Under what conditions can a Fly Fitness Developer transfer their interest in the agreement?
Fly_Fitness Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
or 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 Franchised Businesses and to comply with this Agreement;
- 6.3.3 The transferee has agreed to complete Franchisor's Initial Management 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, 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 any claims by the transferee relating to misrepresentations in the transfer process, specifically excluding those representations made by Franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document given to the transferee;
- 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
- 6.3.8 If Developer, through Developer or any entity, finances any part of the sale price of the Transfer, Developer agrees that all obligations of the transferee under any notes, agreements or security interests to Developer or Developer's entity will be subordinate to the transferee's obligations to Franchisor.
- 6.4 Transfer Fee. As a condition to any Transfer, Developer shall pay Franchisor a transfer fee equal to Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) multiplied by the number of remaining Franchised Businesses to be developed hereunder; provided however, (i) for transfers among the individuals named as Developer in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement, and (ii) for a transfer to a spouse upon death or permanent disability of a Developer, no Transfer Fee shall be payable.
6.5 Franchisor 's Right of First Refusal.
- 6.5.1 If Developer wishes to transfer all or part of his or her interest in this Agreement pursuant to any bona fide offer received from a third party to purchase such interest, then Developer shall promptly notify Franchisor in writing of each such offer, and shall provide such information and documentation relating to the offer, as Franchisor may require.
- 6.5.2 Franchisor has the right, exercisable by written notice to Developer within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notification and copies of all documentation required by Franchisor describing such offer, to buy the interest in this Agreement for the price and on the terms and conditions contained in the offer.
- 6.5.3 Developer further agrees, in the event Franchisor exercises its right of first refusal, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the third-party offer, that (i)
Franchisor may substitute cash for any other form of consideration contained in the offer; (ii) at Franchisor 's option, Franchisor may pay the entire purchase price at closing; (iii) Franchisor 's credit will be deemed equal to the credit of any proposed transferee; (iv)
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 45–182)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Fly Fitness's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, a Developer's rights and duties under the Development Agreement are personal, and any transfer requires the franchisor's prior written approval. Fly Fitness has made the agreement with the Developer based on their perceptions of the Developer's character, skills, business ability, and financial capacity.
A Fly Fitness Developer can transfer their interest if the proposed transferee meets several conditions. The transferee must be of good moral character and meet Fly Fitness's standards for multi-unit franchisees. They must possess sufficient business experience, aptitude, and financial resources to operate multiple Franchised Businesses and comply with the Development Agreement. The transferee must also agree to complete Fly Fitness's Initial Management Training Program. Additionally, the Developer must have paid all outstanding amounts owed to Fly Fitness and third-party creditors. The transferee must execute Fly Fitness's then-standard form of Multi-Unit Development Agreement, which may have different terms and conditions, for a term no less than the unexpired term of future development obligations.
Before a transfer can occur, Fly Fitness has a right of first refusal. If the Developer finds a potential transferee, they must first offer the interest to Fly Fitness. If Fly Fitness declines to exercise its right to buy the interest within thirty days, the Developer may proceed with the transfer to the transferee, provided the terms are no more favorable than those initially disclosed to Fly Fitness and the transfer receives Fly Fitness's prior written approval. However, if the sale is not completed within 120 days or if there is any material change in the terms, the offer is again subject to Fly Fitness's right of first refusal.
Additional conditions apply to the transfer. Both the Developer and the transferee must execute a general release of all claims against Fly Fitness. Fly Fitness must grant written approval of the material terms and conditions of the transfer, ensuring that the price and terms of payment do not adversely affect the transferee's development obligations. The Developer must provide all proposed transfer documents to Fly Fitness for review at least thirty days before closing. As a condition of the transfer, the Developer must pay Fly Fitness a transfer fee equal to $10,000 multiplied by the number of remaining Franchised Businesses to be developed. However, no transfer fee is payable for transfers among the individuals named as Developer in the agreement or for a transfer to a spouse upon death or permanent disability of a Developer.