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Definitions, Scope of Application

a) The following General Terms and Conditions of Sales and Delivery of  TOW GmbH, Germany  shall apply to the automotive aftermarket  business operated by TOW GmbH. These terms and conditions shall apply exclusively; TOW GmbH does not recognize any conflicting or differing terms and conditions of the customer unless TOW GmbH expressly approved the application thereof in writing. These Terms and Conditions shall also govern all future transactions between the parties and shall also  apply in the event TOW GmbH performs a delivery to the customer without reservation while aware of conflicting or differing terms and conditions of the customer.

b) Differing or contrary agreements or collateral agreements shall not apply except if TOW GmbH expressly agreed upon them in writing.

c) The General Terms and Conditions shall only apply vis-à-vis entrepreneurs, governmental entities or special governmental estates within the meaning of Sec. 310 para. 1 BGB (German Civil Code).


2. OFFER, OFFER DOCUMENTS AND ORDER CONFIRMATION

a) TOW GmbH’s offers shall be without obligation. Insofar as an order qualifies as an offer pursuant to § 145 of the German civil code, TOW GmbH is entitled to accept such order within 4 weeks.

b) TOW GmbH hereby reserves the title and copy right to drafts, drawings, calculations and any other documents. This shall also apply to those written documents designated as “confidential”. The customer shall require the expressed written approval of TOW GmbH prior to passing on such documents to third parties.

c) The specifications in drafts, drawings, calculations, catalogues and other documents shall be nonbinding. TOW GmbH shall not assume any responsibility for proposals.

d) A contract for delivery shall first be effected by way of a written order confirmation of TOW GmbH, though upon delivery at the latest. Transmission of confirmation per remote data transfer shall satisfy the requirement for the written form. In the event TOW GmbH can verify that it sent a declaration per fax or remote data transfer through the presentation of a dispatch report, it shall be assumed that the customer received the declaration.


3. PRICES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PAYMENT

Prices are ex works, exclusive of the respective statutory VAT and exclusive of costs for packaging, except as otherwise expressly agreed upon.
Unless other payment periods are agreed upon, payments are to be rendered as follows:
Within 30 days of the invoice date without deduction. Payment shall be rendered by way of bank transfer or check. The receipt by TOW GmbH shall be decisive for the timeliness of the payment.
In the event the Customer is in default in payment, TOW GmbH shall be entitled to charge default interest at a rate of 9% above the base interest rate.

In the event the Customer is in default in payment, TOW GmbH shall be entitled to collect such delivered good until the complete payment or withdraw from the Contract without waiving its claims. TOW GmbH shall in addition be entitled to retain all deliveries or performances.
The Customer may only set off claims with undisputed counterclaims recognized by TOW GmbH or counterclaims recognized by a non-appealable decision.
The Customer shall only be authorized to exercise a retention right provided its counterclaim is based on the same contractual relation.
In the event TOW GmbH becomes aware of circumstances which cast doubt on the creditworthiness of the Customer or circumstances arise after the conclusion of the Contract which jeopardize its payment claim due to the Customer‘s dwindling assets, or in the event the Customer is in default over the payment of the purchase price, TOW GmbH may demand advance payment or collateral within a reasonable period and refuse performance until its demands are met.
In the event the Customer refuses to render advance payment or provide collateral or the period expires without effect, TOW GmbH shall be entitled to withdraw from the Contract in whole or in part and demand damage compensation.
 


4. RETENTION OF TITLE

a) TOW GmbH hereby reserves the title to the delivered goods until all payments from the business relation with the Customer have been received in full. The Customer shall handle the goods with due care, maintain suitable insurance for the goods and, to the extent necessary, service and maintain the goods.

b) TOW GmbH’s assertion of the retention of title or the pledging of delivered goods shall not constitute the withdrawal from the Contract.

c) The Customer shall be entitled to resell the delivered goods in the regular course of business; however, the Customer hereby assigns all claims arising for the Customer in the course of the resale in the amount of the purchase price agreed upon between TOW GmbH and the Customer (including value- added tax) to TOW GmbH in advance regardless of whether the delivered goods are sold processed or unprocessed. The customer shall be authorized to collect such claims after they have been assigned. TOW GmbH’s authorization to collect the claims itself shall not be prejudiced thereby; however TOW GmbH hereby agrees not to collect such claims as long as the Customer duly fulfils its payment obligations and is not in default in payment. If this is not the case, TOW GmbH may demand that the Customer disclose the assigned claims and its debtors, provide all information necessary for collection, surrender the related documents and inform the debtors (third parties) of the assignment.

d) The processing or reconstruction of the delivered goods by the Customer shall always be performed on behalf of TOW GmbH. In the event the delivered goods are processed with other components not belonging to TOW GmbH, TOW GmbH shall acquire the joint title to the new good in proportion of the value of the delivered goods to the other processed components at the time the components are processed.

e) In the event the delivered goods are mixed with other components not belonging to TOW GmbH which cannot be separated, TOW GmbH shall acquire the joint title to the new good in proportion of the value of the delivered goods to the mixed components. The Customer shall keep in safe custody such joint title for TOW GmbH.

f) The Customer may neither pledge the delivered goods nor transfer the ownership of them by way of security. The Customer must
inform TOW GmbH immediately in the event of a pledge, confiscation or any other disposal by third parties and provide it all information and documents necessary to safeguard its rights. Enforcement officers and/or third parties are to be informed of TOW GmbH title to the goods.

