La Perla’s Bologna Comeback: Production Set to Restart Under New Ownership of Peter Kern

The Italian luxury intimate apparel company has announced the reopening of its Italian production plant, located in Bologna, which includes the recovery of more than 200 jobs. This move comes after having been rescued last August by the American Peter Kern for €25 million.

With the support of the Ministry of Industry and the regional government, the Italian company, founded in 1956, has managed to reactivate its atelier in Bologna, thus recovering more than two hundred jobs.

The operation comes in a difficult context for the company, which had been in bankruptcy proceedings in Italy since the beginning of 2024.

The acquisition last June involved an industrial plan for the company, with the aim of reactivating production at the Italian plant in Bologna. In addition to production, the deal also includes the licensing of the brand and opens the door to an option to purchase the overall management of La Perla and the licenses.

La Perla entered into insolvency proceedings in Spain in June

La Perla managed to continue its business in Italy, but remains in trouble in the Spanish market. The company, structured through La Perla Fashion España and La Perla Store España, filed for bankruptcy in June.

Founded by Ada Masotti, the company remained in the hands of the founding family until 2007, when it became controlled by the venture capital group JH Partners. Later, in 2013, the company was acquired by Silvio Scaglia and in 2018 by Sapinda. Currently, the La Perla brand is owned by La Perla Global Management UK, which controls all assets and holds the rights to sell branded products, and is also in the process of liquidation.