Amer Sports

Corporate brand

A Finnish global sporting-goods group whose portfolio includes Arc'teryx, Salomon, Wilson, Atomic, Armada, Peak Performance and Suunto.

Last updated August 21, 2026

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Overview

Amer Sports is a Finnish multinational sporting-goods group headquartered in Helsinki. The company began in 1950 as Amer-Tupakka, an industrial and trading business with interests that eventually extended beyond tobacco into shipping, publishing, vehicle distribution, plastics and consumer brands. Over several decades, it shifted its strategic center of gravity toward sporting goods, building a portfolio of specialist businesses serving outdoor recreation, winter sports, ball sports, golf, fitness and sports electronics. The group’s development has been shaped by acquisitions. Its early sports involvement included Finnish and North American ice-hockey businesses. In 1986, Amer established a more formal sports division after acquiring a majority interest in MacGregor Golf. The 1989 purchase of Wilson Sporting Goods substantially expanded the company’s presence in golf, tennis, baseball and other ball sports. Later additions included Atomic, Suunto, Salomon, Peak Performance and a range of baseball, softball, protective-equipment and winter-sports brands. Amer also developed an operating model in which individual brands retain distinct technical identities while benefiting from group-level resources, international distribution and manufacturing capabilities. Amer’s history also includes a gradual withdrawal from non-core activities. The company sold Marimekko in 1991 and disposed of its tobacco business in 2004, returning that activity to Philip Morris. In 2005 it acquired Salomon from Adidas and changed its name from Amer Group to Amer Sports Corporation. By the late 2000s, the business was organized around winter sports, outdoor sports and ball sports. Its portfolio subsequently became particularly associated with performance-oriented outdoor and athletic brands, including the premium alpine brand Arc'teryx, the mountain and trail-sports brand Salomon, Wilson’s racquet and team-sports products, and Suunto’s sports and dive instruments. In 2018, a consortium led by Anta Sports agreed to acquire Amer Sports. The transaction valued the company at approximately €4.6 billion under the offer terms, and the acquisition was completed in 2019; Amer was subsequently delisted. The ownership group also included FountainVest Partners, Anamered Investments and Tencent. During the private-company period, Amer continued portfolio restructuring, including the divestment of Mavic, the sale of Precor to Peloton, and the transfer of Suunto to Liesheng. Amer Sports returned to the public markets in February 2024 through an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AS. The offering raised approximately $1.4 billion and gave the company an indicated valuation of about $6.5 billion, according to reference reporting. Amer Sports currently operates a multi-brand platform spanning technical outdoor apparel and equipment, running and hiking footwear, winter sports, racquet sports, baseball and softball, team sports, protective equipment and sports technology.

History

Amer Sports was established in Finland in 1950 as Amer-Tupakka. Its original activities centered on tobacco manufacturing and distribution, including a 1961 agreement to produce and sell Philip Morris cigarettes in Finland. During the 1960s, profits from the tobacco business supported investments in commercial shipping. The company expanded into publishing and printing in 1970 through the acquisition of Weilin+Göös, changed its name to Amer-Yhtymä, and listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange in 1977. In the 1980s it entered vehicle importing through Korpivaara, gaining distribution rights for brands including Citroën and Toyota, and was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1984. It acquired Marimekko in 1985. Sport became an increasingly important direction. Amer entered sporting goods in the 1970s through acquisitions in ice-hockey equipment, including Koho-Tuote and related North American and Canadian businesses. In 1986, after selling its ice-hockey operations, the company created a broader sports division through the acquisition of a majority stake in MacGregor Golf. The purchase of Wilson Sporting Goods in 1989 was a major turning point. Wilson added established businesses in golf, tennis, baseball and other ball sports and became a central part of Amer’s international sporting-goods strategy. Amer progressively narrowed its focus. It sold Marimekko in 1991 and continued expanding in sports through the acquisition of Austrian ski company Atomic in 1994, Finnish sports-instrument maker Suunto in 1999 and Demarini in 2000. The company retained tobacco interests until 2004, when it sold them back to Philip Morris. In 2005 it acquired Salomon from Adidas for €485 million and formally adopted the Amer Sports name. The portfolio subsequently included winter-sports, outdoor, ball-sports and sports-electronics activities. In 2008, the company organized its operations into winter sport, outdoor sports and ball sports divisions. The portfolio continued to change in the 2010s. Amer acquired Swedish sportswear company Peak Performance in 2018. That year, Anta Sports, FountainVest Partners, Anamered Investments and Tencent formed a consortium to acquire the company. The offer valued Amer Sports at approximately €4.6 billion, and the acquisition was completed in 2019, after which Amer left the public markets. During the following years, the private company divested Mavic, sold Precor to Peloton in 2020 and agreed to sell Suunto to Liesheng in 2022. Amer Sports returned to public ownership in February 2024 with an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. The listing used the ticker AS and re-established the group as a publicly traded international sports company. Its continuing portfolio is built around brands such as Arc'teryx, Salomon, Wilson, Atomic, Armada and Peak Performance, spanning technical outdoor products, winter sports, running, hiking, racquet sports, baseball and softball, and related equipment.

