Regarding a Management Recruiters franchise, what sections of the Franchise Agreement are specifically related to the Nondisclosure and Non-competition Agreement?
Management_Recruiters Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
nications, whether written or oral; and
- implement, maintain, and diligently utilize all reasonable procedures prescribed from time to time by Franchisor to prevent unauthorized use and disclosure of the Trade Secrets, including, without limitation, restrictions on disclosure to employees and use of nondisclosure and non-competition provisions as Franchisor prescribes in employment agreements with employees who may have
access to the Trade Secrets. Promptly upon Franchisor's request, Franchisee shall deliver executed copies of such agreements to Franchisor.
17. NON-COMPETITION, NON-SOLICITATION, CONFIDENTIALITY
- 17.1. Franchisee's Covenant Not to Compete During Term of Agreement; Exclusivity. Franchisee recognizes that Franchisor's Trade Secrets are the underpinning of Franchisor's business, protection of the Trade Secrets is a matter of critical importance to Franchisor, and Franchisee acknowledges Franchisor's need to protect the Trade Secrets against unauthorized use or disclosure as well as Franchisor's simultaneous need to encourage free exchange of ideas and information among Franchisor's franchisees. Franchisee agrees that neither Franchisee, nor, as applicable, any shareholder who owns more than three percent (3%) of the outstanding capital stock of Franchisee, nor any general partner, director, officer, manager, nor other key employee of Franchisee, nor a Family Member of any such person, shall directly or indirectly, as an owner, manager, employee, operator, consultant, agent, principal, partner, stockholder, corporate officer, director or in any other capacity or in any other manner whatsoever, engage in or perform services for or hold an ownership interest in any competing business, or any entity that grants franchises or licenses to others to conduct or operate any competing businesses, during the Term of this Agreement, except under a franchise agreement with Franchisor or its Affiliates. Franchisee and its shareholders, officers, directors, and partners agree to devote their best efforts exclusively to the best interests of Franchisor and Franchisee's promise to deal exclusively with Franchisor is a significant element of the consideration for which Franchisor grants the rights in this Agreement and Franchisor has entered into this Agreement in reliance upon such promise. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "competing business" shall mean a business engaged in the search, recruiting and/or placement of permanent or temporary employees, temporary staffing of skilled and/or unskilled personnel (including, without limitation, clerical, computer, technical, accounting, driving/transportation, and medical), employee leasing, or a related enterprise.
- 17.2. Solicitation of Customers. Franchisee shall not, without the prior written consent of Franchisor, either directly or indirectly, on its own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, solicit, divert, or appropriate to any competing business, any person or entity which is, or was at any time during the preceding two (2) year period, a customer of the Franchise Business.
- **17.3.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 67–327)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Management Recruiters' 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, several sections of the Franchise Agreement relate to the Nondisclosure and Non-competition Agreement. Specifically, Section 17 of the Franchise Agreement covers non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality. This section emphasizes the importance of Management Recruiters' trade secrets and the need to protect them.
Exhibit A of the Franchise Agreement is the actual Franchisee Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement. This agreement requires execution by all beneficial owners, principal officers, and directors of the franchisee. These individuals agree to comply with all provisions of the Franchise Agreement related to nondisclosure and non-competition, including Section 17.
Additionally, each principal having a 10% or greater share in the Management Recruiters franchise must personally execute and adhere to the Franchisee Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement. This agreement is in the form of Exhibit A to the Franchise Agreement. This ensures that key individuals with significant ownership in the franchise are legally bound to protect confidential information and refrain from competitive activities, reinforcing the franchisor's protection of its business interests.