Deal Details and Strategic Outlook
Advance Capital Partners and Mass, a leading Slovenian shoe retailer, have reached an agreement with the Mayer-Rieck family, owners of Leder & Schuh, to acquire the Austrian footwear company.
Leder & Schuh currently operates 210 Humanic and Shoe4You stores across nine European countries – Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria – generating an annual turnover exceeding €300 million.
Following approval by competition authorities, the company will become part of the Mass Group but will continue to operate independently under its Graz-based management. The merged entity -with over €400 million in revenue, 290 brick-and-mortar stores, ten online shops, and 2,300 employees – will rank among the top ten footwear retailers in Europe. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026.
Leadership Statements
“Our goal is to make the shoe retail business future-ready and build a stable foundation for sustainable growth,” said Armin Weger, CEO of Humanic. “With Mass, we’ve gained a strong, experienced partner who shares our vision, while Advance Capital Partners ensures the financial stability crucial for our continued development. I’m looking forward to this new chapter and to bringing fresh momentum to the industry.”
EXPANSION PLANS: 60 NEW STORES IN FIVE YEARS
Mass Founder and CEO Sašo Apostolovski outlined ambitious expansion plans:
“We aim to open around 60 new stores within the next five years. At the same time, we will continue to develop and strengthen our brands – Humanic, Shoe4You, Mass – as well as the Skechers retail network.”
According to Apostolovski, Mass and Leder & Schuh are “natural partners” that complement each other both geographically and strategically. The merger will accelerate their growth strategy, with the clear objective of becoming the leading omnichannel retailer for shoes and fashion accessories in Central and Eastern Europe.
The integration is also expected to create new career opportunities for Leder & Schuh employees.
“The partnership between two companies with strong traditions and shared ambitions will create a true footwear powerhouse in Central and Eastern Europe,” added Aleš Sklerak of Advance Capital Partners.
The expanded Mass Group, with majority-owned by Advance Capital Partners, will operate in nine markets with a combined population of around 150 million. By 2029, it is projected to reach annual revenues of over €500 million.
As part of the transaction, all existing bank loans of the Austrian company will be refinanced, ensuring long-term financial stability and setting the stage for future growth.
The acquisition marks a major consolidation step in the Central and Eastern European footwear market.
By combining Mass’s regional strength with Humanic’s long-established retail presence, the new group positions itself to compete more effectively in an increasingly digital, margin-pressured sector, while retaining local brand heritage and operational autonomy.
