General Terms and Conditions of ViDiCore KG as of 1 January 2009

1.1 The below-listed general terms and conditions of ViDiCore KG apply to business transactions with ViDiCore KG if the party ordering is an entrepreneur as defined by Art. 14, BGB (German Civil Code) or a legal entity or separate estate under public law.
1.2 These General Terms and Conditions of ViDiCore KG shall apply exclusively. Any differing, conflicting or supplemental terms and conditions of the party ordering shall only become part of the contract if and to the extent ViDiCore KG has given its express written consent. This requirement of consent applies in any case, even if ViDiCore KG executes a delivery without reservation in spite of being aware of the general terms and conditions of the party ordering.
1.3 The party ordering is bound to his/her offer of contract for 4 weeks.
1.4 The contract will come into effect when ViDiCore KG confirms acceptance thereof in writing or effects performance or delivery within the deadline.
1.5 ViDiCore KG reserves its exploitation rights without restriction on all proprietary and copyrighted cost estimates, drawings and other documents (hereinafter referred to as documentation). The documentation may only be made accessible to third parties with the prior consent of ViDiCore KG and must be returned to ViDiCore KG without delay on request if ViDiCore KG is not granted the contract.
1.6 The party ordering has the non-exclusive right to use standard software with the agreed performance characteristics in unaltered form on the agreed hardware. The party ordering is entitled to make back-up copies without any explicit agreement to this effect.
1.7 All agreements, collateral agreements, provisos, amendments and supplements to the contract must be recorded in writing in the interest of conservation of evidence.
2. Prices
2.1 Prices are subject to change unless fixed prices have been agreed. The ViDiCore KG prices valid on the day of delivery or performance in accordance with the ViDiCore KG price lists shall apply ex ViDiCore KG delivery stores.
2.2 All prices are without discounts or any other deductions plus value-added tax at the rate valid on the date of delivery or performance.
2.3 The costs of packaging, loading and shipping from the ViDiCore KG delivery stores are at the expense of the party ordering. When delivering goods upon which duty has not been paid, the party ordering must pay the charges levied by the customs authorities and any related costs.
3. Terms of Payment
3.1 With the exception of agreements made expressly to the contrary, payment is always due at the latest when the purchased items are picked up or, in the event of shipment, when they are handed over to the freight forwarder or carrier.
3.2 All payments must be made in cash without any deductions at a ViDiCore KG paying office. Only ViDiCore KG cash desks are entitled to take receipt of money. Any credit transfers may only be made to accounts held by ViDiCore KG. ViDiCore KG sales personnel do not have collection authority.
3.3 ViDiCore KG reserves the right to refuse bills of exchange or cheques. Bills of exchange or cheques will only be accepted by way of payment and without any guarantee of punctual submission or timely protest. All cheques and bill of exchange fees and costs are at the expense of the party ordering and are due for immediate payment to ViDiCore KG.
3.4 If the party ordering is in default of all or parts of his/her payments and if mature bills of exchange in particular are not honored in time or cheques not cashed upon presentation, ViDiCore KG can accelerate maturity of all claims arising from the business relationship with advance notice of one week. This also applies to bills of exchange with later maturity. All demands for payment made by ViDiCore KG which arise from the business relationship will become due for immediate payment without advance notice if the party ordering discontinues his/her payments or if an application is made to open insolvency proceedings against his /her assets.
3.5 The party ordering has no rights of offsetting or retention unless his/her counterclaims have not been contested by ViDiCore KG or established finally and absolutely.
4. Delivery – Delayed Delivery
4.1 In the interest of conservation of evidence, delivery times and deadlines must be agreed to in writing. With the exception of agreements made expressly to the contrary, all details of delivery times and deadlines are non-binding only and are subject to the proviso of complete and prompt delivery to ViDiCore KG by advance suppliers.
4.2 If delivery times and deadlines which have been agreed in a non-binding manner are exceeded by more than 6 weeks, the party ordering can demand in writing that ViDiCore KG make delivery within an appropriate space of time. ViDiCore KG will be considered to be in default once the deadline set in this way has expired without performance. ViDiCore KG can only be held liable for damage due to delays to the extent outlined in Section 9, below.
4.3 The prerequisite for ViDiCore KG compliance with dates and deadlines is correct and punctual fulfillment of all obligations by the party ordering. This includes in particular compliance with the agreed terms of payment and the timely receipt of all documentation, any necessary licenses and the release authorization of plans in particular to be delivered by the party ordering.
