Hill & Smith Pty Limited (ABN 78 153 144 364) – Terms and Conditions of Hire
INTERPRETATION
In these Conditions
"Business Day" means a day (other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday) in New South Wales, Australia;
"Company" means Hill & Smith Pty Limited (ACN 153 144 364);
"Conditions" means these terms and conditions and any document or schedule referred to in these terms and conditions as amended by the Company from time to time;
"Confidential Information" means the provisions of the Contract, including the Specification and the Rental Payments, and all information which is secret or otherwise not publicly available (in both cases either in its entirety or in part) including commercial, financial, marketing or technical information, know-how, trade secrets or business methods, in all cases whether disclosed orally or in writing before or after the date of the Contract;
"Contract" means any contract between the Company and the Customer for the hire of Goods and/or provision of Services, incorporating these Conditions;
"COSHH" means control of substances hazardous to health;
"Customer" means the person, firm, company or party who hires the Goods and/or purchases the Services from the Company;
"Customer Property" means all property supplied to the Company by or on behalf of the Customer which is held by the Company for the purposes of the Contract, or is in transit to or from the Customer;
"Goods" means the goods, articles and materials (including any part or parts of them) set out in the Order;
"GST" and "Goods and Services Tax" have the meanings ascribed to them by the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Cth) as may be amended from time to time;
"Intellectual Property Right" means any patent, copyright, trade mark, service mark or trade name, right in software, right in design, right in databases, image right, moral right, right in an invention, right relating to passing off, domain name, right in confidential information (including trade secrets) or right of privacy, and all similar or equivalent rights in each case whether registered or not and including all applications (or rights to apply) for, or renewal or extension of, such rights which exist now or which will exist in the future in any part of the world in each case whether registered or not and including any application for registration of the foregoing;
"Order" means the Customer's order for the supply of Goods and/or Services as may be set out in the Customer's purchase order form, or the Customer's written acceptance of the Company's quotation, or in such form as the Company may determine from time to time;
"PPSA" means the Personal Properties Securities Act 2009 (Cth) and any subordinate legislation;
"Privacy Laws" means the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and any subordinate legislation;
"Rental Payments" means the payments for the hire of Goods and/or purchase of Services as defined in Condition 3.1(a);
"Rental Period" means the period of hire for Goods set out in the Specification and commencing on the time and date or deemed date of delivery of the Goods as may be extended by agreement of the Company pursuant to Condition 23;
"Risk Period" means the Rental Period plus any further term during which the Goods are in the possession, custody or control of the Customer;
"Services" means the services supplied by the Company to the Customer as set out in the Order;
"Specification" means the specification of the Goods and/or Services which is included or expressly referred to in the Contract;
"Total Loss" means the Goods are, in the Company's sole opinion, damaged beyond repair, lost, stolen, seized or confiscated;
"Warranty Period" means 12 months from the delivery or deemed delivery of the Goods or performance or deemed performance of the Services;
headings are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation or construction of these Conditions;
references to “Conditions” and “Schedules” are to conditions of, and schedules to, these Conditions;
words expressed in the singular shall include the plural and vice versa. Words referring to a particular gender include every gender. References to a person include a natural person, corporate or unincorporated body (whether or not having separate legal personality);
a reference to a party includes its successors or permitted assigns;
a reference to a statute or statutory provision is a reference to such statute or statutory provision as amended or re-enacted. A reference to a statute or statutory provision includes any subordinate legislation made under that statute or statutory provision, as amended or re-enacted; and
any phrase introduced by the terms "other", "including", "include", "in particular" or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the generality of the words preceding or following those terms, and shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation” unless the context requires otherwise.
BASIS OF CONTRACT
These Conditions apply to the Contract to the exclusion of any other terms that the Customer seeks to impose or incorporate or which are implied by trade, custom, practice or course of dealing.
The Order constitutes an offer by the Customer to hire the Goods and/or purchase Services in accordance with these Conditions, which the Company may accept or reject in its absolute discretion. The Customer shall ensure that the terms of the Order are complete and accurate.
