General business terms and conditions PEK3 GmbH

1. Scope

1.1. The general business terms and conditions apply for all contractual relationships between us, PEK3 GmbH, and the customer insofar as the customer is a trader (Section 14 of the German Civil Code (BGB)), legal person under public law or special fund under public law within the meaning of Section 310 (1), sentence 1 BGB.

The general business terms and conditions apply exclusively. Deviating, conflicting or supplementary general business terms and conditions of the customer do not apply, even if we fail to separately object to their application on a case-by-case basis. Our acceptance of orders without reservation does not constitute acknowledgement of such terms and conditions.

1.2. Individual agreements concluded with the customer on a case-by-case basis always take precedence over these general business terms and conditions. A contract or confirmation by us in text form (e.g. letter, e-mail) is relevant for the content of such agreements.

1.3. Declarations and notifications of legal relevance to be submitted by the customer after conclusion of the contract must be in text form in order to be effective.

2. Offer and contract conclusion

2.1. . In general, any “cost estimate”, “cost framework”, “cost calculation”, “cost outline” or “rough cost calculation” provided by us constitutes non-binding information for the customer. A binding offer cannot be derived from this in any case. Our offers are non-binding and subject to change without notice unless the offer is expressly designated as binding.

Offers are routinely prepared based on the concept sent to the customer in advance. Any ideas of the customer that deviate from the concept must be communicated to us in text form (email is sufficient) or in writing. If we are not notified accordingly, the concept sent in advance is deemed to be the agreed basis of the subsequent drawing or application.

The customer may submit an enquiry to us at any time for the implementation of a specific product or the purchase of a specific product. We will prepare an offer based on the customer’s enquiry.

In this case, the offer constitutes a binding contract offer from us. The customer may accept this contract offer at any time within 14 calendar days after it is received. A contract is concluded if the customer accepts our offer within the aforementioned term, either in writing or in text form, or if we deliver the goods.

Due to technical representation capabilities, the ordered goods may deviate to a minor and reasonable extent from goods presented on the Internet, where applicable. Colour deviations in particular are possible. This applies correspondingly for any documents that may be included with the offer, such as catalogues and brochures.

2.2. We reserve ownership or copyright and all other proprietary rights for all offers and cost estimates issued by us as well as drawings, illustrations, calculations, brochures, catalogues, models, tools, and other documents and resources provided to the customer. Without our express consent, the customer is not permitted to make the aforementioned items as such nor their contents accessible to third parties or disclose them, nor exploit or duplicate them either directly or through third parties. By our request, the customer has to return these items to us in full and destroy any copies when they are no longer needed by the customer in the ordinary course of business or if negotiations do not lead to the conclusion of a contract. This does not apply to the storage of data provided in electronic form for the purpose of customary data backups.

3. Term of delivery and performance

3.1. Our deliveries are exclusively EXW (“ex works”) from our warehouse according to INCOTERMS in the current version. Packaging is not included in the scope of delivery unless the packaging is expressly included as part of the delivery in our order confirmation.

3.2. The term of delivery or delivery date is individually agreed or stated in our order confirmation. Required technical clarification or changes to the order may delay the delivery of goods or the provision of services. An additional order confirmation is not required; such changes are routinely deemed to be amicably agreed between the contractual partners. The customer must meet all of their obligations and resolve all technical and commercial matters before the order can be fulfilled.

3.3. In case of the purchase of goods under a purchase contract as business to be settled on a fixed date within the meaning of Section 286 (2), no. 2 of the German Civil Code (BGB) or Section 376 of the German Commercial Code (HGB), and presuming we were informed that time is of the essence, we are liable in accordance with the applicable legal provisions according to no. 8 of these general business terms and conditions.

3.4. In case of force majeure (unforeseen circumstances beyond the supplier’s control and incidents that could not have been avoided with the diligence of a reasonable businessperson, e.g. labour disputes, war, fire, transport obstacles, shortage of raw materials, import and export restrictions, official measures, pandemics, epidemics or other disruptions), we are released from our delivery obligation for the duration and extent of the consequences. We shall promptly notify the customer of the occurrence and cessation of force majeure and make our best efforts to rectify the occurrence of force majeure and to limit its consequences as far as possible. Further actions shall be coordinated between the contracting parties in case of force majeure. Regardless, each contractual partner has the right to withdraw from the affected orders if force majeure lasts for more than four weeks from the expected delivery date.

