Roberto Martullo, chief executive and owner of Künzli Schuhe, has submitted a proposal to acquire the entire Bally business after the luxury footwear house announced the closure of its Caslano, Ticino plant, ending 175 years of Swiss production. Bally has been owned by the U.S. private‑equity fund Regent since 2024.
Martullo initially explored buying only Bally's manufacturing equipment, but the deal fell through because it would have required Künzli to purchase all machinery, a proposition he deemed uneconomic. He then turned to Regent with an offer to purchase the brand, its worldwide boutique network and the remaining production facilities. Regent declined, stating it has alternative plans for the assets.
In June, Bally's Caslano factories were relocated to Zug and placed under provisional liquidation. The insolvent estate carries roughly CHF 20 million of debt, with the court‑appointed administrator Transliq based in Bern overseeing the process.
A separate legal dispute concerns the Bally trademark. The rights were slated to be transferred to Aare LLC, a U.S. entity incorporated in May, but the Lugano court’s Sezione 2 of the Pretura has halted the transfer pending a review of its legality. The outcome will determine whether the brand can be sold independently of the Swiss corporate entity.
The vacant Caslano site, owned by a UBS‑managed real‑estate fund since 2020, is now listed for lease by H&B Real Estate at approximately CHF 1 million per year. Without the Bally name, the remaining business is likely to be liquidated; with the brand, a buyer could revive operations.
Martullo’s business plan, filed with the administrator, envisions retaining the Bally brand, re‑hiring the displaced production, design and administrative teams, and continuing the 112 boutiques that the company reported in April. He estimates Bally’s annual sales at CHF 150 million. While he declined to disclose financing details, he assured that funding is secured. The provisional liquidation period runs until mid‑October, after which any acquisition would require court and creditor approval.
The proposal remains under review, with the final decision hinging on the trademark dispute, creditor negotiations and the administrator’s assessment of the bid’s viability.
