1. scope of application

(1)All  deliveries,  services  and  offers  of  Uzin  Utz  AG (hereinafter  referred  to  as  “Uzin  Utz”)  shall  be  based exclusively   on   these   General   Terms   and   conditions (“TAC”).  These  form  an  integral  part  of  all  the  contracts which  Uzin  Utz  concludes  with  its  contractual  partners (hereinafter referred to as “customers”) for the deliveries or services  offered  by  it.  They  also  apply  to  all  future transactions with the customer, even if they are not agreed upon separately.

(2)These General Terms and Conditions shall only apply to companies within the meaning of § 14 BGB (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch [German Civil Code]).

(3)Unless  otherwise  individually  agreed  in  writing,  these TAC  shall  apply  exclusively  to  all  legal  transactions.  The customer  acknowledges  them  by  placing  an  order  or accepting  a  delivery.  Deviating  conditions  or  counter-confirmations  by  the  customer  which  have  not  been expressly  acknowledged  in  writing  by  Uzin  Utz  are  not binding, even if Uzin Utz does not expressly object to them.

 

2. advice

(1)As  product  and  service-related  advice,  the  advice provided by Uzin Utz extends exclusively to the products and services created by Uzin Utz.

(2)Uzin Utz will only provide further advice to the customer if this is expressly requested. Failure to make statements does not constitute advice.

 

3. offer and conclusion of contract

(1)Letters of offer from Uzin Utz are non-binding and without obligation, unless they are expressly marked as binding or contain a defined acceptance period. Letters of offer from Uzin Utz are therefore generally deemed to be a request to submit  an  offer  and  only  become  binding  upon  written confirmation of the same by Uzin Utz.

(2)Information   contained   in   brochures,   catalogs   and technical documents is not binding; in particular, it does not release the customer from the obligation to carry out his own checks.

(3)Information provided by Uzin Utz concerning the subject matter of the delivery or service (e.g. weights, dimensions, utility   values,   load-bearing   capacity, tolerances   and technical  data)  as  well  as  representations  thereof  (e.g. drawings and illustrations) are only approximate unless the usability    for    the    contractually    intended    purpose presupposes  exact  conformity.  They  are  not  guaranteed characteristics of quality, but descriptions or identifications of the delivery or service. Deviations that are customary in the trade and deviations that are based on legal regulations or represent    technical    improvements    are    permissible, provided they do not impair the usability for the contractually intended purpose.

(4)Para. 1 to 3 shall apply accordingly to the presentation of the products and information on the order platform provided by Uzin Utz (“webshop”).

(5) In principle, the order placed by the customer represents the offer to conclude the contract. The order must contain all information relevant to the execution of the order. Missing, erroneous or incomplete disclosures are deemed explicitly to  not  having  been  agreed  upon  and  do  not  create  any obligation  of  Uzin  Utz  in  regard  to  claims  concerning fulfilment, warranty or compensation for damage.

(6)Orders shall be placed in writing or via the order platform provided by Uzin Utz (“webshop”); however, they can also be transmitted via telephone or otherwise electronically, at the customer’s own risk.

(7)Uzin Utz will accept the order within 10 working days of receipt of the order by confirmation of the order, unless a different   acceptance   period   is   provided   for.   Upon confirmation  of  the  order  by  Uzin  Utz  in  the  case  of  the customer's  order  via  the  webshop  shall  take  place  upon dispatch of the goods. If the customer places the order via the  webshop,  it  will  receive  an  automatic confirmation  of receipt  by  e-mail,  in  which  the  customer's  order  is  listed

again. This automatic acknowledgement of receipt merely documents that the order has been received by Uzin Utz and does not constitute acceptance of the order.

(8)Upon confirmation of the order by Uzin Utz, the contract, even  if  its  content  differs  from  that  of  the  order,  shall  be deemed  to  have  been  concluded  with  the  content  of  the confirmation,  unless  the  customer  objects  to  the  order confirmation immediately.

 

4. amendments

(1)If  the  customer  wishes  to  make  amendments  to  the subject  of  the  delivery  or  service  after  conclusion  of  the contract, a separate contractual agreement is required for this.

(2) If  the  customer  withdraws  an  order  placed  before conclusion of the contract, Uzin Utz, without prejudice to the possibility of making a claim for higher actual damage, shall be entitled to charge 10% of the delivery or service price for the costs arising due to the processing of the order and for lost profits. The customer shall reserve the right to prove a lower degree of damage.

(3)In   the   event   of   consensual   amendments   to   the contractual  subject-matter,  delivery  or  service  periods  or dates shall be agreed anew.

