I. APPLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONDITIONS OF SALE

1. These International Conditions of Sale apply to all customers of Röwer & Rüb GmbH - hereinafter referred to as Röwer & Rüb - whose relevant place of business is not in Germany. For customers whose place of business is in Germany, the General Conditions of Sale of Röwer & Rüb apply, which will be forwarded on request. In each case, the relevant place of business is the one which concludes the contract in its own name.

2. These International Conditions of Sale apply to the present and all subsequent contracts whose preponderant object is the supply of goods to customers. Additional obligations assumed by Röwer & Rüb do not affect the application of these International Conditions of Sale.

3. Conflicting or differing terms of business of the customer do not bind Röwer & Rüb, even if Röwer & Rüb does not explicitly object to them or even if Röwer & Rüb unconditionally renders performance or accepts the customer's performance irrespective of the customer's conflicting or differing terms of business. The provisions of this paragraph equally apply insofar as the terms of business of the customer, irrespective of the contents of these International Conditions of Sale, deviate from statutory provisions.

 

II. FORMATION OF THE CONTRACT OF SALE

1. The customer is under an obligation to give written notice to Röwer & Rüb prior to the formation of a contract if the goods ordered are to be fit not only for normal use or will be used in circumstances which are unusual or which present a particular risk to health, safety or the environment, or which require a more demanding use.

2. Orders of the customer are to be put in writing. If the customer's order deviates from the proposal or the tender submitted by Röwer & Rüb, the customer will emphasize the differences as such. Illustrations and drawings just like the measures and weight indications featuring in Röwer & Rüb´s proposals or offers are only there as guidelines.

3. All orders, in particular also those received by employees of Röwer & Rüb, will take effect exclusively if followed by a written acknowledgement of the order by Röwer & Rüb. The actual delivery of the goods ordered, any other conduct of Röwer & Rüb or silence on the part of Röwer & Rüb does not allow the customer to assume the formation of the contract of sale. Röwer & Rüb can dispatch such written acknowledgement of the order up to and including 14 calendar days after the customer's order has been received by Röwer & Rüb. Until this time, the customer's order is irrevocable.

4. The contract only comes into effect if Röwer & Rüb receives a copy of the acknowledgement of the order legally signed by the customer, within 10 calendar days from the date of the written acknowledgement of the order.

5. The written acknowledgement of the order by Röwer & Rüb sets out all the terms of the contract even if the written acknowledgement deviates from the declarations of the customer in any way, especially with reference to the exclusive application of these International Conditions of Sale. Particular wishes of the customer, namely warranties or guarantees with reference to the goods or the performance of the contract therefore require express written confirmation in every case.

6. Röwer & Rüb´s employees, commercial agents or other sales intermediaries are not authorized to dispense with the requirement of a written acknowledgement of the order by Röwer & Rüb or to make promises which differ from its content or guarantees. Changes to the concluded contract likewise require written confirmation by Röwer & Rüb.

 

III. OBLIGATIONS OF RÖWER & RÜB

1. Subject to an exemption according to section VII.-1. b) Röwer & Rüb must deliver the goods specified in the written acknowledgement of the order. Röwer & Rüb is not obliged to perform obligations not stated in the written acknowledgment of the order or in these International Conditions of Sale, in particular Röwer & Rüb is under no obligation to deliver accessories not explicitly listed, to install additional safety devices, to carry out assemblies or to advise the customer. Röwer & Rüb is in no case liable to perform duties associated with the bringing onto the market of the goods outside Germany.

2. Third parties not involved in the conclusion of the contract, in particular the customer´s clients, are not entitled to request delivery to be made to them or to bring any other contractual claim against Röwer & Rüb. The customer's responsibility to take delivery continues to exist even if he assigns claims to third parties.

3. Röwer & Rüb undertakes to deliver goods of average kind and quality taking account of the tolerances customary in trade concerning the kind, quantity, quality and packaging. If the goods cannot be delivered in the condition offered at the time of the formation of the contract because technical improvements to goods of series production were made, Röwer & Rüb is entitled to deliver the goods with the technical improvements.  Divergences in measure and size, structure and colour are reserved as far as they result from the nature of the materials used and are customary in trade. Röwer & Rüb is entitled to make part deliveries and to invoice them separately.

