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EXHIBIT F
STANDARD FORM
APPLEBEE'S NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL & BAR
FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
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(Location Address)
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(Franchisee Name)
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(Date)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
RECITALS.....................................................................F-3
1. FRANCHISE GRANT AND
TERM........................................F-4
2. UNIFORM
STANDARDS...............................................F-5
3. COMPLIANCE WITH THE
SYSTEM......................................F-6
4. GENERAL SERVICES OF
FRANCHISOR..................................F-6
5. RESTAURANT SYSTEM AND
PROCEDURES................................F-7
6.
TRAINING.......................................................F-10
7. RESTAURANT
MAINTENANCE.........................................F-10
8.
ADVERTISING....................................................F-11
9.
FEES...........................................................F-13
10. RECORD
KEEPING.................................................F-15
11. FRANCHISEE ORGANIZATION, AUTHORITY,
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
SHAREHOLDERS...........................F-16
12.
TRANSFER.......................................................F-19
13. CONFIDENTIALITY;
RESTRICTIONS..................................F-23
14.
INSPECTIONS....................................................F-24
15. RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES AND
INDEMNIFICATION....................F-25
16.
INSURANCE......................................................F-27
17. DEBTS AND
TAXES................................................F-29
18. TRADE NAMES, SERVICE MARKS AND
TRADEMARKS......................F-29
19. EXPIRATION AND TERMINATION; OPTION TO
PURCHASE RESTAURANT; ATTORNEYS'
FEES...........................F-31
20. NO WAIVER OF
DEFAULT...........................................F-36
21. CONSTRUCTION, SEVERABILITY,
GOVERNING LAW AND
JURISDICTION.................................F-36
22. INTERFERENCE WITH EMPLOYMENT
RELATIONS.........................F-37
23. LIQUOR
LICENSE.................................................F-38
24. FORCE
MAJEURE..................................................F-38
25.
MISCELLANEOUS..................................................F-39
26.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................F-41
EXHIBIT 1: ROYALTY
FEE................................................F-43
APPENDIX A: STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP
INTERESTS...........................F-44
APPENDIX B: REVIEW AND CONSENT WITH
RESPECT TO
TRANSFERS.......................................F-45
APPENDIX C: CONFIDENTIALITY
AGREEMENT..................................F-46
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APPLEBEE'S NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL & BAR
FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made this ________ day of
_____________________, 20______, by
and between APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC., a Delaware
corporation
("FRANCHISOR"), _____________________________________________,
a
(_______________ corporation, sole proprietorship,
_______________ partnership,
_______________ limited partnership [strike inappropriate
language])
("FRANCHISEE") and ______________________________ (collectively,
the "PRINCIPAL
SHAREHOLDERS" and, individually, a "PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDER" of
Franchisee if a
corporation or general partner if Franchisee is a limited
partnership having as
its general partner a corporation) and
________________________________________________________________________________
("GENERAL PARTNER" of Franchisee if Franchisee is a limited
partnership).*
* (If Franchisee is not a corporation or a sole proprietorship,
or if
Franchisee is a limited liability company, the parties hereto
hereby agree that
an Addendum shall be attached to this Agreement so as properly
to reflect the
responsibilities of the partners of any general partnership, the
general partner
of any limited partnership and the shareholders of any corporate
general partner
of any partnership, or the members of any limited liability
company.)
WITNESSETH:
RECITALS
A. Franchisor owns the rights to develop and operate a unique
system of
restaurants which specialize in the sale of high quality,
moderately priced food
and alcoholic beverages in an attractive, casual setting, which
includes
proprietary rights in certain valuable trade names, service
marks and
trademarks, including the service mark Applebee's Neighborhood
Grill & Bar and
variations of such mark, designs, decor and color schemes for
restaurant
premises, signs, equipment, procedures and formulae for
preparing food and
beverage products, specifications for certain food and beverage
products,
inventory methods, operating methods, financial control
concepts, training
facilities and teaching techniques ("the System").
B. Franchisor established, through its own development and
operation, and
through the granting of franchises, a chain of Applebee's
Neighborhood Grill &
Bar restaurants which are distinctive; which are similar in
appearance, design
and decor; and which are uniform in operation and product
consistency.
C. The value of Franchisor's trade names, service marks and
trademarks is
based upon: (1) the maintenance of uniform high quality
standards in connection
with the preparation and sale of Franchisor-approved food and
beverage products,
(2) the uniform high standards of appearance of the individual
restaurant units
in the System, (3) the use of distinctive trademarks, service
marks, building
designs and advertising signs representing a uniformly high
quality of product
and services, and (4) the assumption by Franchisor and its
franchisees of the
obligation to maintain and enhance the goodwill and public
acceptance of the
System (and of Franchisor's trade names, service marks and
trademarks) by strict
adherence to the high standards required by Franchisor.
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D. Franchisor, Franchisee and the Principal Shareholders have
entered into
a Development Agreement dated __________________, 20____
("Development
Agreement"), relating to the development by Franchisee of
Applebee's
Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants.
E. Franchisee desires to use the System in connection with the
operation of
an Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurant at the
location which is
specified in Subsection 1.1 of this Agreement, pursuant to the
terms, conditions
and provisions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual obligations
contained herein, it
is hereby agreed as follows:
1. FRANCHISE GRANT AND TERM
1.1 Franchisor grants Franchisee, for the term stated below, the
right,
license and privilege:
(a) to use the System incident to the operation of an
Applebee's
Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurant at
____________________________________
(the "Restaurant");
(b) to use the trade names, service marks and trademarks
which
Franchisor shall from time to time designate as part of the
System, but
only in connection with the sale at the Restaurant of those
products which
Franchisor has designated and approved; and
(c) to hold itself out to the public as a Franchisee of
Franchisor.
1.2 The term of the franchise shall commence as of the
Commencement Date,
as hereinafter defined, and shall end twenty (20) years
thereafter, unless this
Agreement is terminated prior to that date in accordance with
its provisions.
"Commencement Date," as used herein, shall mean the date upon
which the
Restaurant opens for business. The parties agree that
Franchisor, without
obtaining the signature of Franchisee, may affix to this
Agreement an addendum
expressly setting forth the Commencement Date, which, when so
affixed, shall
become a part of this Agreement.
