van Wezel sells luxury brand to leading investor Ryan Howsam
Luxury Italian golf fashion brand Duca del Cosma has been acquired by Howsam Capital, following a sale by Chairman Frank van Wezel.
Effective immediately, the acquisition sees Howsam Capital, led by Chairman Ryan Howsam, take full ownership of the global brand’s assets across all international markets.
Having spearheaded and built the Duca del Cosma brand since 2016, Frank van Wezel will remain a minority shareholder and brand ambassador, and is delighted that the brand he so passionately built up over the last decade will now be taken to the next level under the stewardship of Howsam and his team.
“I’m incredibly proud to have led the Duca del Cosma brand to where it is today and have full confidence that Ryan and his team will drive the brand to even greater heights,” said van Wezel.
“With their extensive investment portfolio and strong network within the global golf industry, we truly believe the group is ideally positioned to further accelerate the worldwide growth of the brand and we could not have wished for a better successor.”
The founder and chairman of Staysure Insurance, Ryan Howsam is one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs. He is also a significant figure in golf business as the majority shareholder and chairman of the Staysure Legends Tour – formerly the European Seniors Tour – which features legendary Ryder Cup stars and Major champions such as Ian Woosnam, José María Olazábal, Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie, Michael Campbell, Paul McGinley and more.
Howsam said: “This is a significant acquisition for Howsam Capital. Golf is evolving into a far broader lifestyle and participation market, and we see a significant opportunity to build an integrated ecosystem that places the customer at the centre of every touchpoint — from media and tournament experiences through to retail, travel, resorts, apparel and equipment.
“Duca del Cosma represents exactly the kind of premium brand we want within that ecosystem: authentic, differentiated and globally relevant. Our vision is to create a platform that better connects the modern golfer with the brands, experiences and communities they value most, and we believe this acquisition is another important step in that direction.”
Charles Blake-Thomas, CEO at Howsam Capital, believes the premium brand has huge potential to expand into new and existing markets across the globe under the new ownership.
“Duca del Cosma is a brand with genuine heritage, clear market positioning and a strong reputation for style and refinement within golf,” he added. “What makes this acquisition particularly compelling is the structural fit within our wider ecosystem, where we can combine premium product, owned distribution channels and global golf audiences in a way that very few groups can replicate.
“The structural efficiencies created through those channels, alongside assets such as the Staysure Legends Tour, give us a unique ability to take the brand to market more effectively and accelerate growth whilst remaining true to the qualities that have made Duca del Cosma successful to date. It is a natural fit for our long-term strategy.”
Retail partners are very welcome to contact Evelien Lauwers at evelien@ducadelcosma.comfor more information if they have any queries on the acquisition.