4. If further specification is required in relation to the goods to be delivered, Röwer & Rüb will carry this out having regard to its own interests and to the identifiable and legitimate interests of the customer. A request to the customer to specify the goods, or to participate in the specification, is not required. Röwer & Rüb does not undertake to inform the customer of the specification it has made or to give the customer the option of a differing specification.

5. Röwer & Rüb undertakes to place the goods at disposal for collection by the customer at the agreed time of delivery at the place of delivery indicated in the written acknowledgement of the order or by way of precaution at its premises in Thedinghausen/Germany. Previous separation or marking of the goods or notification to the customer of the goods being placed at disposal is not required.

6. Agreed delivery time periods or delivery dates are subject to the customer's procuring any required documents, releases, permits, approvals, licences or any other authorizations or consents in sufficient time, opening letters of credit and/or making down-payments as agreed and performing all other obligations incumbent upon him properly and in good time. Moreover, agreed delivery time-periods begin on the date of the written acknowledgement of the order by Röwer & Rüb. Röwer & Rüb is entitled to deliver earlier than at the agreed delivery time.

7. Without prejudice to its continuing legal rights, Röwer & Rüb is entitled to fulfil its obligations after the delivery time agreed upon, if it informs the customer that it will  exceed the delivery time limit and of the time period for late performance. The customer can object to late performance within reasonable time, if the late performance is unreasonable. An objection is only effective, if it is received by Röwer & Rüb before commencing late performance. Subject to the aforesaid conditions, Röwer & Rüb is entitled to make repeated attempts at late performance. Röwer & Rüb will reimburse necessary additional expenditure, proven and incurred by the customer as a result of exceeding the delivery time to the extent that Röwer & Rüb is liable for this under the provisions laid down in section VII.

8. Risks as to price and performance even in relation to goods which are not clearly identifiable to the contract and without it being necessary for Röwer & Rüb to give notice, pass to the customer at the latest as soon as the loading of the goods has begun or as soon as the customer does not take delivery in accordance with the contract or title to the goods has passed to the customer. The loading of the goods is part of the customer`s obligations. The agreement of INCOTERMSin Group F, Group C or Group D or of clauses such as "delivery free......." or similar ones merely involve a varia­tion of the provisions as to transportation costs; moreover, the provisions laid down in these International Conditions of Sale including those referring to the passing of risk continue to apply.

9. Including where INCOTERMS in Group F or clauses such as "delivery free......." or alike are agreed, Röwer & Rüb is not obliged to obtain any licences, authorizations, certificates or other documents necessary for the export, transit or import. However, Röwer & Rüb renders at the customer´s request, risk and expense every assistance in obtaining the documents that the customer has required in writing.

10. Including where INCOTERMS in Group F are agreed, Röwer & Rüb is in particular not obliged to arrange for the shipment of the goods, to insure the goods, to procure certificates or documents not expressly agreed, to procure customs clearance, to bear levies, duties and charges accruing outside Thedinghausen/Germany, to comply with weight and measuring systems, packaging, labelling, marking or certification requirements applicable outside Thedinghausen/Germany, to inform the customer of the delivery or to take back packaging material from the customer. Irrespective of any legal provision, the customer shall at its own cost take care of renewed utilization, material recycling or otherwise prescribed waste-disposal. The foregoing provision applies irrespective of whether the packaging material is invoiced separately or not to the customer.

