In December 2024, Hellman & Friedman-backed AutoScout24, a European online automotive marketplace, acquired TRADER Corporation, a Canadian online marketplace also offering dealership and OEM software and lender services for the automotive sector, from Thoma Bravo. This acquisition marked AutoScout24’s expansion beyond Europe.
TRADER Corporation, based in Toronto, operates Canada's top online automotive platforms, AutoTrader.ca and AutoHebdo.net. In addition to automotive marketplaces, TRADER also provides dealer software solutions under the AutoSync brand and operates Dealertrack, a key portal connecting dealers and lenders in Canada.
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP represented AutoScout24 as Canadian counsel with a team that included Kevin Greenspoon, Zain Rizvi, Matthew Sherman, Jack Franklin and Bryan Yau (Private M&A); Anita Banicevic and Alysha Manji-Knight (Competition); Sumeet Dang and Max Jarvie (IP/Privacy); Shari Cohen (Pensions & Employment); Andrew Ellis and Darren Joblonkay (Tax); Daniel Peterson and Paul Capparelli (Real Estate); and Carol Pennycook and Victoria Li (Finance).
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP represented AutoScout24 in the United States and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP represented AutoScout24 in the United Kingdom and Germany.
Goodmans LLP and McMillan LLP represented Thoma Bravo and TRADER as Canadian counsel; while Kirkland & Ellis LLP was U.S. counsel. Michael Whitcombe led McMillan’s multidisciplinary team, which included Todd Miller, Vaughan Rawes, Amir Kashdaran, Kristen Pennington, Yue Fei, Paul Boshyk, and Shahen Mirakian.
McCarthy Tétrault LLP was Canadian counsel to AutoScout24's lenders; while Latham & Watkins was UK and U.S. counsel to the lenders.