1.3 At the expiration of the term hereof, Franchisee shall have
an option
to operate the Restaurant for four (4) successive terms of five
(5) years
(unless the franchise agreement with respect to that additional
term is sooner
terminated in accordance with its provisions), provided that
immediately prior
to each such five (5) year term (a) Franchisee satisfies the
requirements which
Franchisor then-imposes on its new franchisees, (b) all other
restaurant units
within the System which Franchisee then-operates substantially
comply, in the
opinion of Franchisor, with Franchisor's then-current standards,
specifications,
requirements and instructions, and (c) Franchisee executes the
form of franchise
agreement which Franchisor is then using with respect to new
restaurants within
the System, with the amount of royalty and advertising fees
payable at the rates
then-prevailing under the franchise agreements which Franchisor
is then using
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for new restaurants within the System, and Franchisee pays to
Franchisor for
each of said five (5) year periods a franchise fee equal to ten
percent (10%) of
the prevailing franchise fee paid by new franchisees at that
time. Any franchise
agreement which Franchisee executes for such additional term
will also contain
options to obtain an assignment of Franchisee's lease with a
third party and/or
to purchase certain property or to purchase or lease the
Restaurant premises
exercisable by Franchisor upon termination thereof and an option
to purchase or
lease the Restaurant premises exercisable by Franchisor upon
expiration of the
renewal term (subject to any then-existing renewal rights of
Franchisee). Such
options will contain provisions substantially similar to the
provisions of
Franchisor's options described in Subsection 19.4 hereof.
Franchisee shall give
Franchisor written notice of its desire to exercise its option
to operate the
Restaurant for an additional term no earlier than twelve (12)
months, and no
later than seven (7) months, prior to expiration of the initial
term. If
Franchisee gives that notice, Franchisor, in its sole
discretion, reasonably
exercised, shall determine whether Franchisee has satisfied the
foregoing
requirements. Within forty-five (45) days of receiving the
notice described
above, Franchisor shall notify Franchisee in writing whether or
not Franchisee
is eligible to exercise the option described in this
Subsection.
1.4 During the period from the date of this Agreement to the
expiration or
earlier termination of this Agreement, Franchisor shall not
establish a
restaurant unit utilizing the System, or license another
franchisee to establish
a restaurant unit utilizing the System, at any location within
the lesser of a
three (3) mile radius of the Restaurant or a radius from the
Restaurant which
includes either a daytime or residential population of forty
thousand (40,000)
or more people; provided, however, the three (3) mile radius
will be reduced to
the extent it would extend over an international border.
Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Franchisor may establish a restaurant unit or may
license a
restaurant unit to a third party within the geographic area set
forth in the
preceding sentence, provided that (i) such restaurant is located
within an
airport (serviced by one or more public or charter carrier),
train station, bus
terminal, port authority, campus at any college, university or
other
post-secondary education institution, hospitals and other health
care
facilities, arena, stadium, state or national park, or military
fort, post or
base, (ii) is located across an international border, or (iii)
does not utilize
the System or utilize the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill &
Bar service mark.
1.5 Franchisee, in consideration of the benefits and privileges
provided to
it by this Agreement, agrees to operate the Restaurant and
perform as required
hereunder for the full term of this Agreement.
1.6 This Agreement is entered into pursuant to and subject to
the terms and
conditions which are set forth in the Development Agreement.
2. UNIFORM STANDARDS
2.1 The System is a comprehensive restaurant system for the
retailing of
certain uniform and quality food and beverage products
(including alcoholic
beverages), emphasizing a varied menu of high quality,
moderately priced food
products (including appetizers, creative sandwiches, dinner
entrees and
desserts), a selection of alcoholic and other beverages, and
prompt and
courteous service in a clean, wholesome, casual atmosphere. The
foundation of
the System is the establishment and maintenance of a reputation
among the public
for the operation of high quality restaurant units. A
fundamental requirement of
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the System, this Franchise Agreement and franchises which
Franchisor will grant
to others is adherence by all franchisees to Franchisor's
standards and policies
providing for the uniform operation of all restaurant units
within the System,
including, but not limited to, (a) selling only those products
which Franchisor
has designated and approved, (b) using only Franchisor's
prescribed building
layout and designs, equipment, signs, interior and exterior
decor items,
fixtures and furnishings, (c) adhering strictly to Franchisor's
standards and
specifications relating to the selection, purchase, storage,
preparation,
packaging, service and sale of all food and beverage products
being sold at the
Restaurant, and (d) satisfying all of Franchisor's prescribed
standards of
quality, service and cleanliness. Compliance by all franchisees
with the
foregoing standards and policies in conjunction with the use of
Franchisor's
trade names, service marks and trademarks provides the basis for
the wide public
acceptance of the System and its valuable goodwill. Accordingly,
strict
adherence by all franchisees to all aspects of the System is
required at all
times.
2.2 The provisions of the Agreement shall be interpreted to give
effect to
the intent of the parties stated in this Section 2 to assure
that Franchisee
shall operate the Restaurant in conformity with the System,
through strict
adherence to Franchisor's standards and policies as they now
exist and as they
may be modified from time to time.
3. COMPLIANCE WITH THE SYSTEM
Franchisee acknowledges that every component of the System is
important to
Franchisor, to all franchisees and to the operation of the
Restaurant, including
the requirements (a) that only those products designated and
approved by the
Franchisor are sold at the Restaurant, and (b) that there is
uniformity of food
and beverage specifications, preparation methods, quality,
appearance, building
and interior design, color and decor, landscaping, facilities
and service among
all restaurant units in the System. Accordingly, Franchisee
agrees to and shall
comply with all aspects of the System (as it now exists and as
it may be
modified from time to time). Franchisee recognizes and agrees
that Franchisor
may prohibit the use of the System and its trade names,
notwithstanding the
granting of this Agreement, if Franchisee fails to design,
construct, equip,
furnish or operate its Restaurant in compliance with the
specifications
designated by Franchisor, unless prior written approval has been
received from
Franchisor.
