Lohmann Neuwied and Remscheid/Germany
Version of 27th January 2022
Note: The terms and conditions have been reviewed and adjusted in accordance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation
Lohmann Neuwied and Remscheid/Germany
Amended version: 10 April 2024
Note: The terms and conditions have been reviewed and adjusted in accordance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation
1. Scope of application, form
1.1 All sales and deliveries by Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG (hereinafter referred to as "Lohmann") to a trader within the meaning of § 14 BGB (German Civil Code), a legal entity under public law or a special fund under public law (hereinafter referred to as "Buyer") (collectively "the Parties") and all business relationships between Lohmann and the Buyer shall be governed exclusively by these General Terms and Conditions of Sale and Delivery ("GTCS").
1.2 Unless otherwise agreed, the GTCS shall also apply to all future sales and deliveries by Lohmann to the Buyer. The current version at the time of conclusion of the contract shall apply. Lohmann shall inform the Purchaser immediately of any new versions of the GTCS.
1.3 These GTCS apply exclusively. Deviating, conflicting or supplementary general terms and conditions of the Buyer shall only become part of the contract if and insofar as Lohmann has expressly agreed to their validity in writing. This requirement of consent shall apply in any case, for example even if Lohmann carries out the delivery to the Buyer without reservation in the knowledge of the Buyer's General Terms and Conditions (GTC).
1.4 Individual agreements made with the Buyer in individual cases (including collateral agreements, supplements and amendments) shall take precedence over these GTCS. The content of such agreements shall be governed by a written contract or written confirmation. In particular, any verbal agreements deviating from these GTCS shall only be binding if Lohmann has confirmed them in writing.
1.5 Legally relevant declarations and notifications by the Buyer in relation to the contract (e.g. setting a deadline, notification of defects, withdrawal or reduction) must be made in writing, i.e. in written or text form (e.g. letter, e-mail, fax). Statutory requirements on form remain unaffected.
1.6 References to the validity of statutory provisions are for clarification purposes only. Even without such clarification, the statutory provisions shall therefore apply unless they are directly amended or expressly excluded in these GTCS.
2. Conclusion of contract
2.1 Offers made by Lohmann are subject to change and non-binding. This shall also apply if Lohmann has provided the Buyer with samples, specimens, catalogs, other product descriptions or documents - including in electronic form - to which Lohmann otherwise reserves ownership rights and copyrights. Verbal information or recommendations are also non-binding. Information provided by the Seller on the object of the delivery or service (e.g. weights, dimensions, utility values, load-bearing capacity, tolerances and technical data) as well as representations of the same (e.g. drawings and illustrations) are only non-binding estimates unless the usability for the contractually intended purpose requires exact conformity. They are not guaranteed characteristics, but descriptions or identifications of the delivery or service. Deviations that are customary in the trade and deviations that occur due to legal regulations or represent technical improvements, as well as the replacement of components with equivalent parts, are permissible insofar as they do not impair the usability for the contractually intended purpose.
2.2 Lohmann's non-binding offers are to be understood as an invitation to the Buyer to make a binding offer to purchase. The order of the goods by the Buyer shall be deemed to be such binding purchase offer. A contract is concluded if Lohmann accepts the Buyer's purchase offer within two (2) weeks of receipt by written or e-mail order confirmation (acceptance). If this acceptance by Lohmann deviates from the Buyer's purchase offer, this shall be deemed a new non-binding offer.
3. Delivery, place of performance, transfer of risk, acceptance, default of acceptance
3.1 If no place of performance is specified in Lohmann's offer, the place of performance for both contracting parties and also the place of any subsequent performance shall be Lohmann's registered office, Irlicher Straße 55, 56567 Neuwied.
3.2 Delivery shall be made in accordance with the modalities specified in the individual contract or the Incoterms clause agreed therein. If no corresponding terms of delivery have been agreed, delivery shall be FCA (respective place of dispatch) (Incoterms 2020).