 

5. delivery and delivery time

(1)Deliveries shall be made “ex-works” according to clause EXW of the INCOTERMS 2020.

(2)If  Uzin  Utz  offers  the  prospect  of  times  and  dates  for deliveries   and   services,   then   these   shall   always   be considered mere approximations, unless a fixed time or a fixed date is committed to or agreed upon. If dispatch has been agreed, delivery periods and dates shall refer to the time of handover to the forwarder, carrier or other third party commissioned with the transport.

(3)The customer is entitled to withdraw from the contract if Uzin  Utz  is  responsible  for  failure  to  comply  with  a  fixed delivery  date  and  a  reasonable  extension  has  expired without success.

(4)Uzin  Utz  is  entitled  to  render  the  agreed  delivery  or service   prior   to   the   agreed   time.   Partial   delivery   or performance  of  services  is  allowed,  and  can  be  billed separately.

6. default of acceptance

(1)If  the  customer  does  not  accept  the  goods  on  a permissible/agreed delivery date or at the end of the agreed delivery  period  due  to  a  circumstance  for  which  it  is responsible, Uzin Utz may charge storage costs of 0.5% for each month or part thereof, but not more than a total of 5% of the price of the goods or services. The contracting parties shall be free to prove higher or lower storage costs. Uzin Utz is entitled to determine a suitable place for storage at the expense and risk of the customer and to insure the delivery or service items.

(2)If  Uzin  Utz  is  entitled  to  demand  compensation  for damage  instead  of  performance,  Uzin  Utz  may,  without prejudice   to   the   possibility   of   claiming   higher   actual damages, demand 15% of the total price as damages. The customer  reserves  the  right  to  prove  a  lower  degree  of damage.

 

7. force majeure

(1)Uzin Utz shall not be liable for the impossibility of delivery or for delays in delivery in so far as these are caused by force majeure or other events unforeseeable at the time of conclusion of the contract (e.g. operational disruptions of all kinds, difficulties in procuring material or energy, transport delays, strikes, legal lockouts, shortages of energy or raw materials,  official  measures,  or  outstanding,  incorrect  or untimely  delivery  by  suppliers)  for  which  Uzin  Utz  is  not responsible. If such events render it difficult or impossible for Uzin Utz to deliver or perform a service, and the obstruction is not only temporary in nature, Uzin Utz shall be entitled to withdraw from the contract. For obstructions of a temporary nature, the delivery or service performance deadlines shall be  extended  or  postponed  by  the  time  period  of  the obstruction, plus a reasonable period for restarting.

(2)If the customer cannot reasonably be expected to accept the  delivery  or  service  as  a  result  of  the  delay,  it  may withdraw  from  the  contract  by  means  of  an  immediate written declaration to Uzin Utz.

(3)If Uzin Utz is able to foresee that the goods cannot be delivered  within  the  delivery  period,  the  customer  will  be informed immediately in writing, the reasons for this will be communicated  to  the  customer  and,  if  possible,  the expected delivery date will be stated.

 

8. terms of payment

(1) Unless  otherwise  agreed,  the  agreed  prices  are  in EURO  ex  works  plus  the  statutory  value  added  tax, customs, freight, packaging and transport insurance costs. Import and export duties shall be charged separately. An insurance policy for the goods to be shipped shall be taken out by Uzin Utz only upon request and at the customer’s expense.

(2) Invoice amounts must be paid immediately without any deduction. Receipt by Uzin Utz is decisive for the date of payment. In the event of non-payment, the customer shall be  in  default  without  further  reminder.  Discounts  and rebates will only be granted under separate agreement.

(3) Uzin Utz expressly reserves the right to accept bills of exchange or cheques. Bills of exchange and cheques are accepted subject to the consent of Uzin Utz only on account of performance and are only deemed to be payment after they  have  been  credited  without  reservation.  Discount charges  and  bill  of  exchange  costs  will  be  borne  by  the customer.

(4) If  there  are  several  outstanding  claims  of  Uzin  Utz against the customer and if payments by the customer are not made in respect of a specific claim, Uzin Utz is entitled to determine which of the outstanding claims has been paid.

(5)In the event of default, deferment of payment or partial payment, Uzin Utz shall be entitled to demand interest on arrears at a rate of 9 percentage points above the respective prime  rate  and  to  withhold  further  services  until  all  due invoices  have  been  settled.  Proof  of  a  higher  degree  of damage remains reserved.