4. GENERAL SERVICES OF FRANCHISOR
4.1 Franchisor shall advise and consult with Franchisee
periodically in
connection with the operation of the Restaurant, and at other
reasonable times
upon Franchisee's request. Franchisor will provide to Franchisee
such of its
know-how, new developments, techniques and improvements in areas
of restaurant
design, management, food and beverage preparation, sales
promotion and service
concepts as may be pertinent to the construction and operation
of the Restaurant
under the System. Franchisor may provide the foregoing
information (a) by
sending representatives to visit the Restaurant, (b) by
providing written or
other material, (c) at meetings or seminars, and (d) at training
sessions at
Franchisor's training facility and/or such other locations as
may be selected by
Franchisor from time to time. Franchisor also shall make
available to Franchisee
all additional services, facilities, rights and privileges which
Franchisor
makes available from time to time to its franchisees of the
System generally.
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4.2 For approximately eight (8) days prior to the opening of the
Restaurant
and the first six (6) days that the Restaurant is open for
business, Franchisor
shall provide Franchisee, at Franchisor's expense, with the
services of up to a
maximum of six (6) of Franchisor's training personnel to
facilitate proper
operation of the kitchen, bar and dining room areas during that
period and to
assist in correcting any operational problems which may arise.
Franchisee shall
reimburse Franchisor for any additional training support
required or requested.
4.3 From time to time during the term of this Agreement,
Franchisor will
develop and test new menu items. The menu consists of approved
national food and
beverage selections. Franchisee shall comply with all menu
changes which
generally occur every six (6) months. The menu may be modified
to reflect food
and beverage items peculiar to Franchisee's local area, subject
to Franchisor's
testing and approval.
5. RESTAURANT SYSTEM AND PROCEDURES
5.1 Franchisor shall furnish Franchisee with advice and
assistance in
managing and operating the Restaurant, and Franchisor's
representatives will
visit the Restaurant periodically. Franchisor will assist
Franchisee in
coordinating the Restaurant's pre-opening activities, and as
noted more
particularly in Subsection 4.2 hereof, shall provide Franchisee
with the
services of certain of Franchisor's personnel to facilitate
proper operation of
the Restaurant when it opens for business.
5.2 Franchisee shall designate an employee who will supervise
the
Restaurant, and devote his or her full time, best efforts and
constant personal
attention to the day-to-day operation of the Restaurant (the
"General Manager").
Franchisee also shall designate an employee who will supervise
the Restaurant
kitchen, and devote his or her full time, best efforts and
constant personal
attention to the day-to-day operation of the Restaurant kitchen
(the "Kitchen
Manager").
5.3 Franchisee shall require that the General Manager, the
Kitchen Manager
and each of Franchisee's employees who serve as Restaurant
managers to maintain
his or her principal personal residence within a usual driving
time of not more
than approximately one (1) hour from the Restaurant. Franchisor
reserves the
right to require that, as a condition of his or her employment,
the General
Manager must successfully complete Franchisor's interview
process and a
psychological profile test in a manner which satisfies a uniform
standard
established by Franchisor. The test shall be administered by
Franchisor, or by a
testing agency designated by Franchisor, at Franchisee's
expense.
5.4 Unless Franchisor shall have given its prior written
approval,
Franchisee shall keep the Restaurant open for business only
during the hours
which are specified by Franchisor in the Franchise Operations
Manual or in such
other materials or manuals provided or made available by
Franchisor to
Franchisee (collectively the "Manuals"), provided that such
hours do not
conflict with state laws or local ordinances relating to the
sale of alcoholic
beverages or governing the hours during which restaurant
establishments may be
open for business. In addition, Franchisee expressly agrees
to:
(a) operate the Restaurant in a clean, safe and orderly
manner,
providing courteous, first-class service to the public;
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(b) diligently promote and make every reasonable effort to
increase the
business of the Restaurant;
(c) advertise the business of the Restaurant by the use of
the
Franchisor's trade names, service marks and trademarks and such
other
insignia, slogans, emblems, symbols, designs and other
identifying
characteristics as may be developed or established from time to
time by
Franchisor and included in the Manuals, subject to the
limitations of
Subsections 8.4 and 8.5 hereof;
(d) prohibit and, to the best of Franchisee's ability, prevent
the use
of the Restaurant for any immoral or illegal purpose, or for any
other
purpose, business activity, use or function which is not
expressly
authorized hereunder or in the Manuals; and
(e) comply fully with all applicable laws and regulations,
including,
but not limited to, those relating to building construction,
maintenance
and safety, environmental, fire prevention, food safety, public
access and
the sale of alcoholic beverages.
5.5 Franchisee hereby acknowledges receipt and loan of a copy of
the
Manuals heretofore or hereinafter furnished to Franchisee, and
agrees to
faithfully, completely and continuously perform, fulfill,
observe and follow all
instructions, requirements, standards, specifications, systems
and procedures
contained therein, including (a) those relating to the
construction, design,
decor, building and equipping of the Restaurant, (b) those
relating to the
selection, purchase, storage, preparation, packaging, service
and sale of all
products being sold at the Restaurant, (c) those relating to the
maintenance and
repair of Restaurant building, grounds, equipment, signs,
interior and exterior
decor items, fixtures and furnishings, and (d) those relating to
employee
uniforms and dress, accounting, bookkeeping, record retention,
and other
business systems, procedures and operations. The Manuals are
incorporated herein
by reference and hereby made part of this Agreement. Franchisee
acknowledges and
agrees that the materials contained in the Manuals are integral,
necessary and
material elements of the System.
5.6 Franchisee understands, acknowledges and agrees that strict
conformity
with the System, including the standards, specifications,
systems, procedures,
requirements and instructions contained in this Agreement and in
the Manuals, is
vitally important, not only to the success of Franchisor, but to
the collective
success of all of Franchisor's other franchisees, by reason of
the benefits
which Franchisor and all of its franchisees will derive from
uniformity in
products sold, identity, quality, appearance, facilities and
service among all
restaurant units which are part of the System. Without limiting
the generality
of the foregoing provisions, Franchisee agrees to adhere
strictly to the
requirements in the Manuals relating (a) to the construction,
design, decor,
building and equipping of the Restaurant, (b) to the maximum
permissible ratio
of sales of alcoholic beverages to sales of food at the
Restaurant, and (c) to
the limitations on the number of video games or similar devices
which may be
placed on the Restaurant premises. Any failure to adhere to the
standards,
specifications, systems, requirements or instructions contained
in this
Agreement or in the Manuals shall constitute a material breach
of this
Agreement.
