1. DEFINITIONS
In these Terms and Conditions of Sale, “Seller” means Aqua Aid Europe B.V.; “Buyer” means the person, firm, company or corporation by whom the order is given.
2. THE CONTRACT
2.1 All orders must be in writing and are accepted subject to these Terms and Conditions of Sale. No terms or conditions put forward by Buyer and no representations, warranties, guarantees or other statements not contained in Seller’s quotation or Acknowledgement of Order nor otherwise expressly agreed in writing by Seller shall be binding on Seller.
2.2 The Contract shall become effective only upon the date of acceptance of Buyer’s order on Seller’s Acknowledgement of Order from or upon the date of fulfilment of all conditions precedent stipulated in the Contract, whichever is the later (the “Effective Date”). If the details of the Goods described in Seller’s quotation differ from those set out in the Acknowledgement of Order Form the latter shall apply.
2.3 No alteration or variation to the Contract shall apply unless agreed in writing by both parties. However, Seller reserves the right to effect minor modifications and/or improvements to the Goods before delivery provided that the performance of the Goods is not adversely affected and that neither the Contract Price nor the delivery date is affected.
3. VALIDITY OF QUOTATION AND PRICES
3.1 Unless previously withdrawn, Seller’s quotation is open for acceptance within the period stated therein or, when no period is so stated, within thirty days after its date.
3.2 Prices are firm for delivery within the period stated in Seller’s quotation and are exclusive of (a) Value Added Tax and (b) any similar and other taxes, duties, levies or other like charges arising outside The Netherlands in connection with the performance of the Contract.
3.3 Prices (a) are for Goods delivered EXW (Ex works) Seller’s shipping point, exclusive of freight, insurance and handling unless otherwise stated in the Seller’s order confirmation.
4. PAYMENT
4.1 Payment shall be made: (a) in full without set-off, counterclaim or withholding of any kind (save where and to the extent that this cannot by law be excluded); and (b) in the currency of Seller’s order confirmation within fourteen days of date of invoice or agreed otherwise. Goods will be invoiced at the Effective date. Without prejudice to Seller’s other rights, Seller reserves the right to: (i)charge interest on any overdue sums at 2% per month; (ii) suspend performance of the Contract (including withholding shipment) in the event that Buyer fails or in Seller’s reasonable opinion it appears that Buyer is likely to fail to make payment when due under the Contract or any other contract; and (iii) at any time require such reasonable security for payment as Seller may deem reasonable.
5. DELIVERY PERIOD
5.1 Unless otherwise stated in Seller’s order confirmation, all periods stated for delivery or completion run from the Effective Date and are to be treated as estimates only not involving any contractual obligations.
5.2 If Seller is delayed in or prevented from performing any of its obligations under the Contract, the delivery/completion period shall be adjusted accordingly.
5.3 If delivery is delayed due to any act or omission of Buyer, or if having been notified that the Goods are ready for despatch, Buyer fails to take delivery or provide adequate shipping instructions, Seller shall be entitled to place the Goods into a suitable store at Buyer’s expense. Upon placing the Goods into the store, delivery shall be deemed to be complete, risk in the Goods shall pass to Buyer and Buyer shall pay Seller accordingly.
6. FORCE MAJEURE
6.1 Force Majeure of any kind, unforeseeable production, traffic or shipping disturbances, war, acts of terrorism, fire, floods, unforeseeable shortages of labour, utilities or raw materials and supplies, strikes, lockouts, acts of government, and any other hindrances beyond the control of the party obliged to perform which diminish, delay or prevent production, shipment, acceptance or use of the goods, or make it an unreasonable proposition, shall relieve the party from its obligation to supply or take delivery, as the case may be, as long as and to the extent that the hindrance prevails. If, as a result of the hindrance, supply and/or acceptance is delayed by more than eight weeks, either party shall have the right to cancel the contract. Should the Seller’s suppliers fail to supply him in whole or in part , the Seller shall not be under obligation to purchase from other sources. In such cases, the Seller shall have the right to distribute the available quantities among his customers while at the same time taking into account his captive requirements.
