Berlin/Cologne – A YPOG team co-led by Johannes Janning, Stephan Bank and Tim Schlösser advised carsharing provider MILES Mobility on the acquisition of Volkswagen subsidiary UMI Urban Mobility International GmbH, known as WeShare. The all-electric carsharing provider WeShare currently operates in Berlin and Hamburg with around 2,000 cars, which will be migrated into the MILES ecosystem, the existing carpool and the user app.
This acquisition economically and sustainably expands the company's vehicle fleet as well as its customer base. MILES customers will benefit from a larger e-fleet and original WeShare customers will gain access to a significantly increased and diverse vehicle portfolio, six additional German and two Belgian cities, as well as new features such as city-to-city rides and cross-border rides. More than 11,000 vehicles will be available in Germany and Belgium. As part of the new partnership, MILES ordered more than 10,000 electric vehicles from Audi, Seat/Cupra and VW Passenger Cars, which will be delivered starting in 2023.
Both parties are taking an important step toward a reliable, convenient, and sustainable form of mobility as an alternative to private cars. To continue this course, MILES aims to become Europe's leading car-sharing platform.
Advisors MILES Mobility:
Dr. Johannes Janning (Co-Lead, M&A), Associated Partner
Dr. Stephan Bank (Co-Lead, M&A), Partner
Dr. Tim Schlösser (Co-Lead, M&A), Partner
Nina Ahlert (M&A), Senior Associate
Jonathan Görg (M&A), Associate
Laura Franke (M&A), Project Lawyer
Dr. Lutz Schreiber (IP/IT, Data Protection), Partner
Dr. Benedikt Flöter (IP/IT, Data Protection), Associated Partner
Matthias Treude (IP/IT, Data Protection), Associate
Anna Eickmeier (IP/IT, Data Protection), Senior Associate
Sara Apenburg (IP/IT, Data Protection), Senior Associate
Dr. Malte Bergmann (Tax), Partner
Ann-Kristin Lochmann (Tax), Associated Partner
Lukas Schmitt (Tax), Associate
About MILES Mobility
MILES is the biggest independent carsharing provider in Germany. The service includes kilometer-based carsharing, van sharing and packages for flexible long-term rentals as well as city-to-city rides - without any stations in a free-floating system. MILES believes in a world in which mobility should be shared, sustainable and accessible to everyone and wants to provide an alternative to private car ownership. The mission is to be part of the personal mobility mix to improve urban life. MILES is currently active in Germany (Berlin, Potsdam, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Bonn and Duisburg) and in Belgium (Ghent and Brussels).
About WeShare
WeShare is the 100% electric car sharing service of UMI Urban Mobility International GmbH with headquarter in Berlin. WeShare started in Berlin with 1,500 electric vehicles in July 2019 as a company of Volkswagen AG and expanded its fleet to Hamburg over time. As a “vehicle on demand” service, WeShare meets the needs of people who do not want to dispense with individual mobility. It is intended as a meaningful additional offering for all occasions when a car is practical and convenient.
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YPOG is a law firm specialized in tax and business law, active in the core fields of Funds, Tax, Banking + Finance, and Transactions. The team at YPOG represents a broad client base, which ranges from emerging technology companies and family-run SMEs to large corporations, as well as private equity, and venture capital funds. YPOG is one of the leading advisors for venture capital, private equity, and fund structuring in Germany. The firm and its partners have been recognized nationally and internationally by JUVE, Best Lawyers, Legal 500, Focus, Chambers and Partners as well as Leaders League. Today, YPOG has more than 120 experienced lawyers and tax specialists and a notary, in three offices, located in Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne.
