What is Crawlspace Medic's right of first refusal in the event of a proposed franchise transfer?
Crawlspace_Medic Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
- 6.2 Restrictions on Transfers by Developer. Developer's rights and duties under this Agreement are personal to Developer, and Franchisor has made this Agreement with Developer in reliance on Franchisor's perceptions of the individual and collective character, skill, aptitude, attitude, business ability, and financial capacity of Developer. Thus, no transfer, as hereafter defined, may be made without Franchisor's prior written approval. Franchisor may void any transfer made without such approval.
- 6.3 Transfers by Developer. Developer shall not directly or indirectly sell, assign, transfer, give, devise, convey or encumber this Agreement or any right granted or interest herein or hereunder (a "Transfer") or suffer or permit any such assignment, transfer, or encumbrance to occur by operation of law unless Developer first obtains the written consent of Franchisor, which Franchisor may or may not grant in Franchisor's sole discretion, and subject to the following:
- 6.3.1 The proposed transferee must be an individual of good moral character and otherwise meet Franchisor's then-applicable standards for multi-unit franchisees.
- 6.3.2 The transferee must have sufficient business experience, aptitude and financial
resources to operate multiple Crawlspace Medic outlets and to comply with this Agreement;
6.3.3 The transferee has agreed to complete Franchisor's Initial Franchise Training Program to Franchisor's satisfaction;
6.3.4 Developer has paid all amounts owed to (i) Franchisor pursuant to this Agreement and all Franchise Agreements and other agreements between Franchisor and/or Franchisor's affiliates and Developer and (ii) third-party creditors;
6.3.5 The transferee has executed Franchisor's then-standard form of Multi-Unit Development Agreement, which may have terms and conditions different from this Agreement, for a term no less than the unexpired term of future development obligations due pursuant to the Mandatory Development Schedule of this Agreement;
6.3.6 Developer and the transferee shall have executed a general release under seal, in a form satisfactory to Franchisor, of any and all claims against Franchisor and Franchisor's officers, directors, shareholders, members and employees in their corporate and individual capacities, including, without limitation, claims arising under federal, state and local laws, rules and ordinances.
Developer agrees to subordinate any claims Developer may have against the transferee to Franchisor, and indemnify Franchisor against all claims brought against Franchisor by the transferee for a period of three (3) years following the transfer;
- 6.3.7 Franchisor has granted written approval of the material terms and conditions of the Transfer, including, without limitation, that the price and terms of payment will not adversely affect the transferee's development obligations.
However, Franchisor's approval of a Transfer is not in any way a representation or warranty of the transferee's success or the soundness of transferee's decision to purchase the Developer's development rights on such terms and conditions.
Developer shall provide Franchisor all proposed transfer documents for Franchisor's review at least thirty (30) days prior to a closing of the proposed Transfer; and
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 42)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
Based on the 2024 Crawlspace Medic Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees cannot transfer their rights or duties under the Franchise Agreement without prior written consent from Crawlspace Medic. This includes selling, assigning, or encumbering the agreement, franchise, franchised business, or its assets. Crawlspace Medic may choose to void any transfer made without their approval.
For a multi-unit developer, Crawlspace Medic may or may not grant consent for a transfer in its sole discretion. To obtain approval, the proposed transferee must meet Crawlspace Medic's standards for multi-unit franchisees, including demonstrating good moral character, sufficient business experience, aptitude, and financial resources to operate multiple Crawlspace Medic outlets and comply with the agreement. The transferee must also complete Crawlspace Medic's Initial Franchise Training Program.
Additional conditions for transfer approval include the developer paying all amounts owed to Crawlspace Medic and third-party creditors, the transferee executing Crawlspace Medic's then-standard form of Multi-Unit Development Agreement, and both parties signing a general release of claims against Crawlspace Medic. The developer must also agree to subordinate any claims against the transferee to Crawlspace Medic and indemnify Crawlspace Medic against claims brought by the transferee for three years following the transfer. Crawlspace Medic must grant written approval of the material terms of the transfer, including price and payment terms.
The developer must provide all proposed transfer documents to Crawlspace Medic for review at least 30 days before closing the transfer. However, Crawlspace Medic's approval does not represent a warranty of the transferee's success or the soundness of their decision to purchase the development rights.