Terms and conditions

General terms and conditions for the supply of Goods by CaterBrands B.V.

Offer, quotation, order confirmation and agreement
These general terms and conditions (the “general terms and conditions”) shall apply to and form an integral part of all our offers, quotations, order confirmations and agreements regarding supply of Goods to customer by CaterBrands B.V., (hereinafter referred to as ”we”, “us” or “our”).
Any offer, quotation, order confirmation and agreement between us and the customer shall constitute a contractual relationship between the ordering customer and CaterBrands.
Our offer or quotation is open for acceptance within the period stated therein. When no period is stated, the offer or quotation will only be binding after our written order confirmation including telefax or e-mail).
These general terms and conditions shall constitute all of the terms and conditions of any offer, quotation, order confirmation and agreement between us and customer relating to supply of Goods. Acceptance of our offer or quotation includes acceptance of the following general terms and conditions and no other terms and conditions (whether contained In a purchase order or otherwise) shall be binding on us unless they are expressly agreed to in writing.
If any of the conditions in these general terms and conditions are null and void or become nullified, the remaining terms and conditions will remain in full force. In this event, we will commence consultations with customer in order to agree on new terms and conditions to replace the null and void or nullified terms and conditions, taking into consideration the objective and meaning of the null and void or nullified conditions as much as possible.
Changes to the offer, quotation, order acknowledgment or agreement or any part thereof, need prior written approval from both parties.

Prices and payment
All prices are in euros or in the currency set forth in our offer or quotation and subsequent order confirmation. All prices are exclusive any applicable VAT, sales tax or like kind taxes, fees, levies, imposts, duties, assessments, charges, customs duties or withholdings of whatever nature and based on Free Carrier (FCA) deliveries (Incoterms 2000).
Prices apply to the Goods offered or agreed to Customer will pay us a net feelprice, as specified in the offer or quotation or relevant annex, including specific additional costs and expenses.
We will be entitled to adjust our prices by means of written notification at least three months in advance, unless the parties have explicitly agreed otherwise.
Customer will pay all invoices within fourteen (14) days after the invoice date.
If customer does not pay the amount due within the stipulated term, customer will be in default immediately. Interest will accrue on all late payments, at the rate of 1.5% per month, calculated on a monthly basis, as from the due date until payment in full. Furthermore, customer will pay any costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the collection of the debt. In the event of any default by customer in the payment of any fees or charges due, or any other default by customer, we shall have the right to suspend, delay or cancel any credit, delivery or any other performance by us, without prejudice to any other rights we may have.
If customer disputes the contents of an invoice, customer will notify us in writing within seven (7) days after receiving the invoice, stating the complaint and supporting it with proof. After these seven (7) days, the invoice will be deemed accepted and customer will pay the invoice within fourteen (14) days after the invoice date. In such event, customer will be entitled to suspend payment of the disputed part of the invoice. If it is established that the complaint was justified, the invoice will be adjusted and customer will pay the remaining balance within fourteen (14) days after receipt of the adjusted invoice. If it is established that the complaint was unjustified, customer will pay the disputed balance immediately. _Customer will also pay legal interest at the rate of 1.5% per month, calculated on a monthly basis, as from the moment the original term of payment expired, and any costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the collection of the debt.
Customer shall not offset, withhold or reduce any payment(s) by it to us without our prior written approval.
If we incur exchange rate loss due to customer’s failure to pay when payments are due, we shall be entitled to equivalent compensation from customer for such losses.

Retention of title
The customer explicitly accepts that we shall retain ownership of the Goods until fill payment has been received of all amounts due in accordance with the agreement and the customer shall not resell the Goods than in the normal course of business and take all measures to protect the Goods and to ensure that our title to the Goods is in no way prejudiced. Risk of loss in the Goods shall pass to customer upon our delivery in accordance with the applicable Incoterm. The customer shall be obliged to insure the Goods at its own expense for the time they remain our property. If the customer fails to make any payments to us when due, the customer shall, upon our first notice, be obliged to return to us, at customer’s risk and expense, any Goods that are subject to the retention of ownership.

Delivery and acceptance
Delivery dates communicated or acknowledged by us are approximately only, and we shall not be liable for, nor shall we be in breach of our obligations to customer because of any deliverymade within a reasonable time before or after the stated delivery date. We agree to use commercially reasonable efforts to meet the delivery dates communicated or acknowledged by us on the condition that the customer provides all necessary order and delivery information sufficiently prior to the agreed delivery date.

