May 2006
Revision B
GENERAL CONDITIONS OF SALE (GCS01)
I. GENERAL
- The scope of deliveries and/or services (hereinafter referred to as "Supplies")
shall be determined by the written declarations of both Parties. General terms and
conditions of the Purchaser shall apply only if and when expressly accepted by the
supplier or the provider of services (hereinafter referred to as "Supplier") in writing.
- The Supplier herewith reserves any industrial property rights and/or copyrights
pertaining to its cost estimates, drawings and other documents (hereinafter referred
to as "Documents"). The Documents shall not be made accessible to third parties
without the Supplier's prior consent and shall, upon request, be returned without
undue delay to the Supplier if the contract is not awarded to the Supplier.
Sentences 1 and 2 shall apply mutatis mutandis to documents of the Purchaser;
these may, however, be made accessible to third parties to whom the Supplier may
rightfully transfer Supplies.
- The Purchaser shall have the non-exclusive right to use standard software,
provided that it remains unchanged, is used within the agreed performance
parameters, and on the agreed equipment. The Purchaser may make one back-up
copy without express agreement.
- Partial Supplies shall be allowed, unless they are unreasonable to accept for the
Purchaser.
II. PRICES AND TERMS OF PAYMENT
- Prices shall be ex works and exclude packaging; GST shall be added at the then
applicable rate.
- If the Supplier is also responsible for assembly or erection and unless otherwise
agreed, the Purchaser shall pay the agreed remuneration and any incidental costs
required, e. g. travel costs, costs for the transport of tools and equipment, and
personal luggage as well as allowances.
- Payments shall be made free Supplier's paying office.
- The Purchaser may set off only those claims that are undisputed or against
which no legal recourse is possible.
III. RETENTION OF TITLE
- Items pertaining to the Supplies ("Retained Goods") shall remain the property of
the Supplier until each and every claim the Supplier has against the Purchaser on
account of the business connection has been fulfilled. If the combined value of the
security interests of the Supplier exceeds the value of all secured claims by more
than 20 %, the Supplier shall release a corresponding part of the security interest if
so requested by the Purchaser.
- For the duration of the retention of title, the Purchaser may not pledge the
Retained Goods or use them as security, and resale shall be possible only for
resellers in the ordinary course of their business and only on condition that the
reseller receives payment from its customer or makes the transfer of property to the
customer dependent upon the customer fulfilling its obligation to effect payment.
- The Purchaser shall inform the Supplier forthwith of any seizure or other act of
intervention by third parties.
- Where the Purchaser fails to fulfil its duties, including failure to make payments
due, the Supplier shall be entitled to cancel the contract and take back the Retained
Goods in the case of continued failure following expiry of a reasonable time set by
the Supplier; the statutory provisions that a time limit is not needed remain
unaffected. The Purchaser shall be obliged to surrender the Retained Goods.
IV. TIME FOR SUPPLIES; DELAY
- Times set for Supplies can only be observed if all Documents to be supplied by
the Purchaser, necessary permits and releases, especially concerning plans, are
received in time and if agreed terms of payment and other obligations of the
Purchaser are fulfilled. Unless these conditions are fulfilled in time, times set shall
be extended appropriately; this shall not apply where the Supplier is responsible for
the delay.
- If non-observance of the times set is due to force majeure such as mobilization,
war, rebellion or similar events, e. g. strike or lockout, such time shall be extended
accordingly.
- If the Supplier is responsible for the delay (hereinafter referred to as "Delay") and
the Purchaser demonstrably suffered a loss there from, the Purchaser may claim a
compensation as liquidated damages of 0.5 % for every completed week of Delay,
but in no case more than a total of 5 % of the price of that part of the Supplies
which because of the Delay could not be put to the intended use.
- . Purchaser's claims for damages due to delayed Supplies as well as claims for
damages in lieu of performance exceeding the limits specified in No. 3 above shall
be excluded in all cases of delayed Supplies even upon expiry of a time set to the
Supplier to effect the Supplies. This shall not apply in cases of mandatory liability
based on intent, gross negligence, or due to injury of life, body or health.
Cancellation of the contract by the Purchaser based on statute shall be limited to
cases where the Supplier is responsible for the delay. The above provisions do not
imply a change in the burden of proof to the detriment of the Purchaser.
