Connecticut General Statutes Title 42. Business, Selling, Trading and Collection Practices § 42-350. Supplier's consent to transfer of dealer's business, stock or other interest

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no supplier shall unreasonably withhold or delay consent to any transfer of a dealer's business or transfer of the stock or other interest in a dealer whenever such consent is required pursuant to a dealer agreement and the proposed transferee meets the material and reasonable business and financial requirements of the supplier. If the supplier determines that a proposed transferee does not meet such requirements, the supplier shall give the dealer written notice stating the specific reasons for withholding consent not later than ninety days after the date of the dealer's request for consent. No such proposed transferee may be disqualified by the supplier from being a dealer solely because the proposed transferee is a publicly held corporation.

(b) No supplier shall unreasonably withhold or delay consent to any transfer of a dealer's business to a member or members of the family of the dealer or the principal owner of the dealer if (1) such consent is required pursuant to a dealer agreement, (2) such family member meets the reasonable business qualifications, experience and character standards of the supplier, and (3) such family member demonstrates to the supplier that such business will be or will continue to be adequately capitalized. If the supplier determines that any such family member does not meet such requirements, the supplier shall give the dealer written notice stating the specific reasons for withholding consent not later than ninety days after the date of the dealer's request for consent. As used in this subsection, “family” means the spouse, parent, siblings, children, stepchildren and lineal descendants, including those by adoption, of the dealer or principal owner of the dealer.

(c) In any dispute as to whether a supplier has unreasonably withheld consent under this section, the supplier shall have the burden of proving a substantial and reasonable justification for such withholding of consent.