(A) Each franchisor proposing to terminate, cancel, discontinue, or not renew a franchise based upon any of the following shall send written notice by certified mail of the proposed action to the franchisee at such time as may be necessary to ensure that the notice is received not later than twelve months before the effective date of the proposed action, unless prohibited by law or regulation:

(1) As a result of any change in ownership, operation, or control of all or any part of the business of the manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, or distributor branch, whether by sale or transfer of assets, corporate stock or other equity interest, or by assignment, merger, consolidation, combination, joint venture, redemption, operation of law, or otherwise;

(2) The termination, suspension, or cessation of a part or all of the business operations of the manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, or distributor branch;

(3) Discontinuance of the sale of a line-make, series, brand or class of vehicles or a change in distribution system by the manufacturer, whether through a change in distributors or the manufacturer's decision to cease conducting business through a distributor altogether.

(B) Each notice described in division (A) of this section shall set forth the specific grounds for the proposed termination, cancellation, or refusal to continue or renew a franchise.

(C) This section shall not apply to franchisors or franchisees who deal in recreational vehicles.

Added by 128th General AssemblyFile No.42, SB 204, §1, eff. 9/10/2010.