CMS advises shareholders on sale of Rösch car dealership group

Stuttgart – The Pforzheim-based Rösch and Wentz shareholder families have sold their shares in the operating companies of the Rösch car dealership group. The sale to Hahn Group of Fellbach took effect on 1 January 2015. The transaction covers Rösch’s VW, VW commercial vehicles, Seat, Skoda and Audi dealerships. The Body and Paint Centre is also being acquired by the Hahn Group, but the shareholder families are retaining ownership of the Pforzheim Porsche Centre that also forms part of the Rösch Group. The sale of the VW, Seat, Skoda and Audi sites also includes extensive agreements on the use and sale of the business premises.

CMS advised the Rösch and Wentz shareholder families on all aspects of the sales process. In addition to the structure of the transaction, the challenges included the close links between the company-related agreements and the real estate agreements. Close involvement of the manufacturers in the sales process was also required.

The long-established Rösch car dealership group sells around 3,000 new cars and some 1,500 used cars a year via its VW, Seat, Skoda and Audi dealerships. Approximately 220 employees generated turnover of around EUR 120 million in the last year for which figures are available. The sale of the VW, Seat, Skoda and Audi sites is part of a succession plan drawn up by the shareholding families.

The Fellbach-based Hahn Group has around 25 sites and more than 1,300 employees, making it one of Germany’s biggest car dealers. In 2013, the Hahn Group sold some 21,050 new and used cars.

CMS Hasche Sigle

Dr Maximilian Grub, Lead Partner
Dr Sabina Krispenz
Dr Matthias Wenzel, all M&A/Corporate
Dr Volker Zerr
Dr Franziska Rösch, both Real Estate

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