Agent's Claim for Customer Compensation After Agreement Termination

The court addressed the former agent's claim for customer compensation under Article 418u of the Code of Obligations following the termination of an agency agreement, where the agent alleged significant expansion of the principal's customer base in the German market. The court reasoned that for such compensation to be due, the agent must have substantially enlarged the principal's client base, and the principal must derive considerable ongoing benefits, which necessitates customers remaining loyal and providing significant, sustained revenue. Based on the sales statistics provided, which showed a continuous decline in the number of active customers and diminishing revenue from the remaining few since the contract's termination date, the court concluded that the cumulative requirements for a substantial expansion and significant ensuing benefit were not met, thus denying the claim.