FREUDENBERG-NOK GENERAL PARTNERSHIP
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE - FINISHED GOODS
March 19, 2007
Copyright © 2008 FNGP - All rights reserved
1.
Offer and Acceptance. The sale of products and services (“Products”) by seller as
designated on the face hereof or attached writing (the “Seller”) to the
purchaser (the “Purchaser”) is subject to Purchaser’s acceptance of the
terms and conditions herein (collectively, the “Contract”). These are
the only terms and conditions applicable to the sale of Products, except
for provisions relating to Product price, quantity, specifications,
delivery schedules and locations as elsewhere agreed to in writing by
the parties. Issuance of a purchase order or acceptance of the Products
by Purchaser constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions. Any
additional or different terms or modifications to these terms proposed
by Purchaser, whether in a purchase order or otherwise, are expressly
rejected by Seller and are not part of the Contract.
2.
Price.
Prices in a quotation are subject to change
after thirty (30) days if not accepted. Except where otherwise
prohibited by law, all applicable sales, excise, use or similar taxes or
charges for the sale of Products will be in addition to the stated price
and paid by Purchaser. Seller reserves the right to increase any price
in the event of increased costs beyond Seller’s reasonable control
including, without limitation, (a) raw material costs, (b) modifications
to specifications requested by Purchaser, or (c) price of goods
manufactured by others and re-sold by Seller.
3.
Payment. All
accounts are due thirty (30) days from date of Seller’s invoice and
shall be paid in $U.S. Overdue payments shall bear interest at the
lesser of 18% per annum (1.5% per month) or the maximum rate permitted
by law. Seller shall have the right, among other remedies, including
the right of setoff, either to terminate the Contract or to suspend
further deliveries under the Contract and/or other agreements with
Purchaser in the event Purchaser fails to make any payment when due.
Purchaser shall be liable for all expenses related to collection of past
due amounts, including attorneys’ fees. Seller may require full or
partial payment in advance of shipment if, in Seller’s opinion, the
credit or financial condition of Purchaser is, or is about to become,
impaired. If Purchaser requests delayed shipment, Seller may bill for
Products when ready for shipment and charge reasonable daily storage
fees. Purchaser shall not have any right of setoff.
4.
Shipping and Delivery. Seller shall not be liable for delays or failure in
performance when caused by circumstances beyond Seller’s reasonable
control. If Purchaser does not provide routing instructions, Seller
shall be the sole judge of the best method of routing shipment. All
sales of Products are F.O.B. Seller’s plant. All shipping and insurance
expenses and risk of loss are assumed by Purchaser. Seller
reserves the right to ship and Purchaser agrees to accept an underrun or
overrun of any quantity up to and including 10% of the quantity ordered
by Purchaser
5.
Rejections and Returns. Purchaser will be deemed to have inspected and accepted
all delivered Products unless written notice of rejection, specifying
the basis therefore in reasonable detail, is provided to Seller within
thirty (30) days after delivery. Purchaser may not return Products
without Seller’s prior written approval in the form of a Return Material
Authorization.
6.
Limited Warranty. Seller warrants to Purchaser that: (a) the Products will be free from
defects in workmanship and materials, and will conform to the
specifications provided by Purchaser and agreed to by Seller; and (b)
Seller will transfer to Purchaser ownership and good title to Products
delivered, free of all liens, encumbrances, and rights of third parties
(except those created by Purchaser). This warranty will continue for
one (1) year from delivery of the Products. THE FOREGOING WARRANTIES
ARE EXCLUSIVE AND ARE IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES OR
REPRESENTATIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARISING BY LAW OR CUSTOM,
INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE, SAID IMPLIED WARRANTIES BEING HEREBY EXPRESSLY
DISCLAIMED.
7.
Limited Remedy.
Any warranty claims by Purchaser shall be provided to Seller in writing.
Failure by Purchaser to give written notice of claim within the
warranty period shall be deemed an absolute and unconditional waiver of
Purchaser’s warranty claim. Purchaser’s sole and exclusive remedy for a
valid warranty claim is either replacement of the Product or a full
refund of the price paid by Purchaser for the Product. This remedy does
not include the cost of installation, removal, dismantling, or
reinstallation.
