To which courts do the parties irrevocably submit for jurisdiction regarding the Belocal Transfer Agreement?

According to Belocal's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees and the company irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of specific courts for matters concerning the Transfer Agreement. Specifically, the state and federal district courts located in the state, county, or judicial district where Belocal's principal place of business is located have jurisdiction. This means that any legal proceedings related to the Transfer Agreement will occur in these courts, and both parties waive any objections to personal jurisdiction. This clause ensures that Belocal can manage legal disputes in a location convenient to its operations.

This requirement has significant implications for prospective Belocal franchisees. Franchisees may be required to travel to the location of Belocal's principal business office for any court proceedings related to the Transfer Agreement, which could increase expenses. The franchisee also waives the right to argue that the selected venue is inconvenient or improper.

However, there is an exception: Belocal retains the right to bring actions for injunctive or other extraordinary relief in any state or federal district court that has jurisdiction. This allows Belocal to seek immediate legal remedies, such as injunctions, in locations where the franchisee is based, if necessary to protect its interests. Franchisees should be aware of these venue and jurisdiction provisions, as they can significantly impact how and where legal disputes are resolved.