The state-owned KfW is selling 50 million shares in Deutsche Post. The share package is worth around 2.2 billion euros. However, the federal government remains the largest shareholder in the logistics group.
The German state is selling some of its shares in Deutsche Post AG. The state-owned development bank KfW put 50 million shares in the logistics group onto the market in the evening. Based on the closing price in electronic Xetra trading of 44.40 euros, the shares are worth around 2.2 billion euros.
Post stock falls
The papers are to be placed with institutional investors overnight. This means that the state bank’s share in Deutsche Post AG will fall from 20.5 percent to 16.5 percent. However, KfW remains the largest shareholder. Post’s shares fell to around 43 euros in late trading after the sale was announced. “We have said for a long time that we are neutral about any further reduction in federal participation,” said a Post spokesman.
Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner (FDP) had already announced that he would also sell federal holdings for the necessary restructuring of Deutsche Bahn. Further proceeds, for example from the sale of shares in Deutsche Telekom, should also be used. The federal government holds around 30 percent of the telecommunications group through KfW and directly. Together with the share in the post office, it involves state investments worth a total of around 40 billion euros.
More than a hundred federal investments in companies
The federal government holds 117 direct investments, as can be seen from the federal government’s investment report as of February 2023. This year, company investments worth up to four billion euros are to be sold. The Reuters news agency had already reported this in mid-January with reference to a paper from the Ministry of Finance for the budget committee’s adjustment meeting on January 18th. Deutsche Bahn is 100 percent owned by the federal government.