The Supervisory Board of Deutsche Bahn asked the Management Board to assess the option of selling up to 100% of the shares in Arriva to one or more investors, and the option of an IPO.
As DB reported, the options for a sale of Arriva would help to limit the increase in DB’s debt, while also putting Arriva in a position to generate further financial opportunities for growth.
Since 2011, Deutsche Bahn net financial debt increased significantly, due to investments made as well as a result of the bond portfolio expansion and the dividend payments to the Federal Government. According to company’s financial results, in 2017 the net financial debt was EUR 18.6 billion.
The UK-based operator was 100% acquired by DB in 2010 for GBP 1.5 billion (EUR 1.74 billion in current prices).
Last year, Arriva generated revenues of EUR 5.44 billion with a workforce of 53,000 people, full-time employees, in Europe.
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