3.5. We have the right to partial deliveries and partial performance at any time to the extent this is reasonable for the customer.

3.6. In case of delayed acceptance by the customer for more than five (5) days after being notified of the provision of the goods, we have the right to demand compensation for the resulting damage and any additional costs. This applies correspondingly if the customer culpably breaches its duties to cooperate.

4. Payment terms

4.1. Our prices are EXW (“ex works”) from our warehouse according to INCOTERMS in the current version, without packaging, unless otherwise specified in the order confirmation. All our prices are net of VAT as required by law. VAT in the legally due amount on the invoice date is shown by us separately on the invoice.

4.2. Regardless of the date the goods are received, invoices for deliveries of goods are payable within 30 days from the invoice date with no deductions. Invoices for service, repairs and any other services are payable within 14 days from the invoice date with no deductions. Deducting an early payment discount for immediate payment is only permissible under a special written agreement between the customer and one of our authorised employees.

4.3. Payment dates or payment terms shown on invoices or other documents define the date on which funds for payments that are due must be available to us. Payment is only considered to have been made when the amount is available to us. In case of payments by cheque or draft, payment is only made once the cheque or draft has been credited to one of our accounts.

4.4. The customer only has a right to set-off if

4.4.1. the delivered goods are indisputably defective or the counter-claim is legally established,

4.4.2. the counter-claim is based on the same contract, and

4.4.3. the customer has obtained our express consent.

4.5. We have the right to withhold subsequent deliveries if the customer is in default of payment for longer than seven (7) days or we have legitimate doubts regarding the customer’s ability to pay. However, withholding goods or services does not release the customer from its obligation to pay for goods already delivered or services already provided.

5. Passing of risk, transportation and packaging

5.1. The passing of risk is in accordance with INCOTERMS in the current version and always ex works (EXW), unless expressly agreed otherwise.

5.2. We do not take back transport and other packaging, with the exception of pallets. The customer is responsible for the disposal of packaging at its own expense.

5.3. On request and at the expense of the customer, the goods are sent to a destination other than the place of fulfilment (“ship-to location”) (sale by delivery to a place other than the place of performance). Shipment of the goods is at the risk and expense of the customer. In case of sale by delivery to a place other than the place of performance, the risk of accidental destruction and accidental impairment of the goods passes upon delivery of the goods to the carrier, shipper or other person or institution appointed for shipment. If requested by the customer, the delivery is covered by transport insurance at the customer’s expense. Separate agreements apply for taking back the packaging.

5.4. If the customer is informed that the goods are available and picking up or accepting the goods is delayed on request or through the customer’s fault, we shall store the goods at the customer’s risk and expense.

6. Retention of title

6.1. The delivered goods are subject to the retention of title and remain our property until all outstanding claims have been settled, including invoices that are not yet due at the time of delivery. In case of customer actions that are contrary to contract, in particular (but not limited to) late payment or non-payment, regardless of reasons, we have the right to take back the goods as payment for the outstanding amounts after granting a reasonable grace period. The goods shall be returned at the customer’s expense to a location of our choice. Return of the goods is deemed to be a legitimate withdrawal from the contract. We have the right to utilise the goods subject to retention of title after taking them back. After deducting a reasonable amount for operating costs, the proceeds from this utilisation shall be deducted from the amounts owed by the customer.

6.2. The customer is obliged to treat the goods subject to retention of title with care and to adequately ensure them at replacement value against fire, theft and water damage.

6.3. The customer has the right to transfer and/or use the goods subject to retention of title in the normal course of business as long as the customer is not in default of payment. Pledging or transfer by way of security is not permissible. Claims resulting from resale or any other cause in law with regard to the goods subject to retention of title are assigned to us by the customer in full by way of security, now and in advance. We revocably authorise the customer to collect the claims assigned to us, in their own name and on their own account. This authorisation to collect can be revoked at any time if the customer fails to properly meet its payment obligations. Furthermore, the customer is not authorised to assign this claim for the purpose of collecting the claim.

