General Terms and Conditions of Sale and Delivery
of Liebensteiner Kartonagenwerk GmbH
Liebenstein 15, 95703 Plößberg
Section 1 General Terms and Conditions / Scope
(1) Our General Terms and Conditions of Sale and Delivery (hereinafter referred to as ‘Terms of Sale’) shall apply exclusively.
We do not recognise any conflicting or deviating terms stipulated by the customer, such as the customer’s own general terms of purchase, unless we have expressly agreed to their application in writing.
Our Terms of Sale will therefore remain valid even if we proceed with the delivery to the customer without reservation despite our awareness of the customer’s conflicting or deviating terms.
(2) All agreements reached between us and the customer for the purpose of executing this contract are set forth in writing herein.
(3) These Terms of Sale apply only to entrepreneurs as defined in Section 310 (1) of the German Civil Code (BGB).
(4) These Terms of Sale also apply to all future transactions with the customer until such time as new or amended terms of sale are introduced.
Section 2 Contract Conclusion / Right to Increase or Decrease Delivery Volumes
(1) If the customer's order qualifies as an offer pursuant to Section 145 of the German Civil Code, we may accept it within 2 weeks. Acceptance is typically confirmed via a written order confirmation.
(2) Regarding the contractually agreed-upon quantity of goods, we reserve the right to deliver the following customary commercial overages or shortages, provided they are production-related:
| Agreed quantity | Overage or shortage |
| up to 1,000.00 units | up to 20% |
| between 1,000.00 units and 10,000.00 units | up to 10% |
| more than 10,000.00 units | up to 5% |
(3) In the event of the customary commercial overages or shortages indicated in Paragraph 2, we are entitled to unilaterally reduce or increase the contractually agreed quantity of goods within the limits specified in Paragraph 2, thus amending the contract, and to bill the customer for the specific delivery excess or shortage at the agreed unit prices.
Section 3 Prices / Setoff / Right of Retention / Creditworthiness
(4) Unless otherwise stated in the order confirmation, our prices are applied ‘ex works’ and do not include packaging and shipment costs, which will be billed separately.
(5) The statutory value-added tax is not included in our prices. This amount will be shown separately on the invoice at the statutory rate on the invoicing date. Furthermore, public charges, duties and customs tariffs are not included in our prices and will also be listed separately on the invoice.
(6) The customer may only exercise setoff rights if their counterclaims have been legally established, are undisputed, or have been recognised by us. In addition, the customer is only authorised to exercise the right of retention if their counterclaim is based on the same contractual relationship.
(7) Should we become aware of facts that significantly impair the Customer's creditworthiness, particularly attempts at compulsory execution of the customer's assets, filing of a financial disclosure statement or the commencement of insolvency proceedings over the customer’s assets, we may, at our discretion, demand advance payment or a deposit from the customer, or withdraw from the contract.
Section 4 Delivery Time / Customer’s Default of Acceptance
(1) The specified delivery time will begin when all technical issues have been clarified.
(2) Furthermore, our adherence to the delivery obligation is contingent upon the customer's timely and proper fulfilment of their own obligations. We reserve the right to raise the defence of non-performance of the contract.
(3) Should the Customer be in default of acceptance or culpably violate any other duties to cooperate, we will be entitled to claim compensation for any resulting damages, including any additional expenses incurred. We reserve the right to assert further claims or rights.
(4) Provided the requirements of Paragraph 3 are met, the risk of accidental loss or accidental deterioration of the purchased goods will be assumed by the customer as of the time at which the customer enters into default of acceptance or debtor’s default.
Section 5 Liability in the Event of Delay in Delivery
(1) We shall be liable in accordance with statutory provisions if the underlying contract of sale constitutes a fixed-date transaction pursuant to Section 323 (2) No. 2 of the German Civil Code or Section 376 of the German Commercial Code (HGB). We shall also be liable in accordance with statutory provisions if, as a result of a delay in delivery for which we are responsible, the customer is entitled to claim that they are no longer interested in continued contract performance.
