Royer Group Seeks Court Protection Amid Mounting Debt and Market Pressures

The Royer Group, owner of iconic footwear brand Kickers, has entered court-supervised reorganisation proceedings to restructure its mounting debt and stabilise operations. The French family-owned business, which employs 260 people across twenty global entities, cited successive crises and intensifying international competition as key factors behind its financial strain. The move places the company under the protection of the commercial court, supported by advisers and a court-appointed administrator.

Founded in 1945, Royer once stood as a major player in the footwear market, boasting €300 million in turnover in 2019 with 45% of sales coming from exports. However, the loss of its distribution licence for New Balance, the closure of its Maleville site, and multiple restructuring efforts—including job cuts and the sale of assets like Von Dutch—have significantly weakened its position. Despite efforts to refocus on the Kickers brand, turnover in 2024 dropped well below the €132 million achieved in 2023, with 2025 showing no sign of recovery.

Currently holding licences for Umbro, Freegun, and Dim, along with children’s brands Aster and Mod8, Royer aims to use court protection to ease cash flow and develop a new strategic plan for its French subsidiaries. The company is exploring several options, including asset sales, strategic partnerships, or new investors. The reshaping of the group’s structure will proceed without its former managing director, Marc Le Roux, who has moved on to become Reebok’s managing director for Europe.

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