Linklaters advises Audi on strategic partnership with UST on Italdesign

Linklaters has advised Audi Aktiengesellschaft on the sale of a majority stake in Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A. by Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., an Audi Group company. The stake was sold to UST as part of a related strategic partnership with UST. UST is a global transformation company focused on AI-powered technology, design, and engineering and is headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California (USA). Italdesign is a global design, engineering, and manufacturing company in the automotive sector. Lamborghini will retain a significant stake in Italdesign. UST’s acquisition of a majority stake in Italdesign will create a long-term partnership between Audi, Lamborghini, UST, and Italdesign.

UST contributes expertise in the areas of automotive engineering, artificial intelligence, software-defined vehicle development, and digital ecosystem design. Italdesign has deep knowledge in vehicle and product design, engineering, prototyping, small series production, and automotive electronics. The joint set-up enables the companies to offer a comprehensive and integrated range of services from the early concept phase and design to hardware and software development and production systems. In addition, the transaction serves to further expand Italdesign’s international presence through UST’s global network in over 30 countries. Audi remains a long-term strategic partner and important client of Italdesign.

Linklaters has provided comprehensive advice on the agreements and all legal issues with an international cross-practice team. The team is led by Dr. Ralph Wollburg (Partner), Achim Kirchfeld (Partner) and Marco Huchzermeier (Counsel, all Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf).

The M&A core team also includes: Kaan Gürer (Counsel, Antitrust & Foreign Investment, Düsseldorf), Kristina Willmes (Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf), Matteo Tabellini (Corporate/M&A, Milan), Tim Dever (Antitrust & Foreign Investment, Düsseldorf), Matteo Farneti (Antitrust & Foreign Investment, Milan – all Managing Associates), and Andrea Serena (Associate, Corporate/M&A, Milan).

Other lawyers involved are Dr Arne Kießling (Partner, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf), Dr Michael Leicht (Partner, TMT, Frankfurt), Dr Julian Böhmer (Partner, Tax, Düsseldorf), Dr. Kerstin Wilhelm (Partner, Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations, Munich), Dr René Döring (Partner, Employment & Incentives, Frankfurt), Lucio D’Amario (Partner, Antitrust & Foreign Investment, Milan), Fabio Balza (Tax, Milan), Dr. Anna-Katharina Lohbeck (TMT, Frankfurt), Federica Barbero (Employment & Incentives, Milan – all Counsel), Dr. Johannes Dittrich (Head of Risk Advisory Europe, Munich), Lea Schürmann (Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf), Katharina Schlücke (Tax, Düsseldorf), Giulia Magni (Employment & Incentives, Milan), Jacqueline Engineer (Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations, Munich), Lisa Jäger (IP/LAI, Frankfurt), Lena Mischau (TMT, Frankfurt – all Managing Associates), Maximilian Bunte (Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf), Antonia Mertens, Felix Wichert, Jonas Baumann, Nick Burgold, Thomas Kienle (all TMT, Frankfurt), Eleonora Curreri (Corporate/M&A, Milan), Gaia Bozzolan (Antitrust & Foreign Investment, Milan), Melanie Vachal (Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations, Munich), Colin Laws (Employment & Incentives, Frankfurt), Giovanni Moretta (Tax, Milan – all Associates) and Guglielmo Maria Barbieri (Junior Associate, Corporate/M&A, Milan).

The completion of the transaction is subject to the necessary investment control approvals from the relevant Italian authorities.