7. DELIVERY, RISK & TITLE
7.1 Unless otherwise expressly stated in the Contract, the Goods will be delivered Ex Works to the destination named in the Contract. Risk of loss of or damage to the Goods shall pass to Buyer at Seller’s shipping point and Buyer shall be responsible for insurance of the Goods after risk has so passed. Delivery terms used in the Contract shall be defined in accordance with the latest version of Incoterms.
7.2 Title to the Goods shall pass to Buyer upon delivery in accordance with Clause 7.1.
7.3 Claims for shortfalls in quantity or for incorrect delivery must be made as soon as reasonably possible but shall be void if made more than 14 days after receipt by the customer.
8. DEFECTS AFTER DELIVERY
8.1 Seller warrants (i) subject to the other provisions of the Contract, good title to and the unencumbered use of the Goods; (ii) that Goods delivered by Seller and/or Seller’s Affiliates shall conform with Seller’s specifications therefore and be free of defects in materials and workmanship. Seller will make good by the supply of a replacement part or parts, any defects which, under proper use, care and maintenance, appear in Goods of Seller’s Affiliates’ manufacture and which are reported to Seller within 6 calendar months after their delivery (the “Warranty Period”) and which arise solely from faulty materials or workmanship: provided always that defective items are returned to Seller at Buyer’s cost carriage and insurance prepaid within the Warranty Period. Repaired or replacement items will be delivered by Seller at Seller’s cost to Buyer. Goods replaced in accordance with this Clause 10.1 shall be subject to the foregoing warranty for the unexpired portion of the Warranty Period or for ninety days from the date of their return to Buyer (or completion of correction in the case of Services), whichever expires the later.
8.2 Notwithstanding Clause 8.1, Seller shall not be liable for any defects caused by: fair wear and tear; materials or workmanship made, furnished or specified by Buyer; non-compliance with Seller’s storage, installation, operation or environmental requirements; lack of proper maintenance; any modification or repair not previously authorized by Seller in writing. Seller’s costs incurred in investigating and rectifying such defects shall be paid by Buyer upon demand. Buyer shall at all times remain solely responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of all information supplied by it.
8.3 Subject to Clause 10.1, the foregoing constitutes Seller’s sole warranty and Buyer’s exclusive remedy for breach thereof. No representations, warranties or conditions of any kind, express or implied, shall apply as to satisfactory quality, merchantability, fitness for any particular purpose or any other matter with respect to any of the Goods.
9. PATENT, ETC. INFRINGEMENT
9.1 Subject to the limitations set forth in Clause 10, Seller shall indemnify Buyer in the event of any claim for infringement of Letters Patent, Registered Design, Design Right, Trade Mark or Copyright (“Intellectual Property Rights”) existing at the date of formation of the Contract arising from the use or sale of the Goods, against all reasonable costs and damages awarded against Buyer in any action for such infringement, or for which Buyer may become liable in any such action, provided always that Seller shall not be liable to so indemnify Buyer in the event that:(i) Buyer has failed to give Seller the earliest possible notice in writing of any claim made or to be made or of any action threatened or brought against Buyer and/or Buyer has failed to permit Seller, at Seller’s expense, to conduct and control any litigation that may ensue and all negotiations for a settlement of the claim, or (ii) Buyer has made without Seller’s prior written consent any admission which is or may be prejudicial to Seller in respect of any such claim or action, or (iii) the Goods have been modified without Seller’s prior written authorization.
9.2 Buyer warrants that any design or instructions furnished or given by it shall not cause Seller to infringe any Intellectual Property Rights in the performance of Seller’s obligations under the Contract and shall indemnify Seller against all reasonable costs and damages which Seller may incur as a result of any breach of such warranty.
10. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Supplier’s maximum aggregate liability for any and all losses, liabilities, expenses (including legal expenses), damages, claims or actions incurred under or in connection with any Goods delivered by Seller, arising in or by virtue of breach of contract, tort (including negligence), misrepresentation, breach of statutory duty, strict liability, infringement of intellectual property rights or otherwise, shall in no circumstances exceed a sum equal to the total price of the specific order that gave rise to such liability with a maximum of € 25.000 and limited to the amount paid out under Supplier’s professional liability insurance policy with respect to the matter(s) concerned, increased by the deductible applicable under the terms of such policy. Under no circumstances Seller shall be liable for loss or anticipated loss of profit, revenue or market, third party claims, business interruption, loss of any contract or other business opportunity, punitive damages and any other indirect- or consequential loss, damage or claims.
