Schoenherr Romania advised Catalyst Romania Fund II, a key venture capital fund in Southeast Europe, on a EUR 2m transaction involving a sports subscription start-up by ESX,

the largest Romanian sports centre network. The investment allows ESX to strengthen its market position by expanding at a higher rate and opening up new cross-border prospects.

"This transaction greatly increases ESX's visibility and is a decisive move beyond the local market, as it brings major cross-border opportunities," said Schoenherr partner Mădălina Neagu. "This is a bold but well-assessed strategy by Catalyst, and we are thrilled to have been part of such a widescale development."

Catalyst launched the first private equity and venture capital fund in Romania in 2012. The company prioritises investments in fast-growing sectors and provides growth capital to companies that are or can become regional leaders or global players.

ESX has grown rapidly in the past 18 months, with monthly turnover reaching almost EUR 1m. Their app offers subscriptions with unlimited access to approximately 500 local sports centres and currently counts 200,000 members.

21st June 2023