The Beekman Group Recapitalizes Eclipse Fitness Group

Eagle Merchant Partners Recapitalizes Aligned Fitness; Aligned Acquires Two Club Pilates Franchisees

June 26, 2025

Healthcare Services

Eagle Merchant Partners completed a recapitalization of Aligned Fitness (a leading Southeast-based Club Pilates franchisee) as its first investment from Fund II, with Boathouse Capital providing a $52 million credit facility and equity co-investment. Proceeds funded Aligned’s acquisition of two add-on franchisees — Crescent Concepts, LLC and Next Twenty, LLC — and will support new studio development and expansion across the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States, bringing the combined platform to 34 studios.

Olympus Partners Acquires Excel Fitness Holdings (Planet Fitness Franchisee)

April 29, 2022

Restaurants & Hospitality

Stamford-based private equity firm Olympus Partners has acquired Excel Fitness Holdings, a leading Planet Fitness franchisee headquartered in Austin, Texas. Excel operates over 90 Planet Fitness locations across several U.S. markets (serving ~750,000 members) and the deal represents a PE buyout from prior sponsor Altamont Capital Partners to support further club development and geographic expansion.

Planet Fitness Acquires Sunshine Fitness (114 Clubs)

January 11, 2022

Restaurants & Hospitality

Planet Fitness, Inc. agreed to acquire Sunshine Fitness Growth Holdings, LLC — a Planet Fitness franchisee operating 114 clubs in the Southeast U.S. — in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $800 million, funded in part by a new securitization and available cash. The locations (in AL, FL, GA, NC and SC) were folded into Planet Fitness' company-owned portfolio, and Sunshine co-founder Shane McGuiness joined Planet Fitness to oversee the combined corporate club operations; the deal closed in February 2022.

Seacoast Capital and E2 Complete Minority Recapitalization of Fitness Holdings North America

January 29, 2020

Healthcare Services

Fitness Holdings North America (FHNA), one of the largest independent Crunch Fitness franchisees, completed a minority recapitalization and growth financing with Seacoast Capital and E2 Venture Partners. The financing will be used to accelerate FHNA's expansion (organic and acquisitive) across the Northeast as it grows from 22 locations toward a 50+ club target.

ECP-PF Holdings Group Acquires Seven Planet Fitness Clubs from Meridian Enterprises

March 7, 2019

Consumer Products

ECP-PF Holdings Group, Inc., a Planet Fitness franchisee backed by Exaltare Capital Partners, acquired seven Planet Fitness locations in the Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tennessee markets from Meridian Enterprises. The deal expands ECP-PF’s footprint in the Southeast and keeps the locations open and operational under the Planet Fitness brand.

Sunshine Fitness Growth Holdings Acquires Anchor Fitness LLC

April 9, 2019

Restaurants & Hospitality

Sunshine Fitness Growth Holdings, a Planet Fitness franchisee backed by TSG Consumer Partners, acquired Anchor Fitness LLC’s 13 Planet Fitness club locations across South Carolina and Georgia. MFA Companies acted as exclusive financial advisor to Anchor Fitness; terms were not disclosed. The acquisition expands Sunshine Fitness’s footprint to roughly 80 clubs across the Southeast U.S.