4.4 Partial deliveries by ViDiCore KG are permissible as long as they can be reasonably expected of the party ordering.
4.5 Instances of force majeure entitle ViDiCore KG to postpone delivery for the duration of the obstruction plus an appropriate restart period. If it becomes unreasonable for either party to fulfil the contract, that party may withdraw from the contract to that extent. Force majeure is considered to be all circumstances which make it considerably more difficult or impossible for ViDiCore KG to make delivery, such as currency, trading policy or other sovereign measures, strikes, lock outs, operational disturbances (e.g. fire, mechanical breakdown, raw material or energy shortages) as well as transport route obstructions, irrespective of whether these circumstances occur at ViDiCore KG, a supplier’s plant or a ViDiCore KG subcontractor.
4.6 The right is reserved by the manufacturer to make alterations to the construction, shape, color shade and scope of delivery throughout the delivery period, provided that the purchased item is not significantly altered and the alterations can be accepted as reasonable by the party ordering. No rights can be asserted against ViDiCore KG for the use of type codes or numbers for the purchased item.
5. Acceptance/Shipment – Transfer of Risk
5.1 The party ordering is obliged to make acceptance of the purchased item within 8 days of receipt of notification of availability or a shipping order. Shipment is made in the name, at the expense and at the risk of the party ordering. ViDiCore KG is entitled to charge flat rate freight costs to cover freight expenses.
5.2 If the party ordering fails to make acceptance of the purchased item within 2 weeks of receipt of notification of availability, ViDiCore KG can set the party ordering a deadline of 8 days in writing. Once this deadline has expired without action, ViDiCore KG is entitled to withdraw from the purchase contract by means of a written declaration to this effect and/or claim damages in place of performance. If ViDiCore KG claims damages in place of performance, this will amount to 20 % of the purchase price. Both parties reserve the right to provide evidence of major or minor damage.
5.3 If the purchased item is to be shipped and no agreements to the contrary have been made, it is left over to ViDiCore KG to select the transport mode and route. If the wrong selection is made, ViDiCore KG can only be held liable to the extent outlined in Section 9, below.
5.4 ViDiCore KG is entitled but not obliged to take out transport insurance on behalf and for the account of the party ordering unless the party ordering contradicts insurance of this kind.
5.5 The risk, including that of accidental loss or deterioration of the purchased item, is transferred from ViDiCore KG to the party ordering upon expiry of the availability deadline or, if shipped, as soon as the purchased item is delivered to the freight forwarder or carrier, but at the latest as soon as it leaves the ViDiCore KG delivery store, irrespective of whether shipment is made from the place of performance or freight paid.
5.6 The party ordering is not entitled to refuse receipt of the purchased item due to irrelevant defects.
6. Retention of Title
6.1 The delivered goods (hereinafter referred to as reserved goods) will remain the property of ViDiCore KG until complete payment of the purchase price has been made and all other claims made by ViDiCore KG in connection with the transaction (e.g. bill of exchange costs, financing costs, interest, repair and conversion costs) have been settled.
6.2 For ViDiCore KG, as the manufacturer as defined by Art. 950, BGB, the handling and processing of the reserved goods does not put ViDiCore KG under any obligation. If the party ordering processes the goods along with other goods that do not belong to ViDiCore KG, ViDiCore KG is entitled to co-ownership of the manufactured object in the ratio of the invoice value of the processed reserved goods to the sum of the invoice values of all other goods used in the manufacturing process. If reserved goods are mixed or connected with other objects, thus bringing about the expiry of ViDiCore KG ownership of the reserved goods (Arts. 947, 948, BGB), it is regarded as agreed even now that the party ordering’s ownership share in the mixed item or uniform object will be passed on to ViDiCore KG to the extent of the invoice value of the reserved goods and that the party ordering will safeguard these goods for ViDiCore KG with the diligence of a prudent businessman.
The objects created through processing, connection or mixing are reserved goods as defined by these general terms and conditions.
6.3 For the duration of the retention of title, the sale, pledging, transfer of ownership by way of security, rental or other relinquishment of the reserved goods to third parties which might impair the security status of ViDiCore KG are only permitted with the advance, written consent of ViDiCore KG, as are the alteration, processing, mixing, connection or utilization of said goods.
