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RSMo 407.753effective 28 Aug 1991

Manufacturer, wholesaler or distributor not to terminate contract except for good cause

In plain English

A company that makes or sells industrial and construction power equipment cannot just end a contract with a dealer for no reason. There has to be 'good cause,' like the dealer not following the contract rules, going bankrupt, closing down, moving without permission, or being convicted of a felony. If the company wants to end the contract for other reasons, it has to give the dealer 90 days written notice and 60 days to fix the problem. If the dealer fixes the problem in time, the contract stays.

Word-for-word law

407.753. , or not to terminate contract except for good cause, how established. — 1. Any manufacturer, wholesaler or distributor of industrial, and construction power equipment used for industrial, maintenance and construction applications and therefor, who enters into a written or with any person, firm, or engaged in the business of selling and repairing industrial, maintenance and construction power equipment used for industrial, maintenance and construction applications and repair parts therefor, whereby such agrees to maintain a stock of parts or complete or whole machines or attachments, shall not terminate, cancel, or fail to renew any such contract without good cause."Good cause" means failure by the retailer to substantially comply with essential and reasonable requirements imposed upon the retailer by the contract if such requirements are not different from those requirements imposed on other retailers either by their terms or in the manner of their . In addition, good cause shall exist whenever:

(1) The retailer has transferred an interest in the retailer business without the manufacturer's, wholesaler's or distributor's written , or there has been a withdrawal from the retailer's business of an , partner, , or the manager of the retailer's business, or there has been a substantial reduction in interest of a partner or major stockholder without the written consent of the manufacturer, wholesaler, or distributor;

(2) The retailer has filed a or has had an filed against it which has not been within thirty days after the , or there has been a or sale of a substantial part of the retailer's related to the retailer's business or there has been a or or of the retailer's business;

(3) There has been a change, without the prior written approval of the manufacturer, wholesaler, or distributor, in the location of the retailer's under the retailer's agreement with the manufacturer, wholesaler, or distributor;

(4) The retailer has defaulted under any or other between the retailer and the manufacturer, wholesaler, or distributor, or there has been a or discontinuance of any guarantee of the retailer's present or future obligations to the manufacturer, wholesaler, or distributor;

(5) The retailer has failed to operate in the normal course of business for seven days or has otherwise his business, except for reasonable and customary closures of business;

(6) The retailer has guilty to or has been of a affecting the relationship between the retailer and the manufacturer, wholesaler, or distributor;

(7) The retailer has engaged in conduct which is injurious or to the retailer's customers or the public welfare;

(8) The retailer has consistently failed to meet the manufacturer's, wholesaler's or distributor's requirements for reasonable based on the manufacturer's, wholesaler's, or distributor's in other marketing areas.

2. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a shall provide a retailer at least ninety-days prior written notice of , , or of the contract. The notice shall state all reasons constituting good cause for termination, cancellation or nonrenewal and shall provide that the has sixty days in which to any claimed . If the deficiency is rectified within sixty days the notice shall be . The notice and right-to-cure under this section shall not apply if the reason for termination, cancellation or nonrenewal is for any reason set forth in (1) to (8) of this section.

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Source & history notes

(L. 1991 S.B. 241 § 4)

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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.

RSMo 407.753: Manufacturer, wholesaler or distributor not to terminate contract except for good cause | KnowMo Laws