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14 July 2010: SALE TALKS: Landmark Group

July 15, 2010 By Pooja Kulkarni 2 Comments

is understood to be in talks to buy a unit of Al Hokair, a deal that includes the Middle East franchise of Fitness First. Al Hokair Group, the Saudi leisure conglomerate, is understood to be in talks to sell its subsidiary Leisure Unlimited, holder of the Middle East franchise for Fitness First, to the Landmark Group.

UAE-based Landmark has begun due diligence on the deal, which would see the retail giant add the Fitness First gym brand to its franchise portfolio. A source close to the deal said Dubai – based Leisure Unlimited had been starved of funding in recent months, putting pressure on its growing gym business.

Buyout talks with at least two previous firms had fallen through. Leisure Unlimited operates more than 13 branches of Fitness First across the Middle East, including 11 in the UAE. The Fitness First gym chain is owned by private equity group BC Partners, and has 550 clubs worldwide with more than 1.4m members in 20 countries.

BC is eyeing a stock market flotation in Asia for the health firm, which is likely to value the business at around $1.80bn. The Landmark deal follows a legal spat between the UK-based Fitness First and Leisure Unlimited, which  in May saw the gym chain take out an advertisement in a UAE newspaper for a new franchisee. Leisure Unlimited is understood to have sought legal advice after the move, but the dispute has now been resolved to allow the unit to be sold with its franchise relationship intact, the source said.

Landmark Group is one of the largest retail conglomerates in the region, with more than 900 stores and some 31,000 employees. The Middle East is a vibrant market for franchisees and entrepreneurs. There are several companies offering franchise opportunities in this region

A spokesperson for the Landmark Group said: “The Landmark Group has diversified from its core retail businesses into various leisure and hospitality sector businesses over time and the fitness industry would be of interest to the group. We offer no comments on the market speculation of any purported transaction in this space.” Both Fitness First and Leisure Unlimited declined to comment on the deal.

Fitness First franchise recently expanded in India.

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Franchises in Kuwait – Franchising Opportunities

April 30, 2010 By Pooja Kulkarni Leave a Comment

Fitness Franchise in the Middle East, Little Gym International, franchisor of gyms providing curriculum based development programs to children aged 4 months to 12 years old, has entered into a master franchise agreement with an existing franchise owner in Kuwait City, they will now seek prospective single-and multi-unit franchise owners to develop The Little Gym locations in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Syria, Oman, Qatar, Iran, Cyprus, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Iraq and Yemen. They will also assist those who join the franchise in opening and operating their locations, providing business training, site selection

Fitness Franchise The Little Gym International, franchisor of gyms providing curriculum based, non competitive motor skills development programs to children aged 4 months to 12 years old, has entered into a master franchise agreement with an existing franchise owner in Kuwait City, Kuwait, to develop at least 15 and as many as 50 locations in the Middle East over the next decade. Husband and-wife team Adel Al Bader and Khaldah Al Ghanim, who opened their first The Little Gym in Kuwait City in 2003, will continue operating that location and developing more sites throughout Kuwait.

In addition, they will now seek prospective single-and multi-unit franchise owners to develop The Little Gym locations in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Syria, Oman, Qatar, Iran, Cyprus, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Iraq and Yemen. They will also assist those who join the franchise in opening and operating their locations, providing business training, site selection and site-design assistance, operational consulting, market adaptation, marketing support, translation assistance and other ongoing services, with support from The Little Gym International. Both individuals have significant business and franchising experience. Mr. Al Bader has a degree in Business Administration and worked in human resources for Kuwait Airways for 14 years and was a branch manager for Quality Tools Franchised Co., a SNAP ON franchisee, for five years. His wife, Khaldah Al-Ghanim, has a degree in English Literature and taught English at Kuwait University until 2000. Both have been full-time franchisees since joining The Little Gym in 2001.

The Little Gym currently has 301 locations in 19 countries worldwide, including 261 in the United States. Widely recognized as the leading developer of motor skills in young children, the chain was recently named the 1st in the children’s fitness category for the second consecutive year by Entrepreneur magazine, capping off a year of milestones and accolades that included being named a Hot Retailer by the International Council of Shopping Centers ICSC and one of Inc. magazines 5,000 fastest growing private companies in the United States (September 2007. The company also recently opened its 250th U.S. location, 300th worldwide gym and first site in Manhattan. With a presence in Asia for the past 13 years and a solid foundation throughout Europe, The Little Gym now has a strategic vehicle in place to expand in another key region of the international market. We have already contacted some 20 prospects who previously expressed interest in The Little Gym in Saudi Arabia, Dubai,United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Oman and Cyprus, and we plan to meet with some of them early in 2008.

Tags:  Fitness, Little gym, franchisor of gyms, master franchise,  Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Syria, Oman, Qatar, Iran, Cyprus, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Iraq, Yemen, Franchise opportunities, franchise owners, international market

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Fitness Franchise to target the UAE

April 30, 2010 By Pooja Kulkarni Leave a Comment

Owners to develop The Little Gym locations in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Syria, Oman, Qatar, Iran, Cyprus, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Iraq and Yemen. They will also assist those who join the franchise in opening and operating their locations, providing business training, site-selection and site-design assistance, operational consulting, market adaptation, marketing support, translation assistance and other

The Little Gym International, franchisor of gyms providing curriculum-based, non-competitive motor skills development programs to children aged 4 months to 12 years old, has entered into a master franchise agreement with an existing franchise owner in Kuwait City, Kuwait, to develop at least 15 and as many as 50 locations in the Middle East over the next decade. They will also seek prospective single and multi unit franchise owners to develop The Little Gym locations in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Syria, Oman, Qatar, Iran, Cyprus, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Iraq and Yemen. They will also assist those who join the franchise in opening and operating their locations, providing business training, site-selection and site-design assistance, operational consulting, market adaptation, marketing support, translation assistance and other ongoing services, with support from The Little Gym International. The company also recently opened its 250th U.S. location, 300th worldwide gym and first site in Manhattan. With a presence in Asia for the past 13 years and a solid foundation throughout Europe, The Little Gym now has a strategic vehicle in place to expand in another key region of the international market. They have already contacted some 20 prospects who previously expressed interest in The Little Gym in Saudi Arabia, Dubai/United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Oman and Cyprus. Founded in 1976 by Robin Wes, an innovative educator with a genuine love for children, the company uses curriculum-based gymnastics, movement and other programs to promote coordination, balance, rhythm and flexibility, working with children between the ages of 4 months and 12 years. Younger children participate in classes with their parents, while older students attend classes on their own and add a greater sense of independence to the benefits they gain from the program. In addition, The Little Gyms programs have a proven track record of enhancing childrens listening, social and intellectual skills, in short, laying the foundation for a lifetime of success. Ranked the No1 childrens fitness franchise by Entrepreneur in both 2007 and 2008, The Little Gym International, Inc. was formed in 1992 to franchise the The Little Gym concept. Franchise opportunities are available throughout the States and overseas

Tags:  Fitness, Little gym, franchisor of gyms, master franchise,  Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Syria, Oman, Qatar, Iran, Cyprus, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Iraq, Yemen, Franchise opportunities, franchise owners

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