Steve Nash and Partners Acquire Fitness World

On December 17, 2009, a consortium backed by the Phoenix Suns' Steve Nash and private equity firms New Evolution Fitness Company and Angelo, Gordon & Co. acquired Fitness World, British Columbia's largest fitness company. The new chain has been renamed Steve Nash Fitness World. Terms of the transaction were undisclosed.

The acquiring consortium was represented by Lawson Lundell LLP, with a team that included Greg Hollingsworth (M&A); Edward Wilson (real estate); Johanna Fipke, Amir Ghahreman and Nathan Daniels (M&A and corporate); James Sutcliffe (lending); Robert Sider and Nicole Skuggedal (employment) and Chris Baldwin (strategic legal advice). Strategic legal advice was also provided by Michael Vineberg of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP. David D'Urso and Kevin Tagami (M&A) and Lewis Kweit (tax) of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP acted as counsel to Angelo, Gordon & Co. New Evolution Fitness Company was represented by its general counsel, Tony Bakos.

Fitness World was represented by Clark Wilson LLP with a team that included Anne Kober, Don Sihota and Adam Dlin (M&A); Gwendoline Allison and Nicole Byres (employment); Brent Clark (lending) and Jeffrey Vicq (IP).

Josephine Nadel, Tamara Wong and James Heth (M&A); and Steve Winder (employment) of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP acted as special counsel to certain Fitness World shareholders and members of management.