Under what section of the Embassy Suites agreement are transfers discussed?
Embassy_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
or otherwise, to any person or legal entity without your consent,
provided that any such person or legal entity shall be required to assume all of our obligations to permit you to operate the Hotel under the Brand after such assignment. Any of our Affiliates may transfer, sell, dispose of, or otherwise convey, their ownership rights in us or any of our Affiliates, by operation of law or otherwise, including by public offering, to any person or legal entity without your consent.
- 12.1.2 If we assign this Agreement to a third party who expressly assumes our obligations under this Agreement, we will no longer have any performance or other obligations to you under this Agreement and your right to use any programs, rights or services provided to you by us or our Affiliates under this Agreement will terminate.
- 12.2 Your Transfer. You understand and acknowledge that the rights and duties in this Agreement are personal to you and that we are entering into this Agreement in reliance on your business skill, financial capacity, and the personal character of you and your officers, directors, partners, members, shareholders or trustees. A Transfer by you (or by an Equity Owner as of the Effective Date, or by a transferee Equity Owner we later approve) of any Equity Interest, or this Agreement, or any rights or obligations under this Agreement, is prohibited other than as expressly permitted in this Agreement. In any Transfer by you or any Equity Owner under this Subsection 12.2, the proposed Transferee may not be a Sanctioned Person or a Competitor.
- 12.2.1 Permitted Transfers. We will permit you or any Equity Owner to engage in the Permitted Transfers set forth in this Subsection 12.2.1 if the Permitted Transfer meets the listed requirements. If a Permitted Transfer under Subsection 12.2.1.2 (requiring notice and our consent) otherwise qualifies as a Permitted Transfer under Subsection 12.2.1.1 (not requiring notice or our consent), the less restrictive provisions of Subsection 12.2.1.1 will control.
- 12.2.1.1 Permitted Transfers That Do Not Require Notice or Our Consent. We will permit you or any Equity Owner to engage in the following Permitted Transfers without giving notice or obtaining our consent if the Permitted Transfer meets the listed requirements.
- 12.2.1.1.1 Publicly Traded Equity Interests. A Publicly Traded Equity Interest may be Transferred.
- 12.2.1.1.2 Privately Held Equity Interests: Less than 50% Change. An Equity Interest that is not publicly traded may be Transferred if the transferee Equity Owner will own less than fifty percent (50%) of the Equity Interests, in total, immediately after the transaction(s) as a result of the transaction(s).
- 12.2.1.1.3 Institutional Investment Funds. [IF APPLICABLE You may Transfer Equity Interests within **[**Insert Fund Entities (collectively, the "Fund Entities") and Equity Interests in you to new fund entities or new managed accounts (collectively, "Future Funds") if [Insert Name of Asset Manager] ("Asset Manager") directly or indirectly, controls the Fund Entities or Future Funds.
- 12.2.1.2 Permitted Transfers That Require Notice and Our Consent. We will permit you or any Equity Owner to engage in the following Permitted Transfers if the Permitted Transfer meets the listed requirements. For Permitted Transfers under this Subsection, you must: (a) give us at least sixty (60) days' advance written notice of the proposed Permitted Transfer (including the identity and contact information for any proposed transferee); (b) pay to us on request our then-current nonrefundable processing fee; [INSERT ONLY AT DEVELOPMENT'S REQUEST OTHERWISE DELETE [ND: provided, however, we agree to waive the processing fee for one (1) Permitted Transfer if it occurs before the Opening Date]; [COO: provided, however, we agree to waive the processing fee for one (1) Permitted Transfer if it occurs within twelve months after the Closing/Effective Date**;]** (c) follow our then-current procedure for processing Permitted Transfers, including providing any information we may require in order to review the proposed Transfer and completing our then-current compliance process;
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 97)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Embassy Suites' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the conditions for transfer of the franchise agreement are detailed within Section 12.2 of Item 22, which covers contracts. Specifically, this section outlines the circumstances under which a franchisee can transfer their interest in the franchise, including permitted transfers, transfers to affiliates or family members, and transfers upon death.
Section 12.2.1 discusses permitted transfers, which are transfers that Embassy Suites will allow if certain requirements are met. These permitted transfers are further broken down into those that do not require notice or consent from Embassy Suites and those that do. Section 12.2.2 addresses change of ownership transfers, which involve a change of control of the franchisee, the hotel, or the hotel site.
For a prospective Embassy Suites franchisee, understanding these transfer provisions is crucial. It clarifies the franchisee's rights and obligations regarding the sale or transfer of their franchise, and what conditions must be met to gain Embassy Suites' approval. This includes understanding the fees associated with transfers, the criteria the transferee must meet, and Embassy Suites' rights to evaluate and approve the proposed transfer.