Purchaser will provide Seller with access to all available warranty data
and field returned Products. Purchaser will also provide Seller with an
opportunity to participate in root cause analysis performed by Purchaser
concerning the Products. Seller shall have no liability to the extent Products are or have
been: (a) modified by Purchaser or a third party; (b) modified by
Seller at Purchaser’s
request; (c)
made to specifications not provided by Seller; (d) used or installed in
a way not known to Seller or operated under conditions not known to
Seller; or (e) subject to misuse, abuse or improper storage,
installation or maintenance. Products replaced during the warranty
period shall be under warranty for the remainder of the original
warranty period or ninety (90) days, whichever is longer.
8.
Limitation of
Liability.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, EXCEPT FOR BREACH OF
OBLIGATIONS OF CONFIDENTIALITY OR MISAPPROPRIATION OF INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY, NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY OR ANY THIRD
PARTY FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR
EXEMPLARY DAMAGES OF ANY KIND ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THE
OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS CONTRACT. THE TERM “CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES” SHALL
INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, LOSS OF ANTICIPATED PROFITS, LOSS OF
USE, LOSS OF REVENUE AND COST OF CAPITAL. NEITHER PARTY MAY BRING ANY
ACTION, REGARDLESS OF FORM, ARISING OUT OF TRANSACTIONS UNDER THE
CONTRACT, MORE THAN TWO (2) YEARS AFTER THE CAUSE OF ACTION HAS
ACCRUED. EXCEPT FOR PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH DUE TO SELLER’S NEGLIGENCE
OR INTENTIONAL MISCONDUCT,
The parties agree that the total damages that can be
awarded in any claim by PURCHASER relating to SELLER’s obligations under
this CONTRACT (WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE),
shall not exceed the combined total of amounts paid by
PURCHASER to SELLER Under the CONTRACT during the twelve (12) month
period immediately preceding the event giving rise to such liability.
THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS ON
LIABILITY PROVISION SHALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT EVEN IF IT IS
FOUND THAT PURCHASER’S EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.
9.
Recall.
This Section applies to any voluntary or government-mandated offer by
Purchaser to its customers to remedy an alleged defect that affects
safety or to address
an alleged failure of an end product to comply with an
applicable safety standard or guideline (a “Recall”). Seller’s
liability for costs and damages from a Recall resulting in whole or in
part from a failure of the Products to conform to the warranties above
will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis, based on (a) a good faith
allocation of responsibility for the Recall, (b) the reasonableness of
the costs and damages incurred, (c) the quantity purchased and
applicable price of the affected Products, and (d) other relevant
factors.
Seller’s liability under this Section is conditioned upon Purchaser
(i) notifying Seller as soon as practicable after Purchaser learns that
a potential Recall implicates the Products, (ii)
providing Seller
with available performance evaluations, accident reports, engineering
investigations, and other data relating to the potential Recall, (iii)
providing Seller a reasonable opportunity to participate in inquiries
and discussions among Purchaser, its customer and governmental agencies
regarding the need for and scope of the Recall, and (iv) consulting with
Seller about the
most cost-effective method of modifying or replacing systems or
component parts, including the Products, in order to remedy the alleged
defect or non-compliance.
10.
Patent Infringement.
Seller shall defend, at
its sole expense, any third party claim, demand or suit against
Purchaser (“Claim”) alleging that the use of any Product, as authorized
by Seller, infringes a third party’s U.S. patent, and shall indemnify
Purchaser against any and all losses awarded or assessed against
Purchaser in connection with the Claim, or reached through a negotiated
settlement of the Claim; provided, that (a) the alleged infringement
does not arise from Seller’s compliance with specifications or designs
furnished by Purchaser; (b) Seller receives prompt written notice of
such Claim and exclusive control over the defense and/or settlement of
the Claim; and (c) Purchaser provides Seller with all information
available to Purchaser for the defense and cooperates with Seller in the
defense, and does not take a position adverse to Seller. Further,
Seller will have no liability under this section if and to the extent
that a claim of infringement is based on (1) a Product modification made
by Purchaser or a third party, or made by Seller at Purchaser’s request,
(2) use or interconnection by Purchaser of the Product in combination
with other products not made or sourced by Seller, or (3) Products made
to design or specifications not provided by Seller.
Except for third party
claims above, and subject to the limitations above, Seller’s exclusive
obligation to Purchaser as to Products declared to infringe, and
Seller’s right as to Products which Seller believes are likely to
infringe, is the acquisition of a license, the replacement of Products
with non-infringing goods, the modification of the Products so that they
are non-infringing, or the return of the purchase price for the
Products, as Seller may elect in its sole discretion. THIS SECTION
STATES SELLER’S ENTIRE AND EXCLUSIVE OBLIGATION REGARDING PATENT
INFRINGEMENT AND REMEDIES THEREFOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCTS, AND
PURCHASER WAIVES ALL OTHER RIGHTS.