(6) In the event of justified doubts as to the customer's ability to pay or creditworthiness, e.g. in the event of late payment, slow payment, etc., Uzin Utz shall be entitled to demand advance payment or suitable security for the performance to be  rendered  by  the  customer.  If  the  customer  is  not prepared to do so, Uzin Utz is entitled to withdraw from the contract after a reasonable extension period and to demand compensation for damages due to non-performance.

(7)Offsetting  against  counterclaims  or  the  retention  of payments on account of such claims by the customer is only permissible insofar as the counterclaims are undisputed or have been declared final and absolute.

(8)Granted terms of payment shall lapse and outstanding claims  shall  become  due  for  payment  immediately  if  an application   is   made   for   the   opening   of   insolvency proceedings  against  the  assets  of  the  customer,  if  the customer   has   made   incorrect   statements   about   his creditworthiness or if there are other justified doubts about the solvency or creditworthiness of the customer.

(9)Insofar as VAT is not included in the invoicing of Uzin Utz on the basis of information provided by the customer (e.g. in case of “intra-Community deliveries” within the meaning of §§     4     No.1b     in     conjunction     with     6a     UStG (Umsatzsteuergesetz [German VAT Act]) and Uzin Utz is subsequently charged with a payable VAT amount (§ 6a IV UStG),   the   customer   shall   be   obligated   to   pay   the appropriate amount to Uzin Utz. This duty exists irrespective of whether Uzin Utz subsequently has to pay value added tax, import sales tax, or comparable taxes domestically or abroad.

 

9. place of performance, transfer of risk, packaging

(1)The place of performance for the services ordered is the registered   office   of   Uzin   Utz   or   the   external   and/or forwarding   warehouse   where   the   goods   are   made available.  Unless  otherwise  agreed,  the  customer  shall collect the goods from the registered office of Uzin Utz after notification  of  readiness.  The  place  of  performance  and fulfilment  of  the  contractual  obligations  owed  by  the customer is always the registered office of the commercial branch of Uzin Utz.

(2)The risk of destruction, loss or damage to the goods shall pass to the customer upon notification that the goods are ready for collection.

(3)Insofar as dispatch has been agreed, the risk shall pass to  the  customer  upon  dispatch  of  the  goods  or  their handover to the commissioned transport company.

(4)Packaging and loading aids, such as pallets, will only be provided by Uzin Utz for transport purposes. They must be returned in undamaged condition and carriage paid within 30 days of the actual delivery date to the registered office of the commercial branch or to an external and/or forwarding warehouse at the discretion of Uzin Utz. If this is not done, Uzin Utz shall be entitled to invoice a daily flat-rate usage fee of EUR 0.50 plus statutory VAT per piece of packaging and/or  loading  aids  provided  from  the  31st  day  after delivery. However, the total usage fee to be paid shall in no case exceed EUR 25 plus statutory VAT. Non-returnable packaging  must  be  disposed  of  by  the  customer  in accordance with the regulations.

(5)Additional  costs  for  a  more  urgent  mode  of  shipment requested by the customer shall be borne by the customer. This  also  applies  if  it  was  agreed  in  individual  cases  that Uzin Utz would bear the freight costs.

 

10. duty of inspection and complaint

(1)The  delivered  items  must  be  inspected  carefully  and immediately  after delivery  to  the  customer  or  to  the  third party designated by it.

(2)In  case  of  damage  or  loss  of  the  goods  in  transit, inventory shall be taken immediately, and Uzin Utz shall be informed   thereof.   Claims   arising   from   any   transport damages must be lodged immediately with the forwarder by the customer.

(3)The  delivered  items  shall  be  deemed  as  contractually rendered  if  Uzin  Utz  does  not  receive  a  written  notice  of defects  concerning  obvious  defects  or  other  defects  that could  be  recognised  in  case  of  an  immediate  careful

inspection,  within  seven  working  days  of  delivery  of  the delivery  items;  otherwise  within  seven  working  days  of discovery of the defect or at an earlier point in time at which the defect was recognisable to the customer during normal use of the delivery items without closer inspection.

(4) At  the  request  of  Uzin  Utz,  the  rejected  delivery  item must   be   returned   to   Uzin   Utz   carriage   paid.   After consultation with Uzin Utz as to the most avourable method of dispatch, Uzin Utz will reimburse that expense in case of a  justified  complaint;  this  shall  not  apply  if  the  expenses increase because the delivery item is located at a different place than the place of intended use.

 

11. material and legal defects

(1) Insofar as there is a defect in goods or services supplied by Uzin Utz, Uzin Utz shall be entitled, at its own choice, to either  subsequent  improvement,  replacement  delivery  or credit. This does not apply to claims of recourse according to §§ 445a, 445b BGB, if the last contract in the supply chain is a contract for the sale of consumer goods.

