What happens upon the expiration of the Aw Franchise Agreement?
Aw Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
and our agent or representative respecting any and all claims arising out of our operation of your Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant under this Paragraph 15.4. Nothing herein shall require us to operate your Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant when you are in default.
16. RIGHTS OF THE COMPANY AND OBLIGATIONS OF FRANCHISEE UPON TERMINATION OR EXPIRATION OF THE FRANCHISE.
- 16.1 Payment of Amounts Owed to the Company. You agree to pay to us within ten (10) days after the effective date of termination or expiration (without renewal) of this Agreement such royalty fees, marketing fund contributions, service charges due us on any of the foregoing and all other amounts owed to us and our affiliates which are then unpaid. You must furnish a complete accounting of all such amounts owed to us and our affiliates with the payment.
- 16.2 The Marks. You (and your Owners) agree that after the termination or expiration (without renewal) of this Agreement you will:
- (a) not directly or indirectly at any time or in any manner identify yourself or any business as a current or former Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant, or as a franchisee or licensee of or as otherwise associated with us, or use the Marks, any colorable imitation thereof or other indicia of a Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant in any manner or for any purpose, or utilize for any purpose any trade name, trademark, service mark, trade dress, domain name, or other commercial symbol that suggests or indicates a connection or association with us;
- (b) promptly return to us or destroy (whichever we specify) all signs, sign-faces, promotional and advertising materials and other materials containing the Marks or otherwise identifying or relating to a Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant;
- (c) promptly take such action as may be required to cancel all fictitious or assumed name, "doing business as" or equivalent registrations relating to your use of the Marks;
- (d) promptly notify the telephone company and all listing agencies of the termination or expiration of your right to use any telephone number and any telephone directory listings associated with the Marks and to authorize transfer of same to or at our direction. You acknowledge that as between the Company and you, we have the sole right to and interest in all telephone numbers and directory listings associated with the Marks, and you authorize us, and by execution of the Exhibit 4 Collateral Assignment of Telephone Number have appointed us and any of our officers as your attorney-in-fact, to direct the telephone company and all listing agencies to transfer same to us or at its direction, should you fail or refuse to do so, and the telephone company and all listing agencies may accept such direction or this Agreement as conclusive of our exclusive rights in such telephone numbers and directory listings and its authority to direct their transfer;
- (e) assign to us or our designee all of your right, title and interest in and to any domain name registrations, any web sites, and any listings or presence on any social media platforms or social media networks, or other presence on the internet using the Marks, including passwords and account manager access, and shall promptly notify the necessary parties of the termination of your license to use the Marks, and therefore, your right to use any domain name, website, or other presence on the internet using the Marks, and to authorize a transfer of same to us or our designee;
- (f) furnish to us within thirty (30) days after the effective date of termination or expiration evidence satisfactory to us of your compliance with the foregoing obligations.
- 16.3 Confidential Information. You agree that upon termination or expiration (without renewal) of this Agreement, you will immediately cease to use in any business or otherwise the Confidential Information disclosed to you pursuant to this Agreement and will return to us all copies of the Operations Manual, any proprietary software and other materials containing our proprietary information which have been loaned to you by us.
- 16.4 Cease Operations. Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, you shall immediately cease to operate your Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant under this Agreement, either as a franchised or as a non-franchised facility.
- 16.5 Assignment of Lease. Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, at our option you shall immediately assign to us your interest in any lease then in effect for the premises of your Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant, as you agreed to in the Exhibit 3 Collateral Assignment of Lease.
- 16.6 De-Identification of Premises. Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, you agree, in the event you continue to operate or subsequently begin to operate any other business (subject to any restrictions against doing so provided in this Agreement), not to use any reproduction, counterfeit, copy or colorable imitation of the Marks either in connection with such other business or the promotion thereof, which is likely to cause confusion, mistake or deception, or which is likely to dilute our exclusive rights in and to the Marks and further agree not to utilize any designation of origin or description or representation which falsely suggests or represents an association or connection with us so as to constitute unfair competition. If we do not opt to take assignment of the lease for the Premises upon the expiration or termination of this Agreement, you shall immediately make such
modifications or alterations to the Premises as may be necessary to prevent any association between us or the System and any business thereon subsequently operated by you or others, and shall make such specific additional changes thereto as we may reasonably request for that purpose, including, without limitation, removal of all distinctive physical and structural features identifying the System. In the event you fail or refuse to comply with the requirements of this Paragraph, we shall have the right to enter upon the premises, without being guilty of trespass or any other tort, for the purpose of making or causing to be made such changes as may be required at your expense, which expense you agree to pay upon demand.
- 16.7 Purchase of Assets. Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, we shall have the right (but not the duty), to be exercised by notice of intent to do so within thirty (30) days after termination or expiration, to purchase for cash any or all fixtures, furniture, equipment, inventory, products, supplies, signs, and all items bearing the Marks, at your cost or fair market value, whichever is less.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 39–40)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Aw's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, several obligations and rights come into effect upon the expiration of the franchise agreement. Aw franchisees must immediately cease operating their Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant, whether as a franchised or non-franchised entity. Franchisees must also adhere to specific requirements regarding the use of Aw's trademarks and trade secrets. They cannot use any reproductions or imitations of Aw's marks that could cause confusion or dilute Aw's exclusive rights. Additionally, franchisees must not use any designations that falsely suggest an association with Aw.
If Aw does not take over the lease, the franchisee must modify the premises to eliminate any association with Aw and the Papa Ray's Pizza system. This includes removing distinctive physical and structural features that identify the system. Should the franchisee fail to do so, Aw has the right to enter the premises and make the necessary changes at the franchisee's expense. The franchisee is also obligated to notify the telephone company and listing agencies about the termination of their right to use any telephone numbers and directory listings associated with Aw's marks, authorizing the transfer of these to Aw.
Furthermore, the franchisee must assign to Aw all rights to domain names, websites, and social media presences that use Aw's marks. They must also provide evidence of compliance with these obligations within 30 days of the agreement's expiration. Franchisees are required to return all copies of the Operations Manual, proprietary software, and other materials containing Aw's confidential information. Finally, franchisees must pay all outstanding amounts owed to Aw, including royalty fees, marketing fund contributions, and service charges, within ten days of the expiration date and comply with post-term covenants, including non-compete agreements outlined in Section 17 of the agreement.