Mandatory transfer of franchise business to franchisor?
On 23 January 2017, the District Court of Amsterdam, ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2017:412 (CoffeeCompany/Dam Spirit BV) rendered a judgment on the question whether a franchisee is obliged to return his franchise company upon termination of the cooperation with the franchisor. delivery to the franchisor.
Before the catering entrepreneur in question entered into cooperation with the franchisor, the catering entrepreneur in question had already rented the catering business space on Dam Square in Amsterdam for some time. A catering permit was also present from the start of the rental.
A cooperation agreement, called a license agreement, was subsequently concluded between the parties, under which the franchisee obtained the right to operate the catering establishment according to a specific formula of the franchisor. It was included in that agreement that upon termination of this agreement, the franchisor was entitled to continue the business itself at the location where the franchisee worked. After the cooperation has ended, the franchisor demands from the former franchisee to offer it the lease rights to the business space in question, or at least to cooperate in substituting the franchisor as tenant.
The court considers that there is no question of a termination situation, but that the cooperation has ended by operation of law due to the passage of time. The court also considers it illogical that the franchisee was prepared to offer the lease rights to the franchisor when the cooperation ended. The court therefore rejects the franchisor’s claim to transfer the franchise company to it.
It follows from this ruling that if the parties wish to make a far-reaching agreement about the transfer of the franchise company at the end of the cooperation, this must be explicitly stated in order to avoid misunderstandings afterwards.
mr. AW Dolphijn – Franchise lawyer
Ludwig & Van Dam Franchise attorneys, franchise legal advice. Do you want to respond? Go to dolphijn@ludwigvandam.nl .
![224geschillen-min](https://www.ludwigvandam.nl/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/224geschillen-min.jpg)
Other messages
Franchisor remains liable for incorrect prognosis
Franchisor remains liable for incorrect prognosis
Prohibited market/area division in franchise agreements
Franchisees sometimes have more opportunities to break through market/area divisions than they think.
Link rent and franchise depending on goodwill arrangement
Link rent and franchise depending on goodwill arrangement
Franchisee, don’t forfeit your rights
Complaining out loud does not seem appropriate in an intensive collaboration such as franchising, let alone a liability claim.
Prohibited market/area division in franchise agreements: fines of millions set by the court
Prohibited market/area division in franchise agreements: fines of millions set by the court
The exclusive catchment area and the exclusive delivery
The exclusive catchment area and the exclusive delivery