factual

In the event of termination of the Casiola Franchise Agreement due to a default by the Franchisee, are the Franchisee's affiliates also subject to the terms of the Ancillary Agreements?

Casiola Franchise · 2024 FDD

Answer from 2024 FDD Document

Without limitation to the foregoing, additionally, in the event of the termination of this Agreement as a result of a default or breach by Franchisee and/or, by Franchisee's Owners and/or affiliates of any Ancillary Agreements, Franchisor, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies available to Franchisor as set forth in this Agreement, and, at law and in equity, shall possess the following rights and remedies, each of which are not exclusive of the other and may be/are in conjunction with one another:

  • (1) To void and terminate this Agreement, and thereafter to market, sell, transfer, convey and assign the rights granted to Franchisee under this Agreement to any other person or entity in Franchisor's sole discretion and without compensation to Franchisee.
  • (2) To hold Franchisee and Franchisee's Owners liable for, and recover from each of them, jointly and severally, all payments, fees, monetary obligations, financial obligations, interest, and charges due and owing to Franchisor from Franchisee pursuant to this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, and/or any other agreements between Franchisee and Franchisor, including, without limitation, Royalty Fees and Advertising Contributions with each and every payment and obligation to be accelerated and due immediately.
  • (3) To hold Franchisee and Franchisee's Owners liable for, and recover from each of them, jointly and severally, lost revenues, profits, and fees including, but not limited to Royalty Fees, Brand Development Fund Fee, Advertising Contributions, and all other fees, revenues and/or expenses that would have been paid to Franchisor, under the terms of this Agreement and throughout the Term of this Agreement, had a breach not occurred and had Franchisor not terminated this Agreement. In calculating and determining the foregoing, Franchisee agrees that in calculating and in determining such damages that it is fair and reasonable to use Franchisee's most recent calendar year Gross Sales in calculating and determining Franchisor lost revenues and fees and by assuming that such Gross Sales would have been earned in each and every year throughout the remainder of the Term had this Agreement not been terminated. If, however, the Franchised Business has been open and in operation for less than one calendar year, Franchisee agrees that it is fair and reasonable to use an average of Casiola Business Gross Sales across the System during the year in which this Agreement was terminated and to use such average Gross Sales for the purpose of calculating and determining Franchisor lost revenues and fees and, in doing so, by assuming that such Gross Sales would have been earned in each and every year throughout the remainder of the Term had this Agreement not been terminated. Franchisee agrees that the foregoing is a form of liquidated damages, and that it is fair and reasonable.

Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 47–209)

What This Means (2024 FDD)

According to the 2024 Casiola Franchise Disclosure Document, if the Franchise Agreement is terminated due to a default or breach by the franchisee, their owners, and/or affiliates of any Ancillary Agreements, Casiola has specific rights and remedies. These rights are in addition to any other rights available to Casiola as outlined in the agreement, at law, or in equity.

Specifically, Casiola can hold the franchisee and their owners liable for all payments, fees, monetary obligations, financial obligations, interest, and charges due to Casiola from the franchisee. This includes obligations under the Franchise Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, and any other agreements between the franchisee and Casiola. This encompasses Royalty Fees and Advertising Contributions, with all payments and obligations accelerated and due immediately.

Furthermore, Casiola can recover lost revenues, profits, and fees from the franchisee and their owners, including Royalty Fees, Brand Development Fund Fee, Advertising Contributions, and all other fees and expenses that would have been paid throughout the term of the agreement had the breach not occurred. Casiola may calculate these damages using the franchisee's most recent calendar year Gross Sales or, if the business has been open for less than a year, an average of Casiola Business Gross Sales across the system during the year of termination. This calculation is considered a form of liquidated damages.

This means that a Casiola franchisee's affiliates can be held liable for the franchisee's obligations under the Ancillary Agreements if the Franchise Agreement is terminated due to a default or breach. Prospective franchisees should carefully review the Ancillary Agreements and understand the potential liabilities of their affiliates in case of termination.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.