Fast-Growing Fitness Franchise F45 To Go Public

LOS ANGELES, United States — Fast-growing boutique fitness franchise F45 has been acquired by Crescent Acquisition Corp ahead of going public.

The deal follows earlier news of founder Rob Deutsch’s decision to step down as CEO. In a post on his personal Instagram page in April, he explained that despite transitioning out of his hands-on role, he would remain a company shareholder, before hinting of a return to the wellness space in a new capacity.

According to a joint statement by both businesses, the merger is estimated to value the combined companies at $845 million including debt. The goal of the transaction is to accelerate F45’s continued global expansion.

“F45’s mission is to improve people’s lives and wellbeing, and the company was founded to make unique, effective and high-quality training accessible to everyone while empowering franchisees to run successful businesses,” commented F45 CEO Adam Gilchrist.

“As a public company, I am confident that we will be able to accelerate our mission while creating value for our shareholders. We look forward to continuing to disrupt our industry and to inspire even more people to achieve their health and fitness goals through F45’s innovative workouts combined with our nutrition program.”

As one of the fastest-growing fitness franchisors in the world, F45 currently boasts more than 1,900 franchises in over 50 countries across the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Asia and the Middle East.

2019 was a monumental year for the company, which saw an investment group led by actor Mark Wahlberg and FOD Capital become a strategic investor through a minority stake, the amount of which remains undisclosed. Expansion into markets including South Korea, Russia and Afghanistan, also helped to add further fuel to its unprecedented growth — a trajectory Crescent Acquisition Corp is looking to maintain.

“We are looking forward to deepening our relationship with Adam and the entire F45 team as they continue to build what is undoubtedly one of the most exciting growth stories in health and fitness, said Robert Beyer, Executive Chairman and Todd Purdy, CEO, both of Crescent Acquisition Corp.

“F45’s high-profit margins, exceptional franchisee economics and repeatable business model position it for continued rapid expansion. We are confident that F45’s strong member loyalty and consistently innovative and differentiated workouts will continue to prevail in many new and existing markets around the world.”

According to Mark Attanasio and Jean-Marc Chapus, Co-Managing Partners of Crescent Capital Group LP, the goal now is to help F45 expand its impressive growth and performance as a public company.