Standard Terms & Conditions of Purchase

1. Definitions

1.1. The terms and conditions appearing in any purchase order or other similar document provided by Buyer (as defined below) relating to the purchase of goods or services by Buyer from Seller (as defined below), as supplemented by the terms and conditions appearing herein (collectively, this "Agreement"), shall constitute the complete agreement between the parties, and such terms and conditions supersede any prior or contemporaneous agreements or communications between the parties whether oral or written.

1.2. No terms or conditions endorsed upon, delivered with or contained in Seller's quotation acknowledgement or acceptance of order, specification or similar document will form part of the Agreement and Seller waives any right which it otherwise might have to rely on such terms and conditions.

1.3. This Agreement applies to all purchases of goods and services by any supplier, ("Seller") to Abrasive Technology Limited and all related companies collectively or individually referred to as "Buyer" and as specifically noted on this Agreement with Seller.

2. Acceptance – Agreement

2.1. Seller's commencement of work on the merchandise subject to this Agreement or shipment of such merchandise, whichever occurs first, shall be deemed an effective mode of acceptance of this Agreement.

2.2. Any acceptance of this Agreement is limited to acceptance of the express terms contained on the face and back hereof.

2.3. Any proposal for additional or different terms or any attempt by Seller to vary in any degree any of the terms of this Agreement in Seller's acceptance is hereby objected to and rejected, but such proposals shall not operate as a rejection of this Agreement unless such variances are in the terms of the description, quantity, price or delivery schedule of the merchandise, but shall be deemed a material alteration thereof, and this Agreement shall be deemed accepted by Seller without said or additional or different terms.

2.4. If this Agreement shall be deemed an acceptance of a prior offer by Seller, such acceptance is limited to the express terms contained on the face and back hereof.

2.5. Additional or different terms or any attempt by Seller to vary in any degree any of the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed material and are objected to and rejected, but this Agreement shall not operate as a rejection of Seller's offer unless it contains variances in the terms of the description, quantity, price, or delivery schedule of the goods.

3. Title and Risk of Loss

3.1. Unless otherwise expressly agreed on the face of this Agreement, Seller shall bear the risk of loss and damage to all goods to be supplied hereunder until final acceptance by Buyer.  

3.2. Buyer shall have equitable title to all such goods with respect to which Buyer shall have made any partial or progress payments.

4. Termination / Cancellation  

4.1. Termination for Convenience

4.1.1. Buyer reserves the right to terminate this Agreement or any part hereof for its sole convenience. In the event of such termination, Seller shall immediately stop all work hereunder, and shall immediately cause any of its suppliers or subcontractors to cease work.

4.1.2. Seller shall be paid a reasonable termination charge consisting of a percentage of the order price reflecting the percentage of the work performed prior to the notice of termination, plus actual direct costs resulting from termination (but not anticipated profits or any consequential loss).

4.1.3. Any applicable invoices resulting from termination must be received within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Notice of Termination.

4.1.4. Seller shall not be paid for any work done after receipt of the notice of termination, nor for any costs incurred by Seller's suppliers or subcontractors which seller could reasonably have avoided.

4.2. Termination for Cause  

4.2.1. Buyer may also terminate this Agreement or any part hereof for cause in the event of any default by Seller, or if Seller fails to comply with any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

4.2.2. Late deliveries, deliveries of products which are defective or which do not conform to this Agreement, and failure to provide Buyer, upon request, of reasonable assurance of future performance shall all be causes allowing Buyer to terminate this Agreement for cause.

4.2.3. Buyer shall have the right at any time by giving notice to Seller to terminate this agreement forthwith if:-

4.2.3.1. any distress, execution or other process’s levied upon any of the assets of Seller;

4.2.3.2. the Seller has a bankruptcy order made against it or makes an arrangement or composition with its creditors, or otherwise takes the benefit of any statutory provision for the time being in force for the relief of insolvent debtors, or (being a body corporate) convenes a meeting of creditors (whether formal or informal), or enters into liquidation (whether voluntary or compulsory) except a solvent voluntary liquidation for the purpose only of reconstruction or amalgamation, or has a receiver and/or manager, administrator or administrative receiver appointed of its undertaking or any part thereof, or a resolution is passed or a petition presented to any court for the winding up of Seller or for the granting of an administration order in respect of Seller, or any proceedings are commenced relating to the insolvency or possible insolvency of the Seller;  

4.2.3.3. Seller ceases or threatens to cease to carry on its business; or

4.2.3.4. the financial position of Seller deteriorates to such an extent that in the opinion of Buyer the capability of Seller to adequately to carry out its obligations under this Agreement has been placed in jeopardy.

