E+H advised Styria on its partnership with Sprints to acquire Adevinta’s shares in willhaben

European growth investor Sprints and Styria Media Group have entered into a partnership to jointly own and drive the development of willhaben, Austria’s digital consumer marketplace. This collaboration combines Sprints’ extensive expertise as an investor in customer-focused technology businesses in Europe with Styria’s prominent position as a leading media and digital company in Austria.

As part of the partnership, the joint venture between Sprints and Styria acquires all of Adevinta’s shares in willhaben. The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant regulatory authorities. Completion of the transaction is expected in the second quarter of 2025.

willhaben – meaning “want to have” – is a leading provider in the Austrian digital marketplace landscape, with more than 3.8 million users per month. It is one of the go-to platforms of buyers and sellers in Austria, with more than 13 million listings across real estate, jobs, cars and motors and the free marketplace for private users.

Advisors
Roschier and Dorda Rechtsanwälte GmbH acted as legal counsel to Sprints.
Jefferies Financial Group served as financial advisors to Styria.
LionTree Advisors served as financial advisor and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer served as legal coun-sel to Adevinta on the transaction.

E+H Team

Lead: Peter Winkler, Stefan Jeitler, Philipp Schrader (all Partners, Corporate + M&A)

Further: Dieter Thalhammer (Partner, Antitrust + Competition Law), Jana Eichmeyer (Partner, Employment Law), Judith Feldner (Partner, Antitrust + Competition), Helmut Liebel (Partner, IP/IT Law), Felix Frommelt (Attorney-at-Law / permanent substitute, Antitrust + Competition Law), William Redl (Attorney-at-Law / permanent substitute, Antitrust + Competition Law), Franziska Egger (Attorney-at-Law / permanent substitute, Employment Law), Susanna Falkenburg (Attorney-at-Law / permanent substitute, Corporate + M&A), Yvonne Wohlmuth (Associate, Corporate + M&A), Florian Vidreis (Associate, Corporate + M&A), Law), Paul Rois (Associate, Antitrust + Competition Law), Lukas Weber (Associate, IP/IT Law), Alexandra Stadlober (Associate, Corporate + M&A), Markus Feneberger (Associate, Corporate + M&A)