11.
Ownership of Proprietary Materials. Seller shall have and retain all intellectual
property rights in all Products, tooling and associated materials,
furnished by Seller in connection with or pursuant to the Contract,
including, without limitation, patents, utility models, design rights
(and any pending applications), trademarks, copyrights, technical,
business, economic or know-how information, trade secrets, confidential
proprietary information, inventions, data, formulae, material
compositions, drawings, specifications, and any right related thereto
(whether or not patentable) that is not generally available to the
public (“Proprietary Materials”). No Proprietary Materials created by
Seller in connection with or pursuant to the Contract shall be
considered “works made for hire” as that term is used in connection with
the U.S. Copyright Act. To the extent that Purchaser owns any rights in
such Proprietary Materials, Purchaser hereby irrevocably assigns to
Seller all rights, title and interest, including all intellectual
property rights, in and to such Proprietary Materials.
12.
Tooling. Tools purchased and fully paid for by Purchaser shall be the
property of Purchaser and may be removed from Seller’s premises upon
reasonable notice after termination of the Contract, with the exception
of tools containing Seller’s Proprietary Materials. To the extent tools
contain Proprietary Materials, such tools may not be removed from
Seller’s premises and must remain in the custody of Seller unless
otherwise mutually agreed to in writing. Tools partially paid for by
Purchaser shall remain the property of Seller.
13.
Technical Advice. Any technical advice furnished by Seller to Purchaser before or after
delivery of the Products is gratuitous and without charge on the basis
that it represents Seller’s good faith judgment under the circumstances
but that it is not a representation or warranty of Seller and is to be
used at Purchaser’s sole risk.
14.
Compliance with Law. The parties shall comply with all applicable federal, state, local and
foreign laws, orders, rules, regulations and ordinances. Purchaser
agrees that it is solely responsible for required compliance with the
import and export laws and regulations of any jurisdiction or country
that may be applicable.
15.
Confidentiality. If the parties have entered into a Confidentiality or Non-Disclosure
Agreement (“NDA”), the terms and conditions of the NDA shall apply and
control for confidentiality obligations between the parties. In
connection with the Contract, Purchaser may have access to Seller’s
confidential information, including, without limitation inventions,
developments, know how, specifications, business plans, results of
testing, systems, financial information, product information, methods of
operation, customer information, supplier information and compilations
of data (“Seller’s Confidential Information”). Purchaser shall use
Seller’s Confidential Information only for the purposes contemplated
under this Contract and shall not disclose it to third parties.
Purchaser shall maintain the confidentiality of Seller’s Confidential
Information in the same manner, but in no event less than the manner, in
which it protects its own confidential information. Purchaser is
permitted to disclose Seller’s Confidential Information to its employees
and authorized subcontractors on a need to know basis only, provided
that such employees and authorized subcontractors have written
confidentiality obligations to Purchaser no less stringent than the
confidentiality obligations under this Section. Upon termination of the
Contract, Purchaser shall return Seller’s Confidential Information and
shall not use Seller’s Confidential Information for its own, or any
third party’s, benefit. Purchaser’s confidentiality obligations shall
survive termination of the Contract for so long as Seller’s
Confidential Information remains confidential. In order to assure that
Seller is able to obtain the full benefit of the restrictions set forth
in this Section, Seller shall be entitled to injunctive relief,
including, but not limited to, emergency, preliminary, temporary and
permanent injunctions, from any court of competent jurisdiction as may
be necessary to enjoin any violation of the foregoing covenants, without
the necessity of proving immediate irreparable harm or an inadequate
remedy at law.
16.
Contract Work.
Purchaser and Seller are independent contractors and nothing in the
Contract makes either party the agent or legal representative of the
other party for any purpose. Neither party has authority to assume or
to create any obligation on behalf of the other party.
17.
Termination by Seller.
In addition to any
other rights of Seller to terminate the
Contract or suspend performance under the Contract, Seller may,
upon written notice to Purchaser, immediately terminate all or
any part of the Contract or suspend performance under the Contract,
without any liability to Purchaser, (a) if
Purchaser (i) repudiates, breaches, or threatens to breach any of
the terms of the Contract, (ii) fails to accept or threatens not to
accept Products in accordance with the Contract, or (iii) fails to make
timely payment, or (b) upon the occurrence or
threat of insolvency or bankruptcy of Purchaser. Upon termination of
the Contract by Seller:(A) Seller shall be relieved of any further
obligation to Purchaser; (B) Purchaser shall be liable to Seller for the
immediate payment of amounts then billed to date by Seller to Purchaser;
(C) Purchaser shall purchase and pay Seller immediately for all
unique raw materials, work in process and finished goods under the
Contract; (D) Purchaser shall reimburse Seller
for any unreimbursed and unamortized research and development costs,
capital equipment, and supplies that are unique to the Products; and (E)
Purchaser shall immediately reimburse Seller for all preparation
and other expenses incurred by Seller or its subcontractors in
connection with the Contract and for all other losses or costs arising
from termination.