The Order shall be deemed to be accepted by the Company when the Company issues a written acceptance of the Order or, (if earlier), the Company commences provision of the Services, manufacture of the Goods, their appropriation to the Customer's order or dispatch of the Goods to the Customer. Any Order shall be accepted entirely at the discretion of the Company, at which point and on which date the Contract shall come into existence.
Subject to Condition 2(f), the Contract constitutes the entire agreement between the parties. The Customer acknowledges that it has not relied on any statement, promise or representation made or given by or on behalf of the Company, which is not set out in the Contract.
A quotation for the hire of Goods and/or provision of Services given by the Company shall not constitute an offer. Unless otherwise agreed in writing or withdrawn earlier by the Company in writing, a quotation shall only be valid for a period of 30 days from its date of issue.
In case of conflict between these Conditions and the provisions of any supplemental trading terms agreed between the parties, these Conditions shall prevail.
Any samples, drawings, descriptive matter or advertising the Company issues and any descriptions of the Goods or illustrations or descriptions of the Services contained in the Company's catalogues, brochures or other marketing material are issued or published for the sole purpose of giving an approximate idea of the Services and/or Goods described in them. They shall not form part of these Conditions or have any contractual force. The Company will notify the Customer in writing of any material alterations to any specifications relating to the Goods and/or Services and the Customer shall be deemed to have accepted such alterations unless notice in writing to the contrary shall be received by the Company within 14 days of the Company's notice to the Customer.
Any advice or recommendation given by Company or its employees, agents or sub-contractors to Customer that is not confirmed in writing by Company is followed or acted upon entirely at Customer’s own risk, and Company shall not be liable in any way for any such advice or recommendation that is not so confirmed in writing.
PRICE AND PAYMENT
The Rental Payments shall be the amounts payable on commencement of the Rental Period and as set out in the Company's quotation or estimate or, if no amounts are quoted, the amounts set out in the Company's hire price list published on the date of delivery, or deemed date of delivery, of the Goods or date or performance, or deemed date of performance, of the Services.
The Rental Payments are exclusive of GST or other similar taxes or levies, import and export duties and/or taxes, any other tax or duty, and all costs or charges in relation to packaging, labelling, loading, unloading, delivery, carriage, freight and insurance, all of which amounts the Customer will pay, where appropriate, in addition when it is due to pay the Rental Payments.
The Company reserves the right to increase the Rental Payments by giving notice to the Customer, to reflect any increase in the Goods and/or Services to the Company that is due to:
any factor beyond the Company's control (including foreign exchange fluctuations, tax or duty increases, increase in supplier costs, increase in labour, materials or other manufacturing costs, or changes in any relevant laws);
any request by the Customer to change the delivery date(s), quantity or type or design of Goods and/or Services ordered; and/or
any delay caused by the Customer's instructions in respect of the Goods and/or Services or the Customers failure to give the Company adequate or accurate information or instructions in respect of the Goods and/or Services.
If performance of the Contract is suspended with the written agreement of the Company then the Customer shall pay the pro rata Rental Payments for Services already carried out, Goods supplied or ordered and any other additional costs incurred by the Company, including storage and insurance.
In respect of Goods, the Company shall invoice the Customer on or at any time after completion of delivery. In respect of Services, the Company shall invoice the Customer on or at any time after the performance of the Services for or on behalf of the Customer.
The Customer shall pay all invoices in full and cleared funds without any set-off, counterclaim, deduction, or withholding, within 30 days of the date of the invoice. Time for payment shall be of the essence.
The Company may at any time at its sole discretion require that payment is to be made by letter of credit. Where the Company specifies that payment is to be made by letter of credit, the Customer must establish and maintain in favour of the Company an irrevocable and unconditional letter of credit in a form satisfactory to the Company and issued and/or confirmed by an Australian domiciled bank which is acceptable to the Company. No delivery of the Goods or performance of the Services will take place until such a letter of credit has been issued and where appropriate confirmed and the Company is satisfied with all related arrangements. If for any reason payment is due under any letter of credit established for that purpose but not made, the Customer shall nevertheless remain liable to pay the Rental Payments.
