Anta Sports Products Ltd., China’s largest sportswear company, said Tuesday it has agreed to acquire a 29% stake in Puma SE for €1.5 billion ($1.8 billion), a move that will vault Anta into position as the German brand’s largest shareholder.
A Cash Deal With Global Ambitions
Anta said it signed a share purchase agreement with Groupe Artémis, the investment arm of France’s Pinault family, to buy its Puma holding outright in cash. The Hong Kong-listed company expects the transaction to close by the end of 2026, pending regulatory approvals that have not yet been specified.
Anta emphasized that the acquisition will be funded entirely through internal cash reserves and stressed that it has no intention of launching a full takeover bid for Puma.
Strategic Bet on a Global Icon
Freshfields LLP is advising Anta Sports on the transaction, led by partner Rick van Aerssen, while Morgan Stanley is serving as financial adviser with a team headed by Moritz Zschoche. Counsel details for Puma were not immediately available.
Anta Chair Ding Shizhong described the deal as a cornerstone of the company’s “single-focus, multi-brand globalization” strategy—an approach designed to push the company beyond its home market and sharpen its global competitive edge.
Anta plans to leverage its market expertise to help Puma accelerate sales growth in China, one of the world’s most lucrative athletic apparel markets, Ding said.