3.3 Unless otherwise agreed, Lohmann is entitled to determine the type of shipment (in particular transport company, shipping route, packaging) itself. If delivery "free place of destination" or "free warehouse" has been agreed, this means delivery without unloading, provided that there is a passable access road. Unloading must be carried out immediately and properly by the buyer; waiting times will be charged to the buyer.
3.4 In the case of delivery by rail, by commercial freight vehicles or by other carriers, the Buyer shall comply with the necessary formalities vis-à-vis the carrier. Unless otherwise agreed in individual cases, the Buyer shall be responsible for compliance with statutory and official regulations concerning the import, transportation, storage and use of the goods.
3.5 The risk of accidental loss and accidental deterioration of the goods shall pass to the Buyer at the latest upon handover. In the case of sale by dispatch, however, the risk of accidental loss and accidental deterioration of the goods as well as the risk of delay shall already pass upon delivery of the goods to the forwarding agent, the carrier or the person otherwise designated to carry out the shipment. This applies irrespective of whether Lohmann bears the shipping costs. If the Buyer is in default of acceptance, this shall be deemed equivalent to handover.
3.6 If the Buyer is in default of acceptance, fails to cooperate or if Lohmann's delivery is delayed for other reasons for which the Buyer is responsible, Lohmann shall be entitled to demand compensation for the resulting damage including additional expenses (e.g. storage costs).
3.7 Lohmann is entitled to make partial deliveries, in particular in the interests of rational order processing, if
(a) the partial delivery can be used by the buyer within the scope of the contractual purpose,
(b) the delivery of the remaining ordered goods is ensured and
(c) the Buyer does not incur any significant additional work or costs as a result (unless Lohmann agrees to bear these costs).
4. Delivery period and delay in delivery, unforeseeable events
4.1 The delivery period shall be agreed individually or specified by Lohmann upon acceptance of the order. Deadlines and dates for deliveries and services promised by Lohmann are always only approximate, unless a fixed deadline or a fixed date has been expressly promised or agreed. If shipment has been agreed, delivery periods and delivery dates refer to the time of handover to the forwarding agent, carrier or other third party commissioned with transportation, unless expressly stated otherwise by us.
4.2 If Lohmann is unable to meet binding delivery deadlines for unforeseen reasons for which Lohmann is not responsible, Lohmann shall inform the Buyer of this immediately.
4.2.1 Unforeseeable exceptional events for which Lohmann is not responsible, such as in particular force majeure, war, natural disasters, sovereign measures, labor disputes, traffic disruptions, operational disruptions, raw material shortages, energy shortages, shall release Lohmann from its delivery obligation for their duration plus a reasonable restart time, without Lohmann being obliged to compensate the Buyer for damages or other compensation, in particular for delay, impossibility or other disruption of performance. Lohmann is also entitled to withdraw from the contract in whole or in part. If the Buyer cannot reasonably be expected to accept the delivery as a result of the delay, it may withdraw from the contract by immediate written declaration to Lohmann.
4.2.2 An unforeseeable event is also deemed to be the case of non-availability of the service, which includes in particular the failure of a supplier of Lohmann to deliver to Lohmann on time if Lohmann has concluded a congruent hedging transaction. In this case, Lohmann shall inform the Buyer of the expected new delivery period. Lohmann shall make every reasonable effort to procure the goods. If the service is still not available within the new delivery period, Lohmann shall be entitled to withdraw from the contract in whole or in part.
4.2.3 In the event of withdrawal, Lohmann shall immediately reimburse any consideration already provided by the Buyer.
4.3 The occurrence of a delay in delivery by Lohmann shall be determined in accordance with the statutory provisions. In any case, however, a reminder by the Buyer is required.
4.4 The rights of the buyer according to clause 8 of these GTCS and the statutory rights of Lohmann, in particular in the event of an exclusion of the obligation to perform (e.g. due to impossibility or unreasonableness of performance and/or subsequent performance), shall remain unaffected.