No indulgence granted by the Company to the Customer concerning the Customer’s obligations under this Condition 3 shall be or be deemed to be a credit facility, but if any such facility is granted to the Customer by the Company, the Company may withdraw it at its sole discretion at any time.
If any sum due from the Customer to the Company under the Contract or any other contract is not paid on or before the due date for payment then all sums then owing by the Customer to the Company shall become due and payable immediately and, without prejudice to any other right or remedy available to the Company, the Company shall be entitled to:
cancel or suspend its performance of the Contract or any Order including suspending deliveries of the Goods and suspending delivery of any other goods to the Customer and suspending provision of the Services or other services until arrangements as to payment or credit have been established which are satisfactory to the Company;
require the Customer to pay the Rental Payments for the entire Rental Period prior to the despatch or collection from the Company’s place of business of any Goods;
suspend performance of Services remaining to be carried out; and/or
charge the Customer:
interest on the overdue amount from the due date until payment is made in full both before and after any judgment, at the prevailing rate under section 101 of the Civil Procedure Act2005 (NSW) (accruing on a daily basis and compounded monthly); and
the cost of obtaining judgment, all reasonable professional costs (including legal fees) and other costs of issuing proceedings or otherwise pursuing a debt recovery procedure.
Where the Company suspends delivery of the Goods and/or performance of the Services pursuant to Conditions 3(i)(i) and (iii), any agreed time schedules shall be extended by a period equal to the period of such suspension without prejudice to any other remedy available to the Company.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, payment shall be made by the Customer in Australian dollars. No payment shall be deemed to have been received until the Company has received cleared funds.
DELIVERY AND ACCEPTANCE
Delivery of the Goods shall, where the Contract designates a delivery point in Australia, be the Company's trading address from time to time unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties.
If the Customer fails to take delivery of the Goods, then:
delivery of the Goods shall be deemed to have been completed at 9.00 am on the third Business Day following the day on which the Company attempted delivery under Condition 4(a), as applicable; and
the Company may store the Goods until delivery takes place, and charge the Customer for all related costs and expenses (including insurance).
If the Customer fails to collect or accept delivery of the Goods or any part thereof within 28 days of written notification from the Company that the Goods are ready for collection or delivery, the Company shall be entitled (without prejudice to its other remedies under the Contract for such breach) to sell, hire to another customer, or at its option destroy, such Goods and to apply the proceeds of their sale and/or their scrap value if destroyed towards payment of all sums due to the Company under the Contract.
Any times specified by the Company for delivery of the Goods or performance of the Services are intended to be an estimate only and time for delivery shall not be of the essence.
If the Company fails to dispatch or deliver the Goods or perform the Services by any specified times, such failure shall not constitute a breach of the Contract and the Company's liability shall be limited to the costs and expenses incurred by the Customer in obtaining replacement goods or services of similar description and quality in the cheapest market available, less the Rental Payments for the entire Rental Period.
The Company shall have no liability for any failure to deliver the Goods or Services to the extent that such failure is caused due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, the Customer's failure to provide the Company with adequate delivery or site or other instructions for the Goods or Services or any relevant instruction related to the supply of the Goods or Services.
Goods, once delivered, cannot be returned during the Rental Period unless their return is agreed in advance in writing by the Company.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Customer is responsible for obtaining, at its own cost, such import licences and other consents in relation to the Goods as are required from time to time and, if required by the Company, the Customer shall make those licences and consents available to the Company prior to the relevant shipment.
The Company shall be entitled at its discretion to make delivery of Goods or supply Services by instalments and to invoice the Customer for each instalment individually. Where Goods are delivered or Services are supplied by instalments each such instalment shall be deemed to be delivered or supplied under a separate contract to which these Conditions shall apply. Any delay in delivery or defect in an instalment shall not entitle the Customer to cancel any other instalment.
The Customer agrees to comply fully, at its own expense, with all applicable import and export laws, restrictions, national security controls and regulations of the Commonwealth of Australia and any other applicable local law or regulation.
TITLE AND RISK
The Goods shall be at the risk of the Customer during the Risk Period. Any materials required to perform the Services shall be at the risk of the Customer from the time such materials are delivered, or deemed to be delivered, to the premises at which the Services are to be performed.
