What agreement are Bft Franchise SPV, LLC and the Developer parties to?
Bft Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ISIONS A. Severability | 13 | | B. | Waiver and Delay13 | | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|--| | C. | Franchisor's Discretion 13 | | | D. | Developer's Responsibility 13 | | | E. | No Recourse Against Nonparty Affiliates13 | | | F. | Non-Disparagement14 | | | 14. | ENTIRE AGREEMENT 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | EXHIBITS | | | | | | | | EXHIBIT A | Ownership Interests; Development Area; Development Schedule; and Other Agreement Terms | | | | | | | EXHIBIT B | Guarantee, Indemnification, and Acknowledgment | |
BFT FRANCHISE SPV, LLC MULTI-UNIT AGREEMENT
This Multi-Unit Agreement (this "Agreement") is made effective as of the Effective Date by and between BFT FRANCHISE SPV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company with its principal business address at 17877 Von Karman Ave., Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92614 ("Franchisor"), and the person or entity identified as the "Developer" in the signature blocks below ("Developer," and together with Franchisor, the "Parties"). The Effective Date is the date Franchisor signs this Agreement as shown beneath its signature hereto.
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, Franchisor owns, administers and grants franchises for a system of fitness studios (the "Studios") that are currently identified by and use the trademark "BFT" and other related trademarks and service marks designated from time to time by Franchisor (the "Marks"), that reflect distinctive interior design and display procedures, and color scheme and décor (the "Trade Dress"), and that use certain of Franchisor's certain intellectual property including trade secrets, copyrights, confidential and proprietary information, and designated training and exercise methods and know-how, fitness equipment, furniture and fixtures, marketing, advertising and sales promotions, cost controls, accounting and reporting procedures, and personnel management systems (together with the Marks and Trade Dress, the "System"). Studios offer specialized instruction and related services that Franchisor authorizes from time to time and offer and sell certain merchandise and other products Franchisor authorizes for sale from time to time.
WHEREAS, based on Developer's own investigation and diligence, Developer has requested that Franchisor grant Developer the right to acquire multiple franchises (each a "Franchise") for the development and operation of Studios (the "Development Rights") in a defined geographic area (the "Development Area") pursuant to an agreed upon schedule (the "Development Schedule") set forth in this Agreement and, to support Developer's request, Developer and, if applicable, its owners have provided Franchisor with certain information about its and their background, experience, skills, financial condition and resources (collectively, the "Application Materials"). In reliance on, among other things, the Application Materials, Franchisor is willing to grant Developer the Development Rights on the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of and reliance on the foregoing Recitals (which are incorporated herein by reference), the agreements described below, and other valuable consideration, receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
1. OWNERSHIP; PRINCIPALS
If Developer is not a natural person (a "Business Entity"), Developer agrees, represents and warrants to Franchisor that: (1) it was validly formed and will maintain, throughout the Term (defined in Section 2.A below), its existence and good standing under the laws of the state of its formation and qualified to do business in the jurisdictions covered by the Development Area; (2) Exhibit A to this Agreement describes all of Developer's owners and their interests in Developer as of the Effective Date; (3) each of Developer's owners that has at least 10% direct or indirect ownership interest in Developer, and their spouse, will sign and deliver to Franchisor its then-standard form of Guarantee, Indemnification, and Acknowledgment (the "Guaranty"), the current form of which is attached as Exhibit B hereto; (4) the only business Developer will own or operate during the Term will be the exercise of the rights granted to it under this Agreement and any other agreement between it and Franchisor or its successors and assigns; and (5) at
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Franchisor's request, Developer will furnish Franchisor true and correct copies of all documents regarding Developer's formation, existence, standing, and governance.
2. GRANT OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
A. Grant and Term. Franchisor grants Developer the Development Rights, which must be exercised in strict compliance with this Agreement. The Development Rights may be exercised from the Effective Date and, unless sooner terminated as provided herein, continuing through the earlier of (1) the date on which the last Studio, which is required to have conducted its Soft Opening (as defined in Section 2.C below) in order to satisfy the Development Schedule, conducts its Soft Opening pursuant to an executed Franchise Agreement, or (2) the last day of the last Development Period (defined in Section 2.C) (collectively, the "Term"). Developer accepts the grant of the Development Rights and agrees to, at all times, faithfully, honestly, and diligently perform its obligations under this Agreement and fully exploit the Development Rights during the Term and throughout the entire Development Area. Developer may not subcontract or delegate to any third parties any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement.
