China’s Anta Offers 29% of Puma, Would Become Largest Shareholder
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Chinese sportswear firm Anta Sports has offered to buy a 29% stake in German brand Puma from the French Pinault family's investment vehicle Artemis. If completed, Anta would become Puma’s single largest shareholder but would not hold a majority and thus would not automatically gain control. Artemis, led by François-Henri Pinault of Kering, inherited the Puma stake in 2018 and reportedly seeks a price above €40 per share. The report sent Puma’s shares up more than 9% intraday on the German exchange, though Puma’s market value remains about half what it was a year ago amid competition from rivals like Adidas. Anta has experience reviving Western lifestyle brands—leading a 2019 consortium to buy Amer Sports (owner of Salomon and Wilson)—so a 29% stake could increase its strategic influence over Puma, but further shares or shareholder agreements would likely be needed to exercise control. Artemis, Puma and Anta have not commented publicly.