Intellectual property rights and indemnification
The design of the Goods and all intellectual property rights pertaining thereto, shall at all times remain our solely owned property.
Unless agreed to the contrary, Customer is entitled to use any of our trade names, trade marks and/or other sysmbols we use for the sole purpose of identifying and advertising the Goods within the scope of the agreement between us and the Customer.
Indemnification: Customer shall indemnify and hold us harmless against all fines, losses, damages, costs and expenses, whether directly or indirectly arising from a claim brought by a third party claiming that the manufacture, sale or use (for example as stipulated by customer in its sales conditions) of any Good engineered, manufactured and or supplied in accordance with customer's instructions or suggestion, constitute(d) infringement of one or more of the patent rights or other intellectual property rights of such third party, together with the actual costs and expenses incurred by us in connection with such a claim by such third party we will give customer full authority to, at the option of customer, either settle or defend such claim, suit or proceeding and all reasonable co-operation and assistance in case customer decides to defend such a claim, suit or proceeding and provided further that we will refrain from any activity that can jeopardise or harm the defence of any such claim made by a third party.

Quantity variations
A shortage as surplus not exceeding 10% in quantity of the order shall be deemed to be due execution of any such order and shall be allowed or charged for and paid pro rata.

Limitation of liability
All liability of CaterBrands B.V. to the customer shall be limited to claims or recovery of direct loss of direct damage for the amount of the total price of the Goods supplied under the quotation or agreement, with a maximum of HUNDRED THOUSAND EUROS (€100.000,-) as liquidated damages and not as a penalty. Over and above said amount customer shall indemnify us accordingly. IN NO EVENT SHALL WE BE LIABLE FOR CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE AND/OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THE SUPPLY OF GOODS, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. These limitations are separate, essential terms of this general terms and conditions (and agreement) and effective upon the failure of any remedy, exclusive or not.
The goods of the customer or of third parties which are present on our premises are not insured against any risk whatsoever. We cannot be held liable in any case whatsoever for damage, destruction or loss of goods belonging to the customer or third parties. If goods of customer and/or third parties have become unusable as a result of processing performed by us, this shall be entirely at the risk of the customer.
We are not liable for defects arising out of materials provided by, or designs, drawings or other information stipulated or specified by the customer.

Warranty
We warrant that the Goods delivered by us shall be in conformity with our quotation and that the Goods shall at the time of delivery be free from defects in material or workmanship which appear therein under proper use, and arise solely from faulty materials or our workmanship, and shall conform to their specifications or such other specifications as we have agreed to in writing, it being understood that this warranty does not cover damage
sustained by normal wear and tear or
arising in consequence of negligence or improper handling or use of the Goods or parts thereof by customer or customer's agents, or
arising in consequence of improper storage in the event of the Goods wholly or partly being stored by the customer, use or resale to ultimate buyers;
Our liability under this warranty shall be to supply to customer free of charge, replacements of such Goods as have proved to have such defects as set out here above, provided that we are informed by customer in writing within five (5) days after the defects have revealed themselves and the defective Goods have been placed at our disposal; the defective Goods shall become our property as soon as they have been replaced.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL CONDITIONS, REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTY RIGHTS NOR SHALL WE BE LIABLE FOR LOSS OF PROFITS TO CUSTOMER OR TO ANY THIRD PARTYARISING FROM THE SUPPLY OF GOODS. NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY CATERBRANDS B.V., ITS , DISTRIBUTORS, DEALERS, AGENTS OR ITS OR THEIR EMPLOYEES SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY. THIS DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY CONSTITUTES AN ESSENTIAL PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PART OF THESE GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS (AND AGREEMENT).

