METAALUNIE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Terms and Conditions of the Metaalunie

1 January 2019

General Terms and Conditions issued by Koninklijke Metaalunie (the employers’ organisation for small and medium-sized enterprises in the metal industry) referred

to as TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE METAALUNIE, filed with the Registry of the Court of Rotterdam on 1 January 2019.

Publication of the Koninklijke Metaalunie, P.O. Box 2600, 3430 GA, Nieuwegein.

© Koninklijke Metaalunie

Article 1: Scope of application

1.1.

These Terms and Conditions apply to all offers made by a Metaalunie member,

to all agreements that it enters into and to all agreements arising from

this, all of which insofar as the Metaalunie member is the supplier or the

contractor.

1.2.

Metaalunie members who apply these Terms and Conditions are referred to

as the Contractor. The other party is referred to as the Client.

1.3.

In the event of conflicts between the agreement entered into by the Client

and the Contractor and these Terms and Conditions, the provisions of the

agreement will prevail.

1.4.

These Terms and Conditions may only be applied by Metaalunie members.


Article 2: Offers

2.1.

All offers are without obligation. The Contractor is entitled to revoke its offer

up to two working days after it has received the acceptance.

2.2.

If the Client provides the Contractor with information, the Contractor may

assume that it is accurate and complete and will base its offer on this information.

2.3.

The prices stated in the offer are denominated in euros, excluding VAT and

other government levies or taxes. The prices do not include travel, accommodation,

packaging, storage and transport costs, nor do they include costs

for loading, unloading and cooperating with customs formalities.


Article 3: Confidentiality

3.1.

All information provided to the Client by or on behalf of the Contractor, such

as offers, designs, images, drawings and know-how, of whatever nature and

in whatever form are confidential, and the Client will not use it for any purpose

other than for the implementation of the agreement.

3.2.

The Client will not disclose or reproduce the information referred to in paragraph

1 of this article.

3.3.

If the Client infringes one of the obligations referred to in paragraphs 1 and

2 of this article, it will owe an immediately payable penalty of 1 25,000 for

each infringement. This penalty can be claimed in addition to compensation

by virtue of the law.

3.4.

The Client must return or destroy the information referred to in paragraph 1 of

this article immediately on request, within a period set at the discretion of the

Contractor. If this provision is infringed, the Client will owe the Contractor an

immediately payable penalty of 1 1,000 per day. This penalty can be claimed

in addition to compensation by virtue of the law.


Article 4: Advice and information provided

4.1.

The Client cannot derive any rights from advice and information provided by

the Contractor that is not directly related to the contract.

4.2.

If the Client provides the Contractor with information, the Contractor may

assume that it is accurate and complete when implementing the agreement.

4.3.

The Client indemnifies the Contractor against any third-party claims related

to the use of advice, drawings, calculations, designs, materials, brands, samples,

models and the like provided by or on behalf of the Client. The Client

will compensate the Contractor for all damage suffered by the Contractor,

including all costs incurred for defence against these claims.


Article 5: Delivery time/implementation period

5.1.

Delivery times or implementation periods specified are indicative.

5.2.

The delivery time or implementation period only commences once an agreement

has been reached on all commercial and technical details, once all

the information, including final and approved drawings and the like, is in the

possession of the Contractor, the agreed payment (or instalment) has been

received, and the other conditions for the contract have been met.

5.3. If:

a. there are circumstances other than those known to the Contractor at

the time it set the delivery period or implementation period, the delivery

period or implementation period may be extended by the time the

Contractor needs – taking into account its planning – to implement the

contract under these circumstances;

b. there are contract extras, the delivery period or implementation period

may be extended by the time the Contractor needs – taking into account

its planning – to have the materials and parts delivered and to carry out

the contract extras;

c. the Contractor suspends its obligations, the delivery period or implementation

period may be extended by the time the Contractor needs – taking

into account its planning – to implement the contract after the reason for

the suspension no longer applies.

Unless the Client has evidence to the contrary, the duration of the extension

of the delivery period or implementation period is presumed to be necessary

and to be the result of a situation as referred to above in a to c.

5.4.

The Client is obliged to pay all costs that the Contractor incurs or damages

that the Contractor suffers as a result of a delay in the delivery or implementation

period as stated in paragraph 3 of this article.

