ANTA Sports has finalized an agreement to acquire a 29.06% stake in Puma from Groupe Artémis, the investment firm of the Pinault family, in an all-cash transaction valued at €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion).
This acquisition is part of ANTA Sports’ focused multibrand globalization strategy, positioning the Hong Kong-listed company as the largest shareholder in Puma.
Puma, headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, distributes its products in over 120 countries and employs approximately 20,000 people globally.
Ding Shizhong, chairman of ANTA Sports’ board, commented, “Working with PUMA, we look forward to learning from each other and joining hands to fully unlock the brand’s full potential. This will further accelerate ANTA Sports’ globalization and help drive the next chapter of growth for the global sports markets including China – creating lasting value for both companies’ consumers and shareholders worldwide.”
ANTA Sports has been a player in the sporting goods industry for over thirty years, initially focusing on the Chinese market before expanding into Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, North America, and Europe.
The company manages several international brands and employs a business model that combines brand management with retail operations.
Puma maintains a significant global presence, with strong involvement in football, running, training, basketball, and motorsport across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and India.
Following the acquisition, ANTA Sports intends to seek representation on Puma’s supervisory board as part of this equity deal. ANTA Sports has confirmed that it will uphold Puma’s independent governance structure as a German-listed entity.
Currently, ANTA Sports is not planning to initiate a takeover offer for Puma and aims to evaluate future collaborative options.
“ANTA has always admired Puma’s long-term brand value and potential. Such strong brand DNA and value heritage are rare to come by. We believe Puma’s share price over the past few months does not fully reflect the long-term potential of the brand. We have confidence in its management team and strategic transformation. Moving forward, we hope to build strong trust, work together at arm’s length, and leverage our complementary strengths without compromising independence. We look forward to supporting the brand’s ongoing revival,” Shizhong added.
The completion of the deal is subject to regulatory approval and standard closing conditions, with closure anticipated by the end of this year.