At 7.16pm on 10 November 2022, members of the UFC Gym in City Link Mall, Singapore, received notice that the gym will cease operations that very day. In that same notice, UFC informed them that they are unable to provide refunds.

Members, who were understandably furious and shocked, informed Wake Up Singapore that they had no prior notice that the gym was in dire financial straits as the gym was still pushing for people to sign up as members the day before.

All of those who had recently signed-up or renewed their memberships were not given any notice whatsoever that the gym may close. One aggrieved member, almaqbarah, organised other members by calling for the creation of a group chat with the intention to report the matter to the authorities.

No Refunds

In the email to members, which Wake Up Singapore had sight of, UFC GYM Singapore informed members that it was unable to provide cash refunds for the unused portions of memberships and personal training services. The reasons for the abrupt closure were attributed to “challenging market conditions and financial losses”

It added that NRG International Pte Ltd, which operates the UFC GYM in City Square Mall, will be working with the Mater Franchise Office to transfer memberships to the UFC GYM in CityLink Mall.

One member was not too thrilled about the possibility of transferring his membership across gyms. The member, who preferred a refund instead, observed that the new location was not convenient for members who frequented the gym at City Square Mall.

Who are NRG International Pte Ltd?

UFC Singapore’s statement made reference to one NRG International Pte Ltd, which was allegedly responsible for the operations and now, sudden closure, of the UFC Gym in City Square Mall.

Based on the ACRA Business Profile of NRG International, Wake Up Singapore understands that the company’s sole shareholder is one Kriskaya Elena from Saint Kitts and Nevis (a country). St Kitts and Nevia is a well-known tax haven with no taxes on individual income, long-term capital gains, wealth, inheritance and gifts.

NRG International also has a Singaporean director and secretary.

Call for Refunds

UFC Singapore’s statement on Instagram attracted calls from many unhappy members for full refunds.

Members were particularly angry that those who were asked to renew or sign-up recently were not given any heads up about the alleged situation.

A few users noted that the Gym’s staff were still trying to sell memberships the very day before the closure.

If the company was indeed facing financial difficulties, as it claims in its email announcing the same-day closure, it is puzzling and unconscionable that it continued to accept membership renewals and sign-ups until the day before closure.

We have reached out to UFC Singapore for comment.

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