5.5.

Under no circumstances does exceeding the agreed delivery or implementation

period give the Client the right to compensation or to terminate the agreement.

The Client indemnifies the Contractor against any third-party claims

due to exceeding the delivery or implementation period.


Article 6: Delivery and risk transfer

6.1.

Delivery takes place when the Contractor, at its business location, makes the

good available to the Client and has informed the Client that the good is at

its disposal. From that time onwards, the Client bears the risk of the good in

terms of storage, loading, transport and unloading among others.

6.2.

The Client and the Contractor may agree that the Contractor will be responsible

for the transport. In that case too, the Client bears the risk of, inter alia,

storage, loading, transport and unloading. The Client can insure itself against

these risks.

6.3.

If a good is exchanged and the Client retains the good to be exchanged pending

delivery of the new good, the risk of the good to be exchanged remains

with the Client until the time that it hands over the good to the Contractor. If

the Client is unable to deliver the good to be exchanged in the condition in

which it was when the agreement was concluded, the Contractor may terminate

the agreement.


Article 7: Price changes

The Contractor may pass on to the Client an increase in cost-determining

factors that occurs after entering into the agreement. The Client is obliged to

pay the price increase immediately on the Contractor’s request.


Article 8: Force majeure

8.1.

If the Contractor fails to fulfil its obligations, this cannot be attributed to the

Contractor if this failure is due to force majeure.

8.2.

Force majeure includes, inter alia, if third parties engaged by the Contractor

– such as suppliers, subcontractors and transporters, or other parties that

the Client is dependent on – do not meet their obligations at all or on time, or

circumstances due to weather conditions, natural disasters, terrorism, cybercrime,

disruption of digital infrastructure, fire, power failures, loss, theft or loss

of tools, materials or information, roadblocks, strikes or work interruptions

and import or trade restrictions.

8.3.

The Contractor is entitled to suspend fulfilment of its obligations if it is temporarily

prevented from fulfilling its obligations to the Client due to force majeure.

Once the force majeure circumstances no longer apply, the Contractor

will fulfil its obligations as soon as its planning permits.

8.4.

If it concerns force majeure and fulfilment is or becomes permanently impossible,

or the temporary force majeure circumstances have lasted for more

than six months, the Contractor is entitled to terminate the agreement with

immediate effect either entirely or in part. In those cases, the Client is entitled

to terminate the agreement with immediate effect, but only for that part of the

obligations that the Contractor has not yet fulfilled.

8.5.

The parties are not entitled to compensation for the damages suffered or to

be suffered as a result of the force majeure, suspension or termination as

referred to in this article.


Article 9: Scope of the work

9.1.

The Client must ensure that all licences, exemptions and other decisions that

are necessary to carry out the work are obtained in good time. The Client is

obliged to send the Contractor a copy of the aforementioned documents immediately

on the Contractor’s request.

9.2.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the work does not include:

a. groundwork, pile driving, cutting, breaking, foundation work, masonry,

carpentry, plastering, painting, wallpapering, repair work or other construction

work;

b. making connections to gas, water, electricity, internet or other infrastructural

facilities;

c. measures to prevent or limit damage to, of theft or loss of goods present

at or near the workplace;

d. removing equipment, building materials or waste;

e. vertical and horizontal transport.


Article 10: Contract extras

10.1.

Changes in the work will in any event lead to contract extras if:

a. it concerns changes in the design, the specifications or the contract

documents;

b. the information provided by the Client does not correspond with reality;

c. the estimated quantities deviate by more than 5%.

10.2.

Contract extras are calculated on the basis of the price-determining factors

that apply at the time the extra work is performed. The Client is obliged to pay

the price for the contract extras immediately on the Contractor’s request.


Article 11: Implementation of the work

11.1.

The Client will ensure that the Contractor can carry out its work undisturbed

and at the agreed time and that it is given the necessary facilities for the

implementation of its work, such as:

a. gas, water, electricity and internet;

b. heating;

c. lockable dry storage space;

d. the facilities prescribed under the Dutch Working Conditions Act

[Arbowet].

11.2.

The Client bears the risk and is liable for damage to and theft or loss of goods

belonging to the Contractor, Client and third parties, such as tools, material

or equipment intended for the work or used for the work, located at or near

the place where the work is carried out or at another agreed location.

