What is the condition for transferring the Hotel's ownership, possession, or control under The Standardx franchise agreement?
The_Standardx Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
on-Control Transfers**. Subject to the other provisions of this ARTICLE XII, Franchisee and/or any of its Owners may consummate any Non-Control Transfers, without seeking or receiving Hyatt's consent, if (a) neither the proposed transferee nor any of its direct and indirect owners (if the transferee is a legal entity), other than a Public Owner, is a Competing Brand Owner or Sanctioned Person; and (b) such transfer does not, whether in one transaction or a series of related transactions (regardless of the time period over which these transactions take place), result in the transfer or creation of a direct or indirect Controlling Ownership Interest in Franchisee. Within thirty (30) days after the effective date of any Non-Control Transfer (other than transfers among then-existing Owners), Franchisee shall provide Hyatt an updated Exhibit G (if the previously effective version of Exhibit G has changed) or such other information as Hyatt reasonably requests from time to time concerning any new Non-Controlling Owners (other than Limited Interest Owners).
- 12.4 Control Transfers. Franchisee must notify Hyatt in writing at least ten (10) days in advance of Franchisee's listing the Hotel or a direct or indirect Controlling Ownership Interest in Franchisee for sale and promptly send Hyatt all information that Hyatt reasonably requests regarding any proposed sale. In connection with any proposed Control Transfer, Franchisee must submit to Hyatt, on behalf of the proposed transferee, a complete application for a new franchise agreement (the "Change of Ownership Application"), accompanied by payment of Hyatt's then current application fee (although no such fee is due if the transfer is to the spouse, child, parent, or sibling of the Owner(s) or from one individual or entity who is an Owner as of the Effective Date to another individual or entity who is an Owner as of the Effective Date) and information concerning any proposed replacement Guarantor. If Hyatt does not approve the Change of Ownership Application and consent to the proposed Control Transfer, Hyatt will refund any application fee paid, less Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500) for processing costs. Hyatt will process the Change of Ownership Application according to this Section 12.4 and its then current procedures. Hyatt has sixty (60) days from its receipt of the completed and signed Change of Ownership Application to consent or withhold its consent to the proposed Control Transfer. No Control Transfer may occur without Hyatt's prior written consent.
If Franchisee (and each of its Guarantors) is complying with this Agreement, then, subject to the other provisions of this ARTICLE XII, Hyatt will not unreasonably withhold its approval of
a Control Transfer if all of the following conditions are met before or concurrently with the effective date of the Control Transfer:
- (a) the transferee and each of its direct and indirect owners (if the transferee is a legal entity) has, in Hyatt's judgment, the necessary business experience, aptitude, and financial resources to operate the Hotel and meets Hyatt's then applicable standards for Brand Hotel franchisees;
- (b) Franchisee has paid all amounts owed to Hyatt, its Affiliates and third party vendors, and has not violated any provision of this Agreement or any other agreement with Hyatt or its Affiliate, in each case during both the sixty (60)-day period before Franchisee requested Hyatt's consent to the transfer and the period between Franchisee's request and the effective date of the transfer;
- (c) the transferee's general manager and other Hotel management personnel that Hyatt specifies, if different from the Hotel's general manager and management personnel, satisfactorily complete Hyatt's required brand standard training programs;
- (d) the transferee and its owners (if the transfer is of this Agreement), or Franchisee and its Owners (if the transfer is of a Controlling Ownership Interest in Franchisee or one of its Controlling Owners), at Hyatt's option, either sign: (i) Hyatt's then current form of franchise agreement and related documents for use with existing Brand Hotels (including guarantees and assumptions of obligations), any and all of the provisions of which may differ materially from any and all of those contained in this Agreement, including the Royalty Fee and System Services Charges, and the term of which franchise agreement will be, at Hyatt's option, either twenty (20) years or the remaining unexpired portion of the Term; or (ii) the agreements and related documents (including guarantees and assumptions of obligations) that Hyatt then specifies under which they assume (or confirm the continued effectiveness of) all of Franchisee's rights and obligations under this Agreement;
- (e) Franchisee signs a Termination Agreement and Franchisee and all Guarantors sign all documents Hyatt requests evidencing their agreement to remain liable or assume liability for all obligations to Hyatt and its Affiliates existing before the effective date of the transfer;
- (f) Hyatt has determined that Franchisee's or the transferee's (as applicable) capital structure, debt service and overall financial status following the transfer will not adversely affect the operation of the Hotel;
- (g) the transferee (if the transfer is of this Agreement) or Franchisee (if the transfer is of a Controlling Ownership Interest in Franchisee or one of its Controlling Owners) agrees (regardless of cost) to renovate, remodel and/or expand the Hotel, which may include structural alterations, adding or replacing improvements and FF&E, and otherwise modifying the Hotel, as Hyatt requires to comply with the Hotel System and System Standards then applicable for new similarly situated Brand Hotels, subject to Reasonable Deviations; and
(h) Franchisee (if Franchisee will no longer operate the Hotel) and its transferring Owners agree that they will not directly or indirectly at any time or in any manner use any Proprietary Mark, Copyrighted Materials or Confidential Information, except as otherwise permitted under any then effective agreement with Hyatt or its Affiliate.
Hyatt may review all information regarding the Hotel that Franchisee gives the proposed transferee, correct any information that Hyatt believes is inaccurate, and give the transferee copies of any reports that Franchisee has given Hyatt or Hyatt has made regarding the Hotel.
Source: Item 18 — OTHER INCOME (LOSS), NET (FDD pages 187–399)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to The Standardx's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a transfer of the Hotel's ownership, possession, or control, or substantially all of its assets, may occur only with a transfer of the franchise agreement. Any transfer that does not comply with the terms and conditions outlined in Article XII of the agreement, including obtaining Hyatt's approval when required, constitutes a breach of the agreement.
There are two types of transfers: non-control transfers and control transfers. For non-control transfers, the franchisee doesn't need to seek Hyatt's consent if neither the proposed transferee nor their owners are Competing Brand Owners or Sanctioned Persons, and the transfer does not result in a Controlling Ownership Interest in the franchisee. The franchisee must inform Hyatt within 30 days after the transfer's effective date and provide updated information about any new Non-Controlling Owners.
For control transfers, the franchisee must notify Hyatt in writing at least ten days before listing the Hotel or a direct or indirect Controlling Ownership Interest for sale and provide all requested information regarding the proposed sale. The franchisee must also submit a complete application for a new franchise agreement, along with the applicable application fee. Hyatt has 60 days to approve or deny the transfer. No Control Transfer can occur without Hyatt's prior written consent. Hyatt will not unreasonably withhold approval of a Control Transfer if the franchisee is complying with the agreement and the transferee meets Hyatt's standards for franchisees.
Hyatt also has the first right of refusal. If the franchisee decides to sell or transfer the agreement, the Hotel, or a Controlling Ownership Interest, they must first offer Hyatt the opportunity to acquire those rights by providing written notice with the material terms of the proposed sale. Hyatt then has 30 days to decide whether to acquire the rights on those terms.