- At the Supplier's request the Purchaser shall declare within a reasonable period
of time whether the Purchaser cancels the contract due to the delayed Supplies or
insists on the Supplies to be carried out. Items which are cancelled that are non
stocked items and/or made to order items will occur a cancellation fee of 20% to
60% depending on specifics of item.
- If dispatch or shipment is delayed at the Purchaser's request by more than one
month after notice of the readiness for dispatch was given, the Purchaser may be
charged, for every month commenced, storage costs of 0.5 % of the price of the
items of the Supplies, but in no case more than a total of 5 %. The parties to the
contract may prove that higher or, as the case may be, lower storage costs have
been incurred.
V. TRANSFER OF RISK
- Even where delivery has been agreed freight free, the risk shall pass to the
Purchaser as follows:
a) if the Supplies do not include assembly or erection, at the time when the
Supplies are shipped or picked up by the carrier. Upon request of the Purchaser,
the Supplier shall insure the Supplies against the usual risks of transport at the
expense of the Purchaser;
b) if the Supplies include assembly or erection, at the day of taking over in the own
works or, if so agreed, after a fault-free trial run.
- The risk shall pass to the Purchaser if dispatch, shipping, the start or
performance of assembly or erection, the taking over in the own works or the trial
run is delayed for reasons for which the Purchaser is responsible or if the
Purchaser has otherwise failed to accept the Supplies.
VI. ASSEMBLY AND ERECTION
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, assembly/erection shall be subject to the
following provisions:
- The Purchaser shall provide at its own expense and in good time:
a) all earth and construction work and other ancillary work outside the scope of the
Supplier, including the necessary skilled and unskilled labour, construction
materials and tools,
b) the equipment and materials necessary for assembly and commissioning such
as scaffolds, lifting equipment and other devices as well as fuels and lubricants,
c) energy and water at the point of use including connections, heating and lighting,
d) suitable dry and lockable rooms of sufficient size adjacent to the site for the
storage of machine parts, apparatus, materials, tools, etc. and adequate working
and recreation rooms for the erection personnel, including sanitary facilities as are
appropriate in the specific circumstances. Furthermore, the Purchaser shall take all
measures it would take for the protection of its own possessions to protect the
possessions of the Supplier and of the erection personnel at the site,
e) protective clothing and protective devices needed due to particular conditions
prevailing on the specific site.
- Before the erection work starts, the Purchaser shall make available of its own
accord any information required concerning the location of concealed electric
power, gas and water lines or of similar installations as well as the necessary
structural data.
- Prior to assembly or erection, the materials and equipment necessary for the
work to start must be available on the site of assembly/erection and any preparatory
work must have advanced to such a degree that assembly/erection can be started
as agreed and carried out without interruption. Access roads and the
assembly/erection site itself must be level and clear.
- If assembly, erection or commissioning is delayed due to circumstances for
which the Supplier is not responsible, the Purchaser shall bear the reasonable
costs incurred for idle times and any additional travelling of the Supplier or the
erection personnel.
- The Purchaser shall attest to the hours worked by the erection personnel towards
the Supplier at weekly intervals and the Purchaser shall immediately confirm in
writing if assembly, erection or commissioning has been completed.
- If, after completion, the Supplier demands acceptance of the Supplies, the
Purchaser shall comply therewith within a period of two weeks. In default thereof,
acceptance is deemed to have taken place. Acceptance is also deemed to have
been effected if the Supplies are put to use, after completion of an agreed test
phase, if any.
VII. RECEIVING OF SUPPLIES
The Purchaser shall not refuse to receive Supplies due to minor defects.
VIII. DEFECTS AS TO QUALITY
The Supplier shall be liable for defects as to quality, hereinafter referred to as
"Defects",) as follows:
- All parts or services where a Defect becomes apparent within the limitation
period shall, at the discretion of the Supplier, be repaired, replaced or provided
again free of charge irrespective of the hours of operation elapsed, provided that
the reason for the Defect had already existed at the time when the risk passed.
- Claims based on Defects are subject to a limitation period of 12 months. This
provision shall not apply where longer periods are prescribed by law according to
Sec. 438 para. 1 No. 2 (buildings and things used for a building), Sec. 479 para. 1
(right of recourse), and Sec. 634a para. 1 No. 2 (defects of a building) German Civil
Code ("BGB"), as well as in cases of injury of life, body or health, or where the
Supplier intentionally or grossly negligently fails to fulfil its obligation or fraudulently
conceals a Defect. The legal provisions regarding suspension of expiration
suspension and recommencement of limitation periods remain unaffected.
