The Mayer & Cie. name will remain in the textile machinery market after a long-anticipated transaction was formally completed, clearing the way for operations to resume at the company’s Albstadt base. Assets from the German firm’s circular knitting machinery business covered by a purchase agreement signed in February have now been transferred to new owner Xu Hongjie, finalising a deal that supporters say safeguards the brand’s continuity.
The closing, completed yesterday afternoon, marks the end of the negotiation and approval process that followed Mayer & Cie.’s restructuring proceedings. With legal documentation executed and the necessary regulatory permissions secured, the new ownership team said it can now move from planning into execution starting with a phased Mayer & Cie. restart at the historic Baden-Württemberg site.
Xu Hongjie said the brand’s reputation and engineering capability were central to the acquisition. “We are very pleased that the process has now been successfully completed,” says Xu Hongjie on behalf of his family. “We are convinced of the unique value of the brand, the quality of the machines, and are deeply impressed by the technical expertise of the new team.” He added that he is proud to be joining the organisation, and that the completion of the transaction enables the business to fully resume day-to-day operations.
A reboot plan shaped during the transition
While the agreement was signed in February, the period between signing and closing was used to build a practical relaunch plan. The stated priorities are to return the business to profitability as quickly as possible and, over the medium term, to re-establish a leading global position in circular knitting machinery. Management intends to reposition the company around faster decision-making, leaner processes and a sharper focus on customer requirements.
The entity will operate under the name Mayer & Cie. Global and, for now, is staffed by a newly hired team of roughly 30 people, concentrated in engineering, product management and sales. The company said all team members were recruited specifically for the restart phase.
Independence in Albstadt, backed by Huixing
The acquired assets have moved to Xu Hongjie, a member of the owner family behind Huixing Machinery Co., Ltd., based in Shishi, Quanzhou an industrial cluster for China’s textile and machinery sectors. Huixing manufactures knitting machinery and associated intelligent software, and the new owner said the relationship will be used to create practical synergies, particularly in procurement and market access.
However, Xu said the Mayer & Cie. brand will remain distinct, with continued investment and activity anchored in Germany. Research and development, production and related administrative functions will remain in Albstadt, maintaining what Xu described as “a strong heartbeat in Albstadt.” The relaunch strategy is focused on the premium segment, spanning single jersey and double jersey machines used in apparel, underwear and home textile applications.
The new ownership also expects the combination to broaden the ability to serve customers more comprehensively than either company could alone while maintaining a clear division between the brands.
Approvals secured and restructuring team credited
The closing required multiple regulatory clearances, including outbound investment approvals from the relevant authorities in China and a certificate of non-objection from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Advisers involved in the process said coordination across jurisdictions was essential to meeting timelines.
Xu thanked Rödl, particularly a team led by partner Jiawei Wang, for supporting the transaction from early discussions in late 2025 through to completion. Rödl said: “We are pleased that the acquisition process, which we supported on both the German and Chinese sides, has now been successfully concluded. This creates a valuable opportunity for the Mayer & Cie. brand and its team: as an industrial investor, the new owner brings extensive expertise, deep market knowledge, and a clear strategic vision for the future.”
The new owner also acknowledged the role of general representative attorney Martin Mucha of Grub Brugger, who oversaw aspects of the self-administration process. Mucha called the outcome a positive signal for the site and the region: “The fact that a viable investor solution was found during the ongoing proceedings sends an important signal for the location. We have thus created the basis for a promising restart of the company.”
Background: insolvency process and asset sales
Mayer & Cie.’s insolvency proceedings under self-administration were opened by the local court in Hechingen on 1 December 2025. Employees were subsequently issued termination notices effective no later than 30 March 2026, and production of remaining circular knitting orders was completed at the end of February 2026.
The deal with Xu Hongjie emerged shortly before a final shutdown, providing a route to preserve the circular knitting business. Separately, Mayer & Cie.’s braiding machine division was sold to an Italian industrial investor in December 2025. Trustee oversight in the proceedings was handled by attorney Ilkin Bananyarli of PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH.
With the asset transfer complete, attention now shifts from legal process to industrial execution. The coming months will test whether the new structure can translate into a durable Mayer & Cie. restart, rebuilding order flow and confidence while holding onto the engineering identity that made the brand a long-standing reference point in circular knitting machinery.