If for any reason the Customer does not accept delivery of any of the Goods or materials for the Services when they are ready for delivery, or the Company is unable to deliver the Goods or materials for the Services on time because the Customer has not provided appropriate instructions, documents, licences or authorisations:
the Goods or materials for the Services will be deemed to have been delivered, risk passing to the Customer (including for loss or damage caused by the Company's negligence); and
the Company may store the Goods or materials for the Services until actual delivery whereupon the Customer shall be liable for all related costs and expenses (including storage and insurance).
Full legal, beneficial and equitable title to and property in the Goods at all times remain vested in the Company and the Customer shall have no right, title or interest in or to the Goods (save the right to possession and use of the Goods subject to these Conditions).
For the duration of the Risk Period:
the Company may at any time require the Customer to deliver the Goods up to the Company and/or recover the Goods if any of the events specified in Condition 17 below shall occur and/or if any sum owed by the Customer to the Company under any Contract is not paid on the due date for payment. For the purpose of exercising its rights under this Condition 5 the Company, its servants or agents together with all necessary and appropriate transport shall be entitled to free and unrestricted entry to the Customer's premises and/or all other locations where the Goods are situated;
the Customer shall hold the Goods on a fiduciary basis as bailee of the Company;
where appropriate, the Customer shall store the Goods for the Company in a proper manner without charge to the Company and ensure that they are stored separately from any other goods and are clearly identified as belonging to the Company. The Company shall (subject to giving reasonable notice) be entitled to examine the Goods in storage at any time during normal business hours; and
the Company shall be entitled to maintain an action against the Customer for the Rental Payments, notwithstanding that legal, equitable and beneficial title to and property in the Goods has not passed to the Customer.
Nothing in this Condition 5 shall entitle the Customer to return the Goods and/or materials during the Rental Period or to delay payment.
The rights and remedies conferred upon the Company by this Condition 5 are in addition to and shall not in any way prejudice, limit or restrict any other rights or remedies of the Company under the Contract.
For the purposes of the PPSA, the following further provisions apply to the extent if any that the Company's interests are regulated security interests and terms used in this Condition that are defined in the PPSA have the same meaning as in the PPSA where the context permits:
the Customer acknowledges and agrees that in each case the Company has a purchase money security interest attaching to the particular Goods covered by an Order to secure the return of the Goods and the payment by the Customer to the Company of the Price and any applicable credit charges and interest payable;
by taking delivery of Goods from the Company, the Customer agrees that a security agreement covers the Goods as set out in these provisions;
the Customer also acknowledges and agrees that even if separately described, calculated or specified, any amount (each, a price component) due to the Company in connection with the hire of the Goods or the provision of Services is part of the Rental Payments for these purposes;
the Customer acknowledges that any price component is only separately described, calculated or specified as a convenient way of determining the Rental Payments and the Customer agrees that the Company may apply any payment from the Customer, as the Company chooses in the Company's own interest including by applying a particular payment to or towards a payment or obligation that the Customer owes to the Company that is not secured by any security interest or to or towards payment for a particular item or particular items rather than to another item or other items;
the Customer must act immediately when requested by the Company to do such acts and provide such information as the Company reasonably considers necessary or desirable to enable the Company to perfect any security interest created or provided by these provisions in the Goods, or any proceeds, with first priority;
the parties acknowledge and agree that section 95, section 130, section 132(3)(d), section 132(4), section 135(1)(a) and section 143 of the PPSA do not apply;
the Customer waives its right under section 157 PPSA to receive a notice in relation to any registration event in connection with any collateral that is commercial property; and
the collateral to which the security interest attaches in each case is respectively each of the items comprising the Goods and which as the case requires are items belonging to the "other goods" class of collateral or otherwise to the corresponding class or classes of collateral the Company may identify.
TESTING AND INSPECTION
Testing and inspection, if requested by the Customer in writing, shall be at the Company's premises (at the Customer's expense) and such testing and inspection shall be final and conclusive as to their results.
The Company shall not be obliged to produce test and performance certificates or safety critical certificates unless agreed otherwise in writing.