11. Without prejudice to its continuing legal rights, Röwer & Rüb is entitled to suspend the performance of its obligations so long as, in the opinion of Röwer & Rüb, there are grounds for concern that the customer will wholly or partly fail to fulfil its obligations in accordance with the contract. In particular, the right to suspend arises if the customer insufficiently performs its obligations to enable payment to Röwer & Rüb or a third party or pays late or if the limit set by a credit insurer has been exceeded or will be exceeded with the forthcoming delivery. Instead of suspending performance Röwer & Rüb is entitled at its own discretion to make future deliveries, even if confirmed, conditional on payment in advance or on opening of a letter of credit confirmed by one of the big German commercial banks. Röwer & Rüb is not required to continue with performance of its obligations, if an assurance given by the customer to avoid the suspension does not provide adequate security or could be challenged pursuant to an applicable law.

12. Except as provided in section III.-7., Röwer & Rüb is only obliged to inform the customer of delay or non-performance as soon as these are certain.

 

IV. PRICE, PAYMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE GOODS

1. Irrespective of continuing obligations of the customer to guarantee or to enable payment, the customer undertakes to pay the agreed price in the currency specified in the written acknowledgement of the order transferring it without deduction and free of expenses and costs to the financial institution designated by Röwer & Rüb. To the extent that a price has not been agreed, the contract has nevertheless been validly concluded; in such a case the price which is at the agreed time of delivery Röwer & Rüb's usual price will apply. Röwer & Rüb´s employees, commercial agents or other sales intermediaries are not authorized to accept payments.

2. The payment to be made by the customer is in any event due for payment at the time specified in the written acknowledgement of the order, or otherwise on receipt of the invoice. The due time for payment arises without any further pre-condition and, in particular, does not depend on whether the customer has already taken delivery of the goods and/or the documents and/or has had an opportunity to examine the goods. The periods granted for payment will cease to apply and outstanding accounts will be due for immediate payment, if insolvency proceedings relating to the assets of the customer are applied for, if the customer without providing a justifiable reason does not meet fundamental obligations due towards Röwer & Rüb or towards third parties, if the customer has provided inaccurate information regarding his creditworthiness or if the cover given by a credit insurer is reduced on grounds for which Röwer & Rüb is not responsible.

3. The customer warrants that all legal requirements for delivery free of German value added tax will be fulfilled. To the extent that Röwer & Rüb does not receive the document in proof of tax-free-export-delivery or Röwer & Rüb is called upon to pay value added tax as a result of the terms of delivery or of circumstances allocable to the customer, the customer will indemnify Röwer & Rüb in all and every respect without prejudice to any continuing claim by Röwer & Rüb. The indemnity is granted by the customer waiving any further requirements or other defences, in particular waiving the defence of limitation or prescription and also includes the reimbursement of the expenses incurred by Röwer & Rüb.

4. Regardless of currency and regardless of the jurisdiction of any court, Röwer & Rüb is entitled at its own discretion to set off incoming payments against claims existing against the customer by virtue of its own or assigned rights at the time of payment.

5. Any statutory rights of the customer to set-off against claims of Röwer & Rüb are excluded, except where the corresponding claim of the customer is in the same currency, is founded in the customer´s own right and has either been finally adjudicated or is due and undisputed or acknowledged by Röwer & Rüb in writing.

6. Any statutory rights of the customer to suspend payment or to raise defences or counterclaims are excluded, except where despite written warning Röwer & Rüb has committed a fundamental breach of its obligations due and arising out of the same contractual relationship, and has not offered any adequate assurance.

7. The customer undertakes to take delivery of the goods at the delivery time without taking any additional period of time and at the place of delivery indicated in the written acknowledgement of the order or by way of precaution at the premises of Röwer & Rüb in Thedinghausen/Germany. The customer is only entitled to refuse to take delivery if it exercises - in accordance with the rules in section VI.-1. - its rights to avoid the contract.

 

V. DELIVERY OF NON-CONFORMING GOODS OR GOODS WITH DEFECTIVE TITLE

1. Without prejudice to any exclusion or reduction of liability of the seller provided by law, delivery does not conform with the contract if the customer proves that, taking into account the terms in section III., at the time the risk passes the packaging, quantity, quality or the description of the goods is significantly different to the specifications laid down in the written acknowledgement of the order, or in the absence of agreed specifications, the goods are not fit for the purpose which is usual in Thedinghausen/Germany. Even if the goods would have been in breach of contract according to the legal requirements applicable in Thedinghausen/Germany, the goods shall be deemed to conform with the contract, to the extent that the legal requirements applicable at the place of business of the customer do not impede the usual use of the goods. Second-hand goods are delivered without any liability for their conformity.