4.2.4. In the event of a termination for cause, Buyer shall not be liable to Seller for any amount and Seller shall be liable to Buyer for any and all damages sustained by reason of the default which gave rise to the termination.

4.3. The termination of this Agreement, however arising, will be without prejudice to the rights and duties of the Buyer accrued prior to termination. The Conditions which expressly or impliedly have effect after termination will continue to be enforceable notwithstanding termination.

5. Proprietary Information – Confidentiality

5.1. Merchandise to be furnished to Buyer’s patterns, specification, designs, or drawings shall not be furnished to or quoted to any other person or concern. Such patterns, specifications, and drawings shall be confidential, shall remain Buyer’s property and shall be returned to Buyer immediately upon request.

5.2. Seller shall not, except with the prior written consent of Buyer, in any manner advertise or publish the fact that Seller has contracted to furnish to Buyer the goods or services herein ordered, or use any trademarks or trade names of Buyer in Seller’s advertising or promotional materials. In the event of Seller’s breach of this provision, Buyer shall have the right to cancel the undelivered portion of any goods or services covered by this and any other Agreement, shall not be required to make further payments, except for conforming goods delivered or conforming services rendered prior to cancellation, and shall have the remedies of injunctive relief and/or damages as well as any other remedies provided by law.

6. Warranty  

6.1. Seller expressly warrants that all merchandise furnished hereunder shall conform to all specifications and appropriate standards, will be new, and will be free form defects in material or workmanship.

6.2. Seller warrants that all such merchandise will conform to any statements made on the containers or labels, or advertisements for such merchandise, and that any merchandise will be adequately contained, packaged, armed and labeled.

6.3. In the event that Buyer has previously purchased merchandise of the same description from Seller, Seller agrees that the merchandise to be delivered hereunder shall be identical in all respects to the merchandise previously ordered.

6.4. Seller warrants that all merchandise furnished hereunder will be merchantable and will be safe and appropriate for the purpose for which merchandise of that kind is normally used. If Seller knows or has reason to know the particular purpose for which Buyer intends to use the merchandise, Seller warrants that such merchandise will be fit for such particular purpose.

6.5. Seller warrants that the merchandise shall be of the best available design, of the best quality material and workmanship, be without fault and conform in all respects with Buyer’s Purchase Order and specification supplied by Buyer to Seller

6.6. Buyer’s rights under these Conditions are in addition to the statutory conditions implied in favour of Buyer by the Sale of Goods Act 1979.

6.7. Seller warrants that merchandise furnished will conform in all respects to samples.

6.8. Inspection, test, acceptance or use of the merchandise furnished hereunder shall not affect Seller’s obligation under this warranty, and such warranties shall survive inspection, test, acceptance and use.

6.9. Seller’s warranty shall run to Buyer, its successors, assigns and customers, and users of products sold by Buyer.

6.10. Seller agrees to replace, or correct defects of, any merchandise not conforming to the foregoing warranty promptly without expense to Buyer, when notified of such nonconformity by Buyer, provided Buyer elects to provide Seller with the opportunity to do so.

6.11. In the event of failure of Seller to correct defects in or replace nonconforming merchandise promptly, Buyer, after reasonable notice to Seller, may make such corrections or replace such merchandise and charge Seller for the cost incurred by Buyer in doing so.

7. Price Warranty

7.1. Seller warrants that the prices for the merchandise sold to Buyer hereunder are not less favorable than those currently extended to any other customer for the same or similar articles in similar quantities.

7.2. In the event Seller reduces its price for such merchandise during the term of this Agreement, Seller agrees to reduce the prices hereof correspondingly.

7.3. Seller warrants that prices shown on this Agreement shall be complete, and no additional charges (save for VAT) of any type shall be added without Buyer’s express written consent. Such additional charges include, but are not limited to shipping, packaging, labeling, customs duties, taxes, storage insurance, boxing and crating.  

7.4. Payment terms date from receipt of material purchased or date of receipt of invoice, whichever is later.

8. Force Majeure  

8.1. In the event of discontinuance of Buyer’s business in whole or in part by reason of fire, flood, tempest, earthquake, war, act of God, embargo, or other cause beyond Buyer’s control, Buyer may at its option, cancel any undelivered portion of this Agreement or delay delivery, payment or acceptance occasioned by said causes. Seller shall hold such merchandise at the direction of Buyer and shall deliver it when the cause affecting the delay has been removed. Buyer shall be responsible only for Seller’s direct additional costs in holding the merchandise or delaying performance of this Agreement at Buyer’s request.

9. Intellectual Property

9.1. Seller shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Buyer and its customers against all claims (including, but not limited to, attorney’s fees) arising out of, or resulting from infringement of a trademark, patent, design, or other intellectual property of any third party. In the event that any claim is made against Buyer with respect to same, or in the event the merchandise is misbranded or bears actionable descriptive matter, Buyer shall have the right, in addition to all other rights given by law, to cancel this and any other Agreement with Seller and to return for full credit merchandise already delivered.

