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 Apollo’s managed funds, associated with its Hybrid Value franchise. With this transaction closed, the three co-founders of AUTODOC - 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 Term Loan B of EUR 530 million as announced in July 2026, 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. That investment was the first time the company was co-owned by external investors. The collaboration was designed to be time-limited and purpose-driven, with Apollo providing strategic guidance to help AUTODOC prepare for access to institutional capital markets and a potential future IPO. These objectives were achieved in quick succession, leaving AUTODOC well positioned for any future capital market options. With the transaction completed, 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 pride in regaining full ownership, stating, "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." They also thanked the Apollo team for their trust and expertise over the past two years.
CEO Dmitri Zadorojnii emphasized that Apollo's contribution went beyond capital, helping to sharpen internal processes, strengthen corporate governance, and build a scalable platform. He added, "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. We will fully rely on our digital nature and will continue to adopt and apply the power of AI and many other forefront technologies to bring our products and customers’ experience to the edge of excellence."
CFO Lennart Schmidt highlighted the transformation of financial reporting and capital market readiness, noting that tapping institutional debt markets for the first time marks an important step in professionalising the company and preparing for future endeavours, including a potential IPO when the timing is right.
The strategic partnership has made AUTODOC ready for debt and equity capital markets. Apollo's Jeremy Honeth, Partner, Hybrid Value, reflected on the collaboration: "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 dedicated 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.
AUTODOC, founded in Berlin in 2008, has grown into one of Europe's most exciting e-commerce companies. As of December 31, 2025, its product assortment comprised around 7.8 million SKUs from about 2,700 brand manufacturers, and it generated sales revenue of EUR 1.8 billion in 2025. The company operates online shops in 27 European countries and employs more than 5,500 people across 13 locations.
Apollo is a global alternative asset manager with approximately $1.05 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2026. For more information, visit Apollo's website.
