Does the Carls franchise agreement require the Guarantors to guarantee the franchisee's performance of agreements and covenants?
Carls Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
ch the limited liability company is a party." If Franchisee is a partnership, its written partnership agreement shall provide that ownership of an interest in the partnership is held subject to, and that further assignment or transfer is subject to, all restrictions imposed on assignment by this Agreement. If Franchisee is any other type of business entity, its organizational and governing documents shall provide that an ownership interest in the business entity is held subject to, and further assignment or transfer is subject to, all restrictions imposed on assignment by this Agreement.
E. Continuity Group
If Franchisee is a business entity, Appendix D lists those persons who comprise Franchisee's "Continuity Group." CJR and Franchisee acknowledge and agree that it is their intent that the members of the Continuity Group include the Operating Principal (defined in Section 16.G.) and (1) all holders of a direct or indirect legal or beneficial interest of 10% or more ("10% Owners") in Franchisee; (2) if Franchisee is a limited partnership, all 10% Owners of Franchisee's general partner; and (3) all 10% Owners of a business entity that owns a controlling interest in Franchisee. In the event of any change in the Continuity Group or in the ownership interests of any member of the Continuity Group, Franchisee shall update Appendix D to reflect the change. The Continuity Group shall at all times own at least 51% of the ownership interests in Franchisee.
F. Guarantees
All members of the Continuity Group and their spouses, if applicable, shall jointly and severally guarantee Franchisee's payment and performance under this Agreement and shall bind themselves to the terms of this Agreement pursuant to the attached Guarantee and Assumption of Franchisee's Obligations ("Guarantee"). Notwithstanding the foregoing, CJR reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive the requirement that some or all of the previously described individuals execute the attached Guarantee and/or to limit the scope of the Guarantee. CJR reserves the right to require any guarantor to provide personal financial statements to CJR from time to time.
With respect to 10% Owners, Franchisee acknowledges that, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by CJR, it is CJR's intent to have individuals (and not corporations, limited liability companies or other entities) execute the Guarantee. Accordingly, if any 10% Owner is not an individual, CJR shall have the right to have the Guarantee executed by individuals who have only an indirect ownership interest in Franchisee and their spouses, if applicable. (By way of example, if a 10% Owner of Franchisee is a corporation, CJR has the right to require that the Guarantee be executed by individuals who have an ownership interest in that corporation and their spouses, if applicable.)
If Franchisee, any guarantor or any parent, subsidiary or affiliate of Franchisee holds any interest in other restaurants that are franchised by CJR or its affiliates, the party who owns that interest shall execute, concurrently with this Agreement, a form of cross-guarantee to CJR and its affiliates for the payment of all obligations for such restaurants, unless waived in writing by CJR in its sole discretion.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 80)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 Carls FDD, the franchise agreement stipulates that certain individuals must guarantee the franchisee's obligations. Specifically, all members of the Continuity Group and their spouses are required to jointly and severally guarantee the franchisee's payment and performance under the Franchise Agreement. This guarantee extends to the terms of the agreement, as outlined in the Guarantee and Assumption of Franchisee's Obligations. However, Carls reserves the right to waive this requirement or limit the scope of the guarantee at its discretion.
The FDD also specifies that Carls intends for individuals, rather than corporations or LLCs, to execute the guarantee, particularly concerning 10% Owners. If a 10% Owner is not an individual, Carls has the right to require individuals with an indirect ownership interest in the franchisee to execute the guarantee, along with their spouses if applicable. Furthermore, if the franchisee, any guarantor, or any affiliate holds interests in other restaurants franchised by Carls or its affiliates, they must execute a cross-guarantee for the payment of all obligations for those restaurants, unless Carls waives this requirement in writing.
The guarantors also agree to be personally bound by each and every provision in the Agreement, including, without limitation, the provisions of Sections 20 and 25; and agree to be personally liable for the breach of each and every provision in the Agreement. Each guarantor consents and agrees that his direct and immediate liability under this Guarantee shall be joint and several and that such liability shall not be contingent or conditioned upon pursuit by CJR of any remedies against Franchisee or any other person.