Volkswagen Group to start review of Porsche IPO

Volkswagen AG announced that it will conduct an assessment on the feasibility of a potential initial public offering of Porsche AG.

The Management Board and the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen concluded a framework agreement reflecting the respective discussions between Volkswagen AG and Porsche Automobil Holding SE and providing a basis for the next steps to prepare a potential listing.

The Group’s Board of Management believes that a possible IPO of Porsche would be an important next step in the successfully launched transformation of Volkswagen into a vertically integrated mobility group and leading provider of software-based and emission-free mobility. The actual feasibility of an IPO depends on several different parameters as well as general market conditions. No final decisions have been made.

„The automotive industry is changing fundamentally. Volkswagen is determined to play a leading role in a world of zero-emission and autonomous mobility. We have set the right course with our NEW AUTO strategy and thanks to our substantial cash flows will invest with clear focus to enter new profit pools such as battery & charging, autonomous driving and our own mobility platform in the next few years. An IPO of Porsche AG would give us additional flexibility to further accelerate the transformation. Porsche AG would gain more entrepreneurial freedom and at the same time continue to benefit from group synergies,” said Herbert Diess, CEO of Volkswagen AG.

VW would hold a majority stake in Porsche AG – Placement of up to 25% of preference shares

In the event of an initial public offering, the capital stock of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG is envisaged to be divided into 50% preference shares and 50% ordinary shares and up to 25% of the preference shares are to be placed on the market as part of a possible initial public offering. Porsche Automobil Holding SE would acquire 25% plus one share of the ordinary shares in Porsche AG from Volkswagen AG at the placement price of the preference shares plus a premium of 7.5%. It is not intended to list the ordinary shares on the stock market. Volkswagen AG would continue to hold a majority stake and include Porsche AG in its financial statements by way of full consolidation. The industrial cooperation between Volkswagen AG and Porsche AG would continue after an IPO.