2024
New York Stock Exchange IPO
[3]Amer Sports newsamersports.com
Amer Sports returns to public trading through an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker AS.
2020
Precor divested
[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
Amer sells exercise-equipment company Precor to Peloton.
2019
Consortium acquisition completed
[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
The Anta-led consortium completes its acquisition of Amer Sports and the company leaves the public markets.
2018
Peak Performance acquired
[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
Amer acquires Swedish sportswear company Peak Performance from IC Group.
2008
Three operating divisions introduced
[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
The company organizes its activities into winter sport, outdoor sports and ball sports divisions.
2005
Salomon acquired and corporate name changed
[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
Amer acquires Salomon from Adidas for €485 million and changes its corporate name to Amer Sports Corporation.
1999
Suunto acquired
[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
Finnish sports-instrument company Suunto is acquired.
1994
Atomic acquired
[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
Austrian ski manufacturer Atomic joins the Amer portfolio.
1989
Wilson acquired
[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
Amer acquires Wilson Sporting Goods, significantly expanding its international ball-sports business.
1986
Sports division established
[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
After exiting its ice-hockey businesses, Amer establishes a sports division through a majority acquisition of MacGregor Golf.
1977
Helsinki listing
[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
Amer-Yhtymä is listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.
1974
Entry into sporting goods
[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
Amer begins building a sporting-goods presence through the acquisition of Finnish ice-hockey equipment maker Koho-Tuote.
1970
Publishing division added
[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
The company expands into publishing and printing through the acquisition of Weilin+Göös.
1961
Philip Morris distribution rights acquired
[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
Amer gains the right to produce and sell Philip Morris cigarettes in Finland.
1950
Amer-Tupakka is established
[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
The Finnish company that later became Amer Sports is founded as Amer-Tupakka, an industrial and trading enterprise.

Products and positioning

A multi-brand performance-sports platform that combines specialist technical brands with global distribution, product development and operating resources. Its portfolio is positioned across premium outdoor, winter sports, racquet and team sports, baseball and softball, and sports technology.

Technical outdoor apparel and equipment
Arc'teryx
A premium outdoor brand focused on technical apparel, packs, climbing equipment and alpine products. Its range is associated with mountaineering, climbing, skiing and other demanding mountain environments, with an emphasis on construction, materials and performance-oriented design.
Outdoor, running and winter sports
Salomon
A specialist brand offering trail-running, hiking and outdoor footwear, apparel and equipment, as well as skis and other winter-sports products. Salomon serves mountain, endurance and recreational users through products designed for varied terrain and weather conditions.
Racquet and ball sports equipment
Wilson
A major ball-sports brand whose products include tennis and other racquets, balls, golf equipment, baseball and softball equipment, basketball products and accessories. Wilson supplies both recreational consumers and competitive athletes.
Ski equipment and apparel
Atomic
An Austrian winter-sports brand specializing in skis, bindings, boots, poles and related equipment and apparel for alpine skiing, touring and other snow activities.
Ski equipment and apparel
Armada
A skiing brand serving freestyle, freeride and other snow-sports segments through skis, apparel and associated equipment.
Outdoor and ski apparel
Peak Performance
A Swedish sportswear brand focused on premium outdoor, ski and active apparel, combining technical performance with a lifestyle-oriented design approach.
Sports electronics
Suunto
A Finnish sports-instrument brand known for sports watches, outdoor navigation products and dive computers. Amer Sports agreed to sell the brand to Liesheng in 2022.
Baseball and softball equipment
DeMarini
A Wilson-associated brand specializing in baseball and softball bats and related equipment.
Baseball equipment
Louisville Slugger
A baseball-equipment brand recognized primarily for bats and related products within Amer Sports’ ball-sports portfolio.
Sports protective equipment
EvoShield
A sports-protection brand offering protective equipment and related products for athletes, particularly in baseball and softball contexts.

