A person with knowledge of the deal, who asked not to be named, said PureGym is offering about £1.4 billion ($1.9 billion) of six-year senior secured notes in both euros and sterling. Guidance sits near 6.5% for the euro tranche and about 8% for the sterling piece, a lower cost than the yields north of 8% when the company last issued bonds in 2023.
Two tailwinds are at play: European high-yield has rallied broadly, and PureGym's operating performance has improved. Even as government bond yields have ticked up in recent weeks on higher oil prices that stirred fresh inflation worries, corporate credit has held up relatively well.
The funds are earmarked to refinance outstanding senior secured notes in euros and sterling, to pay down a portion of preferred financing, and to cover general corporate purposes. Fitch Ratings lifted PureGym's issuer grade to B from B-, citing improved operating results and forecasts for earnings to increase, while also warning leverage will temporarily climb following the refinancing. The proposed notes carry an expected B rating from Fitch.
Fitch also pointed to earnings momentum from new club openings and an improving US business. The low-cost model provides some cushion against softer consumer demand. However, the aggressive push to add nearly 300 locations by 2029 is likely to leave free cash flow in the red.
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If the deal prices near guidance, PureGym would lock in cheaper funding than it did in 2023, a small but telling sign that parts of high-yield Europe remain open for issuers with improving fundamentals. For investors, the setup shows how credits can still find receptive markets even when government yields jump on inflation jitters. PureGym did not provide a comment. Barclays Plc, the lead on the deal, did not respond right away to a request for comment.
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