In these General Terms and Conditions of Sale: a) "Seller" means OENEO Closures USA; b) "Buyer" means any person or entity which buys or agrees to purchase articles from Seller; c) "Conditions" means these General Term and Conditions of Sale and any additional terms agreed to in writing by Buyer and Seller; d) "Requested Delivery Date" means a date specified by Buyer when Buyer would like Goods to be delivered; and e) "Goods" means any articles which Buyer offers to purchase from Seller or Seller offers to sell to Buyer.
PRELIMINARY
a) These Conditions shall apply to all contracts
for the sale of Goods by Seller to Buyer. b) Except as otherwise
expressly agreed in a writing executed by the duly authorized
representatives of both parties, these Conditions shall apply
notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary which may appear on the
order form or on any other documents issued by Buyer. The submission of
a written purchase order by Buyer shall constitute acceptance of the
terms hereof, and no modification of these terms shall be effective
absent express written agreement by a duly authorized representative of
Seller which is delivered to Buyer by Seller. Both Buyer and Seller
expressly waive the provisions of any provision of law that provides
that additional terms proposed by a party become additional terms
unless specifically disclaimed by the other party, including but not
limited to California Commercial Code Section 2207.
ARTICLE 1 - ORDER OF GOODS
1. 1 Order
a) Buyer shall purchase articles from Seller
by issuing a written purchase order signed by an authorized
representative of Buyer indicating the specific Goods, quantity, a
Requested Delivery Date, shipping instructions, bill-to and ship-to
addresses, tax exempt certifications if applicable, and any other
special instructions. In the event Buyer places an order over the
telephone or orally in person, such order will only become binding upon
shipment of the Goods covered by the order, and shall then be subject
to the terms set forth in the order confirmation accompanying such
order and these Conditions. b) An order by Buyer will not become a
binding contract between Buyer and Seller unless and until Seller
either accepts the order in writing or begins shipping the Goods
covered by the order. c) Seller will not be bound by any additional or
different terms contained in Buyer's order unless and until Seller has
expressly accepted said terms in a writing executed by a duly
authorized representative of Seller and delivered by Seller to Buyer.
No form of acceptance of additional terms by Seller except such express
written acknowledgment sent by Seller to Buyer shall constitute valid
acceptance of Buyer's order. d) Buyer shall not assign its rights or
obligations thereunder or hereunder to a third person without the prior
written approval of SelIer. e) To comply with specific needs of Buyer,
improved technologies, changed safety standards or governmental
regulations, Seller is allowed at any time, without notice to, or
consent of, Buyer, to modify the Goods ordered. Such modifications
shall not affect orders already delivered or, in Seller's discretion,
about to be delivered, and the Goods when modified shall be deemed
fully conforming.
1. 2 Cancellation
a) Any modification or cancellation of an
order by Buyer shall be made in writing at least 15 days prior to the
Requested Delivery Date and be subject to acceptance by Seller. Should
Seller not accept such modification or cancellation timely made, Seller
shall reimburse Buyer any down payment. b) Except as provided, Buyer
may not cancel, terminate, suspend performance of, or issue a hold on,
any Buyer order, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent
of Seller, which consent, if given, shall be upon terms that will
compensate Seller for any loss or damage therefrom.
1. 3 Special Order
Seller may offer specific services to
Buyer if Buyer requests these services in writing. Seller shall be
bound by an order of services by Buyer only if Seller accepts said
order and Seller agrees in writing, executed by a duly authorized
representative of Seller, to all terms and conditions applicable to the
order, as set forth in Seller's acceptance.
1. 4 Publications
Unless otherwise specifically agreed in
writing, all specifications, drawings and performance characteristics
submitted are approximate only, descriptions and illustrations
contained in catalogues, price lists and other written materials are
intended merely to present a general idea of the Goods, and none of
these shall be considered as firm offers or indicate any contractual
quality or product performance obligation for the Seller.
ARTICLE 2 - DELIVERY
2. 1 Risk
a) Delivery of all Goods shall be deemed
complete upon transfer of possession to the carrier at the point of
delivery. b) The point of delivery shall be at Seller's warehouse or
store and is FCA (" Free Carrier") (as FCA is defined in Incoterms
2000), except to the extent expressly inconsistent with these
Conditions. Seller accepts no responsibility for loss, damage or delay
in transit beyond the point of delivery.
2. 2 Freight
Seller shall select the carrier (unless
otherwise agreed in writing by Seller and Buyer). Buyer shall be
responsible and reimburse Seller for all freight and related costs
assessed to or paid by Seller.
