Implementing legislation
Law no. 417 of 8.5.1992.
Proper notice
Indemnity or compensation or both
Indemnity only.
Calculation of indemnity/compensation
Capped at a maximum of the average annual commission over last 5 years or, if less than 5 years, over duration of agency.
Pre-termination commission
Yes.
Post-termination commission
Yes.
Back commission
Yes.
Other entitlements
Right to specific benefits such as daily allowances.
Implementing Legislation
Commercial Representatives and Salesmen Act (417/1992)
1) Under Finnish law is it possible to have a restraint of trade clause operating during the agency agreement and, if so, is it subject to any qualifications?
According to section 6 of the Finnish Act on Commercial Representatives and Salesmen (417/1992), a certain degree of the agent’s trade activities are restrained. Under section 5(1) of the Finnish Act on Commercial Representatives and Salesman a commercial agent may accept tasks from other persons besides the principal only if this is not contrary to the obligations of the commercial agent. Section 5(1) requires the agent to take into consideration the interests of the principal, act dutifully and in good faith towards him as well as comply with any reasonable instructions given by the principal.
As section 6 of the above Act is not mandatory, the parties may agree on a more draconian restraint of trade clause that operates during the agency agreement. Such a restraint of trade clause is subject to the qualification of not being unfair to the agent. An unreasonable or unfair term can be adjusted or set aside by the court as different kinds of contracts (and their unfair terms) are governed in Finland by sections 36 and 38 of the Contracts Act (228/1929). However, situations where the Contracts Act could be applied to an agency agreement are rare and there are no Supreme Court precedents regarding such cases.
2) Under Finnish law is it possible to have a restraint of trade clause operating following the termination or expiry of the agency agreement and, if so, is it subject to any qualifications?
It is possible under Finnish law to have a restraint of trade clause operating following the termination or expiry of the agency agreement.
Section 31 states that such a restraint of trade clause is valid only if:
A restraint of trade clause is not valid for more than two years after the termination of the contract.
Please note, that, as yet, there have been no reported Supreme Court precedents concerning the Act on Commercial Representatives and Salesmen.
agentlaw.co.uk wishes to thank Sivenius, Suvanto & Co Oy, attorneys-at-law, Helsinki for its contribution to this page.