ANTA SPORTS(HK:02020) Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2026-01-28 10:12Core Viewpoint - Anta Sports announced the acquisition of a 29% stake in Puma for €1.5 billion (approximately ¥12.3 billion), becoming the largest shareholder of the globally recognized sports brand [1] Group 1: Strategic Complementarity - The transaction is viewed as having long-term strategic value for both parties, with Puma's global business layout and product segmentation highly complementary to Anta [2] - Anta aims to enhance its market influence and brand recognition globally, while Puma is expected to benefit from Anta's experience in brand revitalization, particularly in the Chinese market where Puma's sales contribution was only about 7% in the first half of 2025 [2] Group 2: Transaction Details - The acquisition price is set at €35 per share, representing a 62% premium over Puma's recent closing price of €21.63, with an implied valuation of 0.7 times the expected 2026 sales, lower than the average of 2.9 times for global sportswear companies [3] - The funding for the acquisition will come entirely from Anta's internal resources, with a net cash position of ¥31.5 billion as of the first half of 2025, alleviating concerns about additional financing needs [3] - The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, including antitrust clearance, and is expected to be completed within 6 to 10 months under normal circumstances [3] Group 3: Management's Strategic Intent - Anta's management indicated that the acquisition aims to secure a strategically significant minority stake and plans to seek representation on Puma's supervisory board to assist in brand revitalization [4] - The management does not anticipate any impact on dividends for 2025, aiming to maintain stable and healthy dividends depending on free cash flow [4] - Investors should monitor the financial impact, with expectations of a €195 million loss for Puma in 2026, and the duration required for Puma's revitalization remains a market focus [4]