6.4 The party ordering may only sell the reserved goods in the ordinary course of business. He/she herewith transfers to ViDiCore KG all claims against third parties arising from the further sale or other legal transactions which may affect the reserved goods in future, along with all ancillary rights and security interest in their total. ViDiCore KG accepts the transfer. If the reserved goods are sold after being connected to, mixed with or processed with other goods not belonging to ViDiCore KG, transfer will only be to the extent of ViDiCore KG co-ownership share in the item or stock sold. If the party ordering has a current account relationship with his/her buyer, the transfer will relate to the balance claim at the end of an accounting period. If the reserved goods are used by the party ordering for the fulfillment of a contract for work and services or plant delivery contract, the claim arising from such a contract will be transferred in advance to ViDiCore KG to the same extent that it has been determined above for claims from further sale.
The party ordering is entitled to collect the claims transferred to ViDiCore KG in the ordinary course of business to the extent that he/she fulfils his/her contractual obligations towards ViDiCore KG. The party ordering is not entitled to transfer or sell the claim unless he or she receives the final and complete equivalent sum of the claim.
6.5 If the value of the securities that exist for ViDiCore KG exceeds not only temporarily the claims of ViDiCore KG by a total of more than 20%, ViDiCore KG will on demand release securities of their choice of corresponding value.
6.6 The party ordering is obliged to maintain reserved goods in an orderly condition for the duration of the retention of title. Any damage to the reserved goods caused or detected by the party ordering which occurred after the risk was transferred to him/her must be reported to ViDiCore KG in writing without delay. Any repairs required during the retention of title must be coordinated with ViDiCore KG and made immediately at their request.
6.7 If the party ordering is in default of payment or he/she has not fulfilled his/her obligations in regard to the reserved goods in accordance with Section 6 of these terms and conditions, and if ViDiCore KG has withdrawn from the contract because of this violation, ViDiCore KG can demand the return of the reserved goods with the exclusion of all rights of retention. The right of ViDiCore KG to withdraw under the conditions defined in Art. 323, BGB and demand the return of the reserved goods extends to all purchased items still covered by retention of title by ViDiCore KG at the time of withdrawal. The costs of returning and re-utilizing the reserved goods will be carried by the party ordering. The return and re-utilization costs are set individually without proof at 10 % of the re-utilization proceeds plus any VAT that may be due. The right is reserved to provide evidence of higher or lower return and re-utilization costs. The re-utilization proceeds and any down payments made on the purchase price will be offset against the claims of ViDiCore KG after deduction of all costs and other claims by ViDiCore KG connected with the purchase contract. The party ordering will be credited with any surpluses.
7. Liability for Material Defects
7.1 Contrary to the law, the limitation period for claims by the party ordering for material defects on newly manufactured movable items purchased from ViDiCore KG by the party ordering is one year from the start of the legal limitation period. This shortened limitation period will not apply in instances where human life is lost, physical injury occurs, health is damaged or where ViDiCore KG deliberately or negligently fails to comply with its duties or fraudulently conceals a defect.
7.2 If the party ordering asserts a claim for subsequent fulfillment on newly manufactured movable items due to a material defect, ViDiCore KG has the option of either repairing the defect or replacing the defective item with a non-defective item
7.3 The party ordering is not entitled to claim for expenses required for the purpose of subsequent fulfillment – in particular, transport, road, labour and material costs – if the costs increase because the delivered object was moved subsequently to a place other than the party ordering’s place of business, unless the removal complies with its intended purpose.
7.4 The sale of used removable items by ViDiCore KG to the party ordering is not subject to material defect liability of any kind. Any liability claims the party ordering may be asserting against ViDiCore KG in instances where human life has been lost, physical injury has occurred or health has been damaged or where ViDiCore KG has deliberately or negligently failed to comply with its duties or fraudulently concealed a defect are not affected by this.
7.5 The party ordering is obliged to report any material defects to ViDiCore KG in writing without delay.
8. Industrial Property Rights and Copyright; Defects of Title
8.1 Unless agreed otherwise, ViDiCore KG is only obliged to make delivery in the country in which the place of delivery is located free from any industrial property rights and copyright (hereinafter referred to as property rights) of any third parties. If a third party asserts any justified claims against the party ordering for infringement of property rights caused by any deliveries made by ViDiCore KG and used in accordance with the terms of contract, ViDiCore KG is liable to the party ordering as follows within the deadline set in Item 7.1:
8.1.1 At its own expense for the deliveries in question and as desired, ViDiCore KG will either obtain a right of use and amend it in such a way that the property rights are not infringed, or replace it. If it is not possible for ViDiCore KG to do so under appropriate conditions, the party ordering is entitled to make use of his/her legal rights of rescission or reduction.