5.7 Franchisor shall have the right, at any time and from time
to time, in
the good faith exercise of its reasonable business judgment,
consistent with the
overall best interests of the System generally, having due
regard for the
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financial burden which may be placed upon its franchisees, to
revise, amend,
delete from and add to the System and the material contained in
the Manuals.
Franchisee expressly agrees to comply with all such revisions,
amendments,
deletions and additions.
5.8 Franchisee shall offer for sale from the Restaurant, at all
times when
the Restaurant is open for business, only the products which are
expressly
designated in the Manuals, except, as noted more particularly in
Subsection 4.3,
to the extent that Franchisee has obtained Franchisor's prior
written consent to
a modification of that requirement. No product shall be offered
or sold at or
from the Restaurant under, or in connection with, any trademark
or service mark
other than Franchisor's designated trademarks and service marks
without
Franchisor's prior written consent.
5.9 Franchisee shall obtain all food and beverage products,
equipments,
signs, interior and exterior decor items, fixtures, furnishings,
supplies, and
other products and materials required for the operation of or
sold at the
Restaurant solely from suppliers (including manufacturers,
distributors and
other sources) who demonstrate, to Franchisor's continuing
reasonable
satisfaction, the ability to meet Franchisor's then-current
standards and
specifications for such items; who possess adequate quality
controls and
capacity to supply Franchisee's needs promptly and reliably; and
who have been
approved in writing by Franchisor and not thereafter
disapproved. The Manuals
contain a list of approved suppliers. If Franchisee desires to
purchase any
items from an unapproved supplier, Franchisee shall submit to
Franchisor a
written request for such approval, which approval shall not be
unreasonably
withheld, or shall request the supplier itself to do so.
Franchisor shall have
the right to inspect the supplier's facilities, and to require
that samples from
the supplier be delivered, at Franchisor's option, either to
Franchisor or to an
independent, certified laboratory designated by Franchisor for
testing.
Franchisee or the supplier shall pay the costs of any such test.
Franchisor
shall notify Franchisee in writing within sixty (60) days of
receiving any such
request whether it disapproves the supplier. Failure by
Franchisor to so notify
Franchisee within that period shall be deemed to constitute
Franchisor's
approval of such supplier. Franchisor reserves the right, at its
option, to
reinspect the facilities and retest products of any such
approved supplier at
any time and to revoke its approval upon the supplier's failure
to continue to
meet any of Franchisor's criteria. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any supplier
of goods having any trademark, trade name, service mark, logo or
symbol owned by
Franchisor shall not be approved to supply Franchisee such goods
until such
supplier has entered a written agreement with Franchisor
regarding the
production, use and sale of such goods.
5.10 No food or beverage product, interior or exterior decor
item, sign,
item of equipment, fixtures, furnishings or supplies, or other
product or
material required for the operation of the Restaurant, which
bears any of
Franchisor's trade names, service marks or trademarks, shall be
used or sold in
or upon the Restaurant premises unless the same shall have been
first submitted
to and approved in writing by Franchisor.
5.11 The Manuals and all related material furnished to
Franchisee hereunder
are and shall remain the property of Franchisor, and must be
returned to
Franchisor, along with any copies made thereof, immediately upon
request or upon
the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement.
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6. TRAINING
6.1 Franchisor shall make its operations training course
available to the
General Manager, the Kitchen Manager, and Franchisee's Assistant
Managers and
other Restaurant managers.
6.2 Before the Restaurant opens for business, and thereafter as
replacement
personnel are employed by Franchisee, the General Manager, the
Kitchen Manager
and each Assistant Manager shall attend Franchisor's operations
training
facility for such period of time as Franchisor shall deem
reasonably necessary,
and shall successfully complete that course to Franchisor's
reasonable
satisfaction. If the General Manager, Kitchen Manager or an
Assistant Manager
fails to successfully complete Franchisor's operations training
course,
Franchisor may require designation of a new General Manager,
Kitchen Manager or
Assistant Manager, as the case may be, and Franchisee shall
designate a new
General Manager, Kitchen Manager or Assistant Manager, who shall
be required to
successfully complete such training course.
6.3 The General Manager, the Kitchen Manager and each Assistant
Manager
shall, from time to time as reasonably required by Franchisor,
attend and
successfully complete to Franchisor's reasonable satisfaction
a
Franchisor-provided refresher course in restaurant
operations.
6.4 Franchisee shall be responsible for the Restaurant's
compliance with
the operating standards, methods, techniques and material taught
at Franchisor's
operations training course, and shall cause the employees of the
Restaurant to
be trained in such standards, methods and techniques as are
relevant to the
performance of their respective duties.
6.5 Attendance of the General Manager, the Kitchen Manager and
each
Assistant Manager at any of Franchisor's training courses shall
be tuition-free.
Franchisee shall pay all other costs and expenses relating to
the attendance of
Franchisee's personnel at any of Franchisor's training courses,
including,
without limitation, the cost of travel, lodging, meals, and
other related and
incidental expenses.
7. RESTAURANT MAINTENANCE
7.1 Franchisee shall, at Franchisee's sole cost and expense,
maintain the
Restaurant in conformity with the standards, specifications and
requirements of
the System, as the same may be designated by Franchisor from
time to time.
Franchisee specifically agrees to repair or replace, at
Franchisee's cost and
expense, equipment, signs, interior and exterior decor items,
fixtures,
furnishings, supplies, and other products and materials required
for the
operation of the Restaurant as necessary or desirable, and to
obtain, at
Franchisee's cost and expense, any new or additional equipment,
signs, interior
and exterior decor items, fixtures, furnishings, supplies, and
other products
and materials which may be reasonably required by Franchisor for
new products or
procedures. Except as may be expressly provided in the Manuals,
no alterations
or improvements, or changes of any kind in design, equipment,
signs, interior or
exterior decor items, fixtures or furnishings shall be made in
or about the
Restaurant or Restaurant premises without the prior written
approval of
Franchisor in each instance.
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7.2 In order to assure the continued success of the Restaurant,
Franchisee
shall, at any time from time to time after ________________,
_________, (i.e.,
six [6] years after the date of this Agreement) as reasonably
required by
Franchisor (taking into consideration the cost and
then-remaining term of this
Agreement), modernize the Restaurant premises, equipment, signs,
interior and
exterior decor items, fixtures, furnishings, supplies, and other
products and
materials required for the operation of the Restaurant, to
Franchisor's
then-current standards and specifications, provided that at the
time Franchisor
requires Franchisee to so modernize the Restaurant premises at
least twenty-five
percent (25%) of Franchisor-owned and operated Restaurants meet
such standards
and specifications. Franchisee's obligations under this
Subsection are in
addition to, and shall not relieve Franchisee from, any of its
other obligations
under this Agreement, including those contained in the
Manuals.
