Did SouthEastern attempt to hand back franchise?

[garyw]

I'm hoping that someone here will have more solid information on this rumour but I heard that Southeastern recently attempted to hand back the Franchise only to be told by the DfT that if they did that they would lose out on the subsidy money and possibly suffer a financial penalty?

Does anyone have any more of it? I can't find any sources to corroborate the story.

Thanks.