AUTODOC Founders Regain Full Ownership as Apollo Partnership Concludes

In a significant move for the European automotive aftermarket, AUTODOC SE, Europe's leading online retailer of automotive spare parts and accessories, has announced the successful completion of a share purchase from Apollo’s managed funds associated with its Hybrid Value franchise. The transaction, which closed recently, sees the three co-founders—Alexej Erdle, Max Wegner, and Vitalij Kungel—again indirectly hold 100% of Autodoc SE through their investment vehicle, AutoTech GmbH & Co. KG.

The buyback, funded by a EUR 530 million Term Loan B placed in July 2026, concludes a partnership that began in April 2024 when Apollo Funds acquired a minority stake at an equity valuation of EUR 2.3 billion. That investment marked the first time the company was co-owned by individuals other than the founders. The collaboration was designed to be time-limited and purpose-driven, with Apollo providing strategic guidance to help AUTODOC access institutional capital markets and prepare for 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.

“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,” said the founders in a joint statement. They also expressed gratitude to the Apollo team for their trust, expertise, and partnership over the past two years.

Dmitri Zadorojnii, CEO of AUTODOC, emphasized that Apollo’s contribution went beyond capital, helping sharpen internal processes, strengthen corporate governance, and build a 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,” he said, adding that the company’s strategic direction remains unchanged and that it is ready to capture market opportunities using AI and other technologies.

CFO Lennart Schmidt highlighted the transformation of financial reporting and the professionalization of processes, which facilitated a seamless transition to the 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,” he said.

Jeremy Honeth, Partner, Hybrid Value at Apollo, expressed pride in the partnership, noting that AUTODOC has cemented its position as Europe’s leading digital platform for automotive parts and demonstrated clear readiness for the capital markets. With the transaction completed, the two Apollo representatives on AUTODOC's Supervisory Board have stepped down, leaving the board composed of the three founders and three independent members.

Looking ahead, AUTODOC remains dedicated to its ambition of becoming Europe's leading technology ecosystem for the automotive aftermarket, combining AI-driven capabilities, data-informed decision-making, and enhanced digital experiences. A future IPO remains on the agenda, subject to market conditions. The company’s growth trajectory is underscored by its 2025 sales revenue of EUR 1.8 billion (up from EUR 1.6 billion in 2024), an assortment of around 7.8 million SKUs from about 2,700 brand manufacturers, online shops in 27 European countries, and more than 5,500 employees across 13 locations.

This ownership change marks a pivotal moment for AUTODOC, as it returns to founder control with enhanced capital market readiness, positioning the company for continued expansion and potential public listing in the future.