FRANKFURT, June 15 (Reuters) - U.S.-based Euro Pacific Growth Fund has emerged as one of the biggest shareholders in Germany's Adidas (ADSG.DE), the world's second-largest sports goods maker said on Monday 15 June.

Adidas Climacool

Euro Pacific now holds 5.01 percent of the votes in Adidas and is along with Capital Research and Management Co the largest shareholder in the Herzogenaurach-based group.

Euro Pacific's stake had risen above 3 percent in January.

Adidas shares rose as much as 2.2 percent and were up 0.4 percent at 26.97 euros by 1421 GMT, leading the gainers in Germany's blue-chip DAX index which was down 2.5 percent.

"News on Adidas has been quite positive recently and the soccer World Cup is moving into focus," a trader said, referring to a newspaper article in which Adidas Chief Executive Herbert Hainer said the company was making significant progress in restructuring its U.S. brand Reebok.

"News that a fund has raised its stake also helps," the trader added.

The soccer World Cup takes place in South Africa next year. (Reporting by Eva Kuehnen; Additional reporting Kirsti Knolle; Editing by David Holmes)