ADIDAS GROUP REPORTS FULL-YEAR 2015 RESULTS

Sealing what Herbert Hainer, Adidas Group CEO, described as a “very successful year,” the sportswear giant reported bullish gains in 2015 sales. Currency-neutral group sales leaped 10 percent to a new record of 16.9 billion euros, spurred by strong double-digit growth in Western Europe, Greater China, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Net income rose 29 percent to 640 million euros. “We reached all of our major financial goals and exceeded our initial top-and-bottom-line targets. Today we are stronger and in better shape than ever before. Our success goes way beyond financial figures. We have developed a new game plan aimed at accelerating our growth trajectory until 2020 by significantly increasing brand desirability,” said Hainer in a letter to the shareholders. The solid performance was driven by the running category, fueled by the launch of Ultra Boost, characterized by a midsole made of 3000 energy capsules, which sold over 10 million pairs since it debuted in early 2015. Within Adidas Originals, up 36 percent in 2015, the trendy Superstar sold 15 million pairs. Kanye West’s hot Yeezy Boost became the most popular sneaker on Instagram in 2015, selling out in only a few hours since it hit stores. On the soccer fields, Adidas cemented its status in the world’s top five football leagues, with almost 40 percent of the players kicking around in 3-Stripes.