In addition to any costs incurred by the Company in testing the Goods, the Customer shall pay for all test pieces which comply with the Specification.
SERVICES
The Company shall use reasonable endeavours to meet any performance dates for the Services specified in the Contract, but any such dates shall be estimates only and time shall not be of the essence for the performance of the Services.
Performance of the Services by the Company is subject to and based on a mutually agreeable programme for the Services.
The Company shall have the right to make any changes to the Services which are necessary to comply with any applicable law or safety requirement, or which do not materially affect the nature or quality of the Services, and the Company shall notify the Customer in any such event.
The Services will be deemed to be completed and the relevant element of the Rental Payments to be due and payable:
when the Company issues a written notice to the Customer confirming such completion; or
if the Company is available to perform the Services but is prevented from doing so by reason of:
the lack of relevant assistance from the Customer (such as lack of availability of test components or parts from the Customer); and/or
the condition of the Customer's premises or the site at which the Services are to be provided and/or the facilities at, or the services available therein, at the time agreed for the provision of the Services.
WARRANTY
Where any Goods and/or Services (or any part thereof) are shown by the Customer during the Warranty Period, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company, not to comply materially with the Specification, the Company shall at its sole discretion:
repair or make good such non-conformance free of charge to the Customer; or
replace such Goods with goods which are in all respects in accordance with the Specification or re-perform such Services; or
issue a credit note to the Customer in respect of the whole or part of the Rental Payments of such Goods or Services as appropriate having taken back such Goods or materials relating to such Goods or Services,
subject, in every case, to Conditions 8(b), (e) and (i) below, provided that, subject to Condition 11.1(d) below, the liability of the Company under this Condition 8 shall in no event exceed the Rental Payments of such Goods or Services and performance of any one of the above options shall constitute an entire discharge of the Company's liability under this warranty.
To the extent permitted by law, Condition 8(a) above shall not apply unless the Customer:
notifies the Company in writing within 7 days of becoming aware of such non-conformance;
if so required by the Company, returns all defective Goods or materials relating to the Services to the Company's premises, carriage paid by the Customer, for inspection, examination and testing and/or otherwise permit the Company to have access to the Goods of such materials at the Customer's premises or other location where they may be or where the Services were performed for such purposes; and
has properly and correctly stored, installed and/or used the Goods.
If the Company elects to replace the Goods or re-perform the Services pursuant to Condition 8(a), the Company shall deliver the replacement Goods to or re-perform the Services for the Customer at the Company’s own expense at the address to which the defective Goods were delivered and the Customer shall make any arrangements as may be necessary to deliver up to the Company the defective Goods which are being replaced or materials relating to the previously performed Services.
To the extent permitted by law, the Company shall be under no liability under the warranty at Condition 8(a):
in respect of any defect arising from fair wear and tear, wilful damage, negligence, abnormal working conditions, failure to follow the Company’s instructions (whether oral or in writing), misuse or alteration or repair of the Goods without the Company’s approval;
if the relevant Rental Payments for the Goods and/or Services have not been paid by the due date for payment;
for any Goods manufactured or appropriated to the Contract in accordance with any design, specification, instruction or recommendation made to the Company by the Customer or for any Services provided in accordance with specifications, instructions or recommendation issued by the Customer;
in respect of any type of defect, damage or wear specifically excluded by the Company by notice in writing; or
if the Customer makes any further use of the Goods after giving notice in accordance with Condition 8(b).
Insofar as the Goods comprise or contain equipment or components which were not manufactured or produced by the Company, the Customer shall be entitled only to such warranty or other benefit as the Company has received from the manufacturer.
If, having carried out the necessary examinations and tests under this Condition 8, the Company believes (in its reasonable opinion) that the Goods do comply with the warranty set out in Condition 8, the Customer shall reimburse the Company for any reasonable costs that have been incurred in examining and testing the relevant Goods.
Except as set out in these Conditions, all warranties, conditions and other terms implied by statute or common law are, to the fullest extent permitted by law, excluded from the Contract.
These Conditions shall apply to any repaired or replacement Goods or Services supplied by the Company; save that any such repaired or replacement Goods or Services shall only be warranted for the residual unexpired Warranty Period, if any.