7.3 If Franchisee is or becomes a lessee of the Restaurant
premises,
Franchisee shall have included in the lease provisions expressly
permitting both
Franchisee and Franchisor to take all actions and make all
alterations referred
to under Subsections 7.1 and 7.2 hereof, requiring the lessor
thereunder to give
Franchisor reasonable notice of any contemplated termination,
and providing that
Franchisee has the unrestricted right to assign the lease to
Franchisor,
Franchisor's affiliates or approved franchisees of Franchisor
without the lessor
having any right to impose conditions on such assignment or to
obtain any
payment in connection therewith. Franchisee shall not, without
the prior written
consent of Franchisor, execute any lease or other agreement
which imposes, or
purports to impose, any limitations on the ability of Franchisee
and/or of
Franchisor to operate additional restaurants at any particular
location beyond
the geographic limitation set forth in Section 1.4 hereof, or
any lease the term
of which is shorter than the term of this Agreement. For
purposes of
clarification, Franchisor may require the lease to contain such
other provisions
as may be specified in Franchisor's then current lease approval
policy or the
terms and conditions of Franchisor's approval of the site for
the Restaurant.
8. ADVERTISING
8.1 Franchisor shall develop and administer advertising, public
relations
and sales promotion programs designed to promote and enhance the
collective
success of all restaurant units in the System. It is expressly
understood,
acknowledged and agreed that in all phases of such advertising
and promotion,
including, without limitation, type, quantity, timing, placement
and choice of
media and medium, market areas, advertising agencies and public
relations firms,
Franchisor's decisions shall be final and binding. Franchisee
shall have the
right to participate actively in all such advertising, public
relations and
sales promotion programs, but only in full and complete
accordance with such
terms and conditions as may be established by Franchisor for
each such program.
8.2 Franchisee shall pay Franchisor, in the manner described in
Section 9
hereof, a minimum dollar amount equal to two and seventy five
hundredths percent
(2.75%) of Franchisee's gross sales, as defined in Subsection
9.3 hereof. Such
funds shall become the sole and absolute property of Franchisor,
to be allocated
to a separate "advertising account" established by Franchisor.
Franchisor shall
use such funds for market studies, advertising and marketing
studies or
services, production of commercials, advertising copy and
layouts, traffic
costs, agency fees, marketing personnel, or any other costs
associated with the
development, marketing and testing of advertising, and for the
purchase of
advertising time, space or materials in national, regional or
other advertising
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media, in a manner determined by Franchisor in its sole
discretion. Within six
(6) months following the end of Franchisor's fiscal year,
Franchisor shall
provide all franchisees with an accounting of all amounts
received from them and
expended by Franchisor for the matters set forth above. In
addition, Franchisee
shall expend a minimum dollar amount equal to one percent (1%)
of Franchisee's
gross sales, for local promotional activities, subject to the
provisions of
Subsections 8.4 and 8.5 hereof. Franchisor shall have the right
at all times to
review Franchisee's books and records, and to require Franchisee
to produce
evidence of its gross sales and local promotional activities, to
ensure
Franchisee's compliance with this Section. Any amount determined
by said audit
to be due Franchisor as part of the advertising fee will be paid
to Franchisor
by Franchisee within ten (10) days thereafter. At any time after
execution of
this Agreement, Franchisor may in its sole discretion increase,
to a maximum of
four percent (4%) of gross sales, the percentage of gross sales
which Franchisee
shall be required to pay to Franchisor for allocation to a
separate advertising
account pursuant to this Subsection 8.2. Franchisor shall use
the funds paid
pursuant to that increased percentage requirement solely for the
purchase of
advertising time, space or materials in national, regional or
other advertising
media, in a manner determined by Franchisor in its sole
discretion, provided
that in each calendar year (or other twelve [12] month period
established by
Franchisor) in which Franchisor makes expenditures for
advertising from such an
advertising account, so long as Franchisee is in compliance with
its obligations
hereunder, Franchisor's expenditures for advertising in the
Territory
encompassed by the Development Agreement (including expenditures
for national or
regional advertising in media which reach that Territory) shall
be on a basis
which is roughly proportional to Franchisee's contribution to
that advertising
account during that calendar year or other twelve (12) month
period. Franchisor
also may increase the percentage of gross sales which Franchisee
shall be
required to spend for local promotional activities, provided
however, that in no
event shall Franchisee be required to make payments pursuant to
this Subsection
8.2 in a dollar amount in excess of five percent (5%) of gross
sales. For
purposes of clarification, Franchisor may also decrease the
amounts required to
be paid or expended by Franchisor pursuant to this Subsection
8.2.
8.3 Franchisee shall submit to Franchisor, for Franchisor's
approval, an
advertising campaign plan relating to the promotion of the
opening of the
Restaurant which is sufficient to meet the needs of the market.
The Manuals
contain a Press Release kit to assist Franchisee in this regard.
Franchisee
shall conduct the approved advertising campaign and make all
expenditures for
advertising to promote the opening of the Restaurant no later
than sixty (60)
days after the Restaurant opens for business. Franchisor will
reimburse fifty
percent (50%) of Franchisee's out-of-pocket opening advertising
expenditures up
to a maximum of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), if
Franchisee meets
the following criteria:
(a) Franchisee's opening advertising expenditures are made, and
the
approved advertising campaign has been conducted, within sixty
(60) days
after the opening of the Restaurant;
(b) Franchisee submits to Franchisor within one hundred twenty
(120)
days after the opening of the Restaurant documentation for the
opening
advertising expenditures, such as paid invoices from suppliers
of goods or
services evidencing expenditure on the opening advertising
promotion; and
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<PAGE>
(c) Franchisee's opening advertising expenditures are made
pursuant to
the approved advertising campaign plan and in accordance with
the Grand
Opening Reimbursement Program Policy Guidelines set forth in the
Manuals.
