AGB

§ 1 Scope
(1) These conditions of sale apply exclusively to companies, legal entities under public law or special
assets under public law within the meaning of Section 310(1) BGB (German Civil Code). We shall
only acknowledge the Buyer’s conditions that are contrary to or vary from our conditions of sale if
we expressly approve their validity in writing.
(2) These conditions of sale also apply to all future business transactions entered into with the Buyer
provided they involve legal transactions of a similar kind.
§ 2 Offer and conclusion of contracts
(1) Insofar as an order is to be regarded as an offer in accordance with Section 145 BGB, we may
accept it within two weeks.
§ 3 Surrendered documents
(1) We reserve ownership rights and copyrights to all documents surrendered in conjunction with the
placement of an order such as calculations and drawings etc. These documents may not be made
available to third parties unless we grant the Buyer our express, written approval in that respect.
Insofar as we do not accept the Buyer’s offer within the period set out in Section 2, these
documents are to be returned to us without delay.
§ 4 Prices and payment
(1) In the absence of written agreements to the contrary, our prices apply ex works and exclude
packaging and apply plus the respective, valid value added tax rate. We reserve the right to invoice
packaging costs separately.
(2) The purchase price is to be paid exclusively into the account stated in the invoice.
(3) In the absence of agreements to the contrary, the purchase price falls due for payment within 30
days without deductions. The deduction of a trade discount is subject to a separate agreement.
Interest on arrears of 8% above the respective base lending rate p.a. shall be charged. We reserve
the right to assert a claim for greater damage.
(4) The prices printed in the catalogues and discounts agreed upon separately form the basis of the
business transaction. We reserve the right to amend these prices and discounts, giving 3 months’
prior notice, as a result of changed wage, material and distribution costs. This may also apply
without publishing a new catalogue. In general, we are bound by offers for 4 weeks.
§ 5 Setting off and retention rights
(1) The Buyer shall only be entitled to set off if its counter-claims have become res judicata or are
undisputed. The Buyer shall only be entitled to exercise a right of retention insofar as its counter-
claim is based on the same contractual relationship.
§ 6 Delivery time
(1) The start of the delivery time stated by us is conditional on the Buyer properly honouring its
obligations in good time, and clarification of all technical matters. The parties reserve the right to
object to a contract that is not honoured.
(2) If the Buyer defaults in acceptance or culpably violates other co-operation obligations, we shall be
entitled to request compensation for the damage we sustain, including potential additional
expenses. We reserve the right to assert further-reaching claims. Insofar as the above
preconditions are met, the risk of possible loss or possible deterioration in the object of sale shall
pass to the Buyer at the time at which the Buyer defaults in acceptance or defaults in the capacity
of debtor regarding the object of sale.
(3) In the event of default of delivery that is not brought about by us as a result of intent or gross
negligence, we shall be liable for each full week in which the delay continues as part of flat-rate
compensation for default in the sum of 0.5% of the delivery value, at most however not more than
5% of the delivery value.
(4) This does not affect the Buyer’s further statutory claims and rights regarding default in delivery.
§ 7 Passing of risk in the case of shipping, packaging, taking back
(1) If the goods are sent to the Buyer at the Buyer’s request, the risk of possible loss of or possible
deterioration in the goods shall pass to the Buyer upon dispatch to the Buyer, at the latest when
the goods leave the factory/warehouse. This applies irrespective of whether or not the goods are
shipped from the place of performance or which party is responsible for the freight costs.
(2) Transport or any other packaging shall not be taken back. This does not apply to transport racks
and pallets. The Buyer undertakes to dispose of the packaging at its own cost.
(3) We do not undertake to take back customised goods. This also applies if the delivery is unopened
and in the original packaging without damage.
(4) If the goods are nevertheless taken back, we shall be entitled to deduct 30% from the net goods
value. Damaged goods shall not be credited. The transport costs for the return of goods shall be
borne by the Buyer.
§ 8 Reservation of title
(1) We reserve the right to ownership of the supplied item up until payment in full of all claims
resulting from the delivery contract. This also applies to all future deliveries, including if we do not
expressly cite this at all times. We shall be entitled to take back the object of sale if the Buyer
breaches the contract.
(2) The Buyer undertakes to treat the object of sale with due care as long as ownership of the object
of sale has not yet passed to the Buyer. The Buyer undertakes, in particular, to insure the object of
sale at its own cost against burglary, fire and water damage with adequate cover at replacement
value. If maintenance and inspection work needs to be performed, the Buyer is to perform such
work in good time at its own cost. As long as ownership has not yet passed, the Buyer is to inform
us without delay in writing if the delivered item has been seized or is subject to other third-party
intervention. Insofar as the third party is not in a position to reimburse us for the court and out-
of-court costs of an action in accordance with Section 771 ZPO (German Code of Civil Procedure),
the Buyer shall be liable for the shortfall we suffer.
(3) The Buyer is entitled to resell the reserved goods during the course of ordinary business activities.
The Buyer assigns at this point in time to us its buyer’s claims resulting from the resale of the
reserved goods in the sum of the final invoice amount agreed upon with us (including value added
tax). This assignment applies irrespective of whether or not the object of sale was sold without or
following processing. The Buyer shall remain authorised to collect the claim, including following
the assignment. This does not affect our authority to collect the claim. However, we shall not
collect the claim as long as the Buyer honours its payment obligations resulting from the collected
revenues, does not default in payment and, in particular, an application for the institution of
insolvency proceedings is not filed or payments are not discontinued.
(4) The finishing and processing or transformation of the object of sale by the Buyer shall occur at all
times in our name and on our behalf. In such a case, the Buyer’s contingent right to the object of
sale continues in the transformed item. Insofar as the object of sale is processed with other items
that are not our property, we shall acquire the co-ownership of the new item on a pro-rata basis
of the real value of our object of sale to that of the other processed items at the time of
processing. The same applies in the event of mixing. Insofar as the mixing occurs such that the
Buyer’s item is to considered the primary item, it is deemed agreed upon that the Buyer shall
assign to us proportionate co-ownership, and shall store the sole property or jointly owned
property created in this manner on our behalf. To safeguard our claims against the Buyer, the
Buyer assigns to us the claims to which it is entitled against a third party as a result of the linking
of the reserved goods to a plot of land; we accept this assignment at this point in time.
(5) We undertake, at the Buyer’s request, to release the securities to which we are entitled insofar as
the value of such securities exceeds the claims to be secured by more than 20%.
§ 9 Warranty and notification of defects as well as recourse/manufacturer’s recourse
(1) The Buyer’s warranty rights are conditional on the fact the Buyer has properly honoured its
obligations in respect of inspections and providing notification of defects in accordance with
Section 377 HGB (German Commercial Code).
(2) Warranty claims shall fall under the statute of limitations in 12 months following the successful
delivery of the goods supplied by us to our buyer. The above provisions shall not apply provided the
law in accordance with Section 438 (1), No. 2 BGB (Building structures and items for building
structures), Section 479 (1) BGB (Claim under a right of recourse) and Section 634a (1) BGB
(Building faults) specify longer periods as obligatory requirements. Our approval is to be obtained
in advance if goods are to be returned.
(3) In the event that the supplied goods are faulty irrespective of all the care that is taken, and such a
fault applied at the time of the passing of risk, we shall, at our discretion, provide subsequent
performance or replacement subject to notification of defects in good time. We are to be given an
opportunity at all times to provide subsequent performance within a reasonable period. The above
regulation does not in any way affect or restrict claims under a right of recourse.
(4) If the subsequent performance fails, the Buyer may, irrespective of possible claims, withdraw from
the contract or reduce the remuneration.
(5) Warranty claims shall not apply in the case of merely insignificant variations from the agreed
quality, in the case of merely insignificant detrimental effects on usability, in the event of natural
wear-and-tear and in the case of damage caused following the passing of risk as a result of faulty
or negligent handling, excessive use, inappropriate operating resources, faulty construction work,
unsuitable building foundation or due to special, external factors that are not foreseen in
accordance with the contract. If the Buyer or third parties perform inappropriate maintenance
work or make alterations, similarly warranty claims shall not apply to these and the resulting
consequences.
(6) The Buyer’s claims regarding the expenses required for the purpose of subsequent performance, in
particular transport, travelling, work and material costs, are excluded insofar as the expenses
increase because the goods delivered by us have been subsequently brought to a location other
than the Buyer’s branch.
(7) The Buyer’s claims under a right of recourse against us shall only exist insofar as the Buyer has not
entered into agreements with its buyer that extend beyond the statutory warranty claims.
Furthermore, with regard to the scope of the Buyer’s claim under a right of recourse against the
supplier, sub-section 6 applies accordingly.
§ 10 Product characteristics
(1) Our products are designed for use in dry, residential properties. We do not accept any liability for
damage resulting from use in areas to the contrary or in open spaces.
(2) Our products are designed for processing by qualified specialists. We do not accept any liability for
damage resulting from the inappropriate processing.
(3) In the case of products made of several components, minor differences in colour between these
components shall not give reason for complaint.
(4) The Buyer is responsible for the professional processing of the goods with other products (e.g.
curtains). In that respect, the quantities of brackets and rings stated by us merely constitute
recommendations. This is to be checked by the Buyer, in particular, in the case of larger
installations and heavy fabrics.
(5) We shall not acknowledge any damage in the event of association with outside products, e.g.
eyelets.
§ 11 Miscellaneous
(1) This contract and the entire legal relations of the parties are subject to the law of the Federal
Republic of Germany with the exclusion of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International
Sale of Goods (CISG).
(2) Our registered office is deemed the place of performance and sole place of jurisdiction for all
disputes resulting from this contract.
(3) All agreements entered into by the parties for the purpose of executing this contract are set out in
writing in this contract.
(4) In the event that individual provisions of this contract are or become invalid, or should an omission
be identified in this contract, this shall not affect the validity of the other provisions. The parties
undertake, in the place of the invalid regulation, to agree on a regulation that is legally
permissible and comes closest to the economic purpose intended by way of the invalid regulation
or which provides for the omission.
Steinhagen, August 2010