(2)  After consultation with Uzin Utz, the customer may also carry out the rectification of defects. Claims by the customer for  expenses  incurred  for  the  purpose  of  subsequent performance,  in  particular  transport,  travel,  labour  and material  costs,  are  excluded  if  the  expenses  increase because  the  goods  have subsequently  been  taken  to  a location other than the customer's branch.

 

12. The liability

(1) The liability of Uzin Utz for compensation for damages, irrespective   of   the   legal   grounds,   in   particular   for impossibility, delay, defective or incorrect delivery, breach of contract,    breach    of    obligations    during    contractual negotiations and tort, shall be limited in accordance with this Clause 12, in so far as fault is involved.

(2) The limitations of this Clause 12 shall not apply to the liability  of  Uzin  Utz  for  wilful  conduct,  for  guaranteed characteristics, for injury to life, body or health, or under the Produkthaftungsgesetz [Product Liability Act].

(3) Uzin  Utz  shall  not  be  liable  in  the  event  of  simple negligence  on  the  part  of  its  executive  bodies,  legal representatives,  employees  or  other  vicarious  agents, insofar  as  this  does  not  constitute  a  breach  of  material contractual  obligations.  Essential  contractual  obligations include the obligation to deliver the delivery item on time, its freedom  from  defects  of  title  and  such  material  defects which impair its functionality or suitability for use more than just insignificantly, as well as obligations to provide advice, protection  and  care,  which  are  intended  to  enable  the customer to use the delivery item in accordance with the contract or which are intended to protect the life or limb of the  customer's  personnel  or  to  protect  the  customer's property from considerable damage.

(4) Insofar as Uzin Utz is liable for damages on the merits pursuant to the above paragraph, this liability shall be limited to  damages  which  Uzin  Utz  foresaw  at  the  time  of conclusion of the contract as a possible consequence of a breach  of  contract  or  which  should  have  been  foreseen when   exercising   due   care.   Indirect   damage   and consequential damage resulting from defects in the delivery item shall only be eligible for compensation if such damage is typically to be expected when the delivery item is used for its intended purpose.

(5) In  the  event  of  liability  for  simple  negligence,  the obligation  of  Uzin  Utz  to  pay  compensation  for  material damage and resulting further financial losses shall be limited to  an  amount  of  EUR  15  million  per  case  of  damage (corresponding  to  the  current  cover  sum  of  its  product liability insurance or liability insurance), even if this involves a breach of material contractual obligations.

(6) The  above  exclusions  and  limitations  of  liability  shall apply  to  the  same  extent  in  favour  of  the  management bodies,   legal   representatives,   employees   and   other vicarious agents of Uzin Utz.

(7) Insofar as Uzin Utz provides technical information or acts in an advisory capacity and this information or advice is not part of the contractually agreed scope of services owed by it, this shall be done free of charge and to the exclusion of any liability.

(8) If the customer asserts recourse against Uzin Utz due to claims by third parties, Uzin Utz shall not be liable insofar as the  customer  has  effectively  limited  its  liability  vis-à-vis  its own customers. The liability of Uzin Utz for recourse claims is  excluded  to  the  extent  that  these  exceed  the  statutory claims  for  defects  and  damages  on  the  basis  of  an agreement concluded between the customer and its buyer.

(9) The customer is obliged to notify Uzin Utz immediately in  writing  of  any  claims  asserted  by  third  parties  and  to reserve all defensive measures and settlement negotiations for Uzin Utz.

 

13. term of limitation

(1)In the cases of §§ 438 para. 1 No. 2, 479 and 634 a para. 1 No. 2 BGB (German Civil Code) as well as in the case of intent,  fraudulent  concealment  of  a  defect,  claims  for damages  due  to  personal  injury  or  freedom  of  a  person, claims  arising  from  the  Product  Liability  Act  and  grossly negligent breach of duty, the statutory limitation periods shall apply to the Customer's claims. This also applies to regress claims in accordance with §§ 445a, 445b BGB, if the last contract in the supply chain is a consumer goods purchase. In all other respects, the period of limitation for claims and rights due to defects in the products, services and works of Uzin Utz and the resulting damages is one year.

(2)Measures  of  subsequent  performance  shall  neither suspend  the  limitation  period  applicable  to  the  original performance of services nor shall they cause the limitation period to start anew.

 

14. reservation of ownership

(1) The  following  provisions  serve  to  secure  all  existing current and future claims of Uzin Utz against the customer arising from the business relationship between them.

