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Cripps said in an announcement on its website that it advised French group Manutan on the acquisition of Fitness Warehouse Limited, trading as Gym Gear, by Manutan’s UK subsidiary, Findel Education Limited. The firm said the deal brings an established commercial fitness equipment business into the Manutan Group.
Key points
- Findel Education Limited, Manutan’s UK subsidiary, acquired Fitness Warehouse Limited, trading as Gym Gear.
- Cripps said the parties worked on the deal for more than a year before it completed at the end of October 2026.
- Cripps said its team advised on corporate, tax, employment, property, banking and regulatory aspects of the transaction.
- Cripps worked with Manutan, Findel, PwC’s transaction services team in France, PwC’s UK tax team and NGM Tax on the deal, according to the announcement.
- According to the firm, the Cripps team was headed by Alexander Bishop, with Emma Brittain, Sonia Dib, Anna Drapper, Summer Gibb and Kathryn Rogers also advising.
The transaction
Cripps described the deal as involving a number of complex legal, regulatory and operational elements, which it said required coordination across the client, advisory and transaction teams. PwC and NGM Tax also advised on the transaction, the firm said.
Chris Mahady, chief executive of Findel, said: “This was a long journey and a real team effort, and we are delighted to have completed the acquisition of Gym Gear, a fantastic addition to the Findel and Manutan family of brands. Alex Bishop, Sonia Dib and the wider Cripps team provided incredible support throughout, combining perseverance and commitment with a real focus on getting the transaction over the line. We are hugely grateful for their support and look forward to working together again.”
Team comment
Alexander Bishop, lead lawyer on the transaction, said: “We are delighted to have supported Manutan and Findel on this important acquisition. It was a demanding transaction, involving a number of legal and operational complexities. Successful completion required close coordination between the client, advisers and wider transaction team, and it was particularly rewarding to help bring the deal to a successful conclusion after such a long journey.”
Olivier Morel, Cripps’ Manutan client partner, said the acquisition was an exciting addition to the Manutan group and wished the Manutan and Findel teams success in the business’s next stage of development. He described it as another transaction for the firm’s longstanding French client, Manutan.