- The Purchaser shall notify Defects to the Supplier in writing and without undue
delay.
- In the case of notification of a Defect, the Purchaser may withhold payments to a
reasonable extent taking into account the Defect occurred. The Purchaser,
however, may withhold payments only if the subject-matter of the notification of the
Defect occurred is justified beyond doubt. Unjustified notifications of Defect shall
entitle the Supplier to have its expenses reimbursed by the Purchaser.
- The Supplier shall first be given the opportunity to supplement its performance
within a reasonable period of time.
- If supplementary performance is unsuccessful, the Purchaser shall be entitled to
cancel the contract or reduce the remuneration, irrespective of any claims for
damages it may have according to Art. XI.
- There shall be no claims based on Defect in cases of insignificant deviations
from the agreed quality, of only minor impairment of usefulness, of natural wear and
tear or damage arising after the transfer of risk from faulty or negligent handling,
excessive strain, unsuitable equipment, defective workmanship, inappropriate
foundation soil or from particular external influences not assumed under the
contract, or from non-reproducible software errors. Claims based on defects
attributable to improper modifications or repair work carried out by the Purchaser or
third parties and the consequences thereof shall be likewise excluded.
- The Purchaser shall have no claim with respect to expenses incurred in the
course of supplementary performance, including costs of travel and transport,
labour, and material, to the extent that expenses are increased because the
subject-matter of the Supplies was subsequently brought to another location than
the Purchaser's branch office, unless doing so complies with the intended use of
the Supplies.
- The Purchaser's right of recourse against the Supplier pursuant to Sec. 478 BGB
is limited to cases where the Purchaser has not concluded an agreement with its
customers exceeding the scope of the statutory provisions governing claims based
on Defects. Moreover, No. 8 above shall apply mutatis mutandis to the scope of the
right of recourse the Purchaser has against the Supplier pursuant to Sec. 478 para.
2 BGB.
- Furthermore, the provisions of Art. XI (Other Claims for Damages) shall apply in
respect of claims of damages. Any other claims of the Purchaser against the
Supplier or its agents or any such claims exceeding the claims provided for in this
Art. VIII, based on a Defect, shall be excluded.
IX. INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND COPYRIGHT; DEFECTS IN TITLE
- Unless otherwise agreed, the Supplier shall provide the Supplies free from third
parties' industrial property rights and copyrights (hereinafter referred to as "IPR")
with respect to the country of the place of destination. If a third party asserts a
justified claim against the Purchaser based on an infringement of an IPR with
respect to the Supplies made by the Supplier and then used in conformity with the
contract, the Supplier shall be liable to the Purchaser within the time period
stipulated in Art. VIII No. 2 as follows:
a) The Supplier shall choose whether to acquire, at its own expense, the right to
use the IPR with respect to the Supplies concerned or whether to modify the
Supplies such that they no longer infringe the IPR or replace them. If this would be
unreasonable to demand from the Supplier, the Purchaser may cancel the contract
or reduce the remuneration pursuant to the applicable statutory provisions.
b) The Supplier's liability to pay damages shall be governed by Art. XI.
c) The above obligations of the Supplier shall only apply if the Purchaser
(i) immediately notifies the Supplier of any such claim asserted by the third party in
writing, (ii) does not concede the existence of an infringement and (iii) leaves any
protective measures and settlement negotiations to the discretion of the Supplier. If
the Purchaser stops using the Supplies in order to reduce the damage or for other
good reason, it shall be obliged to point out to the third party that no
acknowledgement of the alleged infringement may be inferred from the fact that the
use has been discontinued.
- Claims of the Purchaser shall be excluded if it is itself responsible for the
infringement of an IPR.
- Claims of the Purchaser shall also be excluded if the infringement of the IPR is
caused by specifications made by the Purchaser, to a type of use not foreseeable
by the Supplier or to the Supplies being modified by the Purchaser or being used
together with products not provided by the Supplier.
- In addition, with respect to claims by the Purchaser pursuant to No. 1 a) above,
Art. VIII Nos. 4, 5, and 9 shall apply mutatis mutandis in the event of an
infringement of an IPR.
- Where other defects in title occur, Art. VIII shall apply mutatis mutandis.
- Any other claims of the Purchaser against the Supplier or its agents or any such
claims exceeding the claims provided for in this Art. IX, based on a defect in title,
shall be excluded.
