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Esporta sells non-core sites to Virgin Active
Health club operator Esporta has sold 13 non-core clubs to Virgin Active as part of its ongoing strategy to focus on the premium sector in the UK.
The deal – for an undisclosed sum – includes the six Esporta clubs in Spain and marks the company’s exit from the Spanish market.
The Spanish clubs had previously been earmarked for sale in 2004 when Esporta announced plans to dispose of its loss-making sites in Continental Europe.
The package also included the sale of seven clubs in the UK: in Rugby, Chelmsford, Bolton, Crawley, Birmingham, Gloucester and Medway.
Virgin Active has declined to comment on its plans for the newly acquired sites.
The move is part of Esporta’s drive to become the leading operator of premium health and fitness clubs in the UK, said its chief executive, Neil Gillis.
“Our like for like sales growth of 5 per cent and EBITDA growth of 11 per cent (from January to the end of June 2005) is clear evidence that this strategy is working,” he said.
“We now have the funding and management focus to expand our UK racquets business and we are looking hard at a number of opportunities to achieve this.”
Gillis also said Esporta's long-term goal is to completely exit continental Europa and to sell its remaining clubs in germany and Sweden.
Meanwhile, Esporta has also announced plans to open a premium racquets club in Norwich – scheduled to begin trading in early 2006.