Core Viewpoint - ABG Group has officially denied rumors regarding the sale of its UK sports brand Reebok to Anta Group, stating that it has no plans to divest the brand now or in the future [2][6]. Group 1: Company Background and History - Reebok was founded in 1958 and achieved sales of $307 million by 1985, which surged to $919 million the following year. In 1987, Reebok surpassed Nike with annual revenue of $1.4 billion, becoming the top global sports shoe brand [4]. - By 1991, Reebok's sales reached $2.7 billion, and in 2001, it signed an exclusive manufacturing deal with the NBA [4]. - In 2005, Reebok was acquired by Adidas for $3.8 billion, but the acquisition did not yield the desired results against Nike. Adidas sold Reebok to ABG for $2.5 billion in 2021 [4]. Group 2: ABG's Business Model and Strategy - ABG, founded by Jamie Salter in 2010, specializes in acquiring underperforming brands at low prices and revitalizing them through rebranding, repositioning, licensing partnerships, category expansion, and internal restructuring [5]. - The company has over 50 brands, with more than 20% related to sports, many of which joined ABG in the last three years, including Reebok and tennis brand Prince [6]. - ABG's retail sales exceed $29 billion globally, with a retail network spanning 150 countries. The company has seen expansion opportunities due to economic downturns and store closures in the U.S. [5]. Group 3: Recent Developments and Future Goals - ABG acquired the Champion brand for $1.2 billion from HanesBrands Inc., with the potential final transaction value reaching $1.5 billion. Despite a 26% decline in Champion's sales in the first quarter, ABG remains optimistic about its potential to contribute to the group's revenue, which is expected to exceed $32 billion [5]. - Reebok's sales surpassed $5 billion after joining ABG, and the brand is making a strong return to the basketball market by signing NBA star Shaquille O'Neal as the president of its basketball division [6]. - ABG aims to increase Reebok's annual revenue to $10 billion by 2027, emphasizing its commitment to the brand's global growth [9].