SGB Executive Sports & Fitness
Report: Anta Offers to Acquire Puma Stake from Pinault Family
According to three sources, China’s Anta Sports has offered to buy the Pinault family’s 29 percent stake in Puma. Anta has secured financing for the acquisition should a deal go through, two sources said. One source, however, said the situation had stalled.
EXEC: SGB 2026 Look Ahead — Sports & Fitness Market Leaders
Despite ongoing uncertainty about tariffs, executives in the sports and fitness space remain generally upbeat about prospects for 2026, encouraged by strong interest in activities ranging from running to golf, flag football, and strength training. Insights from industry leaders at Academy Sports, BSN Sports, Bauer, Rawlings, Life Fitness, SFIA, NSGA, CEP Americas, Game One and more…
EXEC: Market Shrugs Off Adidas Downgrade; Analyst Sees Weaker Europe SG Space
It appears that BofA may see the Sportsyle trend slowing and the performance bump from the World Cup and the Winter Olympics may only result in a short-term bump – at least in Europe.
EXEC: SGB 2026 Look Ahead — Active Lifestyle Footwear Leaders
Footwear leaders in the active lifestyle space are hopeful that product differentiation and enhanced online engagement can help soften the sting of higher footwear prices in 2026. Forecasts for 2026 from industry leaders at AAFA, Altra Running, Brooks Running, Circana, Charm City Run, Diadora, FDRA, Fleet Feet, Gazelle Sports, Lowa, Playmakers, and RG Barry Brands.
EXEC: SGB 2026 Look Ahead – Active Lifestyle Industry Analysts and Advisors
This is the first installment in a series of articles from SGB Media exploring the industry’s outlook for 2026, with future reporting to include the viewpoints of vendors, retailers, component companies, and trade organizations in the active and outdoor lifestyle space. Insights from executives at Houlihan Lokey, RW Baird, Lincoln International, Karnan Associates, Wells Fargo, Stifel, BCE Consulting, and Outsize Consulting.
SGB 2025 Year in Review: Active Lifestyle Stocks Take It On the Chin Again
The wide majority of stocks trading in the active lifestyle space in 2025 sharply underperformed broader market gains for the fourth straight year. The lackluster performance was in large part due to disruptions from tariffs, as well as stalled turnaround efforts in several major stocks, including Nike, VF Corp. and Lululemon.
EXEC: Interactive Strength Cries Foul as Sportstech Seeks to Suspend Acquisition Talks
Interactive Strength CEO Trent Ward pushed back on Sportstech’s claims that negotiations between the two companies were suspended effective November 27, 2025, indicating that his company provided Sportstech with critical working capital that materially improved its performance — a loan that came due on December 30, 2025.
EXEC: Lululemon Responds to Founder’s Proxy Fight Moves
In response to Lululemon Athletica’s founder, Chip Wilson, announcing that he has submitted a notice to nominate three director candidates, Lululemon defended the experience of its board, its CEO succession process, and the retailer’s performance since Wilson stepped down from the board in 2015. Lululemon also reported it will evaluate Wilson’s board nominees “in due course in accordance with the Board’s governance process.”
EXEC: Lululemon Founder Launches Proxy Fight Over Board Seats, New CEO Pick
Chip Wilson’s Board nominees include Marc Maurer, the former Co-CEO of On Holding, as well as the former CEO of Activision and a former chief marketing officer at ESPN. Wilson said the CEO selection must take place following significant Board changes.
EXEC: Apple CEO Doubles Stake in Nike, Inc.; NKE Shares Move Higher
NKE shares rose in low single-digits overnight on news that Apple CEO Tim Cook took advantage of the lower share price and jumped in with a ~$3 million purchase of NKE shares on Monday, December 22.
SGB 2025 Year In Review: Active Lifestyle M&A — Part Two
SGB Media presents a roundup of M&A action in the industry for the second half of 2025, including new deals struck or closed in the final days of 2025..
SGB 2025 Year In Review: Active Lifestyle M&A — Part One
While M&A activity in the active lifestyle space in 2025 was again dominated by smaller tuck-ins and medium-size acquisitions, Skechers, Foot Locker, Hanesbrands, OrthoLite, and Helly Hansen were among the major deals that were completed during the year. Here is a roundup of the industry’s M&A action for the first half of 2025.
EXEC: Textiss To Take Over Umbro France Footwear and Apparel License
Textiss, which has served as Umbro’s underwear and socks licensee in France for the past decade, will assume responsibility for the brand’s licence from the Royer Group, which has held the rights for the past 10 years.
EXEC: Carbon Fiber Bike Frame Maker J-Star Delivers Strong H1 Growth; Receives Nasdaq Notice
The Taiwanese maker of carbon fiber and composite solutions supporting rackets and bikes said it received a letter of noncompliance from Nasdaq market for failing to meet the continued listing requirement that requires a stock maintain a minimum bid price of $1 per share for 30 consecutive business days.
EXEC: Nike Shares Fall Double Digits Overnight as Cautious Q3 Guide Spooks Investors
Nike, Inc. reported second-quarter results that ended November 30 and handily topped analyst targets, but the company also issued third-quarter guidance that was weaker than expected, as strength in North America is expected to be offset by weakness in China and Converse, as well as ongoing tariff headwinds.
