David Lloyd Leisure (DLL) has acquired Country Club Geneva, a premium wellness facility on the outskirts of the historic Swiss city.
Currently owned by Swiss businesswoman Dona Bertarelli, the deal – for an undisclosed sum – is due to complete in April 2020, making the club the 124th in DLL's European portfolio.
Country Club Geneva is a premium sports and wellness club housing 11 tennis courts, a large fitness space, a golf driving range and a major day spa.
It was completely renovated in 2017 and DLL plans to invest around £8m in a further redevelopment of the site, which still has expansion potential.
Country Club Geneva is DLL's second club in the region, following the group's acquisition of the City Green Sport and Health Club near Geneva in 2017. Since the acquisition, the company has invested more than £5m in redeveloping the club.
The acquisition of Country Club Geneva is part of DLL's European expansion strategy, which includes both acquisitions and new-build sites.
In the past five years, DLL has increased its club count from 83 to 123 and now has more than 660,000 members across the continent.
In January 2020 it announced that it had acquired the Meridian Spa Group which operates eight health and wellness clubs across Germany.
Glenn Earlam, CEO David Lloyd Leisure, said: “Country Club Geneva is one of the largest and most prestigious health clubs in the region and is a strong fit for the David Lloyd Clubs’ premium, family-focused brand.
"The club has seen significant investment in recent years, but we believe it has yet greater potential and have ambitious plans to further enhance the clubs’ fitness and wellbeing facilities.
"We have ambitious growth plans and 2020 has got off to a flying start with the addition of nine new clubs to our group, with more deals in the pipeline. We're firmly on track to achieve our goal of 150 clubs by 2026.”
Dona Bertarelli added: “Since 2001 I've been committed to strengthening the positioning of Country Club Geneva as a benchmark tennis club, both nationally and internationally, and to expanding its offerings to be a leading wellness centre.
"The club is now in the best hands to ensure an even brighter future. It has been gratifying to find a group like DLL, which shares the same values of passion for sport and excellence in services that have guided my time with Country Club Geneva.
"I'm pleased that the club is joining such a prestigious international network, and I am sure that it will bring significant benefits to the club's members.”
Following the deal, DLL now has 24 clubs internationally with locations in Germany, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Ireland, Italy, France and now Switzerland – in addition to its 100 clubs in the UK.