8.4 Nothing in the foregoing Subsections shall be deemed to
prohibit
Franchisee from making additional expenditures for local
promotional activities.
All of the Franchisee's local promotional activities shall
utilize approved
advertising media. "Approved advertising media" are limited to
the following:
(a) Newspapers, magazines and other such periodicals;
(b) Radio and television;
(c) Outdoor advertising by signs displayed on billboards or
buildings;
and
(d) Handbills, flyers, door-hangers and direct mail.
In the event Franchisee wants to use a form of advertising
medium not set forth
above, Franchisee shall submit a description of such medium and
advertising to
Franchisor. Franchisor shall notify Franchisee whether it
approves the use of
such medium within thirty (30) days of Franchisee's request.
Failure by
Franchisor to so notify Franchisee within that period shall be
deemed to
constitute Franchisor's approval of such request. Guidelines for
local
promotional activities are contained in the Manuals, including
Franchisee's
required participation in any co-operative marketing
program.
8.5 All advertising copy and other materials employed by
Franchisee in
local promotional activities shall be in strict accordance and
conformity with
the standards, formats and specimens contained in the Manuals
and shall receive
the prior approval of Franchisor. In the event Franchisee wishes
to deviate from
the materials contained in the Manuals, Franchisee shall submit,
in each
instance, the proposed advertising copy and materials to
Franchisor for approval
in advance of publication. Franchisor shall notify Franchisee in
writing, within
fifteen (15) days of such submission, whether Franchisor
disapproves such
advertising copy and materials. Failure by Franchisor to so
notify Franchisee
within that period shall be deemed to constitute Franchisor's
approval of such
advertising copy and materials. In no event shall Franchisee's
advertising
contain any statement or material which may be considered (a) in
bad taste or
offensive to the public or to any group of persons, (b)
defamatory of any person
or an attack on any competitor, (c) to infringe upon the use,
without
permission, of any other persons' trade name, trademark, service
mark or
identification, or (d) inconsistent with the public image of
Franchisor or of
the System.
9. FEES
9.1 As partial consideration for the rights granted hereunder,
Franchisee
shall pay Franchisor:
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(a) an initial franchise fee of _____________________
dollars
($__________), to be paid in the manner prescribed in Subsection
4.l of the
Development Agreement as payment for the grant of the
franchise;
(b) a monthly royalty fee as determined by Franchisor, not to
exceed
five percent (5%) of each calendar month's gross sales, as
provided in
Subsection 4.3 of the Development Agreement, as payment for
Franchisee's
continuing right to operate the Restaurant as part of the System
(see
Exhibit 1); and
(c) a monthly advertising fee equal to such percentage of each
calendar
month's gross sales as Franchisor may require pursuant to
Subsection 8.2
hereof.
9.2 The fees referred to in Subsections 9.l(b) and (c) (the
"Fees") shall
be paid by check on or before the twelfth day of the next full
month immediately
following the month to which the Fees relate. Any Fees,
including the initial
franchise fee, which are not paid when due shall bear interest
from and after
the due dates thereof at the rate of eighteen percent (18%) per
annum or the
highest rate permitted by applicable law, whichever is less.
9.3 (a) Except for the sale of a gift card (on which royalty
shall be due
and payable upon redemption of the gift card and as provided in
Subsection
9.3(b) hereof, the term "gross sales," as used in this
Agreement, shall mean all
receipts (cash, cash equivalents or credit) or revenues from
sales from all
business conducted upon or from the Restaurant premises, whether
evidenced by
check, cash, credit, debit card, charge account, exchange or
otherwise,
including, but not limited to, amounts received from the sale of
goods, wares
and merchandise (including sales of food beverages and tangible
property of
every kind and nature, promotional or otherwise), from all
services performed
from or at the Restaurant premises, and from all orders taken or
received at the
Restaurant premises, regardless of where such orders are filled
(including any
payments received from the sale of meals to employees). Gross
sales shall not be
reduced by any deductions for cash shortages incurred in
connection with the
transaction of business with customers, credit card company
charges or theft
which is reimbursed by insurance or is not reported to the
appropriate police
authorities. Each charge or sale upon installment or credit
shall be treated as
a sale for the full price in the month during which such charge
or sale shall be
first made, irrespective of the time when Franchisee shall
receive payment
(whether full or partial) therefor.
(b) Gross sales shall not include: (i) the sale of merchandise
for
which cash has been refunded or, except as provided in the
second sentence of
Subsection 9.3(a), not received, or allowances made for
merchandise, if the
sales of any such returned or exchanged merchandise shall have
been previously
included in gross sales, (ii) the amount of any sales tax
imposed by any
federal, state, municipal or other governmental authority
directly on sales and
intended to be collected from customers, provided that the
amount thereof is
added to the selling price and actually paid by the Franchisee
to such
governmental authority, (iii) the sale of merchandise for which
a gift card is
redeemed, if the initial sale of the gift card shall have been
previously
included in gross sales, (iv) the sale of waste products of the
Restaurant, (v)
telephone, game and vending machine revenues, (vi) the sale of
non-food items or
beverages at a discount in connection with a promotional
campaign, (vii)
one-time sale of furniture, fixtures or equipment, and (viii)
theft which is not
covered by insurance and is reported to the appropriate police
authorities. In
addition, Franchisor may, from time to time, in writing, permit
or allow certain
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<PAGE>
other items to be excluded from gross sales. Any such permission
or allowance
may be revoked or withdrawn at Franchisor's discretion.
9.4 Franchisee agrees that, subject to the provisions of this
Section 9.4,
Franchisor may withdraw funds from Franchisee's designated bank
account by
electronic funds transfer ("EFT") in the amount of any royalties
or other fees
payable to Franchisor under this Agreement. Franchisor will make
each EFT
withdrawal of the royalty fees described in Section 9.1(b) and
advertising fees
described in Section 9.1(c) on the dates such payments are due.
Franchisor may
withdraw any other payments owed to Franchisor pursuant to, or
in connection
with, this Agreement if such payments become more than 10 days
past due.
Franchisee's designated bank account for EFT withdrawals shall
at all times be
maintained in the United States and such account shall permit
EFT withdrawals by
Franchisor without approval of, or involvement by, a government
agency or
authority. If Franchisee has not submitted a monthly Restaurant
report as
required by Section 10.2(a) hereof, Franchisor may make an EFT
withdrawal for
overdue royalty fees based on a good faith estimate of the Gross
Sales for the
applicable month. After the applicable monthly Restaurant report
is submitted,
Franchisor will make an appropriate credit to Franchisee for any
overpayment or
will invoice Franchisee for any underpayment, as applicable.
