Core Health & Fitness LLC (Core), a portfolio company of U.S.-based private equity firm Gainline Capital Partners LP (Gainline), announced that it has acquired Jacobs Ladder the leader in ladder climbing fitness offerings. Financial terms of the transaction are private.
The deal will provide Jacobs Ladder with the funding and distribution to scale its business.
“Prior to and coming out of COVID-19, commercial customers across gym and vertical market categories placed or are placing an increased emphasis on high intensity products,” said Jason Leone, the president of Core. “Many consumers are returning to in-person workouts at fitness facilities where Core is seeing record year-over-year commercial fitness growth.”
“This is a momentous step for Jacobs Ladder, simultaneously granting us the support, investment and distribution we need to dramatically scale our business and accelerate towards our mission in the fitness industry,” said Bob Palka, the CEO of Jacobs Ladder. “The opportunity to work closely with Core Health & Fitness, collaborating across its portfolio of globally recognised brands to build an even more diverse ecosystem, is another huge benefit of this acquisition. In 2004, when we started, we realized it was an unparalleled fitness experience. What we have lacked for the past 18 years is a partner to help us share in an economy of scale. Core not only brings economy of scale, but an iconic set of brands. We are delighted with our new ownership and excited by its implications not only for Jacobs Ladder, but for the sector as a whole.”
Harry Clouston, the vice president at Gainline, added, “As a leading B2B supplier for the global health and fitness market, we see Jacobs Ladder as a natural extension of Core’s business model.”
The collaboration will begin with them jointly exhibiting at IHRSA this month.
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Core Health & Fitness is a vertically integrated global manufacturer of fitness equipment with a strong market presence across cardio, strength, group cycling and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) equipment. Core’s innovative, high-quality products are sold under the iconic brands of StairMaster, Schwinn, Nautilus, Star Trac, Throwdown and Wexer. Core sells its products and solutions into more than 100 countries worldwide. Visit corehandf.com.
