Buy/sell Albert Heijn franchise company
A judgment of 28 July 2016 by the Central Netherlands District Court, ECLI:NL:RBMNE:2016:6138, concerned the sale of shares in two companies in which an Albert Heijn supermarket was operated. The dispute was about what exactly was included in the purchase/sale.
Shortly before finalization, the parent company of the sellers appears to be the lessor of one of the supermarket premises. They exercise the pre-emptive right to purchase. The buyers of the shares demanded that they receive the supermarket business space as part of the share purchase. The sellers argue that the pre-emptive right to purchase the supermarket business space does not rest with the companies that are the subject of the intended transaction. Moreover, the buyers had never inquired about the pre-emptive right and the sellers had never communicated anything about it. The preliminary relief judge therefore rejected the claim and ruled that the purchase must go ahead without the supermarket business space, so that people know what is and what is not included in the purchase/sale.
This judgment shows the importance of expert assistance in negotiating the takeover of supermarkets.
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
Tenancy law and franchise: approval of deviating terms in the tenancy agreement, despite material infringement and the lack of an equal social position between the tenant and landlord
Tenancy law and franchise: approval of deviating clauses in the lease.
Business transfer franchisee: franchisor properly facilitates franchisee in settlement
On November 12, 2014, the District Court of Rotterdam ruled in a case between the franchisor and the franchisee about the lawfulness of the termination of the franchise agreement.
Franchising as urgent personal use
In a judgment dated 18 November 2014, the Court of Appeal in Den Bosch considered, among other things, whether a lessor may terminate the lease of business premises due to urgent personal use.
Can exclusion of error in forecasting benefit the franchisor?
Franchisors are often accused of failing before and when concluding a franchise agreement
Mistake about prognosis, annulment of non-compete clause?
Mistake about prognosis, annulment of non-compete clause?
Chapter in book NFV about import and export of franchise formulas, written by mr. Th.R. Ludwig
Chapter in book NFV about import and export of franchise formulas, written by mr. Th.R. Ludwig