What happens if a party violates a covenant in the Afuri Ramen Dumpling agreement?
Afuri_Ramen_Dumpling Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
ts terms, may result in lost future revenue and profits to Afuri, harm to the goodwill associated with the Licensed Marks, and increased costs to Afuri to re-develop or re-franchise the market in which the Franchised Operation is located.
Accordingly, in the event that Franchisee terminates this Agreement other than in accordance with the terms of Section 6.2, or if Afuri terminates this Agreement pursuant to its terms, then Franchisee shall pay to Afuri within thirty (30) days of such termination as liquidated damages (and not as a penalty), an amount equal to the Royalty Fees you should have paid had this Agreement not been terminated, for the lesser of (1) 24 months, or (2) the number of months remaining on the term of this Agreement. Such payment will be calculated based on the average Royalty Fees you paid (or if unpaid, payable) during the 12 months immediately preceding the termination date (or shorter period if you will have operated for less than 12 months). The parties hereby acknowledge and agree that the actual damages that would be incurred by Afuri in the event of any breach or early termination of this Agreement by Franchisee would be difficult to calculate and that the liquidated damages provided for in this Agreement are fair and reasonable under the circumstances. The parties further acknowledge and agree that the liquidated damages specified in this Section are only intended to compensate Afuri for the early termination of this Agreement and Afuri's loss of royalty revenue resulting therefrom, but not for any other breach of this Agreement by Franchisee or any other damages incurred by Afuri, and all remedies applicable thereto remain available to Afuri.
6.6 We May Assign Franchise Territory Upon Termination. Upon expiration or termination of this Agreement, we may immediately license or franchise the Franchise Territory to another person or may operate Afuri businesses within the Franchise Territory.
6.7 You and Your Owners Not to Compete on Expiration, Termination or Transfer of Agreement.
- 6.7.1 Post-Termination Non-Compete. This covenant will apply for two years after termination, expiration or transfer of this Agreement. In express consideration for this Agreement, you will assure that you and your owners, shareholders, partners, directors, officers, employees, and agents, and the members of their immediate families or households (who have actual knowledge of or access to the Operations Manual or System), will not directly or indirectly participate as an owner, shareholder, director, partner, officer, employee, consultant, franchisor, franchisee, distributor, advisor or agent, or serve in any other capacity in any business engaged directly or indirectly in the offer, sale, rental, internet dissemination, or promotion of: (1) ramen, (2) other Japanese style cuisine, (3) Vietnamese pho, or (4) any business that offers products or services that are essentially the same as, or substantially similar to, the products and services that are part of the System. This covenant applies within the Franchise Territory, within a 50-mile radius of the Franchise Territory, within a 50-mile radius of any location or franchise territory where we operate or have granted the franchise to operate an Afuri business, and within the United States of America. Certain exceptions may apply if you operate one or more existing restaurants that offer similar food items as provided in the Pre-Existing Business Addendum to this Agreement (Exhibit 4).
- 6.7.2 Your Acknowledgments. You acknowledge and confirm that the time, content and geographical restrictions contained in this Section are fair and reasonable. They are not the result of overreaching, duress, or coercion of any kind by us.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 50–189)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 Afuri Ramen Dumpling Franchise Disclosure Document, several consequences can arise from violating the franchise agreement. If the franchisee terminates the agreement outside the terms of Section 6.2, or if Afuri Ramen Dumpling terminates the agreement, the franchisee must pay liquidated damages. These damages are calculated as the royalty fees that should have been paid for either 24 months or the remaining term of the agreement, whichever is less. The calculation is based on the average royalty fees paid (or payable) during the 12 months before termination.
The Afuri Ramen Dumpling FDD emphasizes that these liquidated damages are intended to compensate Afuri Ramen Dumpling specifically for the early termination and the resulting loss of royalty revenue. It's important to note that these damages do not cover any other breaches of the agreement or other damages incurred by Afuri Ramen Dumpling, for which Afuri Ramen Dumpling retains all applicable remedies.
Additionally, the FDD states that a waiver of a breach of any term or covenant will not act as a waiver for any subsequent breaches. Afuri Ramen Dumpling may also revoke any waiver previously granted with 10 days' written notice. The agreement also specifies that time is of the essence, meaning that failing to meet deadlines constitutes a material breach of the agreement. Furthermore, the liability of the franchisee and their owners is joint and several, meaning a breach by one party is considered a breach by all.