Under what legal provisions can a franchisee terminate the Auntie Annes Franchise Agreement, as stated in the amendment to Section 17.1?

According to Auntie Anne's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, an amendment clarifies a franchisee's termination rights. Specifically, for Item 17(d), titled "Termination by franchisee", the summary section is replaced to state that a franchisee may terminate the Franchise Agreement on any grounds available by law.

This means that an Auntie Anne's franchisee is not limited to only the termination reasons listed in the franchise agreement itself. Instead, they have the right to end the agreement based on any legal basis for termination that exists in their jurisdiction. This could include breaches of contract by the franchisor, misrepresentation, or other legal reasons that allow for contract termination under applicable laws.

This provision provides a broader scope for franchisees to end the agreement compared to a scenario where only the reasons listed in the agreement are valid. However, franchisees should seek legal counsel to fully understand their rights and the specific legal grounds for termination available in their state or territory, as these laws can vary significantly.