HEAD Parent Company Acquires British Cycling Apparel Brand Le Col
Recently, the Austrian sports brand HEAD, known for skiing and tennis, and its parent company HEAD Group announced the acquisition of British cycling apparel brand Le Col from British private equity fund Puma Growth Partners (unrelated to sportswear brand Puma). Specific details of the transaction were not disclosed.
According to Puma Growth Partners' website, the fund first invested £2.4 million in Le Col in 2018, followed by £2.5 million in 2019 and £9.5 million in 2022, for a total of £13.9 million to support its operations.
Le Col was founded in 2011 by former professional cyclist Yanto Barker. Its high-performance gear is designed at its London headquarters, manufactured in Italy, wind-tunnel tested, and used in World Tour races.
The brand has three product lines: Pro, Elite, and Sports, covering men's and women's collections. After the acquisition, Le Col will be integrated into HEAD Group's sportswear division and operate from Milan, Italy.
In recent years, Le Col has faced profitability challenges, with losses exceeding £6 million in 2022, £3.4 million in 2023, and £2.6 million in 2024.
In recent months, Le Col has undergone a series of personnel changes. Founder Yanto Barker resigned as a director in October 2025, ceasing to be the company's controlling party, followed by two other directors stepping down.
HEAD Group, headquartered in Kennelbach, Austria, owns and operates brands including Head, Tyrolia, Mares, Aqualung, Zoggs, SSI, and Revo, focusing on professional sports equipment and apparel in winter sports, racquet sports, and water sports. The group stated that this acquisition marks further expansion of its sportswear business based in Milan, Italy.
｜Sources: SGM Media, Cycling Industry News, Cycling Weekly, Puma Growth Partners official website
｜Image sources: Le Col official website, HEAD Group official website