What rights did Engel & Volkers U.S. Holding GmbH sublicense to Engel & Volkers in September 2012?
Engel_Volkers Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Our direct parent, U.S. Holding GmbH, has been granted an exclusive master license regarding the residential real estate brokerage sector to use the Engel & Völkers System (described below) and the ENGEL & VÖLKERS® and E&V® Trademarks (described in Item 13) in the United States, Mexico Cayman Islands, Belize and The Bahamas. On January 9, 2006 U.S. Holding GmbH exclusively sublicensed those rights in the United States to us. In July 2016 they also exclusively subfranchisedto us those rights for Mexico, Cayman Islands, Belize and The Bahamas. In September 2018 they exclusively subfranchised to us those rights for the remainder of the Caribbean and Central America. In March 2024, U.S. Holding GmbH also granted us an exclusive license to use the the ENGEL & VÖLKERS® and E&V® Trademarks in the commerical real esate segment. U.S. Holding GmbH has also been granted an exclusive master franchise regarding the yachting brokerage segment of the Engel & Völkers Yachting System (described below) and the ENGEL & VÖLKERS™, E&V™, GG® and GG GLOBAL GUIDE® Trademarks in the United States. U.S. Holding GmbH exclusively sublicensed those rights to us in September 2012.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS, AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 8–15)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Engel & Volkers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, in September 2012, Engel & Volkers U.S. Holding GmbH exclusively sublicensed to Engel & Volkers the rights regarding the yachting brokerage segment of the Engel & Volkers Yachting System and the ENGEL & VÖLKERS™, E&V™, GG® and GG GLOBAL GUIDE® Trademarks in the United States.
This means that Engel & Volkers, as a franchisee, obtained the exclusive right to operate and franchise yachting brokerages within the United States under the Engel & Volkers brand. This sublicense allowed Engel & Volkers to expand its business operations into the yachting sector, utilizing the established Engel & Volkers system and trademarks.
For a potential franchisee, this indicates that Engel & Volkers has the right to offer yachting brokerage franchises in the United States. It is important to note that this sublicense was exclusive, meaning no other entity could be granted similar rights by U.S. Holding GmbH. This exclusivity could provide a competitive advantage for Engel & Volkers franchisees in the yachting brokerage market.