factual

Under what circumstances is a Chatime developer prohibited from selling their interest in the franchise or developer's operation?

Chatime Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

11 Transfer and Other Dealings by Developer

11.1 Acknowledgements by Developer

Developer acknowledges that:

  • (1) The Franchise has been granted to Developer following a consideration by Franchisor of the character, business experience, and capability and financial capacity of Developer Parties; and
  • (2) Because of this there are important restrictions in this clause 11 on Developer's ability to deal with the Franchise and Developer's Operation.

11.2 Prohibition Against Transfer by Developer

  • (1) Developer must not sell or otherwise Dispose of its interest in the Franchise or Developer's Operation, whether in whole or in part, voluntarily or involuntarily, by operation of law (including as a result of bankruptcy, divorce, death or disability, without Franchisor's prior written consent, and without first offering to sell the Ownership Interest of Outlets (Business) to Franchisor in accordance with clause 11.4.
  • (2) If an offer made by Developer pursuant to clause 11.2(1) is not accepted, Developer may sell or otherwise Dispose of its interest in the Developer's Operation subject to obtaining Franchisor's written consent which must not be unreasonably withheld if all of the conditions mentioned in clause 11.3 have been satisfied.
  • (3) A request for Franchisor's consent under clause 11.2(2) must be made in writing.

11.3 Conditions to be Satisfied Before Assignment can be Approved

Franchisor must not unreasonably withhold its consent under clause 11.2(2) if the sale, assignment, or other Disposal is of the whole of Developer's interest in the Developer's Operation and each of the following conditions are satisfied:

Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 58–262)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to Chatime's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a developer faces restrictions on selling their interest in the franchise or developer's operation. Chatime acknowledges that the franchise is granted to the developer based on an assessment of their character, business experience, capability, and financial capacity.

The Chatime agreement specifies that a developer cannot sell or dispose of their interest in the franchise or developer's operation, whether in whole or in part, voluntarily or involuntarily, or by operation of law, without Chatime's prior written consent. This includes situations like bankruptcy, divorce, death, or disability. The developer must first offer to sell the Ownership Interest of Outlets to Chatime.

If Chatime does not accept the offer, the developer may proceed with the sale or disposal of their interest, but only after obtaining Chatime's written consent. Chatime states that it will not unreasonably withhold consent if all specified conditions are met. Any transfer without prior written consent from Chatime is considered null and void, constituting a material breach of the agreement.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 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.