Brisbane-based 12RND announces partnership to expand UBX Training brand in UK and Ireland

Boxing-based fitness franchise 12RND has agreed a partnership with UK-based Empowered Brands to expand UBX Training (12RND’s international brand) to 250 clubs in the British Isles.

The £50 million (AU$93 million) deal with Empowered Brands, owner of énergie Fitness, which aims to see UBX Training operating in 250 locations in five years, marks a significant expansion for the Brisbane-based franchisor.

Co-founded in 2014 by entrepreneur, Tim West, and four-time world champion boxer, Danny Green, 12RND/UBX Training now operates 90 locations across Australia and New Zealand.

Franchise investment business Empowered Brands signing of the deal follows its acquisition of énergie Fitness out of a credit valuation adjustment (CVA) in 2020, backed by alternative asset management company, RM Funds.

Commenting on the expansion, West explained that the despite the challenges that it has faced through the pandemic, 12RND continued with its growth strategy, stating “our ability to not only survive, but also to grow, during lockdowns, proves the resilience of the UBX model.

"We've invested heavily in our team and technology and are primed for international growth. The UK is the logical and exciting next step, as it has a long and proud boxing history and we see a huge opportunity to modernise boxing using our proven and innovative model.

"Empowered Brands is the perfect strategic partner because as it has more than 100 fitness clubs already open in the UK and Ireland - and a strategy to build a powerful brand stable across Europe.

"In Empowered Brands, we know we have a partner who matches our ambition to grow fast in a marketplace that demands innovation, flexibility and simplicity, which is what UBX provides.”

John Jempson, named Managing Director of UBX UK, noted “based on our forecasts, our objective is to ultimately open up 250 clubs across the UK and Ireland.

"We're confident in the product and its potential to grow.

"This is because the UBX product and experience has been tested over a five-year period in a range of environments and has consistently attracted successful franchisees and members."

Chair of Empowered Brands, Pietro Nicholls, added “our ambition to be the curator of leading and emerging brands in Europe will be greatly advanced by the UBX roll-out.

"We have hundreds of franchise enquiries every month from people who do not have the capital or appetite to build large fitness clubs and UBX, with its smaller venue requirements and lower cost of entry to the fitness market, is an ideal proven brand to take to a market we believe can only grow.”

The 12RND/UBX Training caps a remarkable year of financial success for Australian founded fitness group's including F45, Body Fit Training and Fitstop while USA-based Xponential Fitness has also expanded its brands in the country.

Images: UBX Training (top) and Tim West (below). Credit: 12RND/UBX Training.