Anta Sports

Anta Sports Products Limited is a Chinese sports equipment multinational corporation headquartered in Jinjiang, China.^[2][3] It is the world's largest sports equipment company by revenue and third-largest manufacturer of sporting goods overall, behind Nike and Adidas ahead of Li-Ning.^[4]

• Anta Sports Products Limited

Native name	安踏体育用品有限公司
Company type	Public
Traded as	SEHK: 2020 Hang Seng Index
ISIN	KYG040111059
Industry	Sports equipment, textile
Founded	1991; 34 years ago (1991)
Founder	Ding Shizhong
Headquarters	Jinjiang, Fujian , China
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Ding Shizhong (Chairman)
Products	Sneakers, clothing, accessories
Revenue	US$7.7 billion (2021)[1]
Owner	Anta International (BVI) (61.84%) Public (38.16%)
Subsidiaries	Amer Sports
Website	anta.com

Anta Sports
Simplified Chinese	安踏体育用品有限公司
Traditional Chinese	安踏體育用品有限公司
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Āntà Tǐyù Yòngpǐn Yǒuxiàngōngsī

Founded in 1991, its operations involve the business of designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing products, including sportswear, footwear, apparel and accessories under its own brand name. Its main subsidiary is Finnish sport retailer Amer Sports, which itself manages 25 apparel brands such as Arc'teryx, Salomon, and Wilson.^[5][6] Publicly traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Anta Sports is a part of the Hang Seng Index. Anta Sports has been a official supplier of the International Olympic Committee in the modern era.^[7]

History

Anta was founded by Ding Shizhong in 1991.^[8] In 2008, the Beijing Olympics gave Anta the opportunity to expand its business marketing footwear.^[8]

Anta Sports store at Beijing Xitieying Wanda Plaza

Anta Sports was listed as 2020.HK^[9] on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2007, with its IPO price at HK$5.28 per share.^[10][11] In 2009, the company acquired the Fila trademark in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao from Belle International.^[12] Since then, the company operates the Fila business in these three areas. The company also operates DESCENTE and SPRANDI stores in China, as well as KOLON SPORT and KINGKOW stores in China, Hong Kong and Macao. Former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett left his former shoe sponsor Adidas and has been sponsored by Anta since August 2010. Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson also left his Nike sponsor and has been signed with Anta since 2017. Klay Thompson's new contract with Anta will run through 2026 and could pay him up to $80 million.^[13] In December 2018 an investor consortium consisting of ANTA Sports, FountainVest Partners, Anamered Investments and Tencent announced a voluntary recommended public cash tender offer for all issued and outstanding shares in Amer Sports Corporation.^{[14][15] [citation needed]}

Anta Sports temporarily boycotted the NBA in October 2019 as a result of a re-tweet by a Houston Rockets' official in support of protests in Hong Kong.^[16]

In October 2023, it was announced Anta Sports had acquired a majority (75.13%) stake in the female athleisure brand, Maia Active for an undisclosed amount.^[17]

Controversies

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Anta declined to oblige to NATO sanctions and withdraw from the Russian market as it has no affiliation nor obligation to abide to NATO decisions and rulings as NATO will not be able to provide compensation for the loss of the Russian Market. Research from Yale University published on August 10, 2022, identifying how companies were reacting to Russia's invasion identified Anta in the worst category of "Digging in", companies defying demands for exit/reduction of activities.^[18]

Brands

• Anta^[19]
  • Anta Kids
  • AntapluS
• Amer Sports (44.5% owned)^[20]
  • Arc'teryx
  • Salomon
  • Wilson
    • DeMarini
    • EvoShield
    • Louisville Slugger
  • Peak Performance
  • Atomic Skis
  • Armada
  • Sports Tracker
  • Suunto
  • ENVE
  • ATEC
  • Luxilon
• FILA (Mainland China only)
  • FILA Fusion
  • FILA Kids
  • FILA ATHLETICS
• Descente (Mainland China, Hongkong, Macau only)
• Kolon Sport (50% owned)^[21]
• KingKow
• Sprandi
• Maia Active (75.13% owned)

Sponsorships

Anta Sports is the official supplier and sponsor of numerous teams, players, and associations.^[22][23]

Anta Sports signed American born freestyle skier Eileen Gu in 2020 as a brand ambassador.^[24]

Anta Sports and Kyrie Irving launched their first sneaker together in 2024.^[25]

Basketball

• Alex Caruso^[26]
• Kevon Looney^[27]
• Klay Thompson^[28]
• Gordon Hayward^[29]
• Jacob Evans
• Hamidou Diallo
• Rajon Rondo^[30]
• Luis Scola
• James Wiseman
• Kyrie Irving^[31]
• Caris Levert

