Pidigi has rescued Sympatex. The Italian company, headquartered in Verona, has acquired the German business. On 22 January, Sympatex entered administration after filing insolvency proceedings with the Munich court. The transfer of the business will become effective from 1 June 2026. The deal includes 25 redundancies out of 46 employees at the German site. For Giorgio De Gara, owner and CEO of Pidigi, the acquisition represents a milestone in the continued development of the family business.

Pidigi rescues Sympatex

“Given the difficult market environment, marked by significant competitive and cost pressures, and Sympatex’s unique corporate history, finding a suitable buyer for the company proved extremely challenging”, observed insolvency administrator Axel W. Bierbach of Munich-based law firm Müller-Heydenreich Bierbach & Kollegen, who oversaw the transaction.

Ensuring continuity

The deal provides for Pidigi and one of its German subsidiaries to acquire Sympatex’s core activities, ensuring continuity for the brand. At the Unterföhring facility, near Munich, 21 jobs and four apprenticeships will be retained, while 25 employees will be made redundant by the end of the month, with effect from the end of August. Around twenty employees had already voluntarily left the German company during the insolvency proceedings. Operations in France, China and the sales office in South Korea will remain active. Bierbach also thanked Kim Scholze, CEO of Sympatex during the company’s final and most difficult phase. Scholze will step down upon completion of the transaction. “I am very pleased that we succeeded in finding in Pidigi an ideal investor — one that knows this highly specialised market well and has been successfully rooted in the footwear and apparel industry for many decades”, Bierbach concluded.

Combining expertise

Pidigi has worked with Sympatex for several decades as a distributor in the Italian footwear segment. The Verona-based company uses Sympatex laminates and membranes, integrating them into its own products for footwear and apparel. “Together, we aim to further develop Sympatex’s international business in a targeted way”, said Pidigi CEO Giorgio De Gara. He continued: “By combining Sympatex’s technological expertise with Pidigi’s global market presence and operational strength, we are creating a solid foundation for further growth and new market opportunities. For us, it is important to preserve Sympatex’s valuable technological know-how and the Unterföhring site, while also offering long-term prospects to employees”.

Photo: Sympatex