Is the Brand Development Fund Fee mandatory for Deer Solution franchisees?

• (1) If Franchisor institutes the Brand Development Fund, Franchisee shall pay, on the Due Date, a mandatory and continuing fee to the Brand Development Fund in an amount equal to a percentage of Gross Sales (as determined and designated by Franchisor in Franchisor's Reasonable Business Judgment) and, in accordance with the payment terms of Article 5.E. of this Agreement (the "Brand Development Fund Fee"), provided, however, Franchisee will not be required to contribute more than 3% of the Gross Sales of the Franchised Business for each weekly Accounting Period;

• (2) Franchisor will provide Franchisee with written notice of the Brand Development Fund Contribution Percentage. Upon such written notice to Franchisee, the Brand Development Fund Fee be paid by Franchisee to the Brand Development Fund and/or, at Franchisor's election, prededucted from Franchisee's Gross Sales by Franchisor and shall be applicable at all times thereafter throughout the Term, except as may be otherwise designated by Franchisor in writing. The Brand Development Fund Fee shall be paid to Franchisor on the Due Date and in accordance with the payment terms and method set forth in Article 5.B. for the payment of Royalty Fees;

• (3) Franchisor, in Franchisor's Reasonable Business Judgment, shall direct all advertising, media placement, marketing and public relations programs and activities financed by the Brand Development Fund, with sole discretion over the strategic direction, creative concepts, materials, and endorsements used by the Brand Development Fund, and the geographic, market, and media placement and allocation thereof.

Without limiting the foregoing, the Brand Development Fund may also be utilized for evaluation and monitoring of the Business Management Systems, maintenance and upgrades to the System Website, and development of Digital Media;

• (4) Franchisee agrees that the purpose of the advertising, media, marketing, and activities financed by the Brand Development Fund is and shall be for the general enhancement of the System brand as associated with the Licensed Marks and general public brand recognition and awareness of the Licensed Marks.

The Brand Development Fund will not be utilized to directly or indirectly market or promote the Franchised Business or, unless otherwise directed by Franchisor, in Franchisor's Reasonable Business Judgment, pay for media placements that may benefit or include any media market that includes Franchisee's Administrative Office or Operating Territory;

• (5) Franchisee agrees that the Brand Development Fund may be used to pay various costs and expenses of Franchisor for such reasonable salaries, wages, administrative costs and overhead as Franchisor may incur in activities reasonably related to the administration, activities and/or the brand awareness goals of the Brand Development Fund including expenses incurred by Franchisor for advertising, marketing, product and service testing, product and service development, maintenance, evaluation and monitoring of the Business Management Systems, upgrades to the System Website, development of Digital Media and creative development that is internally administered or prepared by Franchisor and other marketing activities made by Franchisor, provided, however, that salary expenses for Franchisor's personnel paid by the Brand Development Fund shall be commensurate with the amount of that time spent by such personnel on Brand Development Fund matters.

Franchisor shall not use contributions to the Brand Development Fund to defray any of Franchisor's general operating expenses, except for such reasonable salaries, administrative costs and overhead as Franchisor may incur in activities reasonably related to the administration and activities of the Brand Development Fund and creation or conduct of its marketing programs including, without limitation, conducting market research, preparing advertising and marketing materials and collecting and accounting for contributions to the Brand Development Fund.

Franchisor may spend in a fiscal year an amount greater or less than the aggregate contributions of all Deer Solution Businesses to the Brand Development Fund in that year;

• (6) Franchisee agrees to participate in all advertising, marketing, promotions, research, and public relations programs instituted by the Brand Development Fund;
• (7) Deer Solution Businesses owned by Franchisor or Franchisor's affiliates are not required to pay any Brand Development Fund Fee or contribute to or make any contribution to the Brand Development Fund;
• (8) Franchisee and Franchisor acknowledge and agree that (a) the Brand Development Fund is not a trust, (b) Franchisor is not a trustee or fiduciary of the Brand Development Fund, and (c) Franchisor may deposit and maintain any and all funds of the Brand Development Fund Fee in Franchisor's general accounts.

Brand Development Fund Fees are not required to be segregated from other assets or accounts of Franchisor.

Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 55–246)