Astorg Sells AutoForm

November 17, 2021

Global Investment firm Carlyle announced that it has agreed to acquire AutoForm AG (“AutoForm”), the global leader in engineering software for sheet metal forming simulation, primarily used in the automotive industry, from global private equity firm Astorg.

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, AutoForm provides software solutions for sheet metal forming simulation and Body in White (BiW) assembly simulation, mainly for the automotive industry. With its innovations for rapid and reliable validation of the BiW design, engineering, manufacturing, and assembly processes, AutoForm is setting the standards in end-to-end software solutions for the automotive industry. Its market-leading product suite is highly valued by its longstanding blue-chip customer base which includes the leading automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEMs) and suppliers. The company employs approximately 400 people – of which 140 in R&D - and is present in more than 50 countries, across EMEA, Asia and the Americas.

Paul Hastings advised Astorg on this transaction with a team led by partners Alexis Terray and Sébastien Crépy and included associate Amaury Steinlin on the corporate aspects as well as partner Camille Paulhac and associate Juliette Hua on the antitrust aspects.