5. Prices and terms of payment
5.1 Unless otherwise agreed in individual cases, Lohmann's current price list at the time of conclusion of the contract shall apply plus statutory VAT. Unless otherwise indicated, all prices are net prices in euros.
5.2 If the agreed prices are based on Lohmann's list prices and delivery is to take place more than four (4) months after conclusion of the contract, Lohmann's list prices valid at the time of delivery shall apply (less any agreed percentage or fixed discount).
5.3 Unless otherwise stipulated in the individual contract, payments are due fourteen (14) days after the invoice date. Invoices issued by Lohmann shall be deemed accepted unless objected to in writing within 30 days of the invoice date.
5.4 In the case of sale by dispatch (Section 3.3), the Buyer shall bear the transportation costs ex warehouse in accordance with the current price and shipping costs list at the time of conclusion of the contract and the costs of any transport insurance requested by the Buyer. Any customs duties, fees, taxes and other public charges shall be borne by the Buyer.
5.5 If the Buyer fails to make payment when due in accordance with clause 5.3 the Buyer shall be in default. During the period of default, interest shall be charged on the purchase price at the applicable statutory default interest rate. Lohmann reserves the right to claim further damages for default. Lohmann's claim to commercial maturity interest (§ 353 HGB) against merchants remains unaffected.
5.6 Lohmann is entitled to perform or render outstanding deliveries or services only against advance payment or provision of security if, after conclusion of the contract, Lohmann becomes aware of circumstances which are likely to significantly reduce the creditworthiness of the Buyer and which jeopardize the payment of Lohmann's outstanding claims by the Buyer arising from the respective contractual relationship. If it becomes apparent after conclusion of the contract (e.g. through an application for the opening of insolvency proceedings) that Lohmann's claim to the purchase price is jeopardized by the Buyer's inability to pay, Lohmann is entitled to refuse performance in accordance with the statutory provisions and - if necessary after setting a deadline - to withdraw from the contract (§ 321 BGB).
5.7 Offsetting against counterclaims of the Buyer or the withholding of payments due to such claims is only permissible insofar as the counterclaims are undisputed or have been legally established or arise from the same order under which the delivery in question was made.
6. Retention of title
6.1 Lohmann reserves title to the goods sold until full payment of all current and future claims of Lohmann arising from the purchase contract and ongoing business relationship (secured claims).
6.2 The goods subject to retention of title may not be pledged to third parties or assigned as security before full payment of the secured claims. The Buyer must inform Lohmann immediately in writing if an application is made to open insolvency proceedings or if third parties seize the goods belonging to Lohmann (e.g. attachments).
6.3 If the Buyer acts in breach of contract, in particular in the event of non-payment of the purchase price due, Lohmann is entitled to withdraw from the contract in accordance with the statutory provisions and/or to demand the return of the goods on the basis of retention of title. The demand for the return of the goods does not at the same time include a declaration of withdrawal; Lohmann is rather entitled to demand only the return of the goods and to reserve the right to withdraw from the contract. If the Buyer does not pay the purchase price due, Lohmann may only assert these rights if Lohmann has previously and unsuccessfully set the Buyer a reasonable deadline for payment or if setting such a deadline is dispensable under the statutory provisions.
6.4 The Buyer is until further notice according to below (c) entitled to resell and/or process the goods subject to retention of title in the ordinary course of business. In this case, the following provisions shall apply in addition.
(a) The retention of title shall extend to the full value of the products resulting from the processing, mixing or combining of Lohmann's goods, whereby Lohmann shall be deemed to be the manufacturer. If, in the event of processing, mixing or combining with goods of third parties, their right of ownership remains, Lohmann shall acquire co-ownership in proportion to the invoice values of the processed, mixed or combined goods. In all other respects, the same shall apply to the resulting product as to the goods delivered under retention of title.
