The Bundeskartellamt, Germany's competition authority, has granted approval for LifeFit Group to acquire 21 fitness studios operating under the Just Fit brand in the Rhineland. LifeFit Group, a portfolio company of private equity investor Waterland, operates a total of 203 fitness studios across Germany under various brands including FitnessFirst, Barry’s, Yoga Six, and Elixia.

Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt, noted that the involved fitness chains generate significant revenues, which brought the merger under the authority's review. The examination focused on the Cologne area, where both LifeFit and Just Fit have a substantial presence, particularly in close proximity in the city center.

Despite the potential for significant market shares in the city center, the merger was approved due to the dynamic nature of competition among fitness studios in the area. The authority's assessment considered various potential markets for fitness services in Cologne, where LifeFit operates six studios and Just Fit operates ten, primarily in the mid-market segment.

A more in-depth review of the merger was deemed unnecessary, as the competitive effects in Cologne's city center were evaluated based on specific local circumstances. Notably, there have been several recent or publicly announced openings of new fitness studios, including a large new location by competitor XtraFit on a former retail site. Additionally, the rising demand for fitness services suggests that further openings are likely, supported by the conversion of unused retail and office spaces into suitable locations for new fitness studios.