Berlin, Germany – Autodoc SE, Europe's leading online retailer of automotive spare parts and accessories, has announced the successful completion of the share purchase from funds managed by Apollo’s Hybrid Value franchise. With this transaction, the three co-founders – Alexej Erdle, Max Wegner, and Vitalij Kungel – now indirectly hold 100% of Autodoc SE through their investment vehicle, AutoTech GmbH & Co. KG. This marks the end of a partnership that began in April 2024 when Apollo Funds acquired a minority stake at an equity valuation of EUR 2.3 billion, the first time the company had outside 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 future capital market options. The transaction was funded by a Term Loan B of EUR 530 million, placed in July 2026. As part of the conclusion, the two Apollo representatives on AUTODOC's Supervisory Board have stepped down, and the board now consists of the three founders and three independent members.
The founders expressed their gratitude and vision in a joint statement: "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. We are sincerely grateful to the Apollo team for their trust, invaluable expertise and close partnership over the past two years."
CEO Dmitri Zadorojnii emphasized the broader impact: "Apollo's contribution went well beyond capital. Together, we have significantly sharpened our internal processes, strengthened our corporate governance and built a stronger, more scalable platform. 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. AUTODOC doesn’t change its strategic direction and is ready to capture multiple market opportunities that we clearly see in front of us."
CFO Lennart Schmidt highlighted the financial readiness: "Apollo brought world-class capital markets expertise to AUTODOC at a crucial time. Transforming our financial reporting, professionalising our processes, building capital market readiness and debuting on the institutional credit markets have facilitated a seamless transition to our new capital structure. AUTODOC tapping the institutional debt markets for the first time marks another important step in further professionalising the company and making us ready for future endeavours, including a potential IPO when the timing is right."
Jeremy Honeth, Partner, Hybrid Value at Apollo, 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. We are proud to have supported the company in reaching this point and wish the entire team every success as they enter their next chapter of growth."
Looking ahead, AUTODOC remains committed to its long-term ambition of becoming Europe's leading technology ecosystem for the automotive aftermarket, combining AI-driven capabilities, data-informed decision-making, and an enhanced digital experience. A future IPO remains on the agenda, subject to market conditions. The company's strong performance, with 2025 sales revenue of EUR 1.8 billion, positions it well for future growth.
