What specific non-competition restrictions and covenants are imposed on the franchisee by the Mrcool agreement?
Mrcool Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
er and Spouse Agreement and Guaranty in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 1; and (b) Franchisee's directors, officers, employees and agents where disclosure of the Confidential Information was necessary for the operations of the Franchised Business and where such director, officer, employee and/or agent previously executed and timely delivered to Franchisor the Confidentiality Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit 2.
6.D. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS: UNFAIR COMPETITION AND IN-TERM NON-COMPETITION OBLIGATIONS
Franchisee agrees that during the Term of this Agreement, Franchisee shall not engage in the following activities (the "Prohibited Activities"): (a) owning and/or having any legal or equitable interest whether, as an individual proprietor, owner, partner, member or shareholder of a Corporate Entity, or, in any similar capacity, in a Competitive Business other than, owning an interest of 3% or less in a publicly traded company that is a Competitive Business; (b) operating, managing, funding and/or performing services whether, as an employee, officer, director, manager, consultant, representative, agent, and/or creditor or, in any similar capacity, for or benefitting a Competitive Business; (c) diverting or attempting to divert any business or customers from Franchisor or, one of Franchisor's affiliates or franchisees; (d) inducing any customer or client of Franchisor, Franchisor's affiliates, franchisees of the System, or, of Franchisee, to any other person or business that is not a MRCOOL Center; and/or (e) engaging in any actions, inactions, and/or activities in violation of Articles 6.B. and/or 6.C. of this Agreement (all, individually and, collectively, referred to as the "Prohibited Activities"). Franchisee agrees that if Franchisee were to engage in the Prohibited Activities that such actions would be unfair, would constitute unfair competition and, would cause harm to Franchisor, the System and other MRCOOL Center franchisees. Franchisee agrees that the foregoing covenants and obligations shall also apply to Franchisee's Owners and Spouses and that Franchisee's Owners and Spouses shall each execute and deliver to Franchisor the Franchise Owner and Spouse Agreement and Guaranty in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 1.
6.E. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS: UNFAIR COMPETITION AND POST-TERMINATION NON-COMPETITION OBLIGATIONS
Franchisee agrees that during the Post-Term Restricted Period, Franchisee shall not engage in any Prohibited Activities provided, however, that the Prohibited Activities relating to Franchisee's having an interest in a Competitive Business will only apply with respect to a Competitive Business that is located within a Restricted Territory. If Franchisee is engaged in any Prohibited Activities during the Post-Term Restricted Period, Franchisee agrees that Franchisee's Post-Term Restricted Period will be extended by the period of time during which Franchisee was engaging in the Prohibited Activity and, any such extension of time will not be construed as a waiver of Franchisee's breach or otherwise impair any of Franchisor's rights or remedies relating to Franchisee's breach. Franchisee agrees that the foregoing covenants and restrictions shall also apply to Franchisee's Owners and Spouses and that Franchisee's Owners and Spouses shall each execute and deliver to Franchisor the Franchise Owner and Spouse Agreement and Guaranty in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 1. Franchisee agrees that the covenants and restrictions set forth in this Article 6.E. and, otherwise in this Article 6, are fair and reasonable and, that if Franchisee engaged in any Prohibited Activity that such actions would constitute acts of unfair competition, causing irreparable harm to Franchisor and the System.
6.F. IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS
Franchisee agrees that should Franchisee circumvent the restrictive covenants and obligations of this Article 6 by disclosing Confidential Information to an Immediate Family Member that Franchisor and, the System, will be irreparably harmed. Franchisee agrees that if Franchisee or, one of Franchisee's Owners, discloses Confidential Information to an immediate family member and, the immediate family member of Franchisee or an Owner, uses the Confidential Information to engage in activities that, for Franchisee, qualify as Prohibited Activities, that Franchisor and the System will be irreparably harmed. Franchisee agrees that as between Franchisee and Franchisor, that Franchisee and Franchisee's Owners are in a better position to
know if Franchisee permitted and/or provided an immediate family member with access to the Confidential Information and that, therefore, Franchisee agrees that Franchisee will be presumed to have violated the terms of this Agreement and, in particular, the restrictive covenants and obligations set forth in this Article 6 if any member of Franchisee's immediate family or the immediate family of an Owner: (a) engages in any Prohibited Activities during any period of time during which Franchisee is prohibited from engaging in the Prohibited Activities; and/or (b) uses or discloses the Confidential Information and/or Know-How. Franchisee may rebut the foregoing presumption by providing evidence conclusively demonstrating that neither Franchisee nor Franchisee's Owners disclosed the Confidential Information and, did not permit disclosure of the Confidential Information to the family member of Franchisee or Franchisee's Owner. Franchisee agrees that the foregoing covenants, obligations, representations and burden of proof shall also apply to Franchisee's Owners and Spouses and, that Franchisee's Owners and Spouses shall each execute and deliver to Franchisor the Franchise Owner and Spouse Agreement and Guaranty in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 1.
6.G. REASONABLENESS OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND OBLIGATIONS
Franchisee agrees that: (a) the terms of this Article 6 are reasonable both in time and in scope of geographic area; and (b) Franchisee has sufficient resources and business experience and opportunities to earn an adequate living while complying with the terms of this Article 6.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 55–263)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Mrcool's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees face several non-competition restrictions during the term of the agreement. Franchisees are prohibited from owning or having an interest in a competitive business, with an exception for owning 3% or less of a publicly traded company. They cannot operate, manage, fund, or perform services for a competitive business. Franchisees are also barred from diverting business or customers from Mrcool or its affiliates and franchisees, or inducing customers to other non-Mrcool businesses. These restrictions also apply to the franchisee's owners and spouses, who must sign a Franchise Owner and Spouse Agreement and Guaranty.
After the franchise agreement terminates, franchisees are still restricted from engaging in prohibited activities during a post-term restricted period. These prohibited activities include having an interest in a competitive business located within a restricted territory. If a franchisee violates these post-term restrictions, the restricted period will be extended by the duration of the violation. These post-termination covenants also apply to the franchisee's owners and spouses, who must adhere to the Franchise Owner and Spouse Agreement and Guaranty.
Moreover, franchisees must protect Mrcool's confidential information and know-how both during and after the agreement. They cannot use the know-how in any business other than the franchised Mrcool business, must maintain confidentiality, and prevent unauthorized copies or disclosures. These obligations extend to the franchisee's owners, spouses, directors, officers, employees, and agents who have access to confidential information. If a franchisee discloses confidential information to an immediate family member who then uses it to engage in prohibited activities, Mrcool will consider this a breach of the agreement, causing irreparable harm to Mrcool and its system.