Controversies

1988
Klubi 88 criticism of tobacco activities and sports sponsorships
At an Amer annual general meeting, the anti-tobacco movement Klubi 88 criticized the company’s substantial tobacco business and called for an end to sponsorships associated with tobacco promotion. The episode reflected public-health opposition to Amer’s industrial past before the company later sold its tobacco interests.
Source

2024
Return to public marketsOther
Background
After several years under private ownership, Amer Sports pursued a new public listing for its global sports-brand platform.
Action taken
The company completed an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker AS.
Aftermath
Amer Sports resumed life as a publicly traded company. Reference reporting states that the offering raised approximately $1.4 billion and implied a valuation of about $6.5 billion.
IPO proceeds. Approximately $1.4 billion (February 2024 offering)
Source
2020
Sale of PrecorM&A
Background
Amer reviewed its portfolio and continued to dispose of businesses outside its preferred brand priorities.
Action taken
The group sold Precor to Peloton.
Aftermath
Precor left the Amer Sports portfolio as the group concentrated on its remaining sports brands.
Source
2018
Anta-led acquisition agreementM&A
Background
Amer was a major Helsinki-listed sporting-goods group whose owners received an offer from a consortium seeking to expand its international sports-brand platform.
Action taken
Anta Sports, FountainVest Partners, Anamered Investments and Tencent formed Mascot Bidco and announced a takeover offer.
Aftermath
The transaction was completed in 2019, and Amer became privately owned and was delisted.
Equity value under takeover offer. Approximately €4.6 billion (2018 offer)
Source
2005
Acquisition of SalomonM&A
Background
Amer sought to strengthen its outdoor and winter-sports portfolio.
Action taken
Amer acquired Salomon from Adidas for €485 million.
Aftermath
Salomon became one of the group’s principal global outdoor brands and supported Amer’s repositioning as a sports-focused company.
Acquisition price. €485 million (2005)
Source
2004
Exit from tobacco businessStrategy
Background
Amer had progressively shifted its strategic emphasis toward sporting goods and other consumer businesses while retaining tobacco operations for several years.
Action taken
The company sold its tobacco business back to Philip Morris.
Aftermath
The divestment further concentrated Amer’s activities on sports and other consumer-facing businesses.
Source

Recent events

2024
Amer Sports returns to public markets on the New York Stock Exchange[3]Amer Sports newsamersports.com
Product launch · Other
Amer Sports completed an initial public offering and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker AS. Reference reporting states that the offering raised approximately $1.4 billion and implied a valuation of about $6.5 billion.
2022
Suunto transferred to Liesheng[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Amer Sports agreed to sell Suunto, its sports-instrument brand, to Chinese wearable-technology company Liesheng.
2020
Amer Sports sells Precor to Peloton[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Amer Sports divested its Precor exercise-equipment business to Peloton.
2019
Amer Sports completes transition to private ownership[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
M&A
The consortium’s acquisition of Amer Sports was completed, ending the company’s listing on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.
2018
Amer Sports consortium announces takeover bid[1]Amer Sportsen.wikipedia.org
M&A
A consortium including Anta Sports, FountainVest Partners, Anamered Investments and Tencent announced an offer valuing Amer Sports shares at approximately €4.6 billion, subject to the transaction terms.

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