IPO News

It always looked exceptionally bold -- or foolhardy -- but common sense seems to have prevailed. German state-owned railway Deutsche Bahn AG looks set to postpone the planned IPO for a 24.9% stake in its DB Mobility Logistics AG division, which at an estimated $6 billion, would have been the country's biggest IPO since Deutsche Post AG in 2000.

Shares in DB Mobility, whose activities include passenger transport and logistics, were due to debut Oct. 27, but prospects for the IPO deteriorated when earlier this week German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck questioned the timing.

Deutsche Bahn would delay the sale, possibly until the spring, because of market turmoil, however, executives have not made a formal decision yet.

An announcement was seen likely later Thursday or early Friday after a Thursday afternoon meeting. - Laura Board