The owner of one of Britain’s biggest country club chains has hired bankers to oversee the sale of the business.
Sky News has learned that Epiris, the private equity firm, has appointed DC Advisory to conduct an auction of The Club Company, which could start as early as this year.
Buyout industry sources said informal talks with prospective buyers were already underway.
Latest Money: Zuckerberg becomes the second richest person for the first time
The club company trades from 17 sites across the UK, each boasting a championship standard golf course, as well as health and fitness facilities, bars, restaurants and accommodation.
It has more than 40,000 members, with the majority of its sites either wholly owned by the company or on a long-term basis.
The business is likely to attract interest from larger private equity firms, real estate-focused funds and existing commercial players.
Epiris’ valuation ambitions were unclear on Friday.
The firm bought The Club Company in 2018 and has added four sites since taking control of the business.
Read more from Sky News:
Net zero technology gets £22bn of government investment
The auto industry is sounding the alarm as sales of electric cars stall
Its locations include Chessfield Downs in Hertfordshire, Castle Royle in Berkshire and Chartham Park in West Sussex.
An Epiris spokesman declined to comment.