10. Insurance  

10.1. If the accomplishment of this Agreement requires or contemplates the performance of services or labour by Seller’s employees, or persons under contract to Seller, on Buyer’s property, or property of Buyer’s customers, Seller agrees that all such work shall be done as an independent contractor and that the persons doing such work shall not be considered employees of Buyer.

10.2. Seller shall maintain all necessary insurance coverages, including public liability and employer’s liability insurance covering Seller’s employees or persons under contract to Seller.  

10.3. Seller shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Buyer from any and all claims or liabilities arising out of the work covered by this paragraph including all claims or liabilities arising out of the use of Seller’s tools, equipment or other facilities.

11. Indemnification

11.1. Seller shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Buyer against all damages, claims or direct, indirect or consequential liabilities (such terms to include, without limitation, loss of profit, loss of business, depletion of goodwill and like loss) and expenses (including legal and other professional fees and expenses) arising out of, or resulting in any way from, any defect in the merchandise purchased hereunder, or from any act or omission of Seller, its agents, employees or subcontractors. This indemnification shall be in addition to the warranty obligations of Seller.

12. Changes  

12.1. Buyer shall have the right at any time to make changes in drawings, designs, specifications, materials, packaging, time and place of delivery and method of transportation.

12.2. If any such changes cause an increase in the cost, or the time required for performance and equitable adjustment shall be made and this Agreement shall be modified in writing accordingly.

12.3. Seller agrees to accept any such changes subject to this paragraph.

13. Inspection

13.1. Buyer shall be under no duly to inspect merchandise purchased hereunder before its use in manufacture and/or resale, and the processing, manufacture or resale shall not constitute an acceptance of the merchandise or a waiver of any claim.

13.2. Complaints or notice of defects in merchandise will be considered timely if made within thirty (30) days after discovery by Buyer of such defects.

13.3. Buyer reserves the absolute right to reject and refuse acceptance of merchandise which is not in accordance with Buyer’s instructions, specifications, drawings and data or not in accordance with Seller’s warranty (expressed or implied) or if Seller fails to comply with any of the terms of this Agreement and to return same to Seller at Seller’s expense. Payment for any merchandise hereunder shall not be deemed an acceptance thereof.

14. Safety Requirements  

14.1. All materials, equipment, and supplies provided to Buyer must comply fully with all safety requirements and Seller must provide Buyer with a copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet for each item shipped.

15. Entire Agreement

15.1. This Agreement, and any documents referred to on the face hereof, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties.

16. Assignments

16.1. This Agreement and any right hereunder is not assignable without the written consent of Buyer nor shall Buyer be under any obligation to recognize any assignment of monies payable hereunder, nor of any rights in the merchandise ordered hereunder to any assignee without like consent.

16.2. Buyer may assign the Agreement or any part of it to any person, firm or company.

17. Setoff

17.1. All claims for money due or to become due from Buyer shall be subject to deduction or setoff by Buyer by reason of any counterclaim arising out of this or any other Agreement with Buyer.

18. Shipment

18.1. The merchandise shall be delivered in accordance with this clause to Buyer’s place of business or to such other place of delivery as is agreed by Buyer in writing prior to delivery of the merchandise. Seller shall off-load the merchandise as directed by the Buyer.

18.2. Buyer reserves the right to designate the carrier and routing with respect to all goods to be delivered hereunder.

18.3. All goods shall be forwarded in accordance with Buyer’s instructions or, in the absence of such instructions by the route generating the lowest transportation charge.

18.4. When usual terms of tariffs, involving carriage via water, do not include insurance, shipments must be forwarded properly insured.  

18.5. When the terms of purchase include the cost of delivery to Buyer’s works, or require shipment with freight prepaid, the shipping rates charged to Buyer shall be the lowest available rates, taking into account all available discounts.

18.6. If Seller ships via a carrier not approved by Buyer, this Agreement will be automatically converted to a prepaid contract; and Buyer shall have no obligation to reimburse Seller for the freight charges paid by Seller to such unapproved carrier.

18.7. If in order to comply with Buyer’s required delivery date it becomes necessary for Seller to ship by a more expensive way than specified in this Agreement, any increased transportation costs resulting therefrom shall be paid for by Seller unless the necessity for such rerouting or expedited handling has been caused by Buyer.

18.8. Buyer shall advise Seller and the carrier (if any) in writing, otherwise than by a qualified signature on any delivery note, of any loss or damage within the following time limits:

18.8.1. partial loss, damage, or non-delivery of any separate part of a consignment shall be advised at earliest possible moment and in any event within fourteen (14) days of the date of delivery of the consignment or part consignment.

