Anta Sports becomes top Puma shareholder
China’s Anta Sports Products has agreed to buy a substantial stake in Puma SE, making it the German sportswear brand’s largest shareholder. Anta will acquire 29.06 percent of Puma’s shares from the Pinault family’s investment firm, Groupe Artémis, for around 1.5 billion euros (about $1.8 billion in cash). This purchase makes Anta the biggest single shareholder in Puma, although the Chinese company has ruled out a full takeover at this stage.
Anta is paying 35 euros per share, a premium of around 62 percent compared with Puma’s recent closing price, as part of the agreement. Both Anta and Puma shares responded positively to the announcement in financial markets, with Puma’s stock rising sharply as investors welcomed the move.
This deal aligns with Anta’s broader global expansion strategy, which has seen the company build a portfolio of international brands. Anta already owns Fila and is a key stakeholder in Amer Sports, which includes brands like Salomon and Wilson. For Anta, acquiring a large stake in Puma is seen as a strategic step to strengthen its global presence and boost Puma’s performance, especially in the Chinese market, where Puma currently earns a relatively small share of its revenue.
Puma, meanwhile, has faced pressure from competitors such as Nike and Adidas, with sales momentum weakening in recent periods. The partnership with Anta could help Puma expand its reach in fast-growing markets and leverage Anta’s distribution networks and expertise. Anta has indicated it plans to seek representation on Puma’s board after the deal closes, but it does not intend to make a bid for full control of the company at this time.
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