11.3.

Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph 2 of this article, the Client is

obliged to take out adequate insurance against the risks referred to in that

paragraph. In addition, the Client must take out insurance for the risk of workrelated

damage with regard to the equipment to be used. The Client must

send the Contractor a copy of the relevant insurance(s) and proof of payment

of the premium immediately on request. In the event of damages, the Client

is obliged to report this immediately to its insurer for further processing and

settlement.


Article 12: Delivery of the work

12.1.

The work is considered to be delivered in the following cases:

a. once the Client has approved the work;

b. if the Client has put the work into operation. If the Client puts part of the

work into operation, then that part is considered to have been delivered;

c. if the Contractor has notified the Client in writing that the work has been

completed, and the Client fails to inform the Contractor in writing that the

work has not been approved within 14 days of the day of the notification;

d. if the Client does not approve the work on the grounds of minor defects

or missing parts that can be repaired or delivered within 30 days and that

do not hinder the commissioning of the work.

12.2.

If the Client does not approve the work, it is obliged to inform the Contractor

of this in writing, stating the reasons. The Client must give the Contractor the

opportunity to deliver the work at a later date.

12.3.

The Client indemnifies the Contractor against third-party claims concerning

damage to parts of the work not delivered due to the use of parts of the work

that have already been delivered.


Article 13: Liability

13.1.

In the event of an attributable failure, the Contractor is still obliged to fulfil its

contractual obligations, with due observance of Article 14.

13.2.

The Contractor’s obligation to compensate damages – regardless of the

grounds – is limited to the damage against which the Contractor is covered 

under an insurance policy taken out by it or on its behalf. However, the scope

of this obligation is never greater than the amount paid out under this insurance

in the case in question.

13.3.

If, for whatever reason, the Contractor does not have the right to invoke

paragraph 2 of this article, the obligation to compensate damage is limited

to a maximum of 15% of the total contract amount (excluding VAT). If the

agreement consists of parts or partial deliveries, this obligation is limited to a

maximum of 15% (excluding VAT) of the contract amount for that part or that

partial delivery. If it concerns continuing performance contracts, the obligation

to compensate damage is limited to a maximum of 15% (excluding VAT)

of the contract amount owed over the last twelve months prior to the losscausing

event.

13.4.

The following do not qualify for compensation:

a. consequential damages. Consequential damages include inter alia

business interruption losses, loss of production, loss of profit, penalties,

transport costs and travel and subsistence expenses;

b. damage to property in the care, custody or control of, but not owned by

the insured party. Among other things, this damage includes damage

caused by or during the performance of the work to goods that are being

worked on or to goods that are located in the vicinity of the place where

the work is being carried out;

c. damage as a result of intent or wilful recklessness by the Contractor’s

auxiliary staff or non-managerial subordinates.

The Client can take out insurance for these damages if possible.

13.5.

The Contractor is not obliged to compensate damage to material supplied by

or on behalf of the Client as a result of improper processing.

13.6.

The Client indemnifies the Contractor against all third-party claims due to

product liability as a result of a defect in a product that has been delivered by

the Client to a third party and of which the products or materials supplied by

the Contractor are a part. The Client is obliged to reimburse all the damages

suffered by the Contractor in this respect, including the (full) costs of the

defence.


Article 14: Guarantee and other claims

14.1.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Contractor guarantees the proper

execution of the agreed performance for a period of six months after delivery

or completion, as detailed in the following paragraphs.

14.2.

If the parties have agreed to deviating guarantee conditions, the provisions of

this article will remain in full force, unless this is in conflict with those deviating

guarantee conditions.

14.3.

If the agreed performance has not been executed properly, the Contractor will

decide within a reasonable period of time whether it will still perform the work

properly or credit the Client for a proportionate part of the contract amount.

14.4.

If the Contractor opts to still execute the performance properly, it will determine

the manner and time of execution. The Client must in all cases offer the

Contractor the opportunity to do so. If the agreed performance (also) included

the processing of material provided by the Client, the Client must supply new

material at its own expense and risk.

14.5.

The Client is responsible for sending parts or materials that are to be repaired

or replaced by the Contractor to the Contractor’s business location.

14.6.

