Who Owns Mammut?

Mammut's history dates to 1862, when Kaspar Tanner founded a rope-making business in the Swiss village of Dintikon. Tanner had completed a three-year ropemaking apprenticeship and spent several years in Germany before establishing his own operation. The company initially produced ropes for the agricultural sector.

In 1878, the company moved to nearby Lenzburg, where Tanner built a covered ropewalk for all-weather production. His son Oscar joined the business in the 1890s and took over in 1898. The company grew significantly during World War I, when demand for ropes increased. From 1919, the company operated as Seilwarenfabrik AG Lenzburg. Oscar Tanner left the company in 1924.

The Mammut brand name was introduced in 1943, when Seilwarenfabrik AG Lenzburg began marketing its products under the Mammut label. The name comes from the German word for mammoth, symbolizing power and strength. The mammoth logo was adopted at the same time and has evolved over the decades into one of the most recognized marks in alpine sports.

After World War II, the company shifted its focus from agricultural ropes to ropes for mountaineering. In the 1950s, Mammut launched its first nylon glacier rope, a significant safety advancement for alpine climbing. The company developed the first Barryvox avalanche transceiver with the Swiss Army in 1969, establishing itself in avalanche safety equipment.

The Swiss Heberlein Group acquired the company in 1968 and renamed it Arova Lenzburg AG. In 1982, Heberlein sold the company to Conzzeta AG, which renamed it Arova Mammut AG in 1984. Conzzeta moved the company's headquarters to Seon, Switzerland, in 1992, where it has been based ever since.

In 2003, the company was renamed Mammut Sports Group AG. In the early 2000s, Mammut acquired Norwegian sleeping bag manufacturer Ajungilak and Swiss mountain boot specialist Raichle, expanding from ropes and hardware into sleeping bags and footwear. The company was among the first outdoor brands to use Gore-Tex waterproof-breathable material.

The Eiger Extreme collection, launched in the 1990s, became Mammut's flagship technical apparel line for mountaineering. The collection is designed for extreme alpine conditions and is worn by professional mountain guides and expedition climbers.

In 2016, Mammut closed its rope production in Seon due to the strong Swiss franc and high production costs. The rope manufacturing facilities were sold to Austrian company Teufelberger. Mammut's ropes are now produced by Teufelberger under license.

In June 2021, Conzzeta sold Mammut to Telemos Capital for CHF 230 million. Under Telemos and later Jacobs Capital, Mammut expanded internationally, with revenues outside Europe growing to over 50 percent of total sales. The company invested in supply chain capabilities, digital channels, and brand building.

In July 2026, Jacobs Capital agreed to sell Mammut to CPE, a Chinese alternative asset manager. The transaction, valued at over EUR 500 million, is expected to accelerate Mammut's growth in Asia and North America. CPE plans to leverage its local knowledge to expand Mammut's network of over 100 stores in China.