B. Development Area; Reservation Of Rights. The Development Rights may only be exercised for Studios to be located in the Development Area identified on Exhibit A hereto. As long as Developer is in compliance with this Agreement and except with respect to Non-Traditional Locations (defined below), Franchisor will not, during the Term, (1) operate, or grant the right to anyone else to operate, a Studio within the Development Area, or (2) grant Development Rights to anyone else to develop Studios within the Development Area. A "Non-Traditional Location" is (a) any location that is situated within or as part of a larger venue or facility and, as a result, is likely to draw the predominance of its customers from those persons who are using or attending events in the larger venue or facility (for example, "big box" gyms and/or fitness facilities, cruise ships, military bases, shopping malls, airports, sports facilities and stadiums, industrial or office complexes, hotels, train stations and other transportation facilities, travel plazas, casinos, hospitals, theme parks, convention centers, colleges/universities, multi-unit residential properties, and other similar captive market locations**)**.
For the avoidance of doubt, Franchisor reserves for itself and its affiliates all rights not expressly granted to Developer in this Agreement and the right to do all things that Franchisor does not expressly agree in this Agreement not to do, in each case, without regard to proximity to the Development Area and without any compensation to Developer, and on such terms and conditions as Franchisor deems appropriate. Without limitation, Franchisor and its affiliates may, themselves or through authorized third parties (and Developer is not granted the right to): (a) open and operate, and license third parties the right to open or operate, Studios utilizing the Marks and System outside the Development Area; (b) market, offer and sell products and services similar to those offered by Studios (such as private label products that Franchisor may develop and training programs) under a different trademark or trademarks at any location, both within or outside the Development Area; (c) use the Marks and other aspects of the System, as well as any other marks Franchisor may designate, to distribute products and services through alternate channels of distribution, including without limitation, via the Internet and other e-commerce channels, catalog sales, direct mail or wholesale, anywhere either within or outside the Development Area; (d) acquire, or be acquired by, or merge with, any company, including a company operating or licensing one or more businesses offering products or services similar to those offered by any Studio located within or outside the Development Area, and subsequently operate (or license a third-party the right to operate) these businesses and allow them to incorporate certain elements of the System (excluding the Marks and Trade Dress) regardless of location; (e) develop or become associated with and engage in other businesses, including other fitness concepts and systems, and/or award franchises under such other concepts for locations anywhere, including inside and outside of the Development Area; (f) use the Marks and System, and license others to use the Marks and System, to engage in any other activities not expressly prohibited by this
Agreement; and (g) open and operate, or license third parties the right to open or operate, Studios at Non-Traditional Locations both within and outside the Development Area.
C. Development Schedule. The Development Schedule is set forth on Exhibit A hereto. Each period described in the Development Schedule is a "Development Period." Developer (or its approved affiliate) must conduct its Soft Opening and operate Studios in the Development Area, each pursuant to a written franchise agreement and related agreements signed by Franchisor and a franchisee (each a "Franchise Agreement"), as necessary to satisfy the requirements of each Development Period, but Developer shall not be required to open, in total, more than the cumulative number of Studios shown for the last Development Period. To determine whether a Studio has conducted its Soft Opening for purposes of the Development Schedule, "Soft Opening" means that the respective Studio's doors are open to the general public for participating in regular classes in the physical premises of the Studio. The Development Schedule is not a representation (express or implied) by Franchisor that the Development Area can support, or that there are or will be sufficient sites for, the number of Studios specified in the Development Schedule or during any particular Development Period. Franchisor is relying on Developer's knowledge and expertise of the Development Area and Developer's representation that it has conducted its own independent investigation and has determined that it can satisfy the development obligations under each Development Period of the Development Schedule.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section, Franchisor will provide Developer with a onetime reasonable extension of time not to exceed 90 days to comply with its development obligations in any one of the Development Period as set forth in the Development Schedule (see Exhibit A), provided: (i) Developer has already executed a lease for, or otherwise obtained, a Site (defined in Section 2.D below) that Franchisor approves for any Studio(s) it is required to conduct its Soft Opening and operate during that Development Period; and (ii) Developer notifies Franchisor of its need for such an extension no less than 30 days prior to expiration of that Development Period. The Parties agree and acknowledge that Franchisor's grant of this one-time extension under this Section will not extend, modify or otherwise affect the expiration of any of Developer's subsequent Development Periods or subsequent development obligations.
