AUTODOC SE, Europe's leading online retailer of automotive spare parts, announced the successful completion of its share purchase from Apollo Funds, marking the end of a transformative partnership. The transaction, funded by a EUR 530 million Term Loan B, has restored 100% ownership to the three co-founders—Alexej Erdle, Max Wegner, and Vitalij Kungel—through their investment vehicle, AutoTech GmbH & Co. KG. This move concludes a collaboration that began in April 2024 when Apollo acquired a minority stake at a EUR 2.3 billion equity valuation, the first time the company had external co-owners.
The partnership was designed to be time-limited and purpose-driven, focusing on preparing AUTODOC for institutional capital markets and a potential future IPO. According to the company, these objectives were achieved in quick succession, leaving AUTODOC well-positioned for any future capital market options. With the transaction closed, Apollo's two representatives on the Supervisory Board have stepped down, and the board now consists of the three founders and three independent members.
The founders expressed pride in regaining full ownership, stating, "We have grown AUTODOC from a bootstrapped start-up into Europe’s leading automotive parts retailer by making car repair accessible to everyone. Regaining full ownership is a proud and deeply meaningful moment for us—one that reaffirms our long-term commitment to the company’s future." They also thanked Apollo for their trust and expertise, which they said was instrumental in strengthening the company.
CEO Dmitri Zadorojnii highlighted that Apollo's contribution went beyond capital, enhancing internal processes, corporate governance, and scalability. "We now move forward as a highly focused market leader, fully prepared to leverage our independent position and deliver exceptional value to our B2C and B2B customers across Europe," he said. CFO Lennart Schmidt noted that transforming financial reporting and debuting on institutional credit markets facilitated a seamless transition to the new capital structure, making the company ready for future endeavors, including a potential IPO when the timing is right.
Apollo's Jeremy Honeth, Partner, Hybrid Value, commented, "It has been a privilege to partner with AUTODOC's founders and management team during this transformative period. AUTODOC has cemented its position as Europe’s leading digital platform for automotive parts and has demonstrated clear readiness for the capital markets."
Looking ahead, AUTODOC remains committed to its ambition of becoming Europe's leading technology ecosystem for the automotive aftermarket, leveraging AI and other forefront technologies. A future IPO remains on the agenda, subject to market conditions. The company's recent financial performance, with 2025 sales revenue of EUR 1.8 billion, underscores its market strength. This development is significant as it signals AUTODOC's readiness for public markets and its strategic focus on independent growth, which could have implications for the European e-commerce and automotive parts industry.
