factual

What constitutes a 'Default' that would allow Amorino to terminate the franchise agreement?

Amorino Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

oposal and Franchisor shall again have such right of first refusal with respect thereto.

16. DEFAULT AND TERMINATION

  • A. Termination Upon Notice In Certain Events. You shall be deemed to be in default under this Agreement, and we may terminate this Agreement and the franchise granted under this Agreement with immediate effect upon delivery of notice to you (without any opportunity to cure) upon the occurrence of any of the following events (each a "Default"):
  • (1) You fail to make any payment due under this Agreement within 30 (thirty) days of when it is due.
  • (2) You become insolvent, make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, have an involuntary petition in bankruptcy filed against you which is not dismissed within 30 days after filing, are adjudicated as bankrupt or insolvent, suffer temporary or permanent court-appointed receivership of your assets or property, or any part thereof,

  • (3) Your Business Entity is dissolved;
  • (4) Execution is levied against your business or property;
  • (5) Judicial, non-judicial or administrative proceedings to foreclose any lien or mortgage against the Franchised Location premises or assets or equipment is instituted against you and not dismissed within 30 days; or
  • (6) If the real or personal property of the Franchised Business is sold after levy thereupon by any sheriff, marshal, or constable
  • (7) Your Supervising Principal or Manager fails to successfully complete the initial training by the Opening Date;
  • (8) You fail to acquire a site by the Site Selection Date (or such later date as we, in our sole and absolute discretion, specify in writing);
  • (9) You fail to open the Store for business by the Opening Date (or such later date as we, in our sole and absolute discretion, specify in writing);
  • (10) You abandon the Franchised Business (which will be presumed if you cease operations for five (5) consecutive days or more, other than in the case of an agreed-upon period of closure or as a result of a Force Majeure Event);
  • (11) Any Approval required to operate the Franchised Business is revoked, terminated or otherwise lost unless the required approval is reinstated within a reasonable time.;
  • (12) If the term of your lease expires or if your right to possession of your Amorino premises is otherwise lost without you being at fault, we will not terminate this Agreement as long as you relocate and reopen your Amorino store within 180 days from the date on which your prior lease terminated. The provisions of this Agreement will apply to the location, lease and design approval, equipping and other features of your relocated Amorino facility and the term of this Agreement will be extended by the amount of time between the termination of your prior lease and the opening of your relocated facility;
  • (13) you or any Principal or Manager is convicted of, or pleads guilty or no contest to, a felony, a crime involving moral turpitude, or any other crime or offense that Amorino believes is reasonably likely to have an adverse effect on the Franchised Business, System, Proprietary Marks, or reputation of Amorino;
    • (14) there is any transfer or attempted transfer in violation of Section 15;
  • (15) you, or any of your Principals or Affiliates, challenge our right or the right of any of our Affiliates to use, or license others to use, the System, the Proprietary Marks, the Copyrighted Materials, or any part thereof;
    • (16) you or any Principal fails to comply with the confidentiality or

noncompete covenants in Section of this Agreement;

  • (17) you or any Principal provide us with any false or misleading information or make any material misrepresentation in connection with your franchise application or at any time during the term of this Agreement;
    • (18) you knowingly maintain false books or records;
  • (19) your failure to make any payment when due to Amorino or any of its affiliates or approved suppliers;
  • (20) failure to comply with any other terms or conditions: three or more breaches of a similar nature of any terms and conditions of this Agreement within a twelve month period, even if cured; or
  • (21) you sell or offer for sale gelato, sorbet, gelato macarons, or restricted dry goods (such as Amorino branded cones) which you purchased or obtained from a source or supplier other than an approved supplier.
  • B. Termination with 20-Day Cure Period. Amorino has the right to terminate this Agreement, which termination will become effective upon delivery of written notice of termination, if the default is other than as provided in Section 16.A above, and is of a nature that it is capable of being cured and the default has not been cured within twenty (20) days of receipt of such notice, otherwise, the termination shall be effective immediately upon receipt of the notice. However, if the default is of such a nature that more than 20 days are reasonably required to cure the violation, we will give you such additional time as is reasonably necessary to cure the default as long as you start the corrective action within the initial 20-day period and proceed with the cure diligently to its completion.
  • C. Termination Related to Death or Permanent Incapacity. Amorino has the right to terminate this Agreement if an approved transfer is not completed within the designated time frame following a death or permanent incapacity (mental or physical) of Franchisee (if an individual) or the sole Principal of Franchisee.
  • D. Cross-Defaults, Non-Exclusive Remedies. Any default under this Agreement or of any obligation owed to us or our affiliates, whether hereunder or under another agreement with us, or any default under any agreement related to the Franchised Business, such as a lease, a vendor agreement, invoice, order, supply agreement, or subcontract, will be regarded as a default under this Agreement.

Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 80–81)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to Amorino's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, several events can trigger a default, allowing Amorino to terminate the franchise agreement. These defaults are categorized with differing requirements for notice and opportunity to cure.

Amorino can terminate the agreement with immediate effect upon notice, without any opportunity to cure, if the franchisee fails to make any payment due under the agreement within 30 days of when it is due, becomes insolvent or bankrupt, dissolves the business entity, faces execution levied against the business or property, encounters judicial proceedings to foreclose any lien against the premises, sells real or personal property after levy, fails to have their Supervising Principal or Manager complete the initial training, fails to acquire a site by the Site Selection Date, fails to open the store by the Opening Date, or abandons the Franchised Business for five or more consecutive days. Additional causes for immediate termination include losing any required operating approval that is not reinstated in a reasonable time, conviction of a felony or similar crime by the franchisee or a principal, any unauthorized transfer of the franchise, challenging Amorino's rights to use the System or Proprietary Marks, or failing to comply with confidentiality or noncompete covenants.

For other defaults not listed above, Amorino must provide a 20-day cure period. If the default is curable, termination becomes effective only if the franchisee fails to correct the issue within 20 days of receiving written notice. However, if more than 20 days are reasonably required to cure the violation, Amorino will allow additional time, provided the franchisee begins corrective action within the initial 20-day period and diligently works to complete the cure. Furthermore, three or more breaches of a similar nature of any terms and conditions of the Agreement within a twelve month period, even if cured, also constitutes a default.

Additionally, any default under the franchise agreement or any related agreement, such as a lease or vendor agreement, is considered a default under the franchise agreement. This also includes selling gelato, sorbet, gelato macarons, or restricted dry goods from a supplier that is not approved by Amorino. Amorino also has the right to terminate the agreement if an approved transfer is not completed within the designated time frame following a death or permanent incapacity of the franchisee or the sole Principal of the Franchisee.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.