Deutsche Bahn AG wants to draw a line under the international expansion strategy that was implemented under former company boss Hartmut Mehdorn, who later also headed Air Berlin and Flughafen Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH. After years of searching, a buyer was found for the subsidiary Arriva.

With the takeover of Arriva and Schenker, Deutsche Bahn wanted to transform the state railway into an international transport and logistics group under Hartmut Mehdorn and his successor Rainer Grube. The investment in the British transport company, which was already heavily indebted at the time of purchase, turned out to be a bottomless pit. In addition, the takeover of public bus transport in Malta cost a whopping 2,5 million euros within 50 years. The collaboration was dissolved, with the articulated buses, which had caused a lot of trouble, remaining parked in the capital's moat for years.

Deutsche Bahn AG has wanted to separate from Arriva for several years, but a buyer has only now been found. The US investor I-Squared Capital signed a purchase agreement on Thursday night. The acquiring company is putting around 1,6 billion euros on the table for the British group. The closing is expected during 2024. The approval of the supervisory board, federal government (owner) and antitrust authorities is still pending.

The proceeds from the sale of Arriva will primarily be used to repay debts. Incidentally, DB AG is leaving the British group with heavy losses, as it put 2010 billion euros on the table in 2,7. They also bought Arriva's mountain of debt.

The logistics division DB Schenker is also available for purchase. Deutsche Bahn AG also wants to withdraw from this area. However, the starting position is completely different than at Arriva, because Schenker is considered successful and profitable. An initial market analysis is said to have shown that there is great interest among potential buyers. DB expects that DB Schenker can be sold at a profit.