Clapham House chair David Page and chief executive Paul Campbell are believed to be looking at making an approach for UK health club chain Esporta through Clerkenwell Ventures, the AIM listed investment vehicle they floated last October.

Clerkenwell is also understood to be interested in two other UK health club businesses: Whitbread’s David Lloyd Leisure health clubs – estimated to be worth about £600m – and a private health club chain, believed to be Next Generation.

A spokesperson for Clerkenwell declined to comment on the speculation and said that the investment group was under no pressure to make any acquisitions.

However, the company confirmed that it made a formal approach for energy solution business Intelligent Energy on 21 October.

Clerkenwell Ventures floated on 29 0ctober and was created to acquire established, high-growth businesses in the leisure sector.

Photograph: David Page (left) and Paul Campbell