Core Health & Fitness Acquires Jacobs Ladder

Core Health & Fitness LLC (Core), a portfolio company of US-based private equity firm Gainline Capital Partners LP (Gainline), announced that it has acquired Jacobs Ladder, a maker of ladder-climbing fitness products.

The financial terms of the transaction are private.

The deal will provide Jacobs Ladder with the funding and distribution to scale its business. This is the second acquisition for Core Health in 2022. It acquired Wexer in April.

“Prior to and coming out of COVID-19, commercial customers across the gym and vertical market categories placed, or are placing, an increased emphasis on high-intensity products,” said Jason Leone, president, Core. “Many consumers are returning to in-person workouts at fitness facilities where Core is seeing a year-over-year record of commercial fitness growth.”

“This is a momentous step for Jacobs Ladder, simultaneously granting us the support, investment and distribution we need to dramatically scale our business and accelerate towards our mission in the fitness industry,” said Bob Palka, CEO, Jacobs Ladder. “The opportunity to work closely with Core Health & Fitness, collaborating across its portfolio of globally recognized brands to build an even more diverse ecosystem, is another huge benefit of this acquisition. In 2004, when we started, we realized it was an unparalleled fitness experience. What we have lacked for the past 18 years is a partner to help us share in an economy of scale. Core not only brings economy of scale but an iconic set of brands. We are delighted with our new ownership and excited by its implications not only for Jacobs Ladder but for the sector as a whole.”

Core’s brands include StairMaster, Schwinn, Nautilus, Star Trac, Throwdown, and Wexer.