Bär & Karrer advises Virgin Active
Group on its expansion into Switzerland
through the takeover of the Planet
Wellness club in the Lugano area

Virgin Active, a leading international premium health club and Social Wellness Club operator with hundreds of locations across four continents, including major markets such as South Africa, the UK, Italy, and Australia, is expanding into Switzerland by taking over the Planet Wellness club in the Lugano area. The completion of the transaction is subject to certain conditions. The location will open as Switzerland’s first Virgin Active Social Wellness Club, bringing the group’s signature premium fitness model to the region.

Bär & Karrer acted as Swiss legal advisor to Virgin Active and supported Virgin Active’s Legal Director, Daniela Giordani, in connection with the takeover transaction. The Bär & Karrer team was led by Rocco Rigozzi (M&A), while Martin Leu (Tax) led the Swiss tax aspects of the transaction. The Bär & Karrer team also included Sara Scalmana and Amina Zuzo (both Tax), Laura Widmer and Marc Paronitti (both Employment), Ruth Bloch-Riemer and Sébastien Di Natale (Pension/Social Security), Thomas Rohde (Restructuring/Corporate), Bryan Bruschi (Corporate and Notarial Services), and Markus Wang and Christine Schweikard (IP/Data Protection).