Development in the year under review
- Improvements in operating profits, in particular performance-related at DB Operational Services.
- Digitalization and Group projects were driven forward.
- Number of employees has risen, primarily in line with performance development.
| Subsidiaries/Other | 2024 | 2023 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| absolute | % | |||
| Total revenues (€ million) | 7,328 | 6,829 | +499 | +7.3 |
| DB Business Services | 3 | 3 | – | – |
| DB Operational Services | 8,302 | 7,807 | +495 | +6.3 |
| Other/consolidation | –977 | –981 | +4 | –0.4 |
| External revenues (€ million) | 853 | 775 | +78 | +10.1 |
| EBITDA adjusted (€ million) | 520 | 291 | +229 | +78.7 |
| EBIT adjusted (€ million) | –149 | –338 | +189 | –55.9 |
| DB Business Services | –169 | –161 | –8 | +5.0 |
| DB Operational Services | 245 | 110 | +135 | +123 |
| Other | –225 | –287 | +62 | –21.6 |
| Gross capital expenditures (€ million) | 1,180 | 784 | +396 | +50.5 |
| DB Business Services | 3 | 3 | – | – |
| DB Operational Services | 755 | 581 | +174 | +29.9 |
| Other | 422 | 200 | +222 | +111 |
| Net capital expenditures (€ million) | 1,179 | 781 | +398 | +51.0 |
| Employees as of Dec 31 (FTE) | 62,090 | 61,876 | +214 | +0.3 |
| DB Business Services | 11,398 | 11,626 | –228 | –2.0 |
| DB Operational Services | 48,154 | 47,608 | +546 | +1.1 |
| Other | 2,538 | 2,642 | –104 | –3.9 |
| Employees annual average (FTE) | 62,616 | 60,806 | +1,810 | +3.0 |
The increase in total revenues was driven by higher revenues from intra-Group customers of DB Operational Services companies. This was largely due to higher demand for construction projects (above all DB Rail Construction and DB E.C.O.), solutions for digitalization, cybersecurity and communication (DB Systel and DB Communication Technology), vehicle projects (DB Vehicle Maintenance) as well as cleaning and other services (DB Services). In addition, above all price effects at DB Security and volume effects at DB Connect increased revenues. The intra-Group transfer of activities from DB Sales to DB Long-Distance in April 2023 (first-time full effect in 2024) had a partially offsetting effect.
Revenues from non-Group customers increased considerably at a low level. This was largely due to an increase in project business (DB E.C.O., DB Rail Construction). Lower external revenues at DB Sales had an offsetting effect.
Burdens resulted largely from higher personnel expenses (due to collective bargaining agreements and performance-related, largely at DB Systel, DB E.C.O. and DB Rail Construction). The number of employees in Group management
decreased. Furthermore, among other things, the cost of materials increased, in particular due to performance-related factors (above all DB Rail Construction and DB E.C.O.).
The operating profit of the Subsidiaries/Other area is largely determined by the functions of the Group management and the dependent and independent service units that rendered services for the business units. The operating profit figures developed significantly better because income increased more strongly than expenses, largely due to higher intra-Group demand. The main drivers were DB Rail construction, DB Systel and DB Communication Technology. The reduction in Group management expenses, including as part of the strict spending monitoring and control program, also improved profits.
The increase in capital expenditures resulted largely from increased effects from the extension and adjustment of existing, and the conclusion of new, rental and leasing agreements at DB Real Estate. A generally higher price level also had the effect of increasing capital expenditures. Among other things, higher capital expenditures in the depot infrastructure at DB Vehicle Maintenance led to an increase in the volume of capital expenditures.
The number of employees increased largely due to an increase in staff at DB Operational Services companies, in particular at DB E.C.O., DB Rail Construction and DB Security as a result of rising orders and quality measures. Among other things, a decline in the number of employees in the intra-Group labor market and Group management and productivity increases at DB Services had a contrary effect.