2. 3 Delay
a) Any delivery dates and/ or times provided by
Seller are provided in good faith and are approximate only, and no
Requested Delivery Date will be binding on Seller. Unless otherwise
agreed in writing, Seller shall not be responsible for any transit
delay. Buyer's acceptance of Goods shall constitute a waiver of any
claim for delay. b) Seller shall have no liability whatsoever for any
direct, indirect, consequential or any other damage or loss arising
from the delivery of Goods covered by an accepted order, or any delays
in delivery including off loading or misdirection in transit. c) Seller
may condition acceptance of an offer to purchase, or the delivery of
Goods covered by an accepted order, upon the prompt compliance by Buyer
of any outstanding obligation owed to Seller by Buyer, including but
not limited to any obligations arising out of previous orders.
2. 4 Progressive Delivery
Seller may deliver any of the
Goods progressively and shall then be entitled to payment progressively
for such portions of the Goods as have been delivered, according to the
terms hereof. If Buyer fails to make a progressive payment within 7
days of delivery of any invoice by Seller then Seller shall be entitled
to withhold delivery of the remainder of the Goods without incurring
liability for such delay.
2. 5 Inspection of the Goods
a) Buyer shall inspect the
Goods immediately upon delivery, and shall, not later than two full
business days after delivery, notify Seller of any defect or
non-conformity. Seller shall then have ten full business days to
inspect the Goods before Buyer shall be entitled to make any use of the
Goods. In the event Buyer makes any use of the Goods during such
ten-day period, such action shall constitute Buyer's waiver of any
defects or nonconformities in such Goods and acceptance of the Goods as
being in conformity with the contract. After receiving such
notification from Buyer, Seller may authorize return of the Goods under
Section 2. 6 below, or institute repair, replacement or a credit under
Section 5. 1 below, as determined by Seller in accordance with these
Conditions. b) In the event Buyer identifies any nonconformity or
defect and fails to provide Seller with notice and the opportunity to
cure as set forth herein, said nonconformity or defect shall be deemed
waived and the Goods shall be conclusively presumed to conform to the
contract and be free of any defect or damage which would be apparent on
a reasonable examination of the Goods. In such case, Buyer shall be
deemed to have irrevocably accepted the Goods. c) In the event that
Buyer identifies any nonconformity or defect, Buyer shall not take or
attempt to take any corrective measures, either by itself or with the
assistance of a third person, without the express prior written consent
of Seller. Failure to obtain such consent shall constitute a waiver of
any defects or nonconformities, and acceptance of the Goods as being in
conformity with the contract.
2. 6 Return of Goods
a) Seller will not accept return of
Goods unless such return is authorized in advance by Seller, and
returned in accordance with Seller's instructions or guidelines for the
same, as provided to Buyer. A re-stocking fee may be charged to Buyer.
b) Products specifically purchased, manufactured or packaged to size or
to Buyer's specifications are not returnable. c) Should Seller
authorize the return of Goods, Seller shall either replace the returned
Goods with conforming Goods or provide Buyer with a credit note to be
offset against future orders from Buyer to Seller, at Seller's sole
option. d) Buyer shall bear all costs and risks of loss associated with
returns. e) No return of Goods shall be accepted after a period of 3
months following delivery.
ARTICLE 3 - PRICE 3. 1 Quotation
a) Price shall be the
Sellers' price quoted on the published price list in force at the date
of the order unless Seller provides a different quotation to Buyer in
writing and Buyer issues its order or otherwise accepts, or confirms
its acceptance of, Seller's quotation in writing before it expires and
in any event within 30 days after the quotation is provided to Buyer.
b) Should the raw materials market price fluctuate by more than 5%
(down or up) between the date of the order and the date of the invoice,
the initial sale price shall be adjusted by Seller accordingly. c) All
prices are net wholesale and include packaging fees, except that
special packaging is subject to additional payment by Buyer.
3. 2 Taxes
Unless otherwise agreed by Seller in writing,
prices quoted are exclusive of any and all sales, use or similar tax or
any other tax imposed by any national, provincial, state or local
government on Goods, all of which will be paid by and will be the
responsibility of Buyer, except to the extent Buyer furnishes Seller
with an exemption certificate acceptable to applicable taxing
authorities. In the event Seller is required to pay or otherwise pays
any such taxes, Buyer will reimburse Seller therefor within 30 days of
invoice.
3. 3 Extra Charges
Unless agreed to the contrary in writing
by the parties, all prices quoted are inclusive of insurance and
Seller's costs of importing the Goods into the United States and
exporting them (if directed by Buyer) to other countries, subject to
Section 2. 2 above. Unless agreed
to the contrary in writing by the parties, all prices quoted are inclusive of insurance, custom and import duties (if any), landing and delivery charges and all other charges in connection with shipment and delivery of Goods. Special requests regarding insurance or shipping may result in additional charges, which shall be the sole responsibility of Buyer.
