Deloitte Legal advises Mercedes-Benz on the sale of its Russian business

A Deloitte Legal team led by Frankfurt partner Bettina Mertgen has advised the Mercedes Group on the sale of its Russian business to Russian investor Avtodom. The sale includes the two companies Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing RUS (MBMR) and Mercedes-Benz Russia AO (MB Rus) as well as three financing companies, including Mercedes-Benz Bank Russia. The Moscovia car plant, which started operations in 2019 and employs more than 1,000 people, will also go to Avtodom, a car dealer specializing in premium and luxury cars.

Although Mercedes had already announced in autumn 2022 that it would withdraw from Russia in the wake of the attack on Ukraine, numerous regulatory requirements and approval procedures led to a lengthy process that has only now been concluded.

In particular, the foreign trade aspects of the feasibility of this transaction in light of the Russia embargo were crucial.

In addition to Mertgen's team of advisors, numerous other renowned law firms were involved on the side of the Mercedes Group.