Eagle Merchant Partners Makes First Investment from Fund II in Leading Club Pilates Franchisee, Aligned Fitness

Whats Happening:

Eagle Merchant Partners has made its first investment from its recently closed $415 million Fund II, backing Aligned Fitness, a leading Southeast-based franchisee of Club Pilates. The fund is partnering with Aligned's leadership to accelerate growth through new studio development and strategic acquisitions across the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States.

Key Moves:

• Eagle Merchant Partners invests in Aligned Fitness, a Club Pilates franchisee

• Eagle completes two add-on acquisitions: Crescent Concepts and Next Twenty

• The combined Aligned platform will operate 34 studios across three states

By The Numbers:

• Eagle closed Fund II with $415 million in capital commitments

• The boutique fitness industry is estimated at $24 billion

• The industry is growing at more than 12 percent annually

Key Quotes:

• "The Club Pilates system represents a highly attractive opportunity given its market leading brand within the pilates sector, passionate and inclusive member base and strong unit economics," said Jake Rubenstein of Eagle Merchant Partners.

• "We were drawn to Eagle's track record in wellness and franchising," said Jon Smith, CEO of Aligned Fitness. "They understand the dynamics of growing a multi-unit consumer business and bring the right mix of operational and strategic support as we expand."

Bottom Line:

Eagle Merchant Partners' investment in Aligned Fitness marks a strategic move into the growing boutique fitness industry, leveraging its experience in multi-unit and franchise businesses. This first investment from Fund II signals Eagle's continued focus on owner-operated companies in the Southeast, with potential for significant growth and value creation in the post-COVID fitness market.

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