Global law firm Freshfields advises listed technology group Continental AG on corporate and capital markets law matters in connection with the spin-off of its Automotive and Contract Manufacturing business units into AUMOVIO SE and the listing of all AUMOVIO SE shares on the stock exchange. Under the terms of the spin-off, Continental shareholders will receive one AUMOVIO SE share for every two Continental shares held.

The AUMOVIO group develops and manufactures electrical, electronic, mechatronic and mechanical components, modules and systems as well as software for use in passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. Its product portfolio includes innovative solutions for assisted and automated driving, display technologies, braking and comfort systems, interior camera solutions, and information and communication technology for mobility services offered by fleet operators and commercial vehicle manufacturers. Activities in driver assistance systems, vehicle connectivity, architecture platforms and electronics as well as high-performance computers and software solutions further complement its offering. In 2024, the AUMOVIO group generated consolidated sales of nearly EUR 20 billion and employs more than 86,000 people at around 90 main locations in 25 countries, supplying all major vehicle manufacturers.

Freshfields has been advising on the transaction since 2024, including on the carve-out of the business units from the group, the comprehensive separation of the businesses, the spin-off and the listing of AUMOVIO SE shares. Overall lead responsibility rested with Partner Christoph H. Seibt.

The Freshfields team advising on carve-out, service agreements, separation agreements, spin-off documentation and shareholders’ meeting included:

Partners: Christoph H. Seibt (Hamburg), Julia Sellmann (Hamburg/Munich), Simon Schwarz (Frankfurt/Hamburg, all co-workstream leads, Corporate/M&A), Philipp Dohnke (Commercial Contracts/IP, Hamburg), Juliane Hilf (Regulatory, Düsseldorf), Claude Stansbury (Tax, Washington), Tobias Klose (Antitrust), Norbert Schneider (Tax, both Düsseldorf)

Counsel: Philipp Lehmann (Commercial Contracts/IP, Hamburg), Marlen Vesper-Gräske (Corporate/M&A, Berlin/Hamburg), Holger Roos (Commercial, Frankfurt)

Principal Associates: Matthias Hofer (Vienna), Maximilian Zellerhoff (Hamburg, both Commercial Contracts/IP), Katharina Reinhardt (Berlin), Jonas Köster (Düsseldorf, both Regulatory), Florian Reiter-Werzin (Antitrust, Vienna), Sebastian Breder (Real Estate, Frankfurt), Flavia Lang, Hubertus Reinbach (both Hamburg), Manuel Jäger (all Employment Law), Thomas Richter (Tax, both Düsseldorf)

Associates: Julian Boatin (Düsseldorf), Philipp Valanto, Valentin Bingger (both Hamburg, all Commercial Contracts/IP), Jan-Willem Koldehofe, Martin Leclerc Bialluch, Johanna Karstaedt (all Hamburg), Jannes Drechsler (Frankfurt), Christoph Beckmann, André Loock, Alexandra Harf, Julia Suttrup, Jannik Maas (all Corporate/M&A, Hamburg), Denise Leinders (Düsseldorf), Marcel Neuhauser (Vienna), Sebastian Himmelseher (Düsseldorf, all Regulatory), Christina Hinterschweiger (Vienna), Sarah Mitchell (London), Marie von Armansperg (Berlin/Düsseldorf), Leonhard Prange (Düsseldorf, all Antitrust), Johanna Möller (Commercial, Frankfurt), Dominik Storms, Philipp Castrup (both Employment, Hamburg), Armin Wulfinghoff, Christian Müller (both Düsseldorf), Dominik Luczak (New York, all Tax)

The IPO of AUMOVIO SE is being advised by Partner Dr. Christoph L. Gleske (workstream lead), Counsel Christina Zapf and Associate Vincent Buchta (all Capital Markets, Frankfurt).

Continental’s in-house legal team was led by Andrea Czarnecki (Group General Counsel), Dr. Matthias Hornberg (Head of Law Corporate Matters), Michelle de Souza (Head of Central Law), Dr. René Streicher (Group General Counsel AUMOVIO), Dr. Andre Wandt (Head of Law Corporate and M&A) and Antonia Allmendinger (Senior Counsel Corporate Matters AUMOVIO). From other departments, the lead roles were taken by Dr. Niels Becker (Head of M&A), Dr. Ulrike Schramm (Group Head of Tax & Customs) and Dr. Christoph Willeke (Head of Finance & Treasury).

Freshfields regularly advises Continental on corporate and capital markets matters, financing and major M&A transactions, most recently under the lead of Prof. Dr. Christoph H. Seibt on the sale of its OESL business to Regent and on the spin-off and IPO of Vitesco.