AUTO1 Group Secures EUR 1.6 Billion Inventory Financing to Fuel European Expansion

AUTO1 Group SE announced the successful upsizing and extension of its inventory asset-backed securitisations, enabling the company to finance up to EUR 1.6 billion in used car inventory. This substantial increase in financing capacity represents a 45% expansion and directly supports AUTO1 Group's ambitious growth plans across Europe. The transaction's importance lies in its timing and scale, providing the financial foundation for anticipated business expansion in 2026 and beyond.

The financing structure comprises up to EUR 1.3 billion of senior notes from an expanded bank group, now including thirteen leading banks instead of the previous six, augmented by up to EUR 0.3 billion of junior notes from AUTO1 Group. This expanded banking consortium, which includes major financial institutions, positions the company strongly for future inventory financing needs while providing improved economic conditions and reduced interest margins. The revolving period of the financing has been extended to November 2027, offering long-term stability for inventory management.

Philip Reicherstorfer, VP Treasury, IR & Captive Finance of AUTO1 Group, emphasized that this financing upsizing strongly positions the company for anticipated business growth in 2026. The enhanced financial capacity enables AUTO1 Group to provide improved services and a broader selection of cars to its AUTO1.com partner dealers and Autohero customers across Europe. The transaction represents a significant vote of confidence from financial institutions in AUTO1 Group's business model and growth trajectory.

The implications of this financing expansion are substantial for Europe's used car market. With increased inventory financing capacity, AUTO1 Group can scale its operations across its three core brands: wirkaufendeinauto.de, Autohero, and AUTO1.com. This financial backing supports the company's position as Europe's leading digital automotive platform for buying, selling, and financing used cars. The transaction was arranged with Credit Agricole CIB acting as lead arranger for the main inventory backed facility and BNP Paribas acting as lead arranger for the Italian facility, with legal advice provided by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for AUTO1 Group and Hogan Lovells for the lenders.

This financing development comes as AUTO1 Group continues to expand its European operations, having generated revenue of EUR 6.3 billion and sold 690,000 cars in 2024. The increased inventory financing capacity will support the company's growth across more than 30 countries where it operates. For more information about the company's operations and financial performance, visit https://www.auto1-group.com. The original announcement can be viewed at https://www.newmediawire.com.