- D. Locating Sites for Studios. Despite any assistance Franchisor may provide, Developer is entirely responsible to locate and present to Franchisor proposed sites for Studios in the Development Area as necessary to comply with the Development Schedule (each a "Site"). Developer agrees to give Franchisor all information and materials it requests to assess each proposed Site as well as Developer's and its proposed affiliate's financial and operational ability to develop and operate a Studio at the proposed Site. Franchisor has the absolute right to reject any site or any affiliate (a) that does not meet Franchisor's criteria or (b) if Developer or its affiliates are not then in compliance with any existing Franchise Agreements executed pursuant to this Agreement or operating its or their Studios in compliance with the mandatory specifications, standards, operating procedures and rules that Franchisor periodically prescribes for operating Studios. Franchisor agrees to use its reasonable efforts to review and evaluate the proposed Sites within 30 days after it receives all requested information and materials. If Franchisor accepts a proposed Site, Developer (or its approved affiliate) must timely sign a separate Franchise Agreement for the Site as described in Section 2.E below.
- E. Execution of Franchise Agreements. Simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, Developer (or its approved affiliate) must sign and deliver to Franchisor a Franchise Agreement and related documents representing the first Franchise that Developer is obligated to acquire under this Agreement. Developer (or its approved affiliate) must thereafter conduct its Soft Opening and operate a Studio according to the terms of that Franchise Agreement. Thereafter, once Franchisor has accepted a Site, and prior to signing a lease or otherwise securing possession of the Site, Developer (or its approved affiliate) must sign Franchisor's then-current form of Franchise Agreement (including, without limitation,
all exhibits and attachments thereto) and related documents, the terms of which may differ substantially from the terms contained in the form of Franchise Agreement that Franchisor is using to grant Franchises on the Effective Date; provided, however, the Initial Franchise Fee that will be owed under each subsequent Franchise Agreement will be same amount as provided herein, unless reduced by Franchisor at its discretion. Each Franchise Agreement will govern the development and operation of the Studio at the accepted Site identified therein. Franchisor may refuse to issue and enter into a Franchise Agreement if (a) in its sole discretion, it has not approved Developer's proposed affiliate, (b) Developer has not established to Franchisor's satisfaction that it has the operational and financial capacity to develop and operate the proposed Studio, (c) Developer and its affiliates are not then in compliance with any agreements to which they are a party with Franchisor or its affiliates, (d) Developer or its affiliates have failed to pay any amounts owed to Franchisor or its affiliates during the preceding 12 months, or (e) Developer or its approved affiliates and their respective owners fail to sign and return to Franchisor the Franchise Agreement and all ancillary agreements and required fees within 15 days following Franchisor's delivery of the execution of copy of the Franchise Agreement to Developer or its approved affiliate.
Expiration or termination of this Agreement does not impact the continued existence of any Franchise Agreements that are, as of such time, already fully executed unless, in the case of termination, the grounds for termination are also bases for termination under the Franchise Agreements and such Franchise Agreements are expressly terminated.
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Source: Item 17 — RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION (FDD pages 57–66)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bft's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Bft Franchise SPV, LLC and the Developer are parties to a Multi-Unit Agreement. This agreement, effective as of the date Bft signs it, grants the Developer rights to develop multiple Bft fitness studios. The agreement outlines the terms and conditions under which the Developer can establish and operate these studios, utilizing Bft's System, Marks, and Trade Dress.
The Multi-Unit Agreement is the entire agreement between Bft and the Developer regarding the granting and awarding of development rights, superseding any prior agreements. Any amendments to the agreement must be mutually agreed upon and executed in writing by authorized officers or agents of both parties. The agreement does not alter other agreements between Bft or its affiliates and the Developer or its affiliates, and it does not disclaim any representations made by Bft in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Several state-specific riders may be attached to the Multi-Unit Agreement, such as those for Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, and New York. These riders address specific legal requirements or conditions within those states and may supersede conflicting provisions in the main agreement. For example, the Illinois rider addresses compliance with the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act and the Developer's rights upon termination or non-renewal, while the New York and Minnesota riders address specific conditions for those states. Additionally, a Sourcing Fee Addendum may be part of the agreement if a third-party franchise broker was involved, requiring the Developer to pay a sourcing fee in addition to the Development Fee.