logistics company Bahri has also decided to exit. Reuters reported this on July 18, 2024, citing information from two sources close to the sale. As a result, only two contenders remain in the race: the Danish group DSV and a consortium of financial investors led by CVC Capital Partners, which also includes Carlyle Group and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. According to Reuters, Bahri had proposed $15 billion in the first round of offers. The Saudi company is one of the world's largest owners and operators of Very Large Crude Carriers and chemical tankers in the Middle East, with a fleet of 92 ships.
It will likely take at least a month to determine which of the two bidders will win the race, and many analysts currently believe that DSV is the frontrunner. Deutsche Bahn announced its decision to sell DB Schenker in December 2022, and by January 2024, it had received interest from twenty-five entities, eventually narrowing them down to just four. The implications of the sale are not only operational and economic but also affect employment due to potential downsizing.
