Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has advised AutoScout24 on its acquisition of a majority stake in digital wholesale platform AUTOproff. The transaction will result in a combination of a leading pan-European online car marketplace with a fast-growing digital vehicle B2B platform. The acquisition will expand AutoScout24’s capabilities and help dealers buy and sell vehicles across Europe. The transaction is expected to close in Q2 2022. AutoScout24 is controlled by funds advised by Hellman & Friedman LLC.

The Freshfields team was led by Arend von Riegen (Frankfurt) and Counsel Mirko Masek (Hamburg, both Corporate) and included Associate Frauke Thole (Hamburg), Associate Anna Dominke (Frankfurt), Principal Associate Philipp Lehmann (Hamburg), Associate Maximilian Kind (Hamburg), Associate Hannah Turton (London) and Associate Alexander Ryan (London, all Corporate), Associate Hubertus Reinbach (Hamburg, People and Reward), Partner Thomas Wessely, Principal Associate Vanessa van Weelden (Brussels), Associate Jonas Levermann (all Antitrust and Trade, Brussels), Partner Alexander Mitchell (London), Partner Andrew Hagan, Senior Associate Richard Daniels and Associate Julie Chan (all Finance, London), Partner Markus Benzing (Frankfurt) and Associate Daniel Klingenbrunn (both Corporate Banking Regulatory, Frankfurt).

Danish aspects of the transaction were handled by the law firm Bech-Bruun with a team led by Steen Rode and Anders Hagstrøm.

The AutoScout24 inhouse legal team was led by Stefan Vogel and Felix Burkhart.