3. 4 Payment
a) Payment for all Goods and freight charges
incurred or paid by Seller is due on receipt of invoice. Late charges
apply to all payments not received within 30 days of date of invoice,
pursuant to Section 3. 5 below. b) All payments shall be made in United
States dollars unless otherwise agreed in writing between Seller and
Buyer. c) Seller may condition shipment on alternative payment terms
including, without limitation, letter of credit, COD or payment in
advance.
3. 5 Late payment
a) Payment for all Goods sold and costs
chargeable to Buyer hereunder shall become immediately due upon Buyer's
failure to timely pay Seller for such Goods and costs. b) All amounts
remaining unpaid as of the due date shall accrue interest until paid in
full at the lesser of (i) 18 percent per annum or (ii) the highest rate
permitted by law, charged on a monthly basis on the total unpaid
balance. In the event Seller initiates legal or other action to enforce
the terms hereof, the prevailing party shall be entitled to the
collection of costs and reasonable attorneys' and experts' fees
incurred in connection therewith.
3. 6 Cancellation after Default
In case of death,
incapacity, bankruptcy, liquidation, suspension of payment or the
entering into any arrangement with its creditors on the part of Buyer
or any failure to make any payment, Seller may without any prejudice to
any other rights or remedies open to it cancel or suspend delivery
hereunder at Seller's option, always reserving to Seller all rights to
recover any loss consequent upon any such loss of cancellation or
suspension, and require Buyer to prepay for further performance or
shipments.
ARTICLE 4 - GENERAL CONDITIONS OF USE OF CORKS
Buyer
acknowledges receipt of Seller's "Cork Storage and Bottling Guidelines"
with shipment of the Goods. These guidelines apply to all cork and
cork-based closures, of whatever quality and dimension, designed to
seal still wine bottles (i. e., with C02 content not exceeding 1200 mg/
I). Any warranty hereunder, as applied to such corks or cork-based
products, whether express or implied, is expressly conditioned upon
Buyer's full and complete adherence to said guidelines. Failure to
comply with said guidelines shall constitute a waiver of all applicable
warranties.
ARTICLE 5 - WARRANTY 5. 1 Remedies
a) Seller warrants that
the Goods are fit for the purposes for which such articles are
ordinarily sold. b) Seller's exclusive obligations to Buyer for a
breach of the foregoing warranty and for any Goods determined by Seller
to be nonconforming or defective shall be the repair or replacement of
such nonconforming or defective Goods, at Seller's exclusive option.
Any product repaired or replaced under warranty is only
warranted for the period of time remaining in the original warranty for the Goods, as set forth in item c) below. Seller reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to issue a credit note for any defective Goods as an alternative to repair or replacement. The warranty excludes any Goods that have been accidentally or intentionally damaged, modified, improperly used, neglected or otherwise abused. Buyer must claim under the warranty in writing no later than 30 days after the claimed defect is discovered and within the warranty period set forth in item c) below. c) Subject to item d) below, the maximum warranty period is limited to (i) 6 months for all corks and cork-based closures with a length up to and including 38 mm and for all partially or wholly agglomerated or composite corks of all sizes, (ii) 12 months for all other corks and corkbased closures, and (iii) 12 months for all other Goods. Seller does not warrant the levels of releasable TCA in any closures. d) There shall be no warranty on corks used in wines that are shipped out of the country where the wine is bottled. e) All warranties shall commence to run on delivery to Buyer. f) Warranties are non-transferable, and no warranty claim will be accepted from any party that is not the original Buyer. g) No agent, employee or other representative of Seller has the right to modify or expand the limited warranty set forth in item a) above or to make any representations as to the Goods offered or provided by Seller. Any such affirmation, representation or warranty, if made, should not be relied upon by Buyer and will not form a part of the contract between Seller and Buyer for the purchase of the same.
5. 2 Disclaimer of Warranties and Limitation of Liabilities
THE
CLOSURES ARE SOLD AS-IS a) EXCEPT FOR THE WARRANTIES STATED HEREIN FOR
THE BUYER, NO WARRANTY, CONDITION OR REPRESENTATION, EXPRESS, IMPLIED,
ORAL OR STATUTORY, IS PROVIDED TO BUYER OR ANY THIRD PARTY, INCLUDING,
WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR
PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OR SATISFACTORY QUALITY. b) IN NO EVENT SHALL
THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF SELLER AND SELLER'S SUPPLIERS FOR LOSS OR
DAMAGE OF ANY KIND EXCEED THE PRICE ACTUALLY PAID TO SELLER FOR THE
GOODS. c) SELLER HEREBY DISCLOSES TO BUYER AND BUYER ACKNOWLEDGES AND
AGREES THAT, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SELLER'S SUPPLIERS
DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES TO SELLER, BUYER AND ANY THIRD PARTIES,
EXPRESS, IMPLIED, ORAL OR STATUTORY, WITH RESPECT TO GOODS OR
COMPONENTS OF GOODS PROVIDED BY SUCH SUPPLIERS TO SELLER OR SELLER'S
DESIGNEE.