18.8.2. non-delivery of whole consignments shall be advised at earliest possible moment and in any event within fourteen (14) days of notice of despatch

18.9. Seller shall make good free of charge to Buyer any loss of or damage to or defect in the goods where notice is given by buyer in compliance with this condition provided that Buyer shall not in any event claim damage in respect of loss of profits.

19. Import Requirements

19.1. Upon Buyer’s request, Seller shall provide Buyer with an appropriate certification stating the country of origin for goods, sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the customs authorities of the country of receipt, and any applicable export licensing regulations, including those of the United States.  

19.2. Seller shall mark every product (or the product’s container if there is no room on the product itself) with the country of origin. Seller shall, in marking the products, comply

19.3. If any goods are imported, Seller shall when possible allow Buyer to be the importer of record. If Buyer is not the importer ofrecord and Seller obtains duty drawback rights to the goods, Seller shall, upon Buyer’s request, provide Buyer with documentsrequired by the customs authorities of the country of receipt to prove importation and to transfer duty drawback rights to Buyer.

20. Waiver

20.1. Buyer’s failure to insist on performance of any of the terms or conditions herein or to exercise any right or privilege or Buyer’s waiver of any breech hereunder shall not thereafter waive any other terms, conditions, or privileges, whether of the same or similar type.

21. Delivery

21.1. Any delivery made more than three (3) days after the date specified shall be deemed late.

21.2. If any part of the merchandise delivered by Seller is delivered late, or otherwise does not comply with the terms and conditionsvhereof as to quality or otherwise, Buyer may either:

21.2.1. reject and return all or any part of the merchandise ordered hereunder for full credit, including freight or

21.2.2. at Buyer’s option, utilise all or any part of said merchandise, holding Seller liable for all damages resulting from Seller’svfailure to comply.

21.2.3. recover from Seller any expenditure reasonably incurred by Buyer in obtaining the merchandise in substitution fromvanother supplier.

21.3. Delivery shall not be made earlier than seven (7) days prior to the requested delivery date unless specified by Buyer.

21.4. The date for delivery shall be specified by Buyer, or if no such date is specified then delivery shall take place within 28 days of thedate of order.

21.5. Buyer reserves the right to accept or reject partial shipments.

21.6. All shipments shall be routed per routing instructions on the face hereof or at the request of Buyer’s Purchasing Department.

21.7. If specific routing is indicated and not complied with, all extra cartage will be charged against Seller.

21.8. In the event Seller does not follow SHIP TO instructions on the face hereof, which results in merchandise arriving at incorrect locations, material will be reshipped at Seller’s expense.

21.9. In the event of an embargo, Seller shall contact Buyer’s Purchasing Department immediately for instructions.

22. Limitation on Buyer’s Liability

22.1. In no event shall Buyer be liable for anticipated profits or for incidental or consequential damages.

22.2. Buyer’s liability on any claim of any kind for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with or resulting from thisAgreement or from the performance or breach thereof shall in no case exceed the price allocable to the merchandise or a unit thereof which gives rise to the claim.

22.3. Buyer shall not be liable for penalties of any description.

22.4. Any action resulting from any breach on the part of Buyer as to the merchandise delivered hereunder must be commenced within one (1) year after the cause of actions has accrued.

23. Governing Law/Forum

23.1. Notwithstanding the place where this Agreement may be executed or performed, this Agreement shall be deemed to be made under English law, and the construction, validity and performance of this Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of England and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.

24. Enforceability

24.1. If any provision of this Agreement is found by any court, tribunal or administrative body of competent jurisdiction to be wholly or partly illegal, invalid, void, voidable, unenforceable or unreasonable it shall, to the extent of such illegality, invalidity, voidness, voidbility, unenforceability or unreasonableness, be deemed severable and the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the remainder of such provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

25. Third Party Rights

25.1. The parties to this Agreement do not intend that any term of this Agreement will be enforceable by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 by any person that is not a party to it.

26. Notices

26.1. All communications between the parties about this Agreement must be in writing and delivered by hand or sent by prepaid first class post or sent by facsimile transmission:

26.1.1. (in the case of the communications to Buyer) to its registered office or such other address as shall be notified to Seller by Buyer.

26.1.2. (in case of communications to Seller) to its registered office or such changed address as shall be notified to Buyer bySeller; or

26.2. Communications shall be deemed to have been received:

26.2.1. if sent by pre-paid first class post, 2 days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and bank and public holidays) after posting(exclusive of the day of posting);

26.2.2. if delivered by hand, on the day of delivery,

26.2.3. if sent by facsimile transmission on a working day prior to 4.00 pm at the time of transmission and otherwise on the next working day.