Does Aw require the proposed assignee to be of good moral character?

According to Aw's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee wishes to assign their franchise agreement to someone else, Aw will not unreasonably withhold approval of the assignment as long as certain conditions are met. One of these conditions is that Aw must consider the proposed assignee to be of good moral character.

In addition to good moral character, Aw also requires that the proposed assignee has sufficient business experience, aptitude, and financial resources to own and operate a Papa Ray's Restaurant. The assignee must also not have any conflicting interests that are unacceptable to Aw and must meet Aw's then-applicable standards for franchisees.

This means that if a franchisee wants to sell their Aw franchise, they need to find a buyer who not only meets the financial and experience requirements but also passes Aw's assessment of moral character. This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, as franchisors want to ensure that new franchisees uphold the brand's reputation and values. Prospective franchisees should inquire about the specific criteria Aw uses to evaluate moral character to better understand this requirement.