(2) The goods delivered by Uzin Utz to the customer shall remain the property of Uzin Utz until all secured claims have been paid in full. The goods as well as the goods which take their place according to the following provisions and which are   covered   by   the   reservation   of   ownership   shall hereinafter be referred to as "reserved goods".

(3) The  customer  shall  store  the  reserved  goods  free  of charge for Uzin Utz.

(4) The  customer  is  entitled  to  use  and  sell  the  reserved goods up to the onset of an enforcement event in the course of  ordinary  business  transactions.  Pledging  or  assigning security is not permitted.

(5) In the event of a further sale of the reserved goods, the customer shall assign immediately the claim arising from it against  the  acquirer  to  Uzin  Utz.  The  same  applies  to miscellaneous claims which replace the reserved goods or arise otherwise in regard to the reserved goods, such as insurance  claims  or  claims  deriving  from  impermissible action  in  case  of  loss  or  destruction.  Uzin  Utz  gives revocable  authorisation  to  the  customer  to  collect  claims assigned to Uzin Utz in its own name. Uzin Utz may only revoke  this  direct  debit  authorization  in  the  event  of exploitation.

(6) If third parties access the reserved goods, in particular by way of execution, the customer will immediately inform them of the ownership of Uzin Utz and inform Uzin Utz of this in order to enable it to enforce its ownership rights. At the  request  of  Uzin  Utz,  the  customer  must  provide  all necessary  information  on  the  existence  of  the  reserved goods and on the claims assigned to Uzin Utz and must inform his customers of the assignment. The customer shall support  Uzin  Utz  in  all  measures  that  are  necessary  to protect the ownership of Uzin Utz to the reserved goods, and shall bear the resulting costs.

(7) Uzin Utz shall release the reserved goods as well as the items taking their place or claims if their value exceeds the amount of the secured claims by more than 20%. Uzin Utz shall be free to select the items to be released thereafter.

(8) If Uzin Utz withdraws from the contract in the event of conduct on the part of the customer in breach of the contract - in particular default of payment - (case of realisation), Uzin Utz shall be entitled to demand the return of the reserved goods.

(9) The  customer’s  right  to  dispose  of  the  goods  that  are under the Uzin Utz reservation of ownership as well as to collect the claims assigned to Uzin Utz expires as soon as the customer no longer fulfils its payment obligations and/or files   an   application   for   the   opening   of   insolvency proceedings. In the aforementioned cases and in the event of  other  conduct  on  the  part  of  the  customer  which  is  in breach of the contract, Uzin Utz shall be entitled to take back the goods delivered under reservation of ownership without the need for a reminder.

 

15. confidentiality

(1) The  customer  undertakes  to  treat  all  aspects  of  the business relationship worthy of protection as confidential.

(2) Duplication of the documents provided to the customer is   only   permitted   within   the   scope   of   operational requirements and copyright regulations.

 

16. Final Provisions

(1) If the customer is a merchant as defined by the German Commercial Code (HGB), a legal entity under public law or a  special  fund  under  public  law,  the  exclusive  -  also international  -  place  of  jurisdiction  for  all  disputes  arising

directly or indirectly from the contractual relationship is the registered office of Uzin Utz in Ulm, Germany. The same applies if the customer is an entrepreneur as defined in § 14 BGB. In all cases, however, we are also entitled to bring an action at the place of performance of the delivery obligation in accordance with these General Terms and Conditions or a prior individual agreement or at the customer’s general place  of  jurisdiction.  This  shall  not  affect  any  overriding statutory provisions, in particular those relating to exclusive jurisdiction.

(2) The  business  relations  with  the  customer  shall  be governed exclusively by the law of the Federal Republic of Germany,  excluding  the  United  Nations  Convention  on Contracts  for  the  International  Sale  of  Goods  of  11  April 1980 (CISG).

(3) Should  individual  parts  of  these  General  Terms  and Conditions  be  invalid  for  commercial  transactions,  the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected. The contractual partners shall endeavour to reach an individual agreement on an effective clause that comes closest to the economic purpose and legal sense of the original wording, taking into account the interests of both parties.

 

Note:

The customer acknowledges that Uzin Utz stores data from the contractual relationship for the fulfilment of the contract in  accordance  with  Art.  6  of  the  General  Data  Protection Regulation (GDPR) and reserves the right to transfer the data to third parties, such as insurance companies, insofar as this is necessary for the fulfilment of the contract.

 

Uzin Utz AG | Dieselstraße 3 | D-89079 Ulm

As of: January 01, 2022