A mysterious rich lister is in the box seat to buy the Derrimut 24:7 Gym chain out of administration, potentially scuppering rival offers from nine other would-be buyers, including billionaire Adrian Portelli.

The bidder’s identity is unknown but the person has been described as someone who has “even deeper pockets than Portelli”, according to three sources familiar with the sale process who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

News of the bidding war for the Derrimut 24:7 chain comes after a meeting of creditors earlier this week heard the group’s founder, Nick Solomos, took $15 million out of the financially stricken business.

Administrators to the group confirmed they had received 10 offers for the group, but said they couldn’t disclose who the bidders were as they were all in the

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