11. CONSEQUENCES OF AMENDMENTS OF STATUTORY AND OTHER REGULATIONS
If Seller’s obligations under the Contract shall be increased or reduced by reason of the making or amendment after the date of Seller’s quotation of any law or any order, regulation or by-law having the force of law that shall affect the performance of Seller’s obligations under the Contract, the Contract Price and delivery period shall be adjusted accordingly and/or performance of the Contract suspended or terminated, as appropriate.
12. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS
Buyer agrees that all applicable import, export control and sanctions laws, regulations, orders and requirements, as they may be amended from time to time, including without limitation those of the United States, the European Union and the jurisdictions in which Seller and Buyer are established or from which items may be supplied, and the requirements of any licenses, authorizations, general licenses or license exceptions relating thereto will apply to its receipt and use of goods and will be strictly adhered to by Buyer. In no event shall Buyer use, transfer, release, export or re -export any such goods in violation of such applicable laws, regulations, orders or requirements or the requirements of any licenses, authorizations or license exceptions relating thereto. Buyer agrees furthermore that it shall not engage in any activity that would expose the Seller to a risk of penalties under laws and regulations of any relevant jurisdiction prohibiting improper payments, including but not limited to bribes, to officials of any government or of any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof, to political parties or political party officials or candidates for public office, or to any employee of any customer or supplier. Buyer agrees to comply with all appropriate legal, ethical and compliance requirements.
13. DEFAULT, INSOLVENCY AND CANCELLATION
Seller shall be entitled, without prejudice to any other rights it may have, to cancel the Contract forthwith, wholly or partly, by notice in writing to Buyer, if (a) Buyer is in default of any of its obligations under the Contract and fails, within 30 (thirty) days of the date of Seller’s notification in writing of the existence of the default, either to rectify such default if it is reasonably capable of being rectified within such period or, if the default is not reasonably capable of being rectified within such period, to take action to remedy the default or (b) on the occurrence of an Insolvency Event in relation to Buyer. Seller shall be entitled to recover from Buyer or Buyer’s representative all costs and damages incurred by Seller as a result of such cancellation, including a reasonable allowance for overheads and profit (including but not limited to loss of prospective profits and overheads).
14. MISCELLANEOUS
14.1 No waiver by either party with respect to any breach or default or of any right or remedy and no course of dealing, shall be deemed to constitute a continuing waiver of any other breach or default or of any other right or remedy, unless such waiver be expressed in writing and signed by the party to be bound.
14.2 If any clause, sub-clause or other provision of the Contract is invalid under any statute or rule of law, such provision, to that extent only, shall be deemed to be omitted without affecting the validity of the remainder of the Contract.
14.3 Buyer shall not be entitled to assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Seller.
14.4 Seller enters into the Contract as principal. Buyer agrees to look only to Seller for due performance of the Contract.
14.5 GOODS PROVIDED HEREUNDER ARE NOT SOLD OR INTENDED FOR USE IN ANY NUCLEAR OR NUCLEAR RELATED APPLICATIONS. Buyer (i) accepts Goods in accordance with the foregoing restriction, (ii) agrees to communicate such restriction in writing to any and all subsequent purchasers or users and (iii) agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Seller from any and all claims, losses, liabilities, suits, judgments and damages, including incidental and consequential damages, arising from use of Goods in any nuclear or nuclear related applications, whether the cause of action be based in tort, contract or otherwise, including allegations that the Seller’s liability is based on negligence or strict liability.
14.6 The Contract shall in all respects be construed in accordance with the laws of The Netherlands excluding, however, any effect on such laws of the 1980 Vienna Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods and to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be without regard to any conflict of laws or rules which might apply the laws of any other jurisdiction. All disputes arising out of the Contract shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of Dutch courts.
14.7 The headings to the Clauses and paragraphs of the Contract are for guidance only and shall not affect the interpretation thereof. 14.8 All notices and claims in connection with the Contract must be in writing