Company has tested the impact performance of its Goods under controlled conditions; however, Company does not represent or warrant that the results of those controlled conditions would necessarily avoid injury to persons or property. Company expressly disclaims any warranty or liability for claims arising by reasons of death or personal injury or damage to property resulting from any impact, collision or contact with the Goods or nearby hazards or objects by any vehicle, object or person, or failure of Customer to comply with Clause 9.
Statutory Notice for consumer transactions: The following notice applies only if and to the extent that the Customer is deemed by the Australian Consumer Law to be a "consumer" and its terms cannot be excluded by law: "The Company's Goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law and the Customer is entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. The Customer is also entitled to have the Goods repaired or replaced if the Goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure".
CUSTOMER'S OBLIGATIONS
In relation to the Goods and for the duration of this Contract the Customer shall:
ensure that the Goods are installed, kept and operated in a suitable environment, used only for the purposes for which they are designed, and operated in a proper manner by trained competent staff in accordance with any operating instructions provided by the Company from time to time;
take such steps (including compliance with all safety and usage instructions provided by the Company from time to time) as may be necessary to ensure that the Goods are at all times safe and without risk to health when they are being set, used, cleaned or maintained by a person at work;
maintain at its own expense the Goods in good and substantial repair in order to keep them in as good an operating condition as they were on the date of this Contract including replacement of worn, damaged and lost parts, and shall make good any damage to the Goods;
make no alteration to the Goods and shall not remove any existing component(s) from the Goods without the prior written consent of the Company, unless the component(s) is/are replaced immediately by the same component or by one of a similar make and model or an improved/advanced version of it. Title and property in all substitutions, replacements, renewals made in or to the Goods shall vest in the Company immediately upon installation;
keep the Company fully informed of all material matters relating to the Goods;
keep the Goods at all times at the site at which they were installed and shall not move or attempt to move any part of the Goods to any other location without the Company's prior written consent;
permit the Company or its duly authorised representative to inspect the Goods at all reasonable times and for such purpose to enter upon the site or any premises at which the Goods may be located, and shall grant reasonable access and facilities for such inspection;
maintain operating and maintenance records of the Goods and make copies of such records readily available to the Company, together with such additional information as the Company may reasonably require;
not, without the prior written consent of the Company, part with control of (including for the purposes of repair or maintenance), sell or offer for sale, underlet or lend the Goods or allow the creation of any mortgage, charge, lien or other security interest in respect of them;
not, without the prior written consent of the Company, attach the Goods to any land or building so as to cause the Goods to become a permanent or immovable fixture on such land or building. If the Goods do become affixed to any land or building then the Goods must be capable of being removed without material injury to such land or building and the Customer shall repair and make good any damage caused by the affixation or removal of the Goods from any land or building and indemnify the Company against all losses, costs or expenses incurred as a result of such affixation or removal;
not do or permit to be done any act or thing which will or may jeopardise the right, title and/or interest of the Company in the Goods and, where the Goods have become affixed to any land or building, the Customer must take all necessary steps to ensure that the Company may enter such land or building and recover the Goods both during the term of this Contract and for a reasonable period thereafter, including by procuring from any person having an interest in such land or building, a waiver in writing and in favour of the Company of any rights such person may have or acquire in the Goods and a right for the Company to enter onto such land or building to remove the Goods;
not suffer or permit the Goods to be confiscated, seized or taken out of its possession or control under any distress, execution or other legal process, but if the Goods are so confiscated, seized or taken, the Customer shall immediately notify the Company and the Customer shall at its sole expense procure an immediate release of the Goods and shall indemnify the Company on demand against all losses, costs, charges, damages and expenses incurred as a result of such confiscation;
not use the Goods for any unlawful purpose;
ensure that at all times the Goods remain identifiable as being the Company's property and wherever possible shall ensure that a visible sign to that effect is attached to the Goods;
deliver up the Goods at the end of the Rental Period or on earlier termination of this Contract at such address as the Company requires, or if necessary allow the Company or its representatives access to any site or any premises where the Goods are located for the purpose of removing the Goods;
and shall ensure its employees, agents and sub-contractors shall, observe all work rules and safety regulations applicable to the Goods or Services; and
not do or permit to be done anything which could invalidate the insurances referred to in Condition 10.