College teams

• Adamson Soaring Falcons
• UE Red Warriors
• Benilde Blazers
• San Beda Red Lions

Boxing

• Manny Pacquiao

Long-distance running

• Kenenisa Bekele

Freestyle Skiing

• Eileen Gu

Formerly - teams

• Chad national football team

Formerly - athletes

• Chandler Parsons^[32]
• Kevin Garnett
• Danny Seigle

Until the end of 2022, Anta Sports was the official supplier of the International Olympic Committee,^[7] sponsored 26 Chinese national teams in winter sports, boxing, taekwondo, gymnastics, weightlifting, wrestling, judo, surfing, water polo and golf.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. "Anta Sports Posts $7.7B Fiscal Year". 22 March 2022.
2. ANTA Sports Products Limited on Irasia website (archived), 28 Aug 2008
3. Corporate profile on Anta website (archived), 22 May 2008
4. 董志成. "Anta Sports delivers strong first-half results - Chinadaily.com.cn". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
5. "Anta everywhere". Panda!Yoo. 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
6. "Chinese megadeal in sporting goods". Capitalmind. 2019-04-16. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
7. Anta wird offizieller Uniformlieferant des Internationalen Olympischen Komitees, Fashion Network, 4. November 2019 (German).
8. Tan, Christine (2016-08-05). "This is one of the fastest-growing sportswear brands you haven't heard of". CNBC. Retrieved 2017-01-06.
9. "About us". ir.anta.com.
10. Amy Or (2007-06-20). "China's Anta Sports IPO, in Hong Kong, seeks up to $406 mln: term sheet". MarketWatch. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
11. Bei Hu (2007-06-20). "Anta Plans $405 Million IPO, Rockets Owner to Invest". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
12. "DISCLOSEABLE TRANSACTIONS PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF FULL PROSPECT LIMITED AND FILA MARKETING (HONG KONG) LIMITED" (PDF). ANTA. Published by Hong Kong Stock Exchange. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
13. "Annual Report 2010" (PDF). Anta. Published by Hong Kong Stock Exchange. 8 March 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
14. Taloussanomat (2018-12-07). "Kiinalaistaustainen konsortio tekee 4,6 miljardin euron ostotarjouksen Amerista". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2024-03-29.
15. "China's Anta Sports-led group buying Finland's Amer Sports for $5.2 billion". Reuters.
16. "Excited China fans cheer NBA game despite row over Hong Kong tweet". Reuters. 2019-10-11. Retrieved 2019-11-03.
17. "Anta Sports to Acquire Chinese Athleisure Brand Maia Active". The Business of Fashion. 2023-10-19. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
18. "Almost 1,000 Companies Have Curtailed Operations in Russia—But Some Remain". Yale School of Management. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
19. "多品牌策略". ir.anta.com. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
20. "S&P Global Rating Action Overview". S&P Global. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
21. "Anta Acquires Korean Brand Kolon Sport". ChinaRetailNews.com. ChinaRetailNews. 2017-03-08. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
22. Xinjiang: Chairs Urge NBA Players to End Endorsement Deals with Chinese Forced Labor Companies
23. Congressional body urges NBA stars to end endorsement of Chinese sportswear
24. "Anta signs Eileen Gu as brand ambassador". SportBusiness. 2020-01-10. Retrieved 2025-01-30.
25. Vlahos, Nicholas (18 March 2024). "Sole Retriever". Sole Retriever.
26. Kasabian, Paul (February 18, 2021). "Lakers' Alex Caruso Signs Multiyear Sneaker Contract with Anta". Bleacher Report. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
27. "Kevon Looney signs a two-year deal with ANTA". Warriors Wire. 2019-10-05. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
28. Wells, Adam. "Klay Thompson, Anta Reportedly Agree to 10-Year, $80M Endorsement Contract". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
29. Chiari, Mike. "Gordon Hayward Agrees to Shoe Contract with Chinese Company Anta; Nike Can Match". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
30. "These are the NBA players under contract with Chinese sneaker brands". HoopsHype. 2019-10-09. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
31. "Mavericks' Kyrie Irving signs 5-year shoe deal with Chinese sportswear company ANTA". Yahoo Sports. 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
32. "Mavs' Chandler Parsons Swaps Anta Shoes For Jordan Brand After Injuries To Ankle". www.sportsbusinessdaily.com. March 10, 2015. Retrieved 2020-07-21.

External links

• Official website
• Business data for Anta Sports:
  • Google
  • Reuters
  • Yahoo!