Ashurst advised the management of the tyre wholesaler Gundlach on the acquisition of Gundlach Automotive Corporation (GAC) by Dutch private equity investor Gilde Buy Out Partners and the management.

At the turn of the new year Gilde and the management has taken over Gundlach Automotive Corporation (GAC) and its group from Pon Holdings B.V. Gundlach Automotive Corporation is an aftermarket distributor of tyres, rims, completely-fitted wheels, and other services to car dealerships and wholesalers in Germany, as well as wheel assembly services to blue-chip car OEMs in Europe.

The Pon Tyre Group division of Dutch Pon Group has been restructured and strategically aligned before the transaction. As a result Gundlach Automotive Corporation (GAC) was formed, which comprises a total of seven companies from six countries, including Reifen Gundlach, Euro-Tyre NL, PTG Automotive Solutions & Services, RG Automotive Solutions and Goodwheel. In 2012, Pon Group acquired Gundlach from Japanese trading group Itochu.

For Ashurst, counsel Dr Philip Cavaillès (Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt) led the transaction.