The Customer acknowledges that the Company shall not be responsible for any loss of or damage to the Goods arising out of or in connection with any negligence, misuse, mishandling of the Goods or otherwise caused by the Customer or its officers, employees, agents and contractors, and the Customer undertakes to indemnify the Company on demand against the same, and against all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, costs or expenses of whatever nature otherwise arising out of or in connection with any failure by the Customer to comply with the terms of the Contract.
The Customer shall:
co-operate with the Company in all matters relating to the Services;
provide the Company, its employees, agents, consultants and subcontractors, with access to the Customer's premises, office accommodation and other facilities (including but not limited to welfare facilities) as reasonably required by the Company to provide the Services;
provide the Company with such information and materials as the Company may reasonably require to supply the Services, and ensure that such information is accurate in all material respects;
prepare the Customer's premises for the supply of the Services;
comply with all applicable laws and any relevant anti-bribery and anti-slavery legislation;
obtain and maintain all necessary licences, permissions and consents which may be required for the Services before the date on which the Services are to start; including but not limited to permits to break ground;
keep and maintain all materials, equipment, documents and other property of the Company ("Company Materials") at the Customer's premises in safe custody at its own risk, maintain the Company Materials in good condition until returned to the Company, and not dispose of or use the Company Materials other than in accordance with the Company's written instructions or authorisation;
reinstate all anchor holes;
identify all known underground services, apparatus or artificial obstructions and ensure they are clearly visible at night and be uncovered or removed as deemed necessary to allow the Company to undertake the Services;
provide all relevant COSHH data to the Company prior to Services commencing on site;
be responsible for all site setting out;
provide a minimum 7-hour uninterrupted working window for each shift required to perform the Services;
provide all temporary traffic management systems including the necessary safety zones and working space to facilitate the safe installation and removal of Goods and the performance of Services;
provide any other assistance reasonably required by the Company; and
ensure that its customers, employees, sub-contractors, agents and end users of the Goods strictly follow all instructions and installation materials related to the Goods and not make any alteration, modification or addition to the Goods or packaging (and any alteration of the Goods, or use of non-approved parts, products or packaging with the Goods, shall be a material breach of these Conditions and voids any warranties made by Company for the Goods).
It will be the responsibility of the Customer in cases where construction or erection is to take place at the Customer's site, or at a site directed by the Customer (unless the Company agrees otherwise in writing), to ensure:
adequate and accurate foundations, pad stones, holding down bolts to columns and similar items (being properly cast into the concrete or other material using taper boses or similar means to ensure the bolts are loose for alignment purposes) sufficient to support or hold the Company's structures are provided prior to the Company's arrival on site;
firm and accurate building lines levels and positions are located and details given to the Company when it is ready to commence erection;
all necessary scaffolding and other works and all necessary builders works (including works of cutting away and making good) are provided; and
the Customer will off load and store free of cost to the Company all Goods and materials if the Company has no servants or agents employed at the site at the time of delivery.
If the Company's performance of any of its obligations in respect of the Services is prevented or delayed by any act or omission by the Customer or failure by the Customer to perform any relevant obligation ("Customer Default"):
the Company shall without limiting its other rights or remedies have the right to suspend performance of the Services until the Customer remedies the Customer Default, and to rely on the Customer Default to relieve it from the performance of any of its obligations to the extent the Customer Default prevents or delays the Company's performance of any of its obligations;
the Company shall not be liable for any costs or losses sustained or incurred by the Customer arising directly or indirectly from the Company's failure or delay to perform any of its obligations as set out in this Condition 9(e); and
the Customer shall reimburse the Company on written demand for any costs or losses sustained or incurred by the Company arising directly or indirectly from the Customer Default.
INSURANCE
For the duration of the Risk Period the Customer shall, at its own expense, obtain and maintain the following insurances:
insurance of the Goods to a value not less than their full replacement value comprehensively against all usual risks of loss, damage or destruction by fire, theft or accident, and such other risks as the Company may from time to time nominate in writing;
