Skip to main content
BoF Logo

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

LVMH-Backed Buyout Firm Invests in Top Chinese Gym Chain Will's

The transaction adds to the $84 billion of private equity deals announced this year involving Chinese targets.
Will's Group gym | Source: Will's Group Facebook page
By
  • Bloomberg

SINGAPORE, Singapore — Consumer-focused private equity firm L Catterton Asia is investing in Will's Group, one of China's biggest private gym operators, in a bet that yoga and body pump classes will take off in the country.

The private equity firm, which is backed by luxury giant LVMH, is making a “significant” investment in Will’s, according to an emailed statement Friday. Financial terms weren’t disclosed. Bloomberg News reported in September that a consortium including L Catterton Asia was nearing a deal to spend about $400 million for a controlling stake in Will’s.

Buyout firms have been betting that rising incomes in greater China will translate into higher spending on health and sports. Last year, an investor group backed by China’s FountainVest Partners agreed to buy Pure Group, the billionaire-backed gym chain. The deal valued the Hong Kong company at more than $400 million, people with knowledge of the matter have said.

The number of sports clubs in China is expected to increase 12 percent to around 10,960 locations by 2020, up from about 9,780 at the end of last year, according to forecasts from consultancy Euromonitor International.

ADVERTISEMENT

Will’s, founded in 1996, operates more than 130 fitness clubs serving almost 400,000 members in 12 Chinese cities, according to Friday’s statement. The transaction adds to the $84 billion of private equity deals announced this year involving Chinese targets, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

L Catterton Asia’s portfolio already includes Crystal Jade, the Singapore-based dim sum restaurant chain, and Australian swimwear retailer Seafolly, according to its website.

By Joyce Koh, Vinicy Chan and Carol Zhong; editors: Ben Scent, Neha D'silva and Timothy Sifert.

In This Article

© 2024 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions

More from Financial Markets
A financial lens on the fast-changing fashion sector, including markets, investors and deals.

The Best of BoF 2023: Diversity’s Litmus Test

In 2020, like many companies, the $50 billion yoga apparel brand created a new department to improve internal diversity and inclusion, and to create a more equitable playing field for minorities. In interviews with BoF, 14 current and former employees said things only got worse.


The Year Ahead: The Future of Fashion Deal-Making

For fashion’s private market investors, deal-making may provide less-than-ideal returns and raise questions about the long-term value creation opportunities across parts of the fashion industry, reports The State of Fashion 2024.


The Investment Giant Behind Some of Fashion’s Biggest Deals

L Catterton, the private-equity firm with close ties to LVMH and Bernard Arnault that’s preparing to take Birkenstock public, has become an investment giant in the consumer-goods space, with stakes in companies selling everything from fashion to pet food to tacos.


view more

Subscribe to the BoF Daily Digest

The essential daily round-up of fashion news, analysis, and breaking news alerts.

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
CONNECT WITH US ON
The Business of Beauty Global Awards - Deadline 30 April 2024
© 2024 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy and Accessibility Statement.
The Business of Beauty Global Awards - Deadline 30 April 2024