Independent healthcare provider Nuffield Hospitals has acquired the Cannons Health and Fitness chain of health clubs from PPM Capital.

The not-for-profit health care group beat off competition from LA Fitness, Virgin Active and Fitness First after tabling a bid believed to be worth around £200m.

David Mobbs, chief executive of Nuffield Hospitals, said: “This is a very exciting moment for Nuffield. We are fast becoming a broad-based health group, able to serve a wide range of the public’s health needs in addition to operating our hospitals.

“We believe that peple want to take a more active role in maintaining and promoting their own health. We are responding to that by providing the service s people want, delivered where and when they want them.”

The management and operation of the 52 Cannons Health and Fitness clubs will be taken over by Nuffield Proactive Health (NPH), the hospital group’s arm which already offers corporate health, fitness and physiotherapy services.

Chris Jessop, chief executive of NPH, said: “Cannons and NPH can complement each other’s strengths and develop together.

“We have expertise in integrating health services such as physiotherapy and health assessment with fitness and exercise, whereas Cannons has built a strong reputation for operating excellent clubs which are great places to get in shape and stay healthy.”

Cannons CEO Arnu Misra added: “We are excited by Nuffield’s vision of a broader-based health and fitness proposition. Our colleagues and members can look forward to a bright, secure and exciting future under the Nuffield umbrella.”

Cannons was purchased by the Royal Bank of Scotland and private equity company PPM Capital in 2001 for £360m.

Nuffield, a registered charity, bought private gym enterprise Sona – which offers in-house gyms to large companies – in 2005.