8.1.2 Damage claims against ViDiCore KG for defects of title of this kind can only be asserted as outlined in Section 9.
8.1.3 The above-mentioned obligations of ViDiCore KG only exist if the party ordering notifies ViDiCore KG in writing and without delay of the claims being asserted by a third party and does not acknowledge an infringement, and if ViDiCore KG reserves the right to all defensive measures and compromise negotiations. If the party ordering discontinues utilization of the delivery to minimize damage or for other important reasons, he/she is obliged to inform the third party that discontinuation of utilization does not constitute acknowledgement of a property right infringement.
8.2 The party ordering is not entitled to make any claims if he/she is responsible for the property right infringement.
8.3 Claims by the party ordering are also not permitted if the property right infringement was caused by particular specifications given by the party ordering, an application that was not foreseeable by ViDiCore KG or by the fact that the delivery was altered by the party ordering or utilized together with other products not supplied by ViDiCore KG.
8.4 The provisions of Section 7 apply to all other defects of title.
8.5 Further reaching claims by the party ordering against ViDiCore KG and its vicarious agents or claims other than those outlined in this section for defects of title are precluded. Used movable items are sold by ViDiCore KG to the party ordering under exclusion of all defect of title liability.
9. Liability
9.1 In the event of intent or gross negligence, ViDiCore KG, its legal representatives or its vicarious agents will be held liable for all damage to the party ordering caused by ViDiCore KG irrespective of the legal ground but in particular due to infringement of duties from the obligation and unlawful acts and for reimbursement of expenses in accordance with Art. 284 BGB. In the event of the grossly negligent infringement of non-essential contractual obligations by simple vicarious agents, ViDiCore KG may only be held liable for typical damage that was foreseeable at the time the contract was signed. In the event of slight negligence, ViDiCore KG, its legal representatives or vicarious agents will only be held liable if the damage was caused by an infringement of essential contractual obligations and only for typical damage that was foreseeable at the time the contract was signed. ViDiCore KG may not be held liable in all other instances of slight negligence.
9.2 ViDiCore KG is liable without restriction in all instances where ViDiCore KG is responsible for the loss of human life, causing physical injury or damaging health.
9.3 The personal liability of the legal representatives, vicarious agents and company employees of ViDiCore KG for damage caused by them through slight negligence is excluded.
9.4 In the event of fraudulent concealment of a defect, the acceptance of a warranty or procurement risk or in accordance with the product liability law, the liability of ViDiCore KG will remain unaffected irrespective of any fault.
9.5 All damage claims by the party ordering, irrespective of the legal ground but in particular those due to unlawful acts and possible claims for reimbursement of expenses in accordance with Art. 284, BGB, fall under the statute of limitations with the expiry of the limitation deadline applicable to material damage claims in accordance with Section 7. The legal limitation regulations will apply in instances where life has been lost, physical damage has occurred or health has been impaired, in the event of intent or gross negligence and with damage claims in accordance with the product liability law.
9.6 The party ordering is obliged to record in writing and without delay any damage claims for which ViDiCore KG is to be held responsible or have them recorded by a ViDiCore KG representative.
10. Place of Fulfillment, Point of Delivery, Place of Jurisdiction, Assignment and Return of Packaging
10.1 The place of fulfillment is Hückelhoven.
10.2 The law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies. The application of UN commercial law (United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods [CISG]) is excluded.
10.3 It is agreed that Hückelhoven shall be the exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from the business relationship, including those arising from bill of exchange or cheque issues.
10.4 The assignment of claims against ViDiCore KG requires the advance written consent of ViDiCore KG
ViDiCore KG • Erkelenzer Str. 4 • 41836 Hückelhoven/Germany • Tel. 02433/44 69 100-0 • Fax 02433/44 69 100-1 • e-Mail Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist gegen Spambots geschützt! JavaScript muss aktiviert werden, damit sie angezeigt werden kann. • www.vidicore.com