Confidential Information
Neither customer nor we shall use, employ or disclose Confidential Information (as defined hereinafter) received from the other whether orally, in writing, by demonstration or otherwise, except as is necessary to implement the quotation, order or agreement – it being understood that the confidential Information may be communicated in confidence within the receiving party's organization (and its affiliated companies' organizations) or to sub- contractors or to other persons called in by the receiving party for the execution of the quotations, orders and agreements for supply of Goods, but only on a need- to-know-basis - unless and to the extent the receiving party can prove by written record that:
it already had knowledge of such information prior to disclosure; or
the information was already or becomes publicly known through no fault of the receiving party; or
information identical to the disclosed information was already in its possession or is subsequently lawfully obtained without restrictions to the use from a third party who is free to disclose the same or is subsequently independently developed by the receiving party without the use of the disclosed information.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, "Confidential Information" includes any and all information relating to the disclosing party's products, services, research, development, trade secrets, drawings, marketing and business plans, strategies, customers, management, personnel and contents and substance of all our quotations, orders and agreements for supply of Goods. In the event the receiving party receives a subpoena or court order to disclose any Confidential Information, the receiving party shall deliver prompt written notice to the disclosing party and shall cooperate with the disclosing party's attempts to obtain a protective order or other similar protection for the Confidential Information. The provisions of this section shall retroactively be in full force and effect from the date first contacts were established with respect to the subject matter of the quotation, order or agreement and shall remain in full force and effect during the duration of the quotation, order or agreement and three (3) years thereafter.
The customer shall be liable towards us for any damages resulting from the fact that third parties have access to Confidential Information. The Confidential Information shall be returned to us immediately at our first request.

Termination
The agreement will remain in force until the completion of the supply of Goods or for a term as specified in the agreement. If the agreement has been entered into for an indefinite period, we may terminate the agreement by giving three (3) months written notice to customer, unless agreed otherwise in writing. In the event of such termination, we will not owe any compensation.
Any party may terminate the agreement without any liability, after having sent a written notice of default that is adequate and as detailed as possible, and that sets the reasonable time period by which the default must be remedied, if the other party blamefully fails to comply with the material obligations under the agreement.
Any party may give the other party written notification of the immediate termination of the agreement without liability, wholly or in part, without the requirement for notice of default or intervention of the Court, in the event of the following: if the other party has been granted suspension of payments, whether provisionally or not; if a petition for bankruptcy has been filed with respect to the other party and the petition has not been revoked within seven (7) days; if the other party files for bankruptcy itself; or if the other party's enterprise is dissolved or terminated, except for the purpose of a merger with or absorption by another company.

Effects of termination
If at the time of the termination customer has already received the benefit of the performance of the agreement, customer will not be entitled to the right to undo the performance and to not comply with the relevant payment obligations, except where we may be in default with respect to the performance. Amounts invoiced by us for the Services and/or the Goods delivered or carried out, and any other costs incurred by us under the agreement before the termination, and any other obligations entered into by us for the performance of the agreement, will remain due and in full effect, subject to the stipulations described in the previous sentence and will become immediately payable on termination.
Immediately following the termination of the agreement, each party will return all media containing Confidential Information and remove copies thereof including from its own media.
We are entitled to offset amounts due by customer to us with amounts due by us.

Force majeure
Neither party will be bound to comply with any obligation if the party is prevented from doing so through force majeure. Force majeure will be deemed to include the failure to perform by our suppliers.
The expression 'force majeure' shall for the purpose of the agreement mean and include circumstances or occurrences beyond one party's reasonable control -whether or not foreseeable at the time of the quotation, order (confirmation) or agreement - in consequence of which one party cannot reasonably be required to execute its obligations under the quotation, order (confirmation) or agreement.
In the event of the occurrence of force majeure, we shall be entitled to suspend supply of Goods for the duration of the prevention or delay caused by such force majeure, without being held responsible for any damage resulting there from to the customer or a third party.
if the force majeure has lasted for more than sixty (60) days, the parties will be entitled to terminate the agreement by written notification, without prejudice to our right to compensation for what has already been performed under the agreement.
If customer desires early termination of the agreement because of force majeure, we may agree to such early termination. Amounts invoiced by us and any other costs incurred by us under the agreement before the termination, and any other obligations entered into by us for the performance of the agreement, will remain due and in full effect and will become immediately payable on termination.

Export control
The validity of our quotation, order confirmation or agreement may be subject to the granting of a governmental export license. In the event that such a license or end-user statement is required, the customer shall provide us with such document on first written request.
In case the supply of Goods will be restricted or forbidden due to (changed) export control laws, rights and obligations of the customer will be suspended for the estimated duration of this (changed) export control law, or even the agreement may be terminated.

Applicable law and disputes
The law of The Netherlands governs these general terms and conditions and the quotations, order confirmations and agreements to which they apply.
Any disputes arising between us and customer in connection with a quotation, an order confirmation, or in connection with an agreement resulting thereof, will be settled by the competent Courts in The Netherlands.
The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods does not apply.