S&P Global Ratings raised the debt ratings of  Life Time Inc. as the fitness club operator continues to deliver strong EBITDA growth and reduce debt leverage due to healthy demand and membership trends. S&P also expects the company will increase revenue 10 percent-12 percent, in line with management’s guidance for 2026. The rating agency expects Life Time will adhere to its net leverage target of 2x or less, translating to S&P Global Ratings-adjusted leverage at or below its 3.75x threshold. S&P saidraised all of its ratings on Life Time, including its issuer credit rating to ‘BB’ from ‘BB-’ and issue-level…

One LDN, a U.K.-based gym brand that has a partnership with Nike, is opening its first-ever funding round to fuel its expansion plans across London. The operator is looking to raise funds for two new locations in London to meet growing demand among the consistent and loyal membership base it’s cultivated. The round also marks the first opportunity for external partners to invest early.

Crunch Fitness has appointed Chequan Lewis as chief executive officer, effective immediately, succeeding Jim Rowley, who has transitioned to executive chairman of the high-value, low-price fitness operator. The move comes roughly 14 months after Crunch received a strategic investment from Leonard Green & Partners, a private equity firm that acquired a majority stake from TPG Growth and Crunch’s minority shareholders in a deal that reportedly valued Crunch at over $1.5 billion, including debt. Lewis, a Howard University and Harvard Law School graduate who joined Crunch in 2024 as president, steps into the top role after helping drive the company’s growth…

Planet Fitness, Inc. appointed Sudhanshu Priyadarshi as chief financial officer and president, international, effective immediately. Most recently, Priyadarshi served as CFO and president, International, of Keurig Dr. Pepper, and previously served as Vista Outdoor’s CFO. At Keurig Dr. Pepper, he co-led the development of the company’s enterprise-wide strategic plan and led its global finance, IT and international operating organization, according to Planet Fitness.

Club Pilates is still on an expansion tear, signing a new 70-unit deal with entrepreneur and developer Saber Ammori and the newly formed Renew Fitness franchise group to operate and grow existing and future locations. Ammori, who currently owns and operates 14 Club Pilates locations in the New York City area, has united with Cohere Capital to create the group, now making Renew Fitness one of the boutique brand’s largest multi-unit franchisees, with 84 potential studios. Target markets include Michigan, Maryland and New York, where Renew Fitness is planning to acquire and develop studios as part of the deal. “The…

Playlist, the parent company of Mindbody, ClassPass, Booker, EGYM and Kite, has named Palantir Technologies chief financial officer David Glazer to its board of directors, roughly two months after Playlist closed its $7.5 billion merger with fitness tech firm EGYM. The deal brought ClassPass and Mindbody’s software together with EGYM’s smart strength training equipment under what the company calls the world’s largest full-stack fitness and wellness operating system. It also included $785 million in new equity funding led by Affinity Partners, with participation from Vista Equity Partners, Temasek and L Catterton. Playlist CEO and co-founder Fritz Lanman appeared on stage…

Pulse Fitness, the UK-based equipment manufacturer, announced several additions to its U.S. team to accelerate expansion in the region. Leading the U.S. expansion is Jamie Burton, (pictured right) president, Pulse Fitness USA, and global development, who will oversee strategic growth initiatives, international partnerships, and market development.He has been country general manager for the U.S. region since January 2024. He formerly worked for Chisel Fit, New Level UK Limited and Johnson Health Tech UK.

British fitness equipment manufacturer Pulse Fitness has announced its official entry into the U.S. commercial fitness equipment market, appointing Jamie Burton as President of U.S. and Global Development to lead a core team that includes Chief Revenue Officer Mike Kelly, Sales Director Andrew Graham, and Vice President of Operations Ed Kurzontkowski. Pulse Fitness differentiates itself through “inclusive fitness,” offering equipment designed to accommodate people with varying levels of mobility, including low-impact treadmills, ellipticals, upright/recumbent exercise bikes, and adjustable step platforms. The brand has already installed equipment at venues such as Third Space Wimbledon, a high-end fitness club in London, and…

The first day of the Athletech News Innovation Summit 2026 was held in New York, covering 16 topics including investment, recovery science, strength-training innovation, and the commercialization of longevity. Key signals: ① Investment trends — Pilates and HVLP gyms are the most favored by capital; 2025 is a catalyst year for major brand deals (multi-billion-dollar Crunch/EoS transactions), 2026 is expected to be a period of “slight reset,” and deal flow is projected to recover in 2027; ② The Recovery 2.0 era — the field is moving from single-method approaches (such as cold-water baths) to a personalized, data-driven stage; ③ Peloton…

Australian functional training franchise brand Fitstop has signed a multi-location agreement in Houston, Texas, entering its third U.S. state after California and Pennsylvania, with Austin and San Antonio to follow. Fitstop has more than 170 locations worldwide (Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the U.S.) and is known for team-based strength training—2-4 person groups supporting one another, with structured strength training programs as its core offering. Founder and CEO Pete Hull (a former professional motocross rider) said the U.S. market is shifting from “passive wellness” to “structured, results-driven training.” Next month, Fitstop will hold its Global Games event in Los Angeles.

Former Planet Fitness long-time CEO Chris Rondeau has officially invested in Absolute Recomp (AR) and joined as a partner, board member, and chief growth officer. AR was founded by 28-year-old Nabil Saeed in Dallas-Fort Worth and is positioned as a “pure-strength premium gym” built specifically for experienced lifters. It currently has 5 locations, with each gym ranging from 35,000 to 65,000 square feet, and is fully equipped with top-tier strength machines from Watson, Arsenal, Panatta, Rogers, New Tech, and others, including 120 leg machines and 30 glute/hip machines. Membership fees are $65–80 per month, and female membership has grown from…

EoS Fitness has piloted Reformer Pilates classes at three of its locations in Las Vegas, Tempe, Arizona, and Houston, targeting its mid-tier membership level priced at $24.99–$29.99 per month, with plans to expand the rollout in 2027. The classes include three proprietary formats (Re:Fine classic / Re:Mix off-equipment strength / Re:Build athletic performance) plus Les Mills Reformer classes. Backed by TSG Consumer Partners, EoS Fitness has more than 2 million members, making it the fourth chain brand after Crunch Fitness, Vasa Fitness, and Planet Fitness (Australia pilot) to bring Reformer Pilates into HVLP big-box gyms.