Carista: RM Equity Partners Acquires Majority Stake to Drive Growth
Deal News | May 05, 2025 | CEE Legal Matters
RM Equity Partners has acquired a majority stake in Carista, a connected-car platform based in Sofia, Bulgaria. This acquisition sees the involvement of PHH Attorneys at Law along with the Bulgarian firm Kambourov & Partners, both advising the private equity firm. Carista, established in 2013, enables vehicle control through OBD adapters and a mobile application compatible with brands such as Volkswagen, BMW, Ford, and Toyota. With this deal, Carista's founder Todor Kalaydjiev will continue his role as CEO and minority shareholder to maintain operational consistency, while RM Equity Partners plans to utilize their pan-European network and operational proficiency to support Carista's growth trajectory. The legal teams comprised Partner Rainer Kaspar, Counsel Matthias Fucik, and Associate Nikolaus Pfau from PHH, and Partner Veronika Hadjieva with Senior Associate Todor Vlaykov from Kambourov & Partners. PHH had no comments on inquiries made regarding the acquisition.
Sectors
- Automotive Technology
- Private Equity
- Legal Services
Geography
- Bulgaria – Carista is based in Sofia, Bulgaria, which is central to its operations and part of the transaction facilitated by Kambourov & Partners.
- Europe – RM Equity Partners is a European growth investor, and its operations span across multiple European countries, reflective of the acquisition's pan-European impact.
Industry
- Automotive Technology – Carista operates in the Automotive Technology sector by providing connected-car solutions through mobile applications and OBD adapters.
- Private Equity – The involvement of RM Equity Partners represents the Private Equity industry, as they acquire majority stakes in companies like Carista to foster growth.
- Legal Services – PHH Attorneys at Law and Kambourov & Partners’ involvement in providing advisory services signifies the role of the Legal Services sector in such transactions.
Financials
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carista | Target Company | Company | A Sofia-based connected-car platform offering vehicle control solutions. |
| RM Equity Partners | Bidding Company | Company | A private equity firm focused on European growth investments. |
| PHH Attorneys at Law | Legal Advisor | Company | A law firm advising RM Equity Partners in the acquisition of Carista. |
| Kambourov & Partners | Legal Advisor | Company | A Bulgarian law firm advising on the acquisition of Carista. |
| Todor Kalaydjiev | CEO and Minor Shareholder | Person | Founder and continuing CEO of Carista, retaining a minority share post-acquisition. |