ANTA buys German brand Jack Wolfskin for $290m

ANTA Sports Products Limited announced on April 10 the acquisition of Jack Wolfskin, a leading German outdoor clothing, footwear, and equipment brand, for $290 million in cash, from Topgolf Callaway Brands, a move to diversify the company's outdoor sports categories.

This deal is expected to be finalized by the end of the second quarter or early third quarter of 2025, said the company. Topgolf Callaway Brands acquired Jack Wolfskin in 2018 for about $476 million at the time.

Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Idstein, Germany, Jack Wolfskin is a leader in the outdoor sports market, particularly in Europe and China. The brand is known for its high-quality products, innovative designs, and advanced functional technologies, including its widely recognized Texapore series of materials.

Ding Shizhong, chairman of ANTA Group, said the acquisition aligns with the group's strategy of "single focus, multi-brand, and globalization".

He said the partnership will enhance the company's presence in the outdoor sports sector, catering to evolving consumer demands for specialized sports products.

"This acquisition will not only broaden our outdoor offerings from high-end to mass market but will also represent a significant milestone in our globalization journey," Ding added.

ANTA Group is optimistic about the synergies expected from leveraging Jack Wolfskin's advanced material technologies alongside its own supply chain capabilities.

As of January 2025, Jack Wolfskin operates 495 locations worldwide—226 in Europe, 269 in Asia, and over 4,000 total retail points globally.

In recent years, the global outdoor market has been on a fast track of rapid development, with the Chinese market acting as a powerful engine.

In 2024, five years after the acquisition by ANTA Group, Amer Sports Group reported an 18 percent increase in revenue to $5.18 billion, with its Arc'teryx brand seeing a 36 percent growth, signaling the robust potential of the outdoor market.

Within ANTA Group, all other brands represented by the two major outdoor brands Descente and Kolon, reached a revenue growth rate of over 50 percent in 2024.