Fila Holdings Corp. (d/b/a Fila) is a sportswear manufacturer that designs shoes and apparel founded by Ettore and Giansevero Fila in 1911 in Biella, Piedmont, Italy. In 2003, it was sold to United States-based Sports Brand International.[4] And subsequently in 2007, Fila Korea acquired the brand.[5] In September 2010, it launched its initial public offering on the Korea Exchange.[6][7][8][9]
Through its subsidiary Magnus Holdings Co., Ltd, Fila Holdings owns a 52% stake in Acushnet Company.[10] Fila Holdings' largest shareholders include Piemonte Co., Ltd at around 20%, Fila Holdings at 20%, and South Korea's National Pension Service at around 13%.[11] Gene Yoon (Yoon Yoon-su), who owns a 75% stake in Piemonte,[12] serves as the chairman of Fila Holdings. The chief executive officer is Yoon Keun-chang.[13] Fila has offices in 11 countries globally.
History
Fila was created in Biella, Piedmont, Italy, by Ettore and Giansevero Fila in 1911.[14] It originally made clothing for the people of the Italian Alps, primarily underwear. In the 1970s it moved into sportswear, with an endorsement deal with tennis player Björn Borg. The brand became more popular after the move into sportswear.
In 2003, the original Italian owner, Holding di Partecipazioni, sold the company to Cerberus Capital Management, a U.S.A.-based hedge fund, after the company over-committed itself to expensive athletic endorsements at a time when margins were under pressure. Cerberus owned Fila through holding company Sports Brands International, which owned and operated all Fila businesses around the world with the exception of Fila Korea, which was a separate company operating the brand under licence.
In January 2007, the brand and all its international subsidiaries were acquired by Fila Korea.[15]
In 2009, ANTA Sports acquired the rights to the brand in China, Hong Kong, and Macao from the then Fila company's Chinese joint venture partner Belle International. Fila Korea still owned 15% shares of the joint venture company "Full Prospect".[16]
In May 2011, Fila Korea Ltd. acquired global golf equipment maker Acushnet Company, becoming the new owner of leading golf brands such as Titleist for $1.23 billion.[17][18]
In March 2021, Fila China stated that it would continue to source cotton from Xinjiang despite public criticism that such cotton had been produced with forced Uyghur labor in the region
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