Czech Republic/CEE: Schoenherr advises Abris CEE Mid-Market Fund II on sale of AURES Holdings

"We are delighted to have supported Abris on this landmark transaction," said Vladimír Čížek, Partner at Schoenherr, who co-led the advisory team. "The sale of AURES Holdings underscores the strength of the CEE automotive retail market and the value that Abris has built during its ownership. Our cross-border team worked seamlessly across the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland to ensure the smooth execution of this complex deal."

Schoenherr advised on the transaction structuring, vendor due diligence and local law aspects across all three jurisdictions.

AURES Holdings is a leading multi-brand pre-owned vehicle retailer in Central Europe and the owner and operator of the international AAA Auto network. The group operates in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland, offering customers pre-owned vehicle sales, financing and related services. AURES Holdings employs approximately 3,000 people.

EP Equity Investment is the investment platform of Czech entrepreneur Daniel Křetínský, focusing on long-term strategic investments in publicly traded and private companies. The total value of the company's portfolio exceeds EUR 2.5bln. Following the completion of the transaction, EP Equity Investment has acquired full control of AURES Holdings.

The Schoenherr team advising on the transaction was led by Vladimír Čížek (Partner) and Jiří Marek (Counsel) and further consisted of Czech Republic-based Jan Kupčík (Counsel), Helena Hangler (Counsel), Kristýna Tupá (Counsel), Martin Svoboda (Attorney at Law), Petr Korál (Attorney at Law), Sebastian Špeta (Attorney at Law), Marie Gremillot (Attorney at Law), Rudolf Bicek (Counsel), Natálie Hrubá (Associate) and Karolína Hlavinková (Associate), Hungary-based Kinga Hetényi (Partner), Gábor Pázsitka (Partner), Alexandra Bognár (Attorney at Law), Márk Kovács (Attorney at Law) and Adrián Menczelesz (Attorney at Law), Poland-based Katarzyna Solarz-Włodarska (Partner), Barbara Józwik (Partner), Katarzyna Sulimierska (Partner), Dawid Brudzisz (Counsel), Paweł Kułak (Counsel), Paweł Baran (Senior Attorney at Law), Ewelina Adamczyk (Attorney at Law), Aleksandra Kulik (Attorney at Law), Michał Bering (Attorney at Law), Agnieszka Stawiarska (Attorney at Law), Róża Szatan (Senior Associate), Kamil Jurzak (Associate) and Olga Koncerewicz-Piotrowska (Associate), and Slovakia-based Soňa Hekelová (Partner), Michal Lučivjanský (Partner), Peter Devínsky (Counsel), Zuzana Hnátová (Counsel) and Ján Farbiak (Attorney at Law).

The acquirer was represented by Dentons.