Law and contracts

Due to delayed vehicle deliveries and vehicle defects, operating difficulties, especially in regional and long-­distance transport, may occur. In regional transport, this may result in contractual violations or non-­compliance with the contracting organizations. Higher expenses and penalty payments combined with lower fares are the result. Ensuing damage claims are asserted against the manufacturers.

Provisions have been made for legal and contractual risks based on an assessment of their probability of occurrence.

Compliance with current laws, company guidelines and recognized regulatory standards is the task and duty of every DB Group employee. It is the mission of our compliance department to ensure compliance with such criteria.

With its very high procurement volume and over 40,000 suppliers, DB Group is one of the largest purchasers in Germany. Large-­scale capital expenditures mean that the infrastructure business units in particular are exposed to a signifi­cant risk of becoming the target and victim of corruption, cartel agreements or fraud. As a provider of grants, the Feder­al Government places high demands on DB Group with its anti-­corruption guidelines.

Opportunities arise from the discovery of cartels that operated in the past and the enforcement of claims for damages against cartel members. DB Group is seeking compensation for damage in over ten cases. This relates, amongst other issues, to cartels in freight trucks, tracks, air freight, elevators and escalators, prestressing of steel, girocard and container transports. In more than ten other cases, DB Group is still determining if damage has been caused.