Ming Le Sports AG

Ming Le Sports AG is a German holding company (Beteiligungsgesellschaft) headquartered in Heidelberg. Its core business is the acquisition of and participation in companies active in the manufacture and distribution of shoes, clothing and accessories as well as sporting goods. The company was established within the Ming Le Group, which was founded on 21 September 2011 by way of a contribution in kind (Sacheinlage). After an intermediate holding company was set up in Hong Kong, the German Ming Le Sports AG was entered in the commercial register in Frankfurt on 2 November 2011. Its shares are traded on the General Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the stock is included in the CDAX index. The company's operational roots lie in China, where its manufacturing subsidiaries were located. In the 2012 financial year, with 1,310 employees, the group generated revenue of EUR 126.7 million. In mid-2016 the company moved its registered office from Frankfurt am Main to Bad Vilbel, and in October 2017 it relocated to Heidelberg. In June 2017 it was reported that the German parent company had apparently lost control over its Chinese manufacturing subsidiaries: the stake in Fujian Mingle Sportswear Co Ltd had been transferred entirely to a third party without the knowledge or consent of Ming Le Sports AG, and there was no indication whether, or in what amount, any consideration had been agreed or paid. In March 2019 the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) imposed fines of EUR 136,000 on Ming Le Sports AG for breaches of publication obligations. In November 2017 the German business magazine Capital criticised the business model of Chinese companies that went public in Germany via a holding company. Under the headline "Skandalbilanz der Chinakracher" it reported that of 20 IPOs in Frankfurt over the ten-year period since 2007, 17 had become "quasi total losses". Chinese companies raised EUR 330 million in equity in Germany, and investors lost an average of 98%. As of 2017, Ming Le Sports AG reportedly had no operating business and no audited consolidated financial statements, but a balance-sheet loss in the millions. The company continues to maintain an investor relations presence, publishing annual declarations of conformity under Section 161 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG) and corporate governance statements.

The Ming Le Group was founded on 21 September 2011 by way of a contribution in kind (Sacheinlage). An intermediate holding company was established in Hong Kong, and the German Ming Le Sports AG was entered in the commercial register in Frankfurt on 2 November 2011. The company's shares were listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange; the Wikipedia article states that the IPO took place on 28 July 2006, a date that precedes the 2011 founding of the German entity and likely refers to an earlier listing vehicle or a predecessor. In the 2012 financial year the group employed 1,310 people and generated revenue of EUR 126.7 million. In mid-2016 the company moved its registered office from Frankfurt am Main to Bad Vilbel. In June 2017 it was reported that the German parent company had apparently lost control over its Chinese manufacturing subsidiaries. The stake in Fujian Mingle Sportswear Co Ltd had been transferred entirely to a third party without the knowledge or consent of Ming Le Sports AG, and there was no indication whether, or in what amount, any consideration had been agreed or paid. In October 2017 the company relocated its headquarters to Heidelberg. In November 2017 the German business magazine Capital criticised the business model of Chinese companies that went public in Germany via a holding company. Under the headline "Skandalbilanz der Chinakracher" it reported that of 20 IPOs in Frankfurt over the ten-year period since 2007, 17 had become "quasi total losses". Chinese companies raised EUR 330 million in equity in Germany, and investors lost an average of 98%. As of 2017, Ming Le Sports AG reportedly had no operating business and no audited consolidated financial statements, but a balance-sheet loss in the millions. In March 2019 the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) imposed fines of EUR 136,000 on Ming Le Sports AG for breaches of publication obligations. The company continues to maintain an investor relations presence, publishing annual declarations of conformity under Section 161 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG) and corporate governance statements. Its shares are traded on the General Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the stock is included in the CDAX index.

• 2019

  BaFin imposed fines of EUR 136,000 for breaches of publication obligations.

• 2017

  Reported loss of control over Chinese manufacturing subsidiary Fujian Mingle Sportswear Co Ltd.

• 2017

  Headquarters relocated to Heidelberg.

• 2017

  Capital magazine criticised the business model of Chinese holding companies listed in Germany, citing Ming Le Sports AG.

• 2016

  Registered office moved from Frankfurt am Main to Bad Vilbel.

• 2012

  Group employed 1,310 people and generated revenue of EUR 126.7 million.

• 2011

  Ming Le Group founded by way of a contribution in kind.

• 2011

  German Ming Le Sports AG entered in the commercial register in Frankfurt.

German-listed holding company for Chinese sports and apparel manufacturing operations.

Product categories. Footwear · Clothing · Accessories · Sporting goods

1. 1Ming Le Sports Aktiengesellschaftminglesports.de
2. 2Corporate Governance | Ming Le Sports Aktiengesellschaftminglesports.de
3. 3Ming Le Sportswikidata.org
4. 4Ming Le Sportsde.wikipedia.org