g) Insofar as the above securities exceed the secured claim by more than 10%, TOW GmbH is obliged – according to its election -  to release such securities upon the Customer’s request


5. DELIVERIES, DELIVERY PERIOD

a) TOW GmbH hereby reserves the option of delivery under all circumstances. Delivery dates shall not be binding for TOW GmbH but shall be observed wherever possible. The observation shall require that all technical matters are clarified and payments and any other obligations of the Customer have been or will be fulfilled in due time.

b) Partial deliveries shall be permissible provided no disadvantages for use would arise thereby.

c) TOW GmbH hereby reserves the right to make deliveries with up to 10% more or less quantity.

d) In the event the Customer requests the delay of a delivery, the good shall be stored at TOW GmbH at the risk and expense of the Customer.

e) In the event of force majeure, strike, inability to perform not caused by negligence, or adverse weather conditions, the delivery period shall be extended by the duration of the hindrance.

f) In the event the Customer delays acceptance of deliveries or breaches any other cooperation duty, TOW GmbH shall be entitled to give preference to other orders of third parties and adequately extend the delivery period. Without prejudice to further claims, TOW GmbH shall be entitled to demand the compensation of any damage it incurs, including any additional expenses.


6. DEFAULT IN DELIVERY

a) In the event the default in delivery is based on an intentional or gross negligent breach of contract for which it is responsible, TOW GmbH shall be liable in accordance with the provisions of law. In the event the default in delivery is unintentional, the liability to provide damage compensation shall be limited to typical and foreseeable damage.

b) TOW GmbH shall furthermore be liable in accordance with the provisions of law in the event the default in delivery for which it is responsible is based on the culpable breach of an essential contractual duty; in such event, damage compensation shall be limited 1o typical and foresee able damage.

c) The financial situation, type, scope and duration of the business relation and if applicable the value of the delivered parts are to be adequately taken into consideration in good faith in favour of TOW GmbH with regard of the amount of the damage compensation.


7. SHIPMENT, TRANSFER OF RISK

a) Unless stipulated otherwise in the order confirmation, delivery shall be agreed upon as "ex works/ warehouse." Shipment shall take place at the risk and expense of the Customer. This shall also apply to return shipments.

b) No transport or other non-returnable packaging shall be taken back. The Customer shall be obligated to ensure the disposal of packaging at its own expense.


8. MATERIAL DEFECTS

a) The precondition for any warranty claim of the Customer is the Customer’s full compliance with all requirements regarding inspection and objection established by Sec. 377 HGB (German Commercial Code).

b) The Customer may request subsequent performance as a priority in the event of the delivery of defective components. TOW GmbH shall be entitled to choose whether improvements are to be made or new components are to be delivered.

c) In the event of an improvement, TOW GmbH shall be obligated to bear all expenses necessary of remedy the defect, in particular freight, transport, working and material costs. This shall only apply provided the costs are not increased due to the fact the delivered good was taken to a location other than the place of performance.

d) The Customer is to provide TOW GmbH the defective components immediately upon request.

e) No claims of the Customer due to material defects shall arise in the event a defect can be attributed to the breach of operating, maintenance and installation instructions, unsuitable or improper processing or use, excessive strain (e.g., through modifications for increased performance), faulty or careless treatment and natural wear and tear or to the interference of the delivered good by the Customer or a third party.

f) The Customer‘s claims due to material defects shall lapse in accordance with the provisions of law upon the expiration of 12 months after the transfer of risk.


9. LIABILITY

a) TOW GmbH shall only be liable in accordance with the provisions of Law in the event the Customer asserts damage compensation claims based on fraudulence, intentional action or gross negligence. The liability for damage compensation shall be limited to foreseeable and typical damage unless TOW GmbH is accused of the intentional breach of contract.

b) TOW GmbH shall furthermore be liable in accordance with the provisions of law in the event it  culpably  breaches an essential contractual duty; in such event, damage compensation shall be limited to foreseeable and typical damage.

c) Any liability for damage compensation in addition to that prescribed above shall be excluded hereby without consideration of the legal nature thereof.

d) Damage compensation claims due to the culpable loss of life, bodily injury and illness, from the assumption of a guaranty or due to mandatory provisions of the Product Liability Act shall not be prejudiced by the above-mentioned provisions.

e) In the event TOW GmbH's liability for damage compensation is excluded or limited, this shall also apply with regard to the personal Liability for damage compensation of its employees, representatives and vicarious agents.


10. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE, PLACE OFJURISDICTION, APPLICABLE LAW

a) Unless expressly agreed upon otherwise, the registered seat of TOW GmbH shall be the place of performance.

b) In the event the Customer is a merchant, the place of jurisdiction shall be the court competent for TOW GmbH's registered seat. TOW GmbH shall however be entitled to take action against the Customer at its general place of jurisdiction. This shall also apply in the event the Customer does not have a general place of jurisdiction in Germany, relocates its residence or ordinary place of residence abroad after the conclusion of the Contract or its residence or ordinary place of residence is not known on the date of the action.

c) Exclusively German law shall apply. The application of the UN Sales Convention of 11 April 1980 Regarding Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG, ‘Vienna Sales Law“) shall be excluded hereby.


Kaltenkirchen , (Revision) 2021