2. To the extent that the written acknowledgement of the order does not contain an explicit statement to the contrary, Röwer & Rüb is in particular not liable for the goods being fit for any particular purpose to which the customer intends to put them or for possessing the qualities of a sample or a model or for their compliance with the legal requirements existing outside of Thedinghausen/Germany, for instance in the customer's country. Röwer & Rüb shall also not be liable for any non-conformity with the contract occurring after the time the risk has passed. To the extent that the customer, either himself or through third parties, initiates the removal of non-conformities without the prior consent of Röwer & Rüb, Röwer & Rüb will be released from its liability.

3. The customer must examine the goods at the time of delivery and moreover as required by law and in so doing check every single delivery in every respect for any discoverable or typical lack of conformity with the contract.

4. Without prejudice to any exclusion or reduction of liability of the seller provided by law, the goods delivered have a deficiency in title if the customer proves that the goods are not free from enforceable rights or claims of third parties at the time risk passes. Without prejudice to further legal requirements, third parties rights or claims founded on industrial or other intellectual property constitute a deficiency in title only to the extent that the rights are registered and made public in Germany. Irrespective of the legal requirements applicable in Germany, title to the goods is not defective, to the extent that the legal requirements applicable at the place of business of the customer do not impede the usual use of the goods.

5. The customer shall give notice as required by law to Röwer & Rüb of any lack of conformity with the contract or of any deficiency in title, and in any event directly and in writing. Röwer & Rüb´s employees, commercial agents or other sales intermediaries are not authorised to accept notices or to make any statements concerning lack of conformity with the contract or of title and its consequences.

6. Following due notice according to section V.-5., the customer can rely on the remedies provided by these International Conditions of Sale. The customer has no other rights or claims whatsoever. The customer´s remedies for deficiency in title are subject to the same statute of limitations as are the remedies for lack of conformity. The satisfaction by Röwer & Rüb of the customer’s remedies does not constitute any acknowledgement causing a new beginning of the limitation period. In the event of notice not having been properly given, the customer may only rely on remedies if Röwer & Rüb has fraudulently concealed the lack of conformity with the contract or the deficiency in title. Statements by Röwer & Rüb as to the lack of conformity with the contract or as to the deficiency in title are for the purpose of explaining the factual position only, but do not entail any waiver by Röwer & Rüb of the requirement of proper notice.

7. In accordance with the terms of the UN Sales Convention, the customer is entitled to demand delivery of substitute goods or repair or a reduction in the purchase price. Further claims for performance are not available to the customer. Irrespective of the customer's remedies, Röwer & Rüb is always entitled in accordance with the provision in section III.-7. to repair goods which do not conform with the contract or to supply substitute goods or to avert the customer'sremedies by giving him a credit of an appropriate amount.

 

VI. AVOIDANCE OF THE CONTRACT

1. Without prejudice to the compliance with the respective applicable legal requirements, the customer is only entitled to declare the contract avoided after he has threatened Röwer & Rüb with avoidance of the contract in writing and an additional period of time of reasonable length for performance fixed in writing has expired to no avail. If the customer claims delivery of substitute goods, repair or other performance, he is bound for a reasonable period of time to the chosen remedy, without being able to exercise the right of declaring the contract avoided. In any event, the customer must give notice of avoidance of the contract within reasonable time in writing and to Röwer & Rüb directly.

