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Providence Equity Partners has agreed to acquire Fitness Park from its founder and investors, subject to regulatory approval. The deal would give Providence ownership of Fitness Park and VivaGym, whose networks total more than 900 locations, but the financial terms and any plans to combine the chains have not been announced.
Providence Equity Partners has agreed to acquire Fitness Park, a French low-price gym chain with more than 467 clubs, in a deal that would give the investment firm control of a combined network of more than 900 locations alongside its existing VivaGym business. The transaction, announced Wednesday, remains subject to regulatory approval; its financial terms have not been disclosed.
Fitness Park operates primarily in France and reports serving more than 1.7 million members. Its international presence includes Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Italy, and the company is preparing to enter Belgium. Providence said it plans to support the chain’s expansion in France and internationally, including through its franchise network.
Providence is acquiring the business from founder Philippe Herbette and investors Future French Champions, Momentum Invest and M Capital Partners. Herbette will remain involved as chairman, working with the management team led by Gaëtan Dubuisson. The announcement did not disclose a closing date or the purchase price.
A report last month identified Providence as among the frontrunners for Fitness Park and cited a bid of about €600 million ($685 million). That figure was not confirmed as the agreed transaction price. Providence’s existing European fitness holding, VivaGym, operates more than 450 clubs across Spain and Portugal, according to the report. The chains’ reported footprints together exceed 900 locations, but neither Providence nor the operators have announced plans to combine their brands or day-to-day operations.
Providence Builds a Larger Gym Network
The purchase would put two sizeable European low-cost fitness operators under the same owner, giving Providence a broader platform across France and the Iberian Peninsula, as well as Fitness Park’s other international markets. A larger footprint could give the owner more opportunities to expand into new territories and share operating capabilities. Those are potential advantages of scale, not confirmed savings or outcomes from this transaction.
The deal also adds to a series of acquisitions in a sector where operators compete for members and sites across national markets. For gym members, the immediate implications are not clear: the announcement does not describe changes to pricing, memberships, club access or branding. The transaction’s effects on competition and local gym choices will depend in part on regulatory review and how Providence manages the businesses after any closing.
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A Run of European Fitness Deals
Providence acquired VivaGym in 2024, when it had just over 100 clubs and about 315,000 members, according to the report. VivaGym subsequently grew beyond 450 locations across Spain and Portugal, including through its acquisition of Spanish operator Synergym earlier this year. The proposed Fitness Park purchase would give Providence a much larger presence in France and add a chain with a substantial franchise network.
Other operators have also expanded through acquisitions. Basic-Fit bought German operator Wellyou this year, following its acquisition of Clever Fit in 2025. UK-based PureGym agreed to buy Swiss operator NonStop Gym for £235 million, a transaction expected to expand its presence in Switzerland. These deals form part of a broader pattern of consolidation; they do not establish that every acquisition will produce lower costs or faster growth.
Carlsquare CEO Michael Moritz told Athletech News in an August interview that he expected more consolidation among European low-cost gyms, as private-equity firms and strategic buyers seek regional density and operating efficiencies. Providence’s proposed purchase is an example of that activity, while its eventual operating plans remain undisclosed.
“Private equity is definitely back in the game.”
— Michael Moritz, Carlsquare CEO, in an August interview with Athletech News
Price, Approval and Brand Plans
The agreed purchase price has not been disclosed. The approximately €600 million figure cited in an earlier report was described as a bid estimate, not a confirmed final value. The transaction also requires regulatory approval, and the announcement does not identify a decision date or detail the review process.
It is also unclear whether Fitness Park and VivaGym will remain separately managed or eventually share a holding company. Earlier reports had suggested a shared ownership structure could be possible while preserving separate brands, but the companies have not announced a plan to integrate them. No changes to memberships, club operations, staffing or consumer prices were specified.
Regulatory Review and Closing
The immediate next milestone is regulatory approval. The companies have not stated when they expect the review to conclude or when the deal could close. Until then, Providence’s acquisition remains an agreement rather than a completed transfer of ownership.
If the transaction receives approval and closes, Providence has said it intends to back Fitness Park’s continued growth in France and internationally, including through franchising. The company is preparing to enter Belgium, but the announcement did not give a launch date. Further details on the acquisition’s financial terms, governance and any relationship between Fitness Park and VivaGym have not yet been provided.
Key Questions
Who is acquiring Fitness Park?
Providence Equity Partners has agreed to acquire the French gym operator from founder Philippe Herbette and investors Future French Champions, Momentum Invest and M Capital Partners. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.
How many clubs would Providence control?
Fitness Park operates more than 467 clubs, while Providence-owned VivaGym has more than 450 locations across Spain and Portugal. Together, the reported networks exceed 900 locations; the companies have not announced a unified operating network.
How much is Providence paying?
The agreed transaction price has not been disclosed. An earlier report cited an approximately €600 million ($685 million) bid, but that figure has not been confirmed as the final purchase price.
Will Fitness Park and VivaGym become one brand?
No brand combination has been announced. The companies have not set out whether the chains will remain separately operated or share a holding structure while retaining distinct identities.
When will the acquisition be completed?
The transaction is pending regulatory approval, and no completion date has been announced. It remains unclear when regulators will decide or when ownership might transfer.
Source: athletechnews.com