5. 3 Force Majeure
Seller shall not be liable for failure to
perform its obligations under these Conditions resulting directly or
indirectly from or contributed by acts of God, acts of Buyer, civil or
military authority, government priorities, fires, strikes or other
labor disputes, accidents, floods, energy shortages or interruptions,
earthquakes, epidemics, war, riot, delays in transportation, lack of or
inability to obtain raw materials, components, labor, fuel or supplies,
or other circumstances beyond Seller's reasonable control, whether
similar or dissimilar to the foregoing.
5. 4 Consequential Damages Waiver
IN NO EVENT SHALL SELLER
OR SELLER'S SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL OR COMPENSATORY DAMAGE ARISING FROM
THE USE OF, OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH, ITS GOODS, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO LOSS OF REVENUE OR PROFIT, LOSS OF USE OF THE GOODS OR ANY
EQUIPMENT, COST OF SUBSTITUTE PRODUCTS, CLAIMS OF BUYER'S CUSTOMERS FOR
SUCH DAMAGES, OR LOSS OF MARKET SHARE OR GOOD WILL, EVEN IF SELLER OR
SELLER'S SUPPLIERS OR BOTH HAVE BEEN PLACED ON NOTICE OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES AND NOTWITHSTANDING THE FAILURE OF ANY
ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF ANY LIMITED REMEDY.
ARTICLE 6 - LICENSE BY BUYER
To the extent that Buyer
requests and Seller agrees to place on Goods to be provided by Seller
to Buyer any text, logos, slogans, trademarks, service marks, trade
dress or any other content provided by Buyer to Seller (" Marks"),
Buyer hereby grants to Seller a perpetual, non-exclusive, worldwide,
irrevocable, fully-paid license under all relevant intellectual
property laws to use, copy, modify as necessary or convenient to place
the Marks on the Goods as reasonably determined by Seller, distribute
to Buyer or Buyer's designee, publicly display, and all other rights
necessary to place such Marks on such Goods and to provide such Goods
to Buyer.
ARTICLE 7 - INDEMNITY
Buyer agrees to defend, indemnify, and
hold Seller, and its parent, subsidiary, and affiliated companies, and
each of their officers, directors, manager, employees, agents, and
representatives, harmless from and against any and all liability,
judgment, loss, damages, costs, and expenses (including but not limited
to reasonable attorneys' and experts' fees) which it may hereafter
suffer or pay out to another by reason of any claim, action, or right
of action, at law or in equity, arising out of or relating to (a)
Seller's use of the Marks in accordance with this Article 6, (b) any
alleged violations of any federal or state laws based on products
incorporating the Goods that are used, made, sold, offered for sale,
distributed, imported, or exported by or for the benefit of Buyers, or
(c) Buyer's non-conforming use or possession of Goods, including use of
Goods other than in accordance with these Conditions and any guidelines
supplied by Seller to Buyer from time to time.
ARTICLE 8 - COMPLIANCE WITH LAW
Buyer shall obtain all
licenses, permits and approvals required by any government and shall
comply with all applicable laws, rules, policies and procedures of the
applicable government and other competent authorities. Buyer will
indemnify and hold Seller harmless for any violation or alleged
violation by Buyer of such laws, rules, policies or procedures.
ARTICLE 9 - GOVERNING LAW
The validity, interpretation and
performance of these Conditions shall be governed and construed in
compliance with the laws of the state of California and the United
States of America, as applied if performed wholly within that state and
without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws. The
parties specifically disclaim the application of the United Nations
Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. Buyer and
Seller hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the courts of the state of California and all courts
competent to hear appeals therefrom, and any action to enforce the
terms of these Conditions or otherwise resolve any dispute between
Buyer and Seller re lating to the sale or performance of Goods
hereunder shall be venued in the San Francisco Superior Court in the
State of California.
ARTICLE 10 - INTERPRETATION
In the event that any of the
terms of these Conditions become or are declared to be illegal, void,
or in any way unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction,
such terms shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent
necessary so that these Conditions will otherwise remain in full force
and effect.
No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy, or power hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, or power hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, or power provided herein or by law or in equity.








