Ashurst advises Sojitz on its acquisition of Dutton

Global law firm Ashurst has advised Sojitz Corporation on its acquisition of Albert Automotive Holdings Pty Ltd which operates a wholesale and retail used car business as part of Dutton Group.

Dutton is the largest pure-play operator in the used car market in Australia. It has a strong network of trade partners that enables Dutton to function as an equivalent to B2B auctions. Sojitz is a public company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and has approximately 400 subsidiaries and affiliates located in Japan and globally. Sojitz operates in a wide range of industries including automotive, infrastructure, healthcare and recycling. 

Through this acquisition, Sojitz will enter the automobile sales business in Australia and aims to strengthens its automobile business portfolio. 

The Ashurst team was led by partner Natsuko Ogawa, who was assisted by: senior associate Shojeeb Alam, associates Phoebe Phan, Ayumi Shimada, Olivia Sun, Julia Mollica, Janet Chhean, Huiling Mah and Emma LeFevre (Corporate Transactions); partner Hong-Viet Nguyen, senior associate Geena Davies and associate Rojeene Shadfar (Finance Regulatory); partner Justin Jones and senior associate Matthew Harper (Competition); partner Emma Butler and senior associate Caroline Hogan (Digital Economy Transactions); partners Jon Lovell and Jane Harvey, counsel Emilie Maddox and associate Alicia Crossley (Employment); partner Gwladys Ngo Tedga Yagla, director Avideep Agarwal and executive Andrew Karam (Ashurst Risk Advisory); partner Kenneth Tang (Global Loans); associate Hugh Davies (Restructuring and Special Situations Group); partner Kellech Smith, senior associate Will Scott, and associate Melissa Ho (IP/Media); and partner Jason Cornwall-Jones, senior associate Jake Saccardo, and associate Jack Kelly (Real Estate).