6.4. Processing or reworking the goods subject to retention of title by the customer is always done in our name. If the goods subject to retention of title are processed with other goods not belonging to us, we acquire joint ownership of the new goods in proportion to the value of the goods subject to retention of title (final invoice amount including VAT, plus transport and processing costs) relative to the other processed goods at the time of processing.

Otherwise the provisions for the goods subject to retention of title also apply to the new goods resulting from processing. If the goods subject to retention of title are inseparably mixed with other goods not belonging to us, we acquire the right to utilise the goods subject to retention of title.

In this case, we acquire joint ownership of the new goods in proportion to the value of the goods subject to retention of title (final invoice amount including VAT, plus transport and processing costs) relative to the other mixed goods at the time of mixing. If the customer’s goods are considered the primary goods as a consequence of mixing, we and the customer agree that the customer proportionally transfers joint ownership of these goods to us. The customer shall reserve our ownership or joint ownership right to the goods.

6.5. In case of third-party access to the goods subject to retention of title, in particular seizure, the customer shall point out our ownership and notify us immediately so that we can assert our ownership rights. The customer is liable for the full payment amount as well as all court or out of court costs.

6.6. We oblige ourselves to release the security to which we are entitled to the extent that the realisable value of our security exceeds the secured claims by more than 10%. The choice of security to be released rests with us.

7. Warranty

7.1. Unless otherwise stated in these general business terms and conditions, warranty rights are determined by the provisions of the German Civil Code (BGB). If the customer is a trader, the inspection and notification obligations according to Section 377 of the German Commercial Code (HGB) apply, meaning that noted defects must be reported promptly.

The general limitation period for claims due to material defects and defects of title is one year from the passing of risk. This does not apply insofar as our liability is unlimited according to no. 8.

7.2. In case of the defective delivery of services, we are free to choose supplementary performance by way of rectification of the defect or replacement delivery. We are entitled to at least a second attempt at supplementary performance if the first attempt fails.

7.3. If supplementary performance has failed or a deadline for supplementary performance to be imposed by the customer in writing has passed unsuccessfully or is unnecessary according to the applicable legal regulations, the customer has the right to withdraw from the contract or to abatement of the purchase price. However, there is no right to withdrawal in case of immaterial defects.

7.4. Claims of the customer for damages or the reimbursement of futile expenditures apply only according to no. 8 of these general business terms and conditions and are otherwise excluded.

8. Liability

We have unlimited liability according to the Product Liability Act (ProdHG), in case of the express acceptance of a guarantee or procurement risk, for intentional or grossly negligent breaches of obligations, for defects maliciously concealed by us and for breaches of obligations according to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Furthermore, we have unlimited liability in case of death, physical injury or the impairment of health due to intent or negligence. For damage to property and financial losses due to slight negligence, we are only liable in case of the breach of obligations that must be fulfilled for the proper execution of the contract and which the customer can particularly rely on to be fulfilled (“essential contractual obligations”); however, our liability in such cases is limited to the damage that is typical for the contract and foreseeable when the contract is concluded. In no case are claims of the customer for damages based on contract penalty claims of contractual partners of the customer foreseeable by us or typical for the contract in the aforementioned sense. The aforesaid also applies with regard to the liability of our employees and assistants.

9. Nondisclosure, data protection

9.1. The customer and we mutually oblige each other to nondisclosure and data protection according to the following provisions.