9.5 Franchisee will, upon execution of this Agreement, execute a
document
in the form of Appendix D, granting to Franchisor the authority
to process EFTs
from Franchisee's designated bank account. From time-to-time at
Franchisor's
request, Franchisee will execute any additional documents
necessary to confirm
or update this authority. Franchisee will be responsible for any
EFT transfer
fee or similar charge imposed by Franchisee's bank, and for any
service charges
incurred by Franchisor and/or imposed by Franchisee's bank
should any EFT not be
honored by Franchisee's bank for any reason. Throughout the term
of this
Agreement, Franchisee will maintain a minimum balance of
$___________ ("Minimum
Balance") in the bank account against which EFTs are to be drawn
under this
Agreement. It will be a material event of default if Franchisee
allows the
amount on deposit in the account to fall below two-thirds of the
Minimum
Balance, closes the account without Franchisor's consent, or
closes the account
with Franchisor's consent, but fails to promptly establish
another account and
execute all documents necessary for Franchisor to process all
payments by EFT
from the new account. Franchisee acknowledges that the Minimum
Balance is the
minimum amount required for the Restaurant and that such amount
is in addition
to the Minimum Balance specified for any other Restaurant
operated by
Franchisee. Franchisor may increase the Minimum Balance from
time to time (but
not more frequently than once per year) to an amount up to 150%
of the average
monthly royalty and advertising fees for the Restaurant for the
immediately
preceding 12-month period.
10. RECORD KEEPING; ACCESS TO INFORMATION
10.1 Franchisee shall employ a point of sale system approved by
Franchisor,
without modification, in connection with the business of the
Restaurant.
Franchisee shall use such bookkeeping and record keeping forms
as shall be
prescribed in the Manuals.
10.2 Franchisee shall complete and submit to Franchisor, on a
regular,
continuous basis, each of the following reports, in the form
specified in the
Manuals:
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<PAGE>
(a) monthly Restaurant reports, on or before the twelfth day of
each
calendar month following the month to which the report
relates;
(b) annual Restaurant reports, on or before the fifteenth day of
April
of each year;
(c) weekly gross sales reports, on or before the Tuesday
following the
calendar week to which the report relates; and
(d) such additional reports as the Franchisor shall request.
10.3 The annual Restaurant reports referred to above shall
include a
balance sheet dated as of the end of Franchisee's fiscal year or
calendar year
and a profit and loss statement for such year, together with
such additional
financial information as Franchisor may reasonably request. Such
balance sheet
and profit and loss statement shall be prepared in accordance
with generally
accepted accounting principles, certified as correct and
complete by
Franchisee's chief executive officer, president, chief financial
officer or
controller and reported on and reviewed by an independent
state-licensed
certified public accountant. If Franchisee fails to provide
Franchisor with such
balance sheet and profit and loss statement, Franchisor shall
have the right to
have an independent audit made of Franchisee's books and
records, and Franchisee
shall promptly reimburse Franchisor for the cost thereof.
10.4 Each of the reports referred to in this Section 10 shall be
completed
by Franchisee or its accountant in the respective specimen
forms, and in
accordance with the instructions, contained in the Manuals.
Subsection 10.3
notwithstanding, time is of the essence with respect to the
completion and
submission of each such report.
10.5 Franchisee shall install and maintain such equipment, make
such
arrangements and follow such procedures as Franchisor may
require in the Manuals
or otherwise in writing (including the establishment and
maintenance of
Internet, intranet or extranet access or such other means of
electronic
communication, as specified by Franchisor from time to time) to
permit
Franchisor to access, download, and retrieve electronically,
by
telecommunication or other designated method, any information
stored in
Franchisee's electronic cash registers or on Franchisee's
computer systems,
including information concerning the gross sales of the
Restaurant, and to
permit Franchisor to upload and for Franchisee to receive and
download
information from Franchisor with or without Franchisee's prior
consent.
Franchisee further agrees that Franchisor will have and be
afforded access to
such information at the times and in the manner that Franchisor
may specify from
time to time, including extracting information by electronic,
digital or other
means.
11. FRANCHISEE ORGANIZATION, AUTHORITY, FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
SHAREHOLDERS
11.1 Franchisee and each Principal Shareholder represent and
warrant that:
(a) Franchisee is a corporation duly incorporated, validly
existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of its incorporation; (b)
Franchisee is
duly qualified and is authorized to do business and is in good
standing as a
foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its business
activities or the
nature of the properties owned by it requires such
qualification; (c) the
F-16
<PAGE>
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the transaction
contemplated hereby
are within Franchisee's corporate power; (d) the execution and
delivery of this
Agreement has been duly authorized by the Franchisee; (e) the
articles of
incorporation and by-laws of Franchisee delivered to Franchisor
are true,
complete and correct, and there have been no changes therein
since the date
thereof; (f) the certified copies of the minutes electing the
officers of
Franchisee and authorizing the execution and delivery of this
Agreement are
true, correct and complete, and there have been no changes
therein since the
date(s) thereof; (g) the specimen stock certificate delivered to
Franchisor is a
true specimen of Franchisee's stock certificate; (h) the balance
sheet of
Franchisee as of ____________________, ________ ("Balance
Sheet") and the
balance sheets of its Principal Shareholders as of
____________________,
________, heretofore delivered to Franchisor, are true, complete
and correct,
and fairly present the financial positions of Franchisee and
each Principal
Shareholder, respectively, as of the dates thereof; (i) the
Balance Sheet and
each such balance sheet have been prepared in accordance with
generally accepted
accounting principles; and (j) there have been no materially
adverse changes in
the condition, assets or liabilities of Franchisee or Principal
Shareholders
since the date or dates thereof.
11.2 Franchisee and each Principal Shareholder covenant that
during the
term of this Agreement: (a) Franchisee shall do or cause to be
done all things
necessary to preserve and keep in full force its corporate
existence and shall
be in good standing as a foreign corporation in each
jurisdiction in which its
business activities or the nature of the properties owned by it
requires such
qualification; (b) Franchisee shall have the corporate authority
to carry out
the terms of this Agreement; and (c) Franchisee shall print, in
a conspicuous
fashion on all certificates representing shares of its stock
when issued, a
legend referring to this Agreement and the restrictions on and
obligations of
Franchisee and Principal Shareholders hereunder, including the
restrictions on
transfer of Franchisee's shares.
