Privatisation status of DB

[coppercapped]

Mod - split from this thread.

Northern is only a very small part of Arriva's operations!
DB has little say over Arriva, as the day to day operations are run from Sunderland not Berlin!
DB has big problems of it's own, before it starts micromanaging Arriva.
Given that DB is semi privatised, I'm not sure how much control the German government has over it!

To your last point, DB AG is not semi-privatised, the shares are owned 100% by the Federal Republic. See, for example, this link to the DB's website

 

[cactustwirly]

To your last point, DB AG is not semi-privatised, the shares are owned 100% by the Federal Republic. See, for example, this link to the DB's website

Well kinda is though, it's effectively a company that's listed on the stock exchange, although all the shares are owned by the German government.

 

[coppercapped]

Well kinda is though, it's effectively a company that's listed on the stock exchange, although all the shares are owned by the German government.

Just like Network Rail then. And that is entirely under the thumb of the DfT/Treasury. It's just that in Germany DB AG has been allowed more freedom of action as the Germans are very, very wary of any form of centralised Government control.
But the framework, the amount of indebtedness, annual funding, etc., is set by the Government.

 

[cactustwirly]

Just like Network Rail then. And that is entirely under the thumb of the DfT/Treasury. It's just that in Germany DB AG has been allowed more freedom of action as the Germans are very, very wary of any form of centralised Government control.
But the framework, the amount of indebtedness, annual funding, etc., is set by the Government.

So would you consider RBS to be nationalised then?

 

[R G NOW.]

So would you consider RBS to be nationalised then?

Thought they already were?

 

[Bletchleyite]

So would you consider RBS to be nationalised then?

Unless they've got round to flogging some of the shares off, yes, it is.

An organisation wholly owned by the state which was not previously wholly owned by the state has been nationalised.

 

[JamesT]

Unless they've got round to flogging some of the shares off, yes, it is.

An organisation wholly owned by the state which was not previously wholly owned by the state has been nationalised.

Wikipedia reckons the government currently own 62.4% of RBS Group.

 

[sprunt]

Well kinda is though, it's effectively a company that's listed on the stock exchange, although all the shares are owned by the German government.

If all the shares are owned by the government, it can't be listed on the stock exchange - that would imply shares are freely traded, surely?

 

[Bletchleyite]

If all the shares are owned by the government, it can't be listed on the stock exchange - that would imply shares are freely traded, surely?

That shares can be traded doesn't mean they are traded. Though I think in the UK you'd change a "plc" to a "Ltd." if a company ceased to be traded. I don't think an Aktiengesellschaft is *quite* the same thing as a "plc" as a result.

 

[SHD]

If all the shares are owned by the government, it can't be listed on the stock exchange - that would imply shares are freely traded, surely?

DB AG shares are not listed on any stock exchange, but part of DB's corporate debt is traded in bonds issued by Deutsche Bahn Finance GmbH. https://www.boerse-berlin.com/index.php/Bonds?isin=XS0794224369

This is not unusual at all, here is another example: SNCF Réseau - https://www.boerse-berlin.com/index.php/Bonds?isin=XS0177618039 (yes it's also listed on the Berlin stock exchange!)

 

[sprunt]

That shares can be traded doesn't mean they are traded.

Obviously not - any shares can be traded, but in most companies they will rarely or never be traded. The idea that shares listed on a stock exchange wouldn't be traded though is ridiculous - trading in them is the sole purpose of a stock exchange listing.

 

[Groningen]

The DB has serious problems with anything. Delays and broken down trains; even those that got repaired. Maintance is much more than profit. The debt stands at 20 billion Euro. Freight is still losing money and they are thinking of selling Arriva and DB Schenker.

 

[Giugiaro]

So where did Arriva get 550M€ for 23 highspeed trains for the Porto-A Coruña line!?

That contract dwarfs the 168M€ contract made by the Portuguese government for 22 regional trains set to also operate on the same line...

 

[Groningen]

I cannot find anything except that it is 250 kilometers from Porto to La Coruna.