X. IMPOSSIBILITY OF PERFORMANCE; ADAPTATION OF CONTRACT
- To the extent that Supplies are impossible to be carried out, the Purchaser shall
be entitled to claim damages, unless the Supplier is not responsible for the
impossibility. The Purchaser's claim for damages shall, however, be limited to an
amount of 10 % of the value of the part of the Supplies which, owing to the
impossibility, cannot be put to the intended use. This limitation shall not apply in the
case of mandatory liability based on intent, gross negligence or injury of life, body
or health; this does not imply a change in the burden of proof to the detriment of the
Purchaser. The right of the Purchaser to cancel the contract shall remain
unaffected.
- Where unforeseeable events within the meaning of Art. IV No. 2 substantially
change the economic importance or the contents of the Supplies or considerably
affect the Supplier's business, the contract shall be adapted taking into account the
principles of reasonableness and good faith. Where doing so is economically
unreasonable, the Supplier shall have the right to cancel the contract. If the
Supplier intends to exercise its right to cancel the contract, it shall notify the
Purchaser thereof without undue delay after having realised the repercussions of
the event; this shall also apply even where an extension of the delivery period had
previously been agreed with the Purchaser.
XI. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY
- Notwithstanding any other provision of the contract, the liability of the Supplier to
the Purchaser, whether arising under or in connection with the contract or the
performance or non-performance thereof or anything incidental
thereto, and whether by way of indemnity, by statute (to the extent that it is possible
to exclude such liability), in tort (for negligence or otherwise), or on any other basis
in law or equity is hereby limited and excluded as
follows: (a) The Supplier shall have no liability whatsoever to the Purchaser for loss
of use, production, profit, revenue, business, data, contract or anticipated saving, or
for any financing costs or increase in operating costs
or any economic loss or for any special, indirect or consequential loss or damage;
(b) the total aggregate liability of the Supplier to the Purchaser is limited to the
amount equal to the contract price.
- Where any other provision of the contract provides for the payment the Supplier
of liquidated damages for delay, such damages shall be the sole and exclusive
remedy of the Purchaser in respect of any failure by the Supplier to perform its
obligations by the time(s) set out in the contract. In the absence of any such other
provision, the Supplier liability to the Purchaser in respect of any failure by the
Supplier to perform its obligations by the time(s) set out in the contract shall be
limited to the payment of damages not exceeding 0.25 % of the contract price for
each full week of delay, provided always that the liability of the Supplier in respect
of any and all delay shall not in the aggregate exceed 5% of the contract price.
- The Trade Practices Act, 1974, implies warranties, terms and conditions in
consumer contracts which cannot be excluded or modified except as permitted
under that Act. In the event the Supplier may be in breach of any such warranty,
term or condition as is implied in this contract, the liability of the Supplier shall be
limited: (a) in respect of goods, at the Supplier option, to the repair or replacement
of the goods or the cost of repairing or replacing the goods; (b) in respect of
services, at the Supplier option, to the reperformance of the services or the cost of
reperforming the services.
- For the purpose of this clause 13, the Supplier contracts also on behalf of and as
agent for any and all subcontractors and suppliers of the Supplier in connection with
the contract which are bodies corporate related to
the Supplier (as defined in the Corporations Law). The cumulative liability of the
Supplier and all such subcontractors and suppliers to the Purchaser shall not, in
aggregate, exceed the liability of the Supplier to the Purchaser.
- The Purchaser shall ensure that the liability of the Supplier to the end user(s) or
owner(s) or beneficiary(ies) of the goods the subject of the contract is limited and
excluded in accordance with this clause. The Purchaser indemnifies the Supplier
against claims of any kind by such end user(s) or owner(s) or beneficiary(ies) to the
extent that the Supplier would not be liable therefor to the Purchaser under the
contract if the claim had been made by the Purchaser.
XII. VENUE AND APPLICABLE LAW
- If the Purchaser is a businessperson, sole venue for all disputes arising directly
or indirectly out of the contract shall be the Supplier's place of business. However,
the Supplier may also bring an action at the Purchaser's place of business.
- The contract shall be governed by the law of the Australian State in which the
Supplier submitted the tender and the parties agree to submit to the jurisdiction of
the courts of that State and any courts having appellate jurisdiction
from them.
XIII. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE
The legal invalidity of one or more provisions of this contract shall in no way affect
the validity of the remaining provisions. This shall not apply if it would be
unreasonable for one of the parties to continue the contract.
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