Budget gyms are consolidating, and VivaGym's owner wants Fitness Park

Providence Equity, owner of VivaGym, is bidding about EUR 600 million ($685 million) for France's Fitness Park, with four finalists left, according to Athletech News. It is a report and not a confirmed deal.

A win would take VivaGym toward about 900 clubs. Low-cost gyms are a scale game, where more locations spread costs and a bigger footprint gives a brand more leverage.

For members, the change happens at the brand level. Two chains with different personalities become one operator, and the winner has to decide which one survives.

Kyle Duford, Founder & Editor, BRNDWIRE. More from Kyle →