What happens if the lease for the Auntie Annes Accepted Location is terminated?
Auntie_Annes Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
- O. Section 17.2 (Our Termination; No Opportunity to Cure) of the Agreement is amended by adding the following Section 17.2.M. and 17.2.N.:
- 17.2.M. If you operate a Concession Shop located in a Host Facility and you fail to comply with any of the terms of the Site Agreement or Site Agreement is terminated or (if it is your only Accepted Location) expires.
- 17.2.N. If you operate a Concession Shop located in a Host Facility and the Host Facility or the Host Facility's brand deteriorates in quality or reputation such that, in our sole judgment, our association with the Host Facility or the Host Facility's brand is damaging or may damage the Auntie Anne's brand or the Marks.
If we terminate this Agreement under Section 17 (Default and Termination), we will have the right to immediately enter and take possession of your Franchised Business to maintain continuous operation of the Franchised Business, provide for orderly change of management and disposition of personal property, and otherwise protect our interests.
If we exercise this right, you will vacate the Franchised Business promptly and completely, rendering all necessary assistance to us to enable us to take prompt possession, and you will have no right to any revenue that we earn while operating the Franchised Business.
If you dispute the validity of our termination of this Agreement, we will nevertheless have the option, which you irrevocably grant, to operate the Franchised Business pending the final, unappealed determination of the dispute under this Agreement.
If an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction makes a final, unappealed determination that the termination was not valid, we will make a full and complete accounting for the period during which we operated the Franchised Business.
- B.
Right to Acquire Accepted Location.
If we terminate this Agreement under Section 17 (Default and Termination), you will, at our option, assign to us, or another franchisee we designate, your interest in any Lease for the Accepted Location, and will vacate the Franchised Business promptly and completely, rendering all necessary assistance to us or the other franchisee to enable it to take prompt possession.
If you or one of your affiliates owns the Accepted Location, we may elect to purchase the Accepted Location or, at our option, lease the Accepted Location from you or that affiliate for an initial five-year term with one renewal term of five years (at our option) on commercially reasonable terms.
If you and we cannot agree on a purchase price for the Accepted Location in a reasonable time, the purchase price will be determined by three independent appraisers using the Appraisal Process.
If we elect to exercise this option to purchase, we may set off all amounts you owe us or our affiliates under this Agreement against any payments for the purchase.
You (and your Owners) agree to cause your affiliate to comply with these requirements.
You must use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that all Leases include, unless we agree otherwise in writing:
(i) a provision which requires the landlord concurrently to provide us with a copy of any written notice of breach or default under the Lease sent to you, and which grants to us the right (but not the obligation) to cure any defaults under the Lease within a reasonable time (not to exceed 15 days for monetary defaults and 30 days for non-monetary defaults);
(ii) a provision that provides that upon the expiration or termination of this Agreement or upon your default under the Lease or under this Agreement, we will, without your or the landlord's further consent, have (a) a continuing right of entry into the Franchised Business, (b) the right to operate a Business at the Accepted Location, (c) the right, but not the obligation, to assume your interests under the existing terms, conditions and covenants of the Lease, and (d) should we assume your position under the Lease, the right to assign the Lease or sublet the premises to a third party which will operate a Business at the location;
(iii) a provision that provides that upon expiration or termination of the Lease, we will, without your or the landlord's further consent, have a continuing right of entry into the Franchised Business to remove Proprietary Products and any materials bearing the Marks;
(iv) a provision that provides that the Lease may not be modified or amended without our written consent which will not unreasonably be withheld, conditioned or delayed by us;
(v) a provision that allows you to offer or distribute product samples outside or over the counter of the Franchised Business, as applicable;
(vi) a provision that provides that if we assume your obligations and replace you as the lessee under the Lease or sign a new lease, and we later reassign the Lease or new lease to another franchisee, we will not be liable for any obligations to landlord under the Lease or new lease after the reassignment;
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 106)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 Auntie Annes Franchise Disclosure Document, if you operate a Concession Shop located in a Host Facility, Auntie Annes has the right to terminate the franchise agreement without an opportunity to cure the default if the Site Agreement is terminated or expires, especially if it is your only Accepted Location. Additionally, Auntie Annes can terminate the agreement if the Host Facility or its brand deteriorates in quality or reputation, potentially damaging the Auntie Anne's brand.
If Auntie Annes terminates the Franchise Agreement due to a default, they have the right to immediately take possession of the Franchised Business to ensure continuous operation, manage the transition, dispose of personal property, and protect their interests. In such a scenario, the franchisee must promptly vacate the premises and provide assistance to facilitate the takeover. The franchisee forfeits any right to revenue earned by Auntie Annes during their operation of the Franchised Business while the dispute is being resolved.
Auntie Annes also has the option to acquire the franchisee's interest in the lease for the Accepted Location or designate another franchisee to take over the lease. The franchisee is obligated to assist in this transfer. If the franchisee or an affiliate owns the Accepted Location, Auntie Annes can choose to purchase or lease the location. If a purchase is pursued and an agreement on price cannot be reached, an independent appraisal process will determine the price. Auntie Annes can offset any debts owed by the franchisee against payments for the purchase of the location.
To protect their interests, Auntie Annes requires franchisees to include specific provisions in their leases. These provisions ensure that Auntie Annes receives copies of any default notices, has the right to cure defaults, can take over the lease upon termination or default, and can enter the premises to remove proprietary products and materials bearing Auntie Anne's trademarks. The lease cannot be modified without Auntie Anne's written consent, and franchisees must be allowed to distribute product samples. Furthermore, if Auntie Annes assumes the lease and later reassigns it to another franchisee, they will not be liable for any further obligations to the landlord.