(b) The Buyer hereby assigns to Lohmann by way of security any claims against third parties arising from the resale of the goods or the product in total or in the amount of any co-ownership share of Lohmann in accordance with the above paragraph. Lohmann accepts the assignment. The security referred to in Clause 6.2 shall also apply with regard to the assigned claims.
(c) In addition to Lohmann, the Buyer remains authorized to collect the claim. Lohmann undertakes not to collect the claim as long as the Purchaser meets its payment obligations to Lohmann, there is no deficiency in its ability to pay and Lohmann does not assert the retention of title by exercising a right in accordance with Clause 6.3. If this is the case, however, Lohmann may demand that the Buyer informs Lohmann of the assigned claims and their debtors, provides all information necessary for collection, hands over the relevant documents and informs the debtors (third parties) of the assignment. In this case, Lohmann is also entitled to revoke the Buyer's authorization to resell and process the goods subject to retention of title.
(d) If the realizable value of the securities exceeds Lohmann's claims by more than 10%, Lohmann shall release securities of Lohmann's choice at the Buyer's request.
7. Reference; resale only in original packaging
7.1 The Buyer may not advertise the cooperation with Lohmann without Lohmann's prior written consent.
7.2 Lohmann goods may only be sold in their original packaging. They may not be repackaged nor refilled.
8. Warranty claims of the buyer
8.1 The statutory provisions shall apply to the Buyer's rights in the event of material defects and defects of title (including incorrect and short delivery), unless otherwise specified below. In all cases, the special statutory provisions shall remain unaffected in the case of final delivery of the unprocessed goods to a consumer, even if the consumer has further processed them (supplier recourse pursuant to §§ 478 BGB). Claims arising from supplier recourse are excluded if the defective goods have been further processed by the Buyer or another trader.
8.2 The agreed specifications of the goods shall serve as basis of assessing Lohmann's liability for defects. All product descriptions and other information which are the subject of the individual contract or which were made public by Lohmann (in particular in catalogs or on Lohmann's Internet homepage) at the time the contract was concluded shall be considered to determine the specification of the goods. Lohmann points out that certain goods may have a short shelf life.
8.3 If the specifications have not been agreed, it is to be assessed in accordance with the statutory provisions whether a defect exists or not (§ 434 Para. 1 S. 2 and 3 BGB).
8.4 Lohmann shall not be liable for defects of which the Buyer is aware at the time of conclusion of the contract or of which it is grossly negligent (§ 442 BGB). Furthermore, the Buyer's claims for defects presuppose that he has complied with his statutory duties of inspection and notification of defects (§§ 377, 381 HGB). If a defect is discovered during delivery, inspection or at any later point in time, the Buyer must inform Lohmann of this immediately in writing. In any case, obvious defects must be reported in writing within three (3) working days of delivery and defects not recognizable during the inspection within the same period from discovery. If the Buyer fails to carry out adequate inspection and/or report defects, Lohmann's liability for the defect not reported or not reported in good time or not reported properly is excluded in accordance with the statutory provisions.
8.5 If the delivered item is defective, Lohmann may initially choose whether to provide subsequent performance by remedying the defect (subsequent improvement) or by delivering a defect-free item (replacement delivery). Lohmann's right to refuse subsequent performance under the statutory conditions remains unaffected.
8.6 Lohmann is entitled to make the subsequent performance owed dependent on the Buyer paying the purchase price due. However, the Buyer is entitled to retain a reasonable portion of the purchase price in relation to the defect.
8.7 The Buyer must give Lohmann the time and opportunity required for the subsequent performance owed, in particular to hand over the rejected goods for inspection purposes. In the event of a replacement delivery, the Buyer shall return the defective item to Lohmann in accordance with the statutory provisions.
8.8 Lohmann shall bear or reimburse the expenses necessary for the purpose of inspection and subsequent performance, in particular transport, travel, labor and material costs, in accordance with the statutory provisions, if a defect actually exists. Otherwise, Lohmann may demand reimbursement from the Buyer for the costs incurred as a result of the unjustified request to rectify the defect (in particular inspection and transport costs), unless the lack of defectiveness was not apparent to Buyer.
