What right does the Multi-Unit Development Agreement give the Multi-Unit Developer regarding Southern Steer franchises?
Southern_Steer Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
2. GRANT OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS; DEVELOPMENT TERRITORY.
Development Territory. The Franchisor hereby grants to the Multi-Unit Developer, for the Term of this Agreement, the right to enter into Franchise Agreements with the Franchisor for the development and operation of Southern Steer Businesses in accordance with the development schedule set out in Attachment A ("Development Schedule") within the geographical area
- ("Development Territory") set out in Attachment A. This Agreement will not constitute the sale of a Franchise to the Multi-Unit Developer but rather will give the Multi-Unit Developer the right and obligation to enter into Franchise Agreements with the Franchisor to own and operate franchised Southern Steer Businesses in the Development Territory.
- Non-Exclusive. The Franchisee acknowledges that the rights granted in this Agreement are non-exclusive. However, so long as Franchisee is not in default of this Agreement, the Franchise Agreement for Multi-Unit Developer's first Southern Steer Business ("Initial Franchise Agreement") or any other agreement between Multi-Unit Developer and Franchisor, Franchisor will not operate or license a third party to operate a Southern Steer Business in the Development Territory for the First Period set out in the Development Schedule attached hereto as Attachment A. Upon expiration of the First Period, Franchisor has the right to operate and license third parties to operate Southern Steer Businesses in the Development Territory.
- Reservation of Rights. Notwithstanding Section 2.2, the Franchisor and its Affiliates will have the absolute right to:
- (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of the Franchise Agreements between Franchisor and Multi-Unit Agreement regarding the Protected Area defined therein, to use, and license the use of, the System or component(s) thereof, for the operation of Southern Steer Businesses inside or outside the Development Area, regardless of proximity to the Development Area;
- (b) To offer and sell any products and services sold at Southern Steer Businesses under any other names and marks, including through alternative channels of distribution anywhere;
- (c) To offer and sell, and/or license or franchise others to offer and sell, products and services for Other Businesses and market Other Businesses to anyone, including prospective and existing franchisees anywhere within or outside of the Development Territory;
- (d) To acquire businesses that are the same as or similar to the Southern Steer Business and operate such businesses anywhere within or outside of the Development Territory and to be acquired by any third party which operates businesses that are the same as or similar to the Southern Steer Business anywhere within or outside of the Development Territory;
- (e) To market, distribute and sell, on a wholesale or retail basis, food products, prepackaged food, ancillary products and other goods, by direct sale, wholesale, the Internet, mail order, food truck, food trailer, third-party delivery services, other alternative distribution channels or by any other marketing or distribution method that may use the System under the Marks or other marks within or outside of the Development Territory;
- (f) To implement multi-area marketing programs and delivery service programs which may allow Franchisor or others to solicit or sell to customers anywhere and Franchisor has the right to issue mandatory policies to coordinate such multi-area marketing programs; and
- (g) To operate Southern Steer Businesses from Non-Traditional Locations anywhere.
- Personal License. The Multi-Unit Developer will not have the right to franchise, sub-franchise, license or sublicense its rights under this Agreement. The Multi-Unit Developer will not have the right to Transfer this Agreement or its rights under this Agreement, except asspecifically provided for in Section 7.2.
3. TERM.
This Agreement will commence on the Effective Date, and, unless sooner terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, this Agreement and all rights granted hereunder will end on the last day of the calendar month that the final Southern Steer Business is required to be developed and opened under the Development Schedule ("Term"). At the end of the Term of this Agreement, the Multi-Unit Developer's development rights with respect to the Development Territory will automatically terminate, and the Multi-Unit Developer will not have the right to renew or extend the Term of this Agreement.
4. FEES.
- Development Fee.
Source: Item 5 — and 7 of the FDD, Section 3.1 of the Franchise Agreement and Section 4.1 of the Multi-Unit Development Agreement are hereby amended to state that payment of the initial franchise fee and development fee will be deferred until We have satisfied Our pre-opening obligations, and You have commenced business operations. (FDD pages 168–290)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Southern Steer Franchise Disclosure Document, the Multi-Unit Development Agreement grants the developer the right to enter into Franchise Agreements with Southern Steer for the purpose of developing and operating Southern Steer Businesses within a specific Development Territory, according to a set Development Schedule. The rights granted are applicable only within the Development Territory and are personal, meaning they cannot be used elsewhere. The agreement does not grant the Multi-Unit Developer any rights to use Southern Steer's Marks, Confidential Information, or Trade Secrets, which are only granted under the Franchise Agreements. The Multi-Unit Developer must develop and open franchised Southern Steer Businesses in strict compliance with the agreement's terms. The Multi-Unit Developer cannot purchase or lease property for a proposed Southern Steer location until a Franchise Agreement is signed and the site selection provisions are met.
However, these rights are subject to certain limitations and reservations by Southern Steer. The rights granted to the Multi-Unit Developer are non-exclusive, and Southern Steer retains the right to operate or license others to operate Southern Steer Businesses in the Development Territory after an initial period, provided the Multi-Unit Developer is not in default. Southern Steer also has the right to use and license the System for Southern Steer Businesses inside or outside the Development Area, sell products and services under other names, offer and sell products and services for other businesses, and acquire similar businesses within or outside the Development Territory.
Southern Steer also has specific rights regarding the transfer of interests. The Multi-Unit Developer cannot transfer any interest in the agreement or ownership interests in the Multi-Unit Developer without first offering it to Southern Steer. Southern Steer has the option to purchase these interests based on the terms of the Multi-Unit Developer's offer. Additionally, Southern Steer has the right to acquire any existing Southern Steer Businesses from the Multi-Unit Developer upon termination of the agreement, according to the terms of the individual Franchise Agreements.
Termination of the Multi-Unit Development Agreement can occur if the Multi-Unit Developer fails to meet the Development Schedule or fails to obtain required approvals. Upon termination, the Multi-Unit Developer loses the right to open additional Southern Steer Businesses in the Development Territory, but must continue to operate existing businesses under the terms of their Franchise Agreements. Southern Steer then has the right to develop Southern Steer Businesses in the Development Territory or contract with others to do so. The Multi-Unit Developer is advised to seek legal counsel to fully understand their rights and obligations under the agreement.