New owner for Rombah Wallace, Austria’s Gallus moves to close German office

19/02/2003

The Belfast, Northern Ireland-based private equity group Amicus has announced its acquisition of the UK casual footwear producer, Rombah Wallace.

 

Based in Hingham, East Anglia, Rombah Wallace produce a range of formal and casual shoes for the men’s and ladies classic and comfort markets and which are supplied through independent shoe retailers throughout the UK and Ireland. The purchase forms part of a wider plan by Amicus to build a portfolio of upmarket apparel brands, and follows on from the group’s purchase of the Northern Ireland-based apparel manufacturer, Adria, in May 2002.  Financial details of the purchase were not disclosed.

 

Citing the ‘difficult German market’, the Austrian men’s shoe brand Gallus meanwhile has said it will close its German office in Wiesbaden by the end of June. All activities of German office will be taken over by the Vienna headquarters.   On a happier note, the Ronox children’s shoe factory of Tomsk, Russia, has celebrated its fifth anniversary.  Having started with a modest output of 500 pairs per month, the factory now produces 10,000 per month.