8.9 Refurbishment costs may be charged for returned goods. This does not apply if the Buyer is not responsible for the deterioration of the goods. Returns that are not due to a defective delivery by Lohmann, but are the result of obsolescence or disposition errors on the part of the Buyer, cannot be taken into account.
8.10 If the supplementary performance has failed or a reasonable deadline to be set by the Buyer for the supplementary performance has expired unsuccessfully or is dispensable according to the statutory provisions, the Buyer may withdraw from the purchase contract or reduce the purchase price. In the case of an insignificant defect, however, there is no right of withdrawal.
8.11 Even in the case of defects, the Buyer shall only be entitled to claim damages or reimbursement of futile expenses in accordance with Section 9 and are otherwise excluded.
9. Liability
9.1 Lohmann shall be liable without limitation for damages resulting from injury to life, body or health which are based on an intentional or negligent breach of duty by Lohmann. Lohmann shall also be liable without limitation for other damages resulting from intentional breach of duty or grossly negligent breach of duty by Lohmann.
9.2 Lohmann's liability for property damage and financial loss due to simple negligent breach of material contractual obligations is limited to the order value of all orders placed by the customer within the previous 12-month period. If the customer has not placed any orders with Lohmann in the previous 12-month period, the limitation of liability shall be based on the forecast order value of all orders placed by the customer for the current year. Material contractual obligations are those whose fulfillment characterizes the contract and on which the buyer may rely.
9.3 Any further liability is excluded.
9.4 Insofar as Lohmann's liability is limited or excluded, the limitations or exclusions shall also apply to the personal liability of Lohmann's employees, legal representatives and vicarious agents.
9.5 The limitations and exclusions of liability pursuant to this Section 9 shall not affect Lohmann's liability in accordance with the mandatory statutory provisions of the Product Liability Act, due to the fraudulent concealment of a defect and the assumption of a guarantee for the quality of an item.
10. Statute of limitations
10.1 Notwithstanding § 438 Para. 1 No. 3 BGB, the general limitation period for claims arising from material defects and defects of title is one year from delivery.
10.2 The above limitation periods of the law on the sale of goods shall also apply to contractual and non-contractual claims for damages of the Buyer based on a defect of the goods, unless the application of the regular statutory limitation period (Sections 195, 199 BGB) would lead to a shorter limitation period in individual cases. The Buyer's claims for damages pursuant to Clause 9.1 as well as under the Product Liability Act shall lapse exclusively in accordance with the statutory limitation periods.
11. Property rights, ownership of materials
11.1 Lohmann reserves ownership rights and copyrights to illustrations, plans, drawings, calculations, execution instructions, product descriptions and other documents. Such documents are to be used exclusively for the contractual service and returned to Lohmann after completion of the contract. The documents must be kept secret from third parties, even after termination of the contract. The confidentiality obligation shall only expire if and insofar as the knowledge contained in the documents provided has become generally known. Special confidentiality agreements and statutory provisions on the protection of secrets shall remain unaffected.
11.2 The above provision applies accordingly to substances and materials as well as to tools, templates, samples and other items which Lohmann provides to the Buyer. Such items are - as long as they are not processed - to be stored separately at the Buyer's expense and insured to an appropriate extent against destruction and loss.
12. Choice of law and place of jurisdiction
12.1 These GTCS and the contractual relationship between Lohmann and the Buyer shall be governed by the law of the Federal Republic of Germany to the exclusion of international uniform law, in particular the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.
12.2 If the Buyer is a merchant within the meaning of the German Commercial Code, the exclusive - also international - place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising directly or indirectly from the contractual relationship shall be Bonn. The same shall apply if the Buyer is an entrepreneur within the meaning of § 14 BGB. However, Lohmann is also entitled in all cases to bring an action at the Buyer's general place of jurisdiction. Overriding statutory provisions, in particular regarding exclusive jurisdiction, shall remain unaffected.