Anta Eyes Puma: Chinese Sportswear Titan Considers German Acquisition

Another concentration movement in the international sports industry and, once again, with Puma in the eye of the storm. The Chinese group Anta is reportedly studying the potential acquisition of the German group, according to Bloomberg. In the middle of the year, the market speculated on the acquisition of Puma by Adidas.

In recent months, Anta has reportedly been advised to analyze the purchase of Puma, an operation that could be carried out with the help of an investment group. Anta is not, however, the only company interested in acquiring the European company, as China’s Li Ning and Japan’s Asics are also said to have put the option on the table.

Puma shares have fallen by more than 60% so far this year, with a total valuation of around €2.5 billion. Puma, which is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, has the Pinault family as its main shareholder, with 29% of the capital through the Artémis family holding company.

Puma has also been a target of analysis by Adidas, as speculated by the market in the middle of the year

In August, rumors about the possible exit of Artémis from Puma’s shareholding caused the value of the sports equipment company’s shares to soar. The family holding company considers the asset to be “interesting” but not “strategic”.

Anta is currently one of the world’s largest groups in the sports industry. Owner of Fila and Jack Wolfskin, it ended 2024 with a turnover of 70,826 million Chinese yuan ($10 billion), up 13.6% on the previous financial year. The Asian group’s net income for the period reached 16.989 billion yuan ($2.39 billion), up from 11.277 billion yuan ($1.59 billion).

Puma is going through one of its weakest moments in recent decades. The company announced in early November that it was laying off 900 head office employees as part of a broader restructuring plan.

The German company ended the first nine months of the financial year with a drop in sales of 8.5% to €5.97 billion. Puma closed the period with a loss of €308.9 million, compared to the €257.1 million it earned in 2024.