Finance
China's Anta Sports snares 29% Puma stake for $1.8 billion
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 27, 2026
3 min readLast updated: January 27, 2026
Quick Summary
Anta Sports acquires a 29% stake in Puma for $1.8 billion, becoming its largest shareholder. The deal awaits regulatory and shareholder approvals.
China's Anta Sports snares 29% Puma stake for $1.8 billion
Anta Sports' Strategic Investment in Puma
Jan 27 (Reuters) - China's Anta Sports Products said on Tuesday it would buy a 29.06% stake in Puma from the Pinault family for 1.51 billion euros ($1.79 billion), making it the biggest shareholder in the German sportswear maker.
Details of the Acquisition
The Hong Kong-listed company will pay 35 euros per share in cash for 43 million Puma shares, Anta said in a stock exchange filing. The price is a 62% premium to Puma's 21.63 euros closing share price on Monday, up nearly 17% in the session.
Implications for Puma's Future
Reuters was the first to report the deal earlier this month.
Regulatory Approvals Required
Anta said it believed Puma could increase its international competitiveness and build its brand recognition with the Chinese company as its largest investor.
It said Anta would seek Puma board seats once the deal was finalised.
"Its (Puma) global business footprint and focused positioning in sports categories are highly complementary to the group's existing multi-brand and specialised business," Anta said in a statement.
Anta has a track record of acquiring and revamping Western sports and lifestyle brands, and in 2019, it led a consortium to buy Amer Sports, owner of racquet maker Wilson and mountain sports specialist Salomon.
Reuters reported in early January Anta had offered to buy about 29% of Puma from the Pinault family and had secured financing for the acquisition, although talks had at the time stalled over valuation.
The transaction comes as the German sportswear group struggles to revive sales and investor confidence under its new CEO, Arthur Hoeld.
Artemis, run by Francois-Henri Pinault, chairman of luxury group Kering, had previously described its Puma stake as non-strategic. The Pinault family acquired the holding from Kering in 2018, when the group repositioned itself as a pure luxury player.
Puma has been under pressure as demand weakened, and recent sneaker launches, including the Speedcat, failed to generate the momentum executives had hoped for. Hoeld, who took over last year, has outlined a turnaround focused on brand heat, performance products, and cost discipline.
The deal is subject to antitrust clearances, shareholder approval at Anta, and regulatory approvals in China and other jurisdictions. Anta said it expects to convene an extraordinary general meeting, with closing targeted after conditions are met.
($1 = 0.8421 euros)
(Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Roushni Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
Key Takeaways
- •Anta Sports acquires 29.06% of Puma for $1.79 billion.
- •The deal makes Anta the largest shareholder of Puma.
- •Puma faces challenges in reviving sales under new CEO.
- •The acquisition requires regulatory and shareholder approvals.
- •Artémis previously considered Puma stake non-strategic.
Frequently Asked Questions about China's Anta Sports snares 29% Puma stake for $1.8 billion
1What is equity?
Equity refers to the ownership interest in a company, represented by shares of stock. It signifies the value of an owner's stake in the business after all liabilities have been deducted.
2What is an acquisition?
An acquisition occurs when one company purchases most or all of another company's shares to gain control. It is a common strategy for growth and expansion.
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Market context refers to the environment in which a business operates, including economic conditions, competitive landscape, and consumer behavior that can impact its performance.
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