2. Without prejudice to its continuing legal rights, Röwer & Rüb is entitled to avoid the contract in whole or in part without compensation if the customer objects to the application of these International Conditions of Sale, if the written acknowledgement of the order is received by the customer more than 14 calendar days after its date of printing, if insolvency proceedings relating to the assets of the customer are applied for or commenced, if the customer without providing a justifiable reason does not meet fundamental obligations due towards Röwer & Rüb or towards third parties, if the customer has provided inaccurate information regarding his creditworthiness, if the cover given by a credit insurer is reduced on grounds for which Röwer & Rüb is not responsible, if Röwer & Rüb through no fault of its own does not receive supplies properly or on time, or if for other reasons Röwer & Rüb cannot be expected to fulfil its obligations by means which taking into consideration its own interests and that of the customer as far as ascertainable and legitimate at the time of formation of the contract, are unreasonable in particular in relation to the agreed counter-performance.

 

VII. DAMAGES

1. Röwer & Rüb is only obliged to pay damages pursuant to the contract entered with the customer or extra contractually if the following provisions in a) to f) are fulfilled:

a) The customer is required in the first instance to rely on other remedies and can only claim damages in the event of a continuing deficiency. The customer cannot claim damages as an alternative to other remedies.

b) Röwer & Rüb is not liable for the conduct of suppliers or subcontractors or for damages to which the customer has contributed. Neither is Röwer & Rüb liable for impediments which occur, as a consequence of natural or political events, acts of state, industrial disputes, sabotage, accidents, terrorism, biological, physical or chemical processes or similar circumstances and which cannot be controlled by Röwer & Rüb with reasonable means. Moreover, Röwer & Rüb is only liable to the extent that its executive bodies or members of staff deliberately or in circumstances amounting to gross negligence breach contractual obligations owed to the customer.

c) In the event of liability Röwer & Rüb will compensate within the limits of lit. d) the proven loss to the customer to the extent that it was unavoidable for the customer and foreseeable to Röwer & Rüb, at the time of the formation of the contract in respect of the occurrence of the loss and its amount. The customer must advise Röwer & Rüb in writing before formation of the contract of particular risks, atypical possibilities for damages and unusual amounts of loss. Moreover, the customer is required to mitigate his loss as soon as a breach of contract is or ought to be known.

d) Röwer & Rüb is not liable for loss of profit or damage to reputation. Moreover, the amount of damages for late or non-existent delivery is limited to 0,5 % for each full week of delay, up to a maximum of 5 %, and for other breaches of obligations is limited to an amount of 200 per cent of the value of the non-conforming part of the contract. However, this subparagraph does not apply to gross negligence by the executive bodies or the management of Röwer & Rüb.

e) The aforementioned provisions b) to d) do not apply insofar as statutory provisions apply, which obligatorily give rise to a more extensive liability regardless of the choice of law in section IX.-3.

f) The limitation period for contractual claims also applies to other claims of the customer against Röwer & Rüb, which are concurrent with contractual claims. To the extent that claims are not time-barred earlier, a six-month preclusive limitation of time for bringing an action for damages applies, starting with the rejection of the claim for damages.

g) The foregoing provisions relating to Röwer & Rüb´s liability also apply to the personal liability of Röwer & Rüb´s employees, servants, members of staff, representatives and those employed by Röwer & Rüb in the performance of its obligations.

2. Irrespective of Röwer & Rüb´s continuing legal or contractual claims the customer is obliged to pay damages to Röwer & Rüb as follows:

a) In the event of delay in payment the customer will pay the costs of judicial and extra-judicial means and proceedings, usual and accruing within the country and abroad, as well as (without evidence being necessary) interest at the rate applicable in Thedinghausen/Germany for unsecured short-term loans in the agreed currency, at least however interest at 8 per cent over the base rate of the European Central Bank.

b) In the case of a failure to accept delivery by the customer or of seriously late acceptance of delivery by the customer, Röwer & Rüb is entitled to claim damages without evidence being necessary up to 15 % of the value of the goods to be delivered.

 

VIII. OTHER PROVISIONS

1. Title of the goods that have been delivered remains with Röwer & Rüb until settlement of all claims existing against the customer. The allocation of risk as to price and performance in section III.-8. is not affected by the reservation of title. The customer shall take any measure necessary according to the applicable law to secure the reservation of title.