11.3 In addition to the financial information which Franchisee
is required
to provide to Franchisor under Subsections 10.2 and 11.1 hereof,
Franchisee and
Principal Shareholders shall provide Franchisor with such other
financial
information as Franchisor may reasonably request from time to
time, including,
on an annual basis, copies of the then-most current financial
statements of
Franchisee and each Principal Shareholder, dated as of the end
of the last
preceding fiscal year of the Franchisee or Principal
Shareholder, said
statements to be delivered to Franchisor no later than April 15
of each year,
which financial statements shall conform to the standards set
forth in
Subsection 11.1 hereof.
11.4 Franchisee and each Principal Shareholder represent,
warrant and
covenant that all Interests (as defined in Subsection 12.4
hereto) in Franchisee
are owned as set forth on Appendix A hereto, that no Interest
has been pledged
or hypothecated (except in accordance with Section 12 of this
Agreement), and
that no change will be made in the ownership of any such
Interest other than as
permitted by this Agreement, or otherwise consented to in
writing by Franchisor.
Franchisee and Principal Shareholders agree to furnish
Franchisor with such
evidence as Franchisor may request, from time to time, for the
purpose of
assuring Franchisor that the Interests of Franchisee and
Principal Shareholders
remain as represented herein.
11.5 Each Principal Shareholder, jointly and severally, hereby
personally
and unconditionally guarantees each of Franchisee's financial
obligations to
Franchisor (including, but not limited to, all obligations
relating to the
payment of fees by Franchisee to Franchisor). Each Principal
Shareholder agrees
that Franchisor may resort to such Principal Shareholder (or any
of them) for
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<PAGE>
payment of any such financial obligation, whether or not
Franchisor shall have
proceeded against Franchisee, any other Principal Shareholder or
any other
obligor primarily or secondarily obligated to Franchisor with
respect to such
financial obligation. Each Principal Shareholder hereby
expressly waives
presentment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, and all other
notices
whatsoever with respect to Franchisor's enforcement of this
guaranty. In
addition, each Principal Shareholder agrees that if the
performance or
observance by Franchisee of any term or provision hereof is
waived or the time
of performance thereof extended by Franchisor, or payment of any
such financial
obligation is accelerated in accordance with any agreement
between Franchisor
and any party liable in respect thereto or extended or renewed,
in whole or in
part, all as Franchisor may determine, whether or not notice to
or consent by
any Principal Shareholder or any other party liable in respect
to such financial
obligations is given or obtained, such actions shall not affect
or alter the
guaranty of each Principal Shareholder described in this
Subsection.
11.6 Franchisee and each Principal Shareholder represent and
warrant to
Franchisor that:
(a) Neither Franchisee nor any Principal Shareholder or any
other
person with a direct or indirect ownership interest in
Franchisee is
identified, either by name or an alias, pseudonym or nickname,
on the
list of "Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons"
maintained by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign
Assets
Control (texts available at
www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/).
Further, Franchisee and its Principal Shareholders represent
and
warrant that neither has violated and agree that neither will
violate
any law (in effect now or which may become effective in the
future)
prohibiting corrupt business practices, money laundering or the
aid
or support of persons or entities who conspire to commit acts
of
terror against any person or government, including acts
prohibited by
the U.S. Patriot Act (text available at
http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.html), U.S.
Executive
Order 13244 (text available at
http://treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sanctions/terrorism.html),
or similar law;
(b) Franchisee has not made, nor has any Principal Shareholder
made,
any expenditures other than for lawful purposes or directly
or
indirectly offered, gave, promised to give or authorized the
payment
or the gift of any money, or anything of value, to any person
or
entity, while knowing or having reason to know that all or a
portion
of such money or thing of value would be given or promised,
directly
or indirectly, to any government official, official of an
international organization, officer or employee of a foreign
government or anyone acting in an official capacity for a
foreign
government, for the purpose of (1) influencing any action,
inaction
or decision of such official in a manner contrary to his or
her
position or creating an improper advantage; or (2) inducing
such
official to influence any government or instrumentality thereof
to
effect or influence any act or decision of such government
or
instrumentality.
(c) Franchisee nor any Principal Shareholder or any other person
or
entity who has any direct or indirect ownership interest is or
will
become directly or indirectly owned or controlled by
governmental
authorities of any country that is subject to a United
States
embargo; and
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<PAGE>
Franchisee understands and its Principal Shareholders understand
and have
been advised by legal counsel on the requirements of the United
States Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act (currently located at
www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.html, any local foreign
corrupt practices laws
and the Patriot Act (currently located at
www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.html, acknowledge the
importance to
Franchisor and the Restaurants and the parties' relationship of
their respective
compliance with the requirements of these laws, including any
applicable
auditing requirements and any requirement to report or provide
access to
information to Franchisor or any government, that is made part
of any applicable
law, and agree to take all steps required by their consultants,
agents and
employees to comply with such laws prior to engaging or
employing any such
individuals or entities.
12. TRANSFER
12.1 There shall be no Transfer of any Interest of Franchisee,
or of a
Principal Shareholder in Franchisee, in whole or in part
(whether voluntarily or
by operation of law), directly, indirectly or contingently,
except in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 12. "Transfer" and
"Interest" are defined in
Subsections 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4. Any proposed Transfer also
shall be subject to
the provisions of the Development Agreement, which are
incorporated herein by
reference.
12.2 Except as provided in Subsection 12.3, "Transfer" shall
mean any
assignment, sale, pledge, hypothecation, gift or any other event
which would
change ownership of or change or create a new Interest,
including, but not
limited to:
(a) any change in the ownership of or rights in or to any shares
of
stock or other equity interest in Franchisee which would result
from the
act of any shareholder of Franchisee ("Shareholder"), such as a
sale,
exchange, pledge or hypothecation of shares, or any interest in
or rights
to any of Franchisee's profits, revenues or assets, or any such
change
which would result by operation of law; and
(b) any change in the percentage interest owned by any
Shareholder in
the shares of stock of Franc
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