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← DATABASE
09/2005

FITNESS FIRST

Acquired by

BC PARTNERS

UNITED KINGDOM Hospitality & Leisure / Hospitality EV 500M - 1.5b GBP

Context

The sale of Fitness First to BC Partners marks a significant milestone in the company's history, as it transitions from one private equity owner to another. The deal is a testament to the success of Cinven's investment strategy, which focused on transforming Fitness First into a global market leader through a range of strategic initiatives. These initiatives included controlling the company's rapid expansion, realigning its new club opening program to focus on high-growth regions, introducing new management to drive operational and retail disciplines, and optimizing the company's balance sheet through sale and leasebacks of its freehold assets. As a result of these efforts, Fitness First has achieved significant growth and improvement in its financial performance, with EBITDA increasing by 85% since 2002. The company's future objectives are centered around continuing to drive growth and expansion, both organically and through strategic acquisitions, while maintaining its focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences and driving business excellence. The sale to BC Partners is expected to provide Fitness First with the necessary resources and support to achieve its goals, and to drive long-term value creation for its stakeholders. The deal also highlights the attractive growth prospects of the fitness industry, and the potential for private equity firms to drive value creation through strategic investments in high-quality businesses.

FITNESS FIRST, which reported an EBITDA margin of LOGIN in 2005, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of LOGIN, representing a LOGIN to the average currently observed in the Retail & Consumer sector (11.3x).

Note that this data is based on contribution from our growing community, composed of M&A and Private Equity professionals, and has been verified by our team to ensure its accuracy.

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Target

Fitness First is a prominent gym chain operator with a significant presence in the health and wellness sector. The company has a long history of providing fitness services to its members, with a network of approximately 430 clubs. Fitness First offers a range of amenities and services, including state-of-the-art equipment, group fitness classes, and personal training sessions. The company has faced challenges in recent years due to increased competition from budget gym operators and declining consumer spending. Despite these challenges, Fitness First remains a well-established brand with a strong reputation in the fitness industry. The company's business model is focused on providing a high-quality fitness experience to its members, with a emphasis on convenience, flexibility, and value. Fitness First has a diverse range of membership options and pricing plans, allowing it to cater to a broad range of customers. The company's operations are supported by a team of experienced professionals, including personal trainers, group fitness instructors, and customer service staff.

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Multiples

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EV / EBITDA

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EV / EBIT

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Historical Financials (GBP)

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2005
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2004
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Other operations with FITNESS FIRST

DateAcquirerTargetCountrySectorDeal Context
FITNESS FIRSTUNITED KINGDOMHospitality & Leisure

Fitness First is a prominent gym chain operator with a significant presence in the health and wellness sector. The company has a long history of providing fitness services to its members, with a network of approximately 430 clubs. Fitness First offers a range of amenities and services, including state-of-the-art equipment, group fitness classes, and personal training sessions. The company has faced challenges in recent years due to increased competition from budget gym operators and declining consumer spending. Despite these challenges, Fitness First remains a well-established brand with a strong reputation in the fitness industry. The company's business model is focused on providing a high-quality fitness experience to its members, with a emphasis on convenience, flexibility, and value. Fitness First has a diverse range of membership options and pricing plans, allowing it to cater to a broad range of customers. The company's operations are supported by a team of experienced professionals, including personal trainers, group fitness instructors, and customer service staff.

REFERENCES

Valuation range: EV 500M - 1.5b GBP

EBITDA range: 50M - 100M GBP

Note: This page provides detailed data on a private equity M&A transaction. Detailed and exact financial metrics for the acquisition of FITNESS FIRST by BC PARTNERS are reserved for mynth community members. Register for free to unlock full data.

Authors: mynth contributor (mynth data is contributed by M&A / PE professionals and systematically cross-verified with private deal documents and official press releases).

Target: fitness first

Acquirer: bc partners