In this January, Anta Sports put up a deal of €1.5 billion to become Puma’s biggest shareholder. The purchase represented 29% stake in Puma, and it becomes its largest shareholder. This brings Anta closer to the international sports market.    

Puma is a major German multinational corporation that deals with design, development, and marketing high-performance athletic and casual footwear, apparel, and accessories. It was founded in 1948 by Rudolf Dassler, and it is the world’s third-largest sportswear manufacturer. So that we know, Rudolf’s brother, Adolf, entered into a feud with his brother and split their original shoe business into Puma and Adidas in 1948.

In 2007, Puma was acquired by the French luxury group, Kering, for a control share. But in 2018, Kering began to spin-off its majority stake and distributed 70% of Puma shares to its own shareholders. Between 2018 to 2021, Kering continued to sell its remaining shares and focus on its high-end luxury business. Currently its group doesn’t hold any of Puma’s shares.

So that we know, as of 2023, Puma’s total revenue reached €8.6 billion. 

As of early 2026, China’s Anta Sports is in the process of becoming the largest shareholder of Puma, buying a 29% stake from the Pinault family. Its €1.5 billion deal will make it the largest shareholder for an ailing German brand.

Anta Group made the total revenue of $5.5 billion in 2025’s first half and it is already a prominent brand in China.

Anta Sports is the controlling owner and parent company of Amer Sports. It led an investment consortium to acquire the Finish sporting goods company for €4.6 billion in 2019. This acquisition transformed the Finnish company to become a subsidiary of Anta Sports. After re-listing Amer Sports in New York in 2024, Anta now owns 39% of the company. Under this acquisition, it owns well-known brands, such as Arc’teryx, Salomon, and Wilson, in China through its US-listed Amer Sports. Amer’s Greater China revenue rose 47% year-on-year to $461 million in the third quarter of 2025, over its overall revenue growth of 30%. 

Arc’teryx is a premium Canadian brand found in Canada for high-performance, technical outdoor apparel and equipment, and known for its durable, waterproof Gore-Tex jackets.

Salomon is another premium French sports equipment manufacturing company found in 1947 in the French Alps—Annecy, for high-performance footwear, apparel, and skiing gear, snowboarding, and trail running. It is now part of the Finnish sports conglomerate—Amer Sports.

Wilson Sporting Goods is a premier Chicago-based manufacturer of high-performance sports equipment, apparel, and accessories. It was founded in 1914, and it is a leader of racket sports, baseball, football, basketball, and golf. It is supplying equipment to athletes from professionals to enthusiasts. It is also a subsidiary of Amer Sports.

Last year, it acquitted Jack Wolfskin, a German outdoor wear and equipment found in Idstein, Germany for nearly $300 million. It is known for waterproof clothing, shoes, tents, and equipment. 

Ante Sports founder, Ding Shizhong, has pledged to build, “Not China’s Nike, but the world’s Ante” and through the stock market to fund its further expansion.

Anta Sports has high expectation to grow Puma in the long-term potential of the brand.

Anta’s own brand remains little known outside China, and by sponsoring US basketball stars, such as Kerie Irving, and open flagship store in Beverly Hills can promote the image of the brand. 

In China’s domestic market, it has been challenging due to its recent financial pressures. Nike last month reported a 17% drop in Greater China revenue for the quarter ended November 2025. Adidas net sales were flat in the third quarter, even though its overall sales hit a record high.

We have to know that Nike’s annual sales of $46 billion in 2025 ended May made it the largest sporting company. Adidas’s full year sales of $29.5 billion made the company the second largest in sporting goods. Puma’s $7.48 billion made it the third company.