Under what conditions can Hyper Kidz reasonably refuse consent to a sale, assignment, or transfer?
Hyper_Kidz Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
- 11.1 This Agreement is personal to you and you shall neither sell, assign, transfer nor encumber this Agreement, the Development Rights, or any other interest hereunder, nor suffer or permit any such assignment, transfer or encumbrance to occur directly, indirectly or contingently by agreement or by operation of law without our prior written consent. You understand that this Agreement may not be
pledged, mortgaged, hypothecated, given as security for an obligation or in any manner encumbered. The assignment or transfer of any interest, except in accordance with this Section shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement.
- 11.2 You have represented to us that you are entering into this Agreement with the intention of complying with its terms and conditions and not for the purpose of resale of the Development Rights hereunder.
Therefore, you agree that any attempt to assign this Agreement prior to the time that at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the Hyper Kidz Businesses to be constructed hereunder are opened or under construction shall be deemed to be an event of default.
- 11.3 Except as provided in Section 11.2, if you receive from an unaffiliated third party and desires to accept a bona fide written offer to purchase your business, Development Rights and interests, we shall have the option, exercisable within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice setting forth the name and address of the prospective purchaser, the price and terms of such offer, and a copy of such offer and the other information stated in this Section 11.3, to purchase such business, Development Rights and interests, including your right to develop sites within the Development Area, on the same terms and conditions as offered by said third party.
In order that we may have information sufficient to enable us to determine whether to exercise this option, we may require you to deliver to us certified financial statements as of the end of your most recent fiscal year and such other information about your business and operations as we may request.
If we decline, or do not accept the offer in writing within thirty (30) days, you may, within thirty (30) days from the expiration of the option period, sell, assign and transfer your business, Development Rights and interest to said third party, provided we have consented to such transfer as required by this Section 11.
Any material change in the terms of the offer prior to closing of the sale to such third party shall constitute a new offer, subject to the same rights of first refusal by us or our nominee, as in the case of an initial offer.
- 11.4 You acknowledge and agree that the restrictions on transfer imposed herein are reasonable and are necessary to protect the Development Rights, the System and the Marks, as well as our reputation and image, and are for the protection of us, you and other multi-unit developers and franchisees.
Any assignment or transfer permitted by this Section 11 shall not be effective until we receive a completely executed copy of all transfer documents, and we consent in writing thereto.
- 11.6 The grant of rights under this Agreement is personal to Developer, and on the death or permanent disability of Developer, the executor, administrator, conservator, or other personal representative of Developer shall be required to transfer Developer's interest in this Agreement within six (6) months from the date of death or permanent disability to a third party approved by Franchisor. Failure to transfer in accordance with the forgoing will constitute a material default and all that is granted by this Agreement will terminate. A transfer under this Section 11.6, including without limitation, transfer by devise or inheritance, is subject to the conditions for Transfers in this Article 11 and unless transferred by gift, devise, or inheritance, subject to the terms of Section 11 above.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 52–205)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Hyper Kidz's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, the agreement is personal to the franchisee, and they cannot sell, assign, transfer, or encumber the agreement, development rights, or any interest without Hyper Kidz's prior written consent. Any attempt to assign the agreement before at least 25% of the Hyper Kidz businesses to be constructed are opened or under construction is considered an event of default.
Before a franchisee can transfer their business, development rights, and interests to a third party, Hyper Kidz has a right of first refusal. The franchisee must provide written notice including the prospective purchaser's information, the offer's price and terms, and a copy of the offer. Hyper Kidz can request certified financial statements and other business information to decide whether to exercise their option to purchase the business on the same terms as the third party. If Hyper Kidz declines or does not accept the offer within 30 days, the franchisee has 30 days to complete the sale to the third party, provided Hyper Kidz consents to the transfer. Any material change in the offer terms constitutes a new offer, subject to Hyper Kidz's right of first refusal.
Hyper Kidz states that the restrictions on transfer are reasonable and necessary to protect the development rights, the system, the marks, and their reputation and image, as well as for the protection of Hyper Kidz, the franchisee, and other multi-unit developers and franchisees. A transfer is not effective until Hyper Kidz receives a fully executed copy of all transfer documents and provides written consent.
In the event of the death or permanent disability of the developer, the executor, administrator, conservator, or other personal representative is required to transfer the developer's interest in the agreement within six months to a third party approved by Hyper Kidz. Failure to do so constitutes a material default, leading to the termination of the agreement. Any transfer under this condition is subject to the conditions for transfers outlined in the agreement.