Article Franchise+ – “How do I get rid of my debts: Also for franchisees and franchisors” – mr. AW Dolphijn – dated October 20, 2020
Is the situation hopeless, for example due to debts related to the corona crisis and is a rescue plan thwarted?
A reorganization may also be necessary for franchisees and franchisors who are in financial difficulties in order to continue to exist. The corona crisis will cause unbridgeable debts for some, which may make the continuation of the company seem hopeless. With the introduction of the Homologation Private Agreement (WHOA) Act, bankruptcy can be better prevented and a restart can be realized, whereby debts can be (partially) waived.
In practice, a rescue plan proves difficult if certain creditors are uncooperative. They can make the plan impossible. Those creditors may also include the Tax and Customs Administration, shareholders, lessor, supplier or franchisor or franchisees.
With the WHOA, creditors can now be even better forced to agree to a rescue plan. The court can then be asked to assess the rescue plan, considering whether and to what extent sleepers should participate. The rescue plan can then be approved and interfering creditors can be forced to agree to it.
In principle, the regulation gives the ailing entrepreneur great freedom in determining the content of the rescue plan. The legal procedure has short deadlines and a fast turnaround time. It is a complex legal procedure and that makes it important that preparations are made in good time.
The WHOA has already been adopted and is expected to come into effect on January 1, 2021. For many franchise companies, it will be important to draw up a rescue plan in good time or to anticipate such a plan.
mr. AW Dolphijn – franchise lawyer
Ludwig & Van Dam Franchise attorneys, franchise legal advice. Do you want to respond? Go to dolphijn@ludwigvandam.nl
Other messages
Ludwig & Van Dam attorneys summon Sandd and PostNL on behalf of the Sandd franchisees – dated 9 January 2020 – mr. AW Dolphin
The Association of Franchisees of Sandd (VFS) has today summoned Sandd and PostNL before the court in Arnhem. The VFS believes that Sandd and PostNL are letting the franchisees down hard.
Article The National Franchise Guide: “Why joint and several liability, for example, next to private?” – dated 7 January 2020 – mr. AW Dolphin
Franchisees are often asked to co-sign the franchise agreement in addition to their franchise, for example. Sometimes franchisees refuse to do so and the franchise agreement is not signed.
Ludwig & Van Dam Advocaten assists Sandd franchisees: Franchisees Sandd challenge postal monopoly in court – dated 12 November 2019 – mr. AW Dolphin
The Association of Franchisees of Sandd (VFS) is challenging the decision of State Secretary Mona Keijzer to approve the postal merger between PostNL and Sandd before the court in Rotterdam.
Franchisee trapped by non-compete clause? – dated October 21, 2019 – mr. AW Dolphin
The District Court of East Brabant has ruled that a franchisee was still bound by the non-competition clause in the event of premature termination of the franchise agreement.
Supermarket letter – 26
Supermarket Newsletter No. 26
Link franchise agreement and rental agreement uncertain? – dated October 14, 2019 – mr K. Bastiaans
It is no exception within a franchise relationship that the parties agree that the franchise agreement and the rental agreement are inextricably linked.