#Retail & Brands

2022-03-03

adidas completes divestiture of Reebok and launches new share buyback program

adidas announced today that as of February 28, 2022, it has formally completed the divestiture of Reebok to Authentic Brands Group (ABG). In several markets, adidas will continue to operate the business on behalf of ABG during a transition period, following which the Reebok business will fully transfer to ABG’s operating partners via a series of deferred local closings.

These deferred local closings will take place later this year and in early 2023. In-line with the definitive agreement signed in August 2021 and as a result of the formal completion of the divestiture, adidas has now received the majority of the total consideration of up to € 2.1 billion in cash, with the remainder comprised of deferred and contingent consideration.

• Divestiture of Reebok to Authentic Brands Group formally completed

• adidas receives majority of total consideration in cash upon formally completed Reebok divestiture

• adidas launches additional share buyback program of up to € 1.5 billion to return cash proceeds to shareholders

• First tranche of regular multi-year share buyback program completed on February 22

Against this background, adidas will launch a new share buyback program to return the cash proceeds from the Reebok divestiture to its shareholders. Starting in mid-March 2022, the company intends to repurchase own shares in an amount of up to € 1.5 billion until the end of the third quarter 2022.

The decision to repurchase shares will be in addition to the company’s regular buyback activities. In December 2021, adidas had launched a multi-year share buyback program under which the company plans to buy back shares in an amount of up to € 4 billion until 2025. The first tranche of this program was launched on January 10 and completed on February 22, 2022. During that period, the company bought back 4,156,558 shares for a total amount of € 1 billion, corresponding to an average purchase price per share of € 240.58.? ?“We thank Reebok and the employees who transfer to ABG and its operating partners as a result of today’s closing and acknowledge their contribution to the company over the years and during the transition period”, said Harm Ohlmeyer, CFO of adidas.

“The completion of the divestiture of Reebok is another important milestone in the execution of our strategy ‘Own the Game”. As previously announced, we are returning the cash proceeds from the divestiture to our shareholders. This will be done via another share buyback program and reflects our confident outlook on 2022 despite the various challenges we are currently confronted with.”

Strong shareholder returns are a key component of adidas’ strategy ‘Own the Game’. As part of ‘Own the Game’, adidas plans to generate substantial free cash flow until 2025 and return the majority of it – between € 8 and 9 billion – to its shareholders via dividend payments and share buybacks. With today’s announcement these regular shareholder returns are complemented by an additional € 1.5 billion share buyback program related to the divestiture of Reebok.

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

Recover™ secures multi-year recycled cotton agreement with H&M

Recover™ has signed a multi-year agreement with H&M to support the integration of its recycled cotton fiber, RCotton, for use in H&M’s products. Since early 2024, H&M and Recover™ have collaborated on product development, which now enables scaled commercial introduction of Recover™ mechanically recycled cotton into H&M’s collections.

GORE-TEX® KIDSWEAR launches innovative membership scheme for kids’ jackets

With its revolutionary new membership model, GORE-TEX® Kidswear now offers families a simple, flexible and sustainable way of kitting out their children in top-quality jackets. It is aimed at the parents of children aged between five and ten and kicks off with a choice of functional winter jackets.

Techtextil 2026: KARL MAYER impresses as an innovative sector partner

KARL MAYER looks back with satisfaction on its participation in Techtextil 2026. From April 21 to 24, the international industry leader used the trade show in Frankfurt to meet with numerous key customers at its booth and, at the same time, establish many new contacts. Most visitors came from Germany, followed by major markets such as Poland, the United Kingdom, Turkey, France, and Portugal.

BTMA backs global growth while investing in future UK leaders

As one of a number of new initiatives launched this year, the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) is launching the UK-India Textile Machinery Coalition. The UK-India Free Trade Agreement, signed in July 2025, has implications that extend across sourcing, competitiveness and long-term trade dynamics, believes BTMA CEO Jason Kent.

China projected to increase cotton production, yields, and imports in 2026/27

World cotton production in the 2026/27 season is projected at 25.9 million tonnes, exceeding global consumption of 25.2 million tonnes, according to the May 2026 issue of Cotton This Month. That means both production and consumption are expected to remain close to current season levels, while global cotton trade is projected to decline by 2.7% to approximately 9.6-9.7 million tonnes.