Investcorp fund acquires 25% stake in Leejam

Investcorp fund acquires 25% stake in Leejam
Updated 16 September 2013
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Investcorp fund acquires 25% stake in Leejam

Investcorp fund acquires 25% stake in Leejam

Investcorp, a global provider and manager of alternative investment products, and Leejam Sports Company JSC (Leejam), Saudi Arabia’s major health and fitness club management company managing the Fitness Time brand, on Sunday announced that Investcorp’s Gulf Opportunity Fund has acquired a 25 percent minority stake in the Leejam business. As part of the agreement, the fund will be represented on Leejam’s board and will play an active role in its strategic choices and growth opportunities.
Leejam was established in 2007 by CEO and founder Abdulmohsen Al-Haqbani. The company today employs over 1,400 people and operates over 62 locations currently in Saudi Arabia and 22 branches under construction (two of which are in Dubai). Fitness Time is currently claimed to be the largest network of Sports and Fitness clubs in the Middle East.
Mohammed Al-Shroogi, Investcorp's president, Gulf business, said: “Leejam is the fund’s third investment in the Kingdom and ninth in the wider region. This investment reaffirms our commitment to supporting regional businesses that are committed to grow and expand. We are happy to partner with Leejam and we believe that our combined efforts will result in even more success for the company.”
Walid Majdalani, MD, Investcorp Corporate Investments-MENA, said: “A key focus for our team will be to help generate additional growth opportunities for the business, while at the same time working with the management to consolidate the foundations, resources and infrastructure that are needed to support and ensure sustainable growth.”
Leejam founder and CEO Abdulmohsen Al-Haqbani said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Investcorp, as we believe this will provide our business with the additional resources and expertise to continue to strengthen our brand, consolidate our position in our domestic market and facilitate potential growth across the Middle East.”
Investcorp's $1 billion Gulf Opportunity Fund invests in companies in the GCC and Turkey as well as the wider MENA region. Its investment in Leejam, follows a recently announced a 38 percent investment in AYTB, which was preceded by a 35 percent stake in Kuwait’s Automak and a 30 percent stake in Orka Group, one of Turkey's leading and fastest growing menswear retailers. Last year, the Gulf Opportunity Fund successfully exited from its first investment in UAE-based Redington Gulf.