Anta Sports completes Puma stake acquisition, becomes largest shareholder
Anta Sports has completed a €1.5055bn cash deal to buy a 29.06% stake in Puma from Artémis, becoming the largest shareholder. The move is part of Anta's global strategy to boost its influence in the sports goods market. Anta says it has no plans to launch a takeover offer for Puma.
Anta Sports has announced the completion of its acquisition of a 29.06 per cent stake in Puma from Artémis, the investment company of the Pinault family, for a cash consideration of €1.5055 billion. The deal makes Anta the largest shareholder in the German sportswear brand, marking a further upgrade in the Chinese firm's globalisation strategy and enhancing its international influence, market coverage and competitiveness in the global sports goods market.
Anta Chairman Ding Shizhong said the global sports goods market continues to develop steadily, driven by rising sports participation and growing consumer demand. He expressed confidence in Puma's heritage and value, and said he had full faith in its management team, adding that Anta supports the strategic transformation plan the German company is pursuing.
Speaking as a long-term investor, Ding said Anta would use its retail and operational expertise to empower the Puma brand and unlock its value and development potential. Anta added that it would seek appropriate representation on Puma's supervisory board, but it currently has no plans to launch a takeover offer for the company.
Puma Chief Executive Arthur Hoeld welcomed Anta as the company's largest shareholder and said he looked forward to building a partnership with the Chinese firm. He said the two sides would explore how their complementary strengths could help Puma achieve its goal of becoming one of the world's top three sportswear brands.