(2) Furthermore, we shall be liable in accordance with statutory provisions if the delay in delivery is due to an intentional or grossly negligent breach of contract for which we are responsible; any fault on the part of our representatives or vicarious agents is attributable to us. If the delay in delivery is due to a grossly negligent breach of contract for which we are responsible, our liability for damages is limited to the foreseeable, typically occurring damage.
(3) We shall also be liable in accordance with statutory provisions if the delay in delivery for which we are responsible is due to the culpable breach of a material contractual obligation; in this case, however, liability for damages is limited to the foreseeable, typically occurring damage.
(4) The customer reserves the right to exercise further
Section 6 Transfer of risks / Obligations under the Packaging Act
(1) Unless otherwise stated in the order confirmation, delivery is agreed upon ‘ex works’.
(2) To fulfil our take-back obligations under Section 15 (1) of the German Packaging Act, we will ensure that the packaging we deliver is taken back from the customer and recycled in a proper, professional manner pursuant to Section 15 (1) of said Packaging Act. The return location shall be our company’s registered office. The costs incurred for the recycling process must be borne by the customer. If the packaging we deliver is not returned in accordance with the provisions herein, the customer shall be responsible for recycling the packaging in a proper, professional manner at their own expense.
(3) Should the customer so request, we will take out transport insurance to insure the delivery. The customer shall bear all associated costs for such insurance.
Section 7 Liability for Defects
(1) If the customer is a merchant, the customer’s claims for defects are conditional upon such party having duly complied with their duty to inspect the goods and promptly give notice of defects, as required by Section 377 of the German Commercial Code. In this regard, any obvious defects must be reported to us in writing within one week after delivery of the goods at the latest. Otherwise, the goods shall be deemed to have been approved by the customer with respect to the defect in question.
(2) In the event of a defect in the purchased goods, we are entitled, at our discretion, to cure the defect either through remediation of the defect or delivery of new, defect-free goods. In the event of remediation of the defect or a replacement delivery, we are required to bear all expenses incurred to cure the defect, particularly costs for transport, travel, labour, and materials, provided that these costs are not increased by moving the purchased goods to a location other than the place of contract performance.
(3) If the customer has incurred costs for removal, installation, or attaching the purchased goods to another item in the course of curing the defect, depending on the nature of the goods and their contractual purpose, we must reimburse the customer for the necessary costs incurred in this regard. However, this obligation applies only if the defect was not yet apparent at that time or was not discovered due to the customer’s gross negligence.
(4) If the defect cannot be cured, the customer is entitled to demand, at their discretion, withdrawal from the contract or a price reduction.
(5) We shall be liable in accordance with statutory provisions if we have maliciously concealed a defect from the customer or have issued a guarantee.
(6) We shall be liable in accordance with statutory provisions if the customer asserts claims for damages based on wilful intent or gross negligence, including wilful intent or gross negligence on the part of our representatives or vicarious agents. If we are not accused of an intentional or grossly negligent breach of contract, the liability for damages is limited to the foreseeable, typically occurring damage.
(7) We shall be liable in accordance with statutory provisions for any culpable breach of a material contractual obligation. In this case, the liability for damages is also limited to the foreseeable, typically occurring damage. A material contractual obligation exists when the breach of duty relates to an obligation whose fulfilment the customer relied on and was entitled to rely on.
(8) Liability arising from the culpable injury to life, body, or health remains unaffected. This also applies to mandatory liability under the German Product Liability Act.
(9) Unless otherwise stipulated above, liability for claims for defects is excluded.
Section 8 Statutory Limitation on Claims for Defects
(1) The statutory limitation on claims for defects is 12 months, starting from the date on which the transfer of risks took place. This shall not apply if the purchased goods are customarily used in construction and have caused the defect.
(2) The statutory limitation periods shall apply if the customer’s claims for damages are reserved pursuant to Section 7, Paragraphs 5 to 8 herein. Furthermore, the statutory limitation period shall remain unaffected in the event of a supplier’s right of recourse under Section 445b of the German Civil Code.
