ANTA Sports is set to become the largest shareholder in PUMA, after signing a share purchase agreement with Groupe Artémis, the Pinault family investment company, to acquire a 29.06% stake in PUMA SE valued at €1.5 billion in cash. The move is a cornerstone in ANTA Sports’ “single focus, multi brand, globalization” strategy and is expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
Inside the ANTA and PUMA stake deal
Once completed, the transaction will give ANTA Sports a 29.06% holding in PUMA, making it the brand’s largest shareholder while stopping short of a full takeover. The equity purchase will be fully financed from ANTA Sports’ internal cash resources, signaling both balance sheet strength and long‑term conviction in PUMA’s value.
The company has clarified that it currently has no plans to launch a takeover offer for PUMA, instead framing the move as a strategic partnership anchored in governance independence and brand autonomy. ANTA Sports plans to seek “adequate representation” on PUMA’s Supervisory Board, working alongside other shareholders and employee representatives while preserving PUMA’s identity and heritage.
Why ANTA wants PUMA in its corner
With more than 35 years in the sporting goods industry, ANTA Sports has built an industry leading position in China and has been expanding across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, North America, and Europe. The group operates a multi brand portfolio that includes ANTA, FILA, DESCENTE, KOLON SPORT, MAIA ACTIVE, and JACK WOLFSKIN, and is also the largest shareholder of Amer Sports, Inc., parent to brands like Arc’teryx, Salomon, Wilson, Peak Performance, and Atomic.
Board Chairman Ding Shizhong said, “This acquisition makes ANTA Sports the largest shareholder of PUMA and marks a major step forward in our ‘single focus, multi brand, globalization’ strategy”. He described PUMA as an “iconic global brand with substantial heritage” and argued that its recent share price does not fully reflect its long term potential, reinforcing ANTA’s belief in the brand’s strategic transformation plans.
How PUMA complements ANTA’s portfolio
PUMA brings powerful sports assets and deep global recognition to the table. The brand is renowned for categories such as football, running, training, basketball, and motorsport, and has a strong footprint across key sports markets, including Europe, Latin America, Africa, and India.
According to ANTA Sports, PUMA’s strengths across product portfolio, category specialization, and regional reach are highly complementary to its existing brands. The group plans to “work together at arm’s length,” leveraging these complementary strengths without compromising PUMA’s independence, and aims to support what it calls the brand’s “ongoing revival.”
Governance, independence, and future collaboration
While ANTA Sports will seek representation on PUMA’s Supervisory Board, it has been explicit about respecting PUMA’s management culture and independent governance as a German listed company. The aim is to build trust and collaborate closely at the board level while safeguarding the brand’s strong identity and heritage.
Looking ahead, ANTA Sports will “carefully assess” ways to deepen the partnership but reiterates that there are currently no plans for a full takeover. Any future steps are expected to balance strategic cooperation with maintaining clear boundaries between ownership influence and day to day management.
ANTA and PUMA at a glance
Founded in 1991 and listed in 2007 on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock codes 2020 and 82020), ANTA Sports focuses on the R&D, design, manufacturing, marketing, and sales of professional sports footwear, apparel, and accessories. Its mission is to “bring the transcendent sports spirit into everyone’s life,” and its multi brand model targets both mass and high end sportswear segments.
PUMA, headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, is one of the world’s leading sports brands, distributing its products in more than 120 countries and employing about 20,000 people globally. For more than 75 years, it has pushed sport and culture forward with performance and sport inspired lifestyle products across football, running and training, basketball, golf, and motorsports, and owns PUMA, Cobra Golf, and Stichd under the PUMA Group.