18.
Termination by Purchaser. If Seller fails to perform any obligation under the
Contract and, if the non-performance can be cured and Seller fails to
cure the non-performance within thirty (30) business days after written
notice from Purchaser, Purchaser may terminate the Contract upon giving
written notice to Seller not less than ninety (90) days prior to
shipment. In the event that Purchaser cancels any purchase order under
the Contract, (a) Seller shall be relieved of any further obligation to
Purchaser, (b) Purchaser shall pay all amounts then due, (c) Purchaser
shall purchase and pay Seller immediately for all unique raw materials,
work in process and finished goods under the Contract, (d)
Purchaser shall reimburse Seller for any
unreimbursed and unamortized research and development costs, capital
equipment, and supplies that are unique to the Products.
19.
Force Majeure.
Neither party shall be liable if its performance is delayed or made
impossible or commercially impracticable due to acts of God, war, riot,
fire, labor trouble, unavailability of materials or components,
explosion, breakdown or accident, delay in transportation, plant
shutdown, compliance with governmental requests, laws, regulations,
order or actions, unforeseen circumstances, or causes beyond such
party’s reasonable control.
20.
Governing Law,
Jurisdiction and Venue. The Contract shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan without
reference to the choice of law principles thereof. The Convention on
Contracts for the International Sale of Goods is expressly excluded.
Subject to the provisions of Dispute Resolution below, each party
irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the Courts of the State of
Michigan and the United States District Court for the Eastern District
of Michigan and hereby waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively
do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such
action or proceeding.
21.
Dispute Resolution. In the event of any dispute or disagreement between Seller and
Purchaser arising out of or relating to the Contract (a “Dispute”), such
Dispute, upon the written request of Seller or Purchaser, shall be
referred to the chief financial officers of each party or their
respective designees. The chief financial officers or their respective
designees shall promptly meet in good faith to resolve the Dispute and
if they do not agree upon a resolution within thirty (30) calendar days
after the reference of the Dispute to them, then such Dispute, upon
written notice from one party to the other of its intent to arbitrate
(an “Arbitration Notice”), shall be submitted to and settled exclusively
by final and binding arbitration in lieu of any judicial proceeding;
provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section shall preclude
any party from seeking or obtaining from a court of competent
jurisdiction (a) injunctive relief, or (b) equitable or other judicial
relief to specifically enforce the provisions of the Contract
or to preserve the
status quo prior to the event(s) leading to the Dispute. Arbitration
shall be conducted by the American Arbitration Association in
Southfield, Michigan before a single arbitrator in accordance with the
Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association
existing at the date of submission of the Dispute to arbitration. Any
arbitration award shall be binding and enforceable against Seller and
Purchaser and judgment may be entered thereon in any court of competent
jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the forgoing, any Dispute relating to or
arising out of, in whole or in part, any breach of Purchaser’s
obligations of confidentiality hereunder or for the misuse or
infringement of Seller’s intellectual property rights by Purchaser shall
not be subject to binding arbitration under this Contract.
22.
Assignment, Waiver, Entire Agreement, Severability.
Purchaser may not assign or delegate any of its rights or
obligations under the Contract without prior written consent from
Seller. Seller may terminate the Contract upon giving at least sixty
(60) days written notice to Purchaser, without any liability to
Purchaser, if there is a change of control of Purchaser. Seller may
assign its rights and obligations under the Contract at any time,
without Purchaser’s prior written consent. The failure of either party
to enforce any right or remedy provided in the Contract or by law on a
particular occasion will not be deemed a waiver of that right or remedy
on a subsequent occasion or a waiver of any other right or remedy. The
Contract constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with
respect to its subject matter, and supersedes all prior oral or written
representations or agreements by the parties with respect to the subject
matter of the Contract. This Contract may not be modified unless in
writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties. Any
provision found invalid or unenforceable will not affect the validity or
enforceability of any other provision and the invalid provision may be
judicially modified to the extent enforceable.
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