Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
August 19, 2026
AUTODOC Founders Reclaim 100% Ownership After Apollo Partnership
TLDR
- Autodoc SE founders regain 100% ownership, positioning the company for a potential IPO and capitalizing on market opportunities without external control.
- Autodoc SE completed a EUR 530 million Term Loan B to buy back Apollo's minority stake, achieving full founder ownership and enhanced governance.
- Autodoc's return to full founder ownership ensures a committed leadership focused on making car repair accessible and affordable across Europe.
- After Apollo's investment, Autodoc's founders now own 100% again, a rare move that highlights their long-term vision and readiness for future growth.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it signals AUTODOC's readiness for public markets, which could lead to an IPO that offers investors a chance to participate in Europe's leading automotive parts platform. The company's strengthened governance and financial reporting, honed during Apollo's involvement, reduce risk and enhance its appeal. For consumers and B2B clients, this stability ensures continued innovation in AI-driven services and a robust supply chain. Moreover, the founders' regained control ensures long-term strategic vision, potentially leading to more aggressive expansion and technological advancements that could reshape the automotive aftermarket.
Summary
In a landmark move, European auto parts e-commerce giant AUTODOC has announced that its three co-founders—Alexej Erdle, Max Wegner, and Vitalij Kungel—have regained 100% ownership of the company, marking the end of a successful two-year partnership with Apollo Global Management's Hybrid Value funds. The transaction, funded by a EUR 530 million Term Loan B placed in July 2026, concludes a collaboration that began in April 2024 when Apollo acquired a minority stake at a valuation of EUR 2.3 billion. This partnership was purpose-built to prepare AUTODOC for public markets, and both parties achieved that goal, with the company now boasting enhanced governance, improved reporting standards, and operational scalability.
The news, as reported by NEWMEDIAWIRE, highlights that AUTODOC enters its next chapter as a leaner, more focused entity, fully ready for potential future capital market activities, including a possible IPO. The founders expressed pride in regaining full ownership, emphasizing their long-term commitment, while CEO Dmitri Zadorojnii and CFO Lennart Schmidt credited Apollo's expertise in sharpening internal processes and building capital market readiness. Apollo's Jeremy Honeth echoed these sentiments, praising AUTODOC's transformation into Europe's leading digital platform for automotive parts.
With the deal closed, Apollo's representatives on AUTODOC's Supervisory Board have stepped down, leaving the board composed of the three founders and three independent members. AUTODOC, which reported EUR 1.8 billion in sales in 2025, continues to focus on its AI-driven technology ecosystem and expanding its B2C and B2B offerings across 27 European countries. The company remains committed to a potential IPO when market conditions are favorable, and this ownership transition positions it strongly for future growth.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, AUTODOC Founders Reclaim 100% Ownership After Apollo Partnership