9.2. The respective recipient shall maintain the secrecy of the disclosing party’s trade secrets within the meaning of Section 2 (1) of the Trade Secrets Act (GeschGehG) and other confidential information, in particular economic, legal, tax and technically sensitive data as well as all working documents, drafts, concepts, calculations, samples, strategy proposals and drawings (jointly “confidential information”) that is entrusted or becomes known to the recipient, regardless of whether it is expressly identified as confidential, and is not authorised to publish or disclose it. The following do not constitute confidential information: information that is publicly known or generally accessible before being disclosed or provided to the recipient, or subsequently becomes so without a violation of a nondisclosure obligation; information that was already known to the recipient prior to disclosure without a violation of a nondisclosure obligation; information that was produced by the recipient without using or referring to the confidential information; information that is provided or made accessible to the recipient by an authorised third party without a violation of a nondisclosure obligation. The preceding nondisclosure obligation continues to apply for a period of three (3) years after the end of the contractual relationship between the customer and us. This obligation also covers the contents of the contract concluded between the customer and us.

9.3. The respective recipient is only permitted to disclose confidential information internally to the required extent and to the people who require it (need-to-know basis). In particular, the respective recipient may only make confidential information accessible to its employees who are obligated to maintain secrecy or to its consultants subject to professional secrecy, insofar as they are involved in the contractual relationships and reasonably require the information. The employees must be notified of this in advance. The recipient shall take all necessary steps to ensure that all persons to whom confidential information is disclosed or made accessible handle it in the same manner as the recipient is obliged to do.

9.4. The respective recipient is not authorised to use, exploit or appropriate the confidential information for other than the contractually agreed purposes, directly or through third parties. Especially in case of products and items, the recipient is not authorised to obtain confidential information by way of reverse engineering through observation, investigation, dismantling or testing.

9.5. On request of the disclosing party and unasked no later than when the contractual relationship existing between the parties ends, the respective recipient undertakes to promptly return to the disclosing party – or to destroy in coordination with the disclosing party – all confidential information provided to the recipient, including all copies and duplicates of the same. Insofar as documents containing confidential information were provided in electronic form, these data shall be erased no later than when the contractual relationship existing between the parties ends or, if this is not technically possible, permanently blocked. This does not apply to the extent a retention obligation exists according to law or an official or judicial order.

9.6. The nondisclosure obligation does not apply to confidential information that the recipient is obliged to disclose or publish by law or a binding official or legal order. In this case, the recipient – where this is not excluded or prohibited by law or official requirements – shall promptly notify the disclosing party of the pending disclosure or publication of the confidential information and, in coordination with the disclosing party, take all necessary and lawful steps to prevent disclosure and to alleviate any damaged caused by disclosure.

9.7. The respective recipient undertakes to protect the confidential information, through appropriate confidentiality measures, against unauthorised access by third parties and to comply with the applicable legal and contractual data protection regulations in processing the confidential information. This includes state-of-the-art technical security measures (Article 32 GDPR) and obligating employees to maintain confidentiality and observe data protection requirements (point (b) of Article 28(3) GDPR).

9.8. In case the respective recipient of confidential information intentionally or negligently violates the aforementioned nondisclosure obligations, the recipient undertakes to pay an appropriate contract penalty, the amount of which shall be established at the disclosing party’s equitable discretion and, in case of a dispute, reviewed by the court having jurisdiction. The amount of the concrete incurred contract penalty is determined in particular according to the level of confidentiality of the trade secret or other confidential information in question, the degree of fault, the scope of the disclosed information and the number of unauthorised persons to whom the information is disclosed contrary to duty. Further claims for damages remain unaffected. A contract penalty that is paid will be offset against any claims for damages. The contract penalty represents the minimum damage.

9.9. Otherwise, any processing of personal data is in accordance with the GDPR regulations and other applicable legal provisions on data protection, notably the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG). Our detailed data protection provisions are available at [insert link]. They contain detailed information about the use and protection of personal data and the associated rights of the customer.

10. Jurisdiction, applicable law, miscellaneous

10.1. The laws of the Federal Republic of Germany apply exclusively for the contractual relationship between the customer and us, under the exclusion of any conflict rules of international civil law and the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.

10.2. Unless an exclusive legal jurisdiction exists, our registered office is the exclusive jurisdiction for all current and future claims arising from the contractual relationship.

10.3. Should one of the clauses of these general business terms and conditions be or become ineffective, the effectiveness of the remaining clauses remains unaffected. An ineffective or void provision shall be replaced by a provision corresponding to its economic intent. This applies correspondingly in case of gaps.

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