Section 9 Total Liability
(1) Any liability for damages beyond that provided for in Sections 7 and 8 herein above is excluded, irrespective of the legal nature of the claim asserted. This applies specifically to claims for damages arising from fault during contract conclusion, due to other breaches of duty, or on account of tortious claims for compensation for property damage pursuant to Section 823 of the German Civil Code.
(2) The limitation set forth in Paragraph 1 shall also apply if the customer, rather than claiming compensation for damages, demands compensation for unnecessary expenses in lieu of performance.
(3) If the liability for damages is excluded or limited with respect to us, this shall also apply to the personal liability for damages of our employees, workers, staff, representatives, and vicarious agents.
Section 10 Reservation of Ownership
(1) We shall retain ownership over the purchased goods until all payments stemming from the business relationship with the customer have been received.
(2) In the event of a breach of contract by the customer, particularly payment default, we are entitled to repossess the purchased goods. Our repossession of the purchased goods constitutes a withdrawal from the contract. Following the return of the purchased goods, we are authorised to dispose of them, and the proceeds from this disposal must be used to offset the customer’s outstanding liabilities, after deducting reasonable disposal costs.
(3) The customer must handle the purchased goods with due care; specifically, the customer must, at their own expense, insure the goods sufficiently against damage from fire, water and theft at their replacement value.
(4) In the event of seizure or other interventions by third parties concerning the purchased goods, the customer must notify us immediately in writing so that we may file an action pursuant to Section 771 of the German Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO). If the third party is unable to reimburse us for the judicial and extrajudicial costs of an action pursuant to Section 771 of the German Code of Civil Procedure, the customer shall be liable to us for the loss incurred.
(5) The customer is entitled to resell the purchased goods in the ordinary course of business. However, such party hereby assigns to us all claims against their buyers or third parties that arise from the resale of the purchased goods up to the final invoice total (including VAT) of our claim, regardless of whether the goods were resold without or after processing. The customer remains authorised to collect these receivables even after assignment. Our power to collect the receivables ourselves remains unaffected by this. However, we undertake not to collect the receivables as long as the customer meets its payment obligations using the proceeds received, is not in payment default, and, in particular, no application for the initiation of insolvency proceedings has been filed and no payments have been suspended. However, should this be the case, we may compel the customer to notify us of the assigned claims and their debtors, to provide all information necessary for collection, to hand over the corresponding documents, and to inform the debtors (third parties) of the assignment.
(6) Any processing or transformation of the purchased goods by the customer shall always be deemed to be carried out on our behalf. If the purchased goods are processed with other items not belonging to us, we shall acquire co-ownership of the new item consisting in the value of the purchased goods (final invoice amount, including VAT) in proportion to the other processed items at the time of processing. For the item resulting from the processing, the same terms shall apply in all other respects as for the purchased goods delivered subject to retention of ownership.
(7) If the purchased goods are inseparably mixed with other items not belonging to us, we shall acquire co-ownership of the new item consisting in the value of the purchased goods (final invoice amount, including VAT) in proportion to the other mixed items at the time of mixing. If the mixture occurs in a way that leads the customer’s item to be regarded as the main item, it is hereby agreed that the customer shall transfer co-ownership proportionally to us. The customer shall safeguard the resulting sole ownership or co-ownership on our behalf.
(8) We undertake to release the securities to which we are entitled at the customer’s request, provided that the realisable value of our securities exceeds the claims to be secured by more than 10 %. We may choose the securities to be released at our discretion.
Section 11 Jurisdiction / Place of Performance / Applicable Law
(1) If the customer is a merchant, the exclusive place of jurisdiction shall be our registered office in D-95703 Plößberg. However, we are also entitled to file suit against the customer in any other legal jurisdiction.
(2) Unless otherwise stated in the order confirmation, our registered office is the place of performance.
(3) The laws of the Federal Republic of Germany shall apply. Application of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) is excluded.
Date of issue: 07/2024
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