2. In the case of late payment by the customer, without prejudice to Röwer & Rüb's continuing claims Röwer & Rüb is entitled unilaterally and without compensation to modify the contract by reducing the customer’s as well as its own contractual obligations. The reduction of contractual obligations applies solely to obligations of the customer and of Röwer & Rüb which have not yet been performed at the time of the reduction and may only be made with the consequence that both the customer and Röwer & Rüb have satisfied their contractual obligations and are not obliged to perform further. The reduction does not apply to performance already rendered nor to any remedies of Röwer & Rüb.

3. Without prejudice to Röwer & Rüb's continuing claims, the customer will indemnify Röwer & Rüb without limit against all claims of third parties which are brought against Röwer & Rüb on the grounds of product liability or similar provisions, to the extent that the liability is based on circumstances which - such as, for example, the presentation of the product - were caused by the customer or other third parties without express written consent of Röwer & Rüb. In particular, the indemnification also includes compensation for expenses incurred by Röwer & Rüb and is granted by the customer waiving further conditions or other objections, in particular without requiring compliance with control and recall obligations, and waiving any defence of limitation.

4. In relation to pictures, drawings, calculations and other documents as well as computer-software, which have been made available by Röwer & Rüb in a material or electronic form, the latter reserves all proprietary rights, copyrights, other industrial property rights as well as know-how rights.

5. All communications, declarations, notices etc. are to be drawn up exclusively in German or English. Communications by means of fax or e-mail fulfil the requirement of being in writing.

 

IX. GENERAL BASIS OF CONTRACTS

1. The place of performance and payment for all obligations arising from the legal relationship between Röwer & Rüb and the customer is Thedinghausen/Germany. This provision also applies if Röwer & Rüb assumes the costs of money remittance, renders performance for the customer somewhere else or payment is to be made in exchange of documents or goods or in the case of restitution of performances already rendered. The agreement of INCOTERMSin Group F or Group C or agreements as to how costs are to be borne do not entail any change of the above rule as to the place of performance. Röwer & Rüb is also entitled to require payment at the place of business of the customer.

2. The United Nations Convention of 11 April 1980 on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (UN Sales Convention / CISG) in the English version as well as the usage in force in Thedinghausen/Germany govern the legal relationship with the customer. The UN Sales Convention applies, above and beyond its own area of application, and regardless of reservations adopted by other states, to all contracts to which these International Conditions of Sale are to be applied according to the provisions of section I. Where standard terms of business are used, the INCOTERMS 2000 of the International Chamber of Commerce apply taking into account the provisions stipulated in these International Conditions of Sale.

3. The formation of contract, including agreements as to jurisdiction and the inclusion of these International Conditions of Sale, and the rights and obligations of the parties, also including pre-contractual and collateral obligations, as well as the interpretation are exclusively governed by the UN Sales Convention together with these International Conditions of Sale. Outside the application of the UN Sales Convention, the legal relationship between the parties is governed by the non-uniform Swiss law, namely by the Swiss Obligationenrecht.

4. All contractual and extra-contractual disputes arising out of or in connection with  contracts to which these International Conditions of Sale apply, shall be finally resolved by arbitration according to the Rules of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) without recourse to the ordinary courts of law. The tribunal shall consist of three arbitrators, two of them shall be nominated by the respective parties, or if the amount in dispute is inferior to € 50.000, there shall be one arbitrator. The place of the arbitration shall be Zurich/Switzerland, the languages used in the arbitral proceedings shall be German or English. In individual cases, however, Röwer & Rüb is also entitled instead of a claim in an arbitration to bring an action before the national Courts in Thedinghausen/Germany or atthe customer’s place of business, or before other courts having jurisdiction according to domestic or foreign law. Every claim or counterclaim by the customer before a national court is excluded.

5. If provisions of these International Conditions of Sale should be or become partly or wholly ineffective, the remaining arrangements will continue to apply. The parties are bound to replace the ineffective provision with a legally valid provision, as close as possible to the commercial meaning and purpose of the ineffective provision.