The following are for the Client’s account:

a. all transport or shipping costs;

b. costs for dismantling and assembly;

c. travel and subsistence expenses and travel time.

14.7.

The Contractor is only obliged to implement the guarantee if the Client has

fulfilled all its obligations.

14.8.

a. The guarantee does not cover defects that are the result of:

- normal wear and tear;

- improper use;

- lack of maintenance or maintenance carried out incorrectly;

- installation, assembly, modification or repairs carried out by the Client or

third parties;

- faulty or unsuitable goods originating from or prescribed by the Client;

- faulty or unsuitable materials or tools used by the Client.

b. No guarantee is given for:

- goods delivered that were not new at the time of delivery;

- inspections and repairs carried out on goods owned by the Client;

- parts that are subject to a manufacturer’s guarantee.

14.9.

The provisions of paragraphs 3 to 8 of this article apply by analogy to any of

the Client’s claims based on breach of contract, non-conformity or any other

basis whatsoever.


Article 15: Obligation to complain

15.1.

The Client no longer has the right to invoke a defective performance if it

has not complained to the Contractor in writing within fourteen days after it

discovered or should reasonably have discovered the defect.

15.2.

The Client must have filed complaints about the invoice with the Contractor

in writing and within the payment term, subject to forfeiture of all rights. If

the payment term is longer than thirty days, the Client must have filed its

complaint in writing within thirty days of the invoice date at the latest.


Article 16: Failure to take possession of goods

16.1.

The Client is obliged to take actual possession of the goods that are the

subject of the agreement at the agreed location at the end of the delivery or

implementation period.

16.2.

The Client must cooperate fully and free of charge to enable the Contractor

to deliver the goods.

16.3.

Goods not taken into possession are stored at the Client’s expense and risk.

16.4.

If the provisions of paragraph 1 or 2 of this article are infringed, the Client will

owe the Contractor a penalty for each infringement of 1 250 per day up to a

maximum of 1 25,000, after the Contractor has given notice of default. This

penalty can be claimed in addition to compensation by virtue of the law.


Article 17: Payment

17.1.

Payment is made at the Contractor’s business address or into an account to

be designated by the Contractor.

17.2.

Unless otherwise agreed, payments must be made within 30 days of the

invoice date.

17.3.

If the Client fails to fulfil its payment obligation, it is obliged to comply with a

request from the Contractor for a tender of payment instead of the agreed

amount.

17.4.

The Client’s right to offset its claims against the Contractor or to suspend

the fulfilment of its obligations is excluded, unless the Contractor has been

granted a suspension of payments or is bankrupt or the statutory debt adjustment

scheme applies to the Contractor.

17.5.

Irrespective of whether the Contractor has fully executed the agreed performance,

everything that the Client owes or will owe it under the agreement is

immediately due and payable if:

a. a payment term has been exceeded;

b. the Client does not fulfil its obligations under Article 16;

c. the Client has filed for bankruptcy or suspension of payments;

d. the Client’s goods or claims have been attached;

e. the Client (a company) is dissolved or wound up;

f. the Client (a natural person) files a application to be admitted to the

statutory debt adjustment scheme, is placed under a guardianship order

or has died.

17.6.

If payment is delayed, the Client will owe interest on that sum to the Contractor

with effect from the day following the day agreed as the final day of

payment up to and including the day on which the Client settles the amount

in question. If the parties have not agreed on the final day of payment, the

interest is due from 30 days after the sum has become due and payable. The

interest is 12% per year, but is equal to the statutory interest if this is higher.

For the interest calculation, a part of the month is considered to be a full

month. At the end of each year, the amount on which the interest is calculated

will be increased by the interest due for that year.

17.7.

The Contractor is entitled to offset its debts to the Client against claims that

companies affiliated to the Contractor have against the Client. In addition,

the Contractor is entitled to offset its claims to the Client against debts that

companies affiliated to the Contractor have against the Client. Furthermore,

the Contractor is entitled to offset its debts to the Client against claims against

companies affiliated to the Client. ‘Affiliated companies’ means all companies

belonging to the same group, within the meaning of Book 2, Section 24b of

the Dutch Civil Code, and a participation within the meaning of Book 2, Section

24c of the Dutch Civil Code.

17.8.

For late payments, the Client owes the Contractor all extrajudicial costs with

a minimum of 1 75.

These costs are calculated on the basis of the following table, i.e., the principal

sum plus interest:

on the first 1 3,000 15%

on the excess up to 1 6,000 10%

on the excess up to 1 15,000 8%

on the excess up to 1 60,000 5%

on the excess from 1 60,000 or more 3%

The extrajudicial costs actually incurred are due if they are higher than the

calculation given above.

17.9.

If judgment is rendered in favour of the Contractor in legal proceedings, either

entirely or for the most part, the Client will bear all costs incurred in connection

with these proceedings.


Article 18: Securities

18.1.

Irrespective of the agreed payment terms, the Client is obliged to provide

sufficient security for payment immediately on the Contractor’s request and

at its discretion. If the Client does not comply with this provision within the set

time limit, it will immediately be in default. In that case, the Contractor has the

right to terminate the agreement and to recover its damages from the Client.

18.2.

The Contractor remains the owner of the delivered goods as long as the Client:

a. has not fulfilled its obligations under any agreement with the Contractor;

b. claims arising from non-fulfilment of the aforementioned agreements,

such as damage, penalties, interest and costs, have not been settled.

18.3.

As long as the delivered goods are subject to retention of title, the Client may

not encumber or dispose of these goods other than in the course of its normal

business operations. This provision has effect under property law.

18.4.

After the Contractor has invoked its retention of title, it may take back the

delivered goods. The Client will cooperate fully with this.

18.5.

If the Client has fulfilled its obligations after the Contractor has delivered the

goods to it in accordance with the agreement, the retention of title with respect to

these goods is revived if the Client does not fulfil its obligations under

an agreement entered into subsequently.

18.6.

The Contractor has a right of pledge and a right of retention on all goods that

it has or may receive from the Client on any grounds whatsoever and for all

claims that it has or might have against the Client.


Article 19: Intellectual property rights

19.1.

The Contractor is considered to be the maker, designer or inventor of the

works, models or inventions created in the context of the agreement. The

Contractor therefore has the exclusive right to apply for a patent, trademark

or model.

19.2.

The Contractor will not transfer any intellectual property rights to the Client in

the implementation of the agreement.

19.3.

If the performance to be delivered by the Contractor (also) includes providing

computer software, the source code will not be handed over to the Client.

The Client will only acquire a non-exclusive, worldwide and perpetual licence

for use for the computer software solely for the purpose of the normal use

and proper functioning of the good. The Client is not permitted to transfer the

licence or to issue a sub-licence. When the Client sells the good to a third

party, the licence transfers by operation of law to the acquirer of the good.

19.4.

The Contractor disclaims liability for damages that the Client suffers as a

result of an infringement of third-party intellectual property rights. The Client

indemnifies the Contractor against any third-party claims related to an

infringement of intellectual property rights.


Article 20: Assignment of rights or obligations

The Client may not assign or pledge any rights or obligations pursuant to any

article in these General Terms and Conditions or the underlying agreement(s),

unless it has the prior written consent of the Contractor. This provision has

effect under property law.


Article 21: Cancellation or termination of the agreement

21.1.

The Client is not entitled to cancel or terminate the agreement, unless the

Contractor agrees to this. If the Contractor agrees, the Client will owe the

Contractor an immediately due and payable compensation equal to the

agreed price, less the savings for the Contractor as a result of the termination.

The compensation will be at least 20% of the agreed price.

21.2.

If the price depends on the actual costs to be incurred by the Contractor (on a

cost-plus basis), the compensation as referred to in the first paragraph of this

article is estimated based on the sum of the costs and labour and the profit

that the Contractor would have made for the entire contract.


Article 22: Applicable law and competent court

22.1.

Dutch law applies.

22.2.

The Vienna Sales Convention (CISG) does not apply, nor does any other

international regulation that may be excluded.

22.3.

The Dutch civil court with jurisdiction in the Contractor’s place of business is

authorised to take cognisance of any disputes. The Contractor may deviate

from this rule governing jurisdiction and rely on the statutory rules governing

jurisdiction instead.


These Terms and Conditions constitute a comprehensive translation of the

Dutch version of the Terms and Conditions of the Metaalunie as filed with the

Registry of the Court of Rotterdam on 1 January 2019. The Dutch version will

prevail in the explanation and interpretation of this text.