TSM Capital Buys Stake in Matthew Williamson

TSM, an investment fund spearheaded by famed former department store executive Marvin Traub, has bought a key stake in color-obsessed UK designer Matthew Williamson.

TSM acquired its participation in Matthew Williamson Holdings Ltd, an investment which will not change the equity interest held by the designer’s partners, Baugur Group, which first bought into the fashion house in 2006.

TSM Capital teamed up with Aronsson Group in its investment in the Matthew Williamson house, which will remain majority owned by the designer and his founding partner Joseph Velosa.

“I am thrilled by this deal and cannot wait to see the realisation of the plan that we have put together for the future of Matthew Williamson over the next 5 years,” said Williamson in a statement.

This new strategic capital will be invested in growing the Matthew Williamson business by global expansion with improved infrastructure, new product categories and flagship stores in key locations around the world. The first goal will be to create Williamson’s first free-standing flagship boutique in the US, slated to open in New York in the first half of 2008. Additional retail stores will follow shortly after in other key cities, such as Los Angeles and Paris.

Williamson established his house in London in 1997, later opening his flagship boutique in the Mayfair section of London in 2005. The company currently has a customer portfolio that includes 160 prestigious wholesale accounts around the world.

Williamson also burnished his international reputation of late by successfully guiding Pucci, as creative director of the Florentine luxury label.

“One of my great satisfactions has been to identify great designers at an early stage in their careers. I believe that Matthew Williamson is a great designer and that he has the potential to build a hugely successful global brand. In addition to his own collection, Matthew has done an extraordinary job in rebuilding the Pucci collection,” said Traub.

The goal of Traub and his partners is to create a portfolio of up to 10 businesses over the next three years, a team of luxury labels with annual sales of between $5 million and $50 million in sales.

Added Williamson’s CEO Velosa: “This joint venture is a very exciting new development for our company. Strategically, the added value of TSM Capital and Aronsson Group, along with our existing partners, Baugur group, makes for a very strong skill set with which to embark on our next phase of growth for Matthew Williamson.”’

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