La  Compagnie des Alpes (CDA)  continues its offensive in sports and leisure. After making a notable entry into the French padel market with the acquisition of  Urban Group  In 2024, the group is now announcing a strategic investment in  33,9% in PadelCity , the leading operator of padel centers in Germany. This operation confirms CDA's European ambitions in a rapidly growing market.

A stake acquisition of 20 million euros

The initial investment amounts to  20 million Eight million euros are being allocated to the repurchase of shares held by long-standing shareholders, while  12 million  will be injected in the form of a capital increase to finance the expansion of PadelCity over the next 18 months.

The operation increases the company's value by  a little over 50 million euros It is financed by the available cash of Compagnie des Alpes, notably through compensation received following the end of the public service delegation for the Tignes ski area.

But this equity investment is only the first step. CDA has options allowing it to increase its stake to  approximately 75% by early 2028 , then to acquire  100% of PadelCity by the end of 2030 , a sign of a desire for gradual control of the company.

Compagnie des Alpes is accelerating its involvement in padel with PadelCity: a new step in its European strategy

PadelCity, the rapidly expanding German leader

Founded in 2022,  PadelCity  is experiencing particularly rapid growth. The company now operates  24 centers in Germany , compared to 17 by the end of 2025, and has already launched its development in  Austria  and  Poland .

The goal is ambitious: to achieve  350 padel courts by the end of 2026 , compared to 117 at the end of 2025, with a target annualized turnover of approximately  50 million .

The project already has the support of renowned investors. Among the existing shareholders are, in particular  Hansi flick , coach of FC Barcelona, ​​as well as  Bob Dekeyser , founder of Dedon.

A padel strategy implemented since 2024

This operation is not a new venture into padel for Compagnie des Alpes.  2024 The group had already made a major move by acquiring  86,5% of the Urban Group (UrbanSoccer / UrbanPadel)  for nearly  130 million .

With dozens of centers across France, Urban is now one of the leading European players in urban sports, combining five-a-side football and padel. This acquisition marked CDA's official entry into the padel market, with a strategy clearly focused on year-round urban leisure activities.

Since then, the momentum has never stopped.

Urban Soccer about to be bought by Compagnie des Alpes?

A European expansion that is accelerating

By the end of 2025, Compagnie des Alpes had already expanded its network by acquiring  Sport4Lux , Luxembourg's main five-a-side football and padel complex, via the Urban Group. The stated objective was to create a true European network of premium sports centers.

During the presentation of its half-year results in May 2026, the group also confirmed its intention to open  new five-a-side football and padel centers in France , while continuing its international development.

Investment in PadelCity thus appears as the logical continuation of a strategy that was already well underway.

Padel is becoming a major area of ​​diversification

Historically focused on ski resorts and leisure parks, Compagnie des Alpes is now increasing its investments in activities less dependent on seasonality.

Padel offers several strategic advantages:

  • a year-round practice;
  • a European market still far from maturity, particularly in Germany;
  • recurring revenue from bookings, subscriptions and related activities;
  • a young and family-oriented clientele, complementary to the other businesses in the group.

By gradually establishing itself in several European countries, the CDA seeks to replicate the model developed with Urban in France, by supporting already well-established players rather than creating new networks itself.

A consolidation that could continue

With Urban in France, Sport4Lux in Luxembourg and now PadelIn City, Germany, Compagnie des Alpes is gradually building a true European hub for padel.

This strategy also illustrates a fundamental trend: padel is now attracting major groups in the leisure sector, who see it as a market capable of generating sustainable growth. After having long been driven by independent entrepreneurs, the development of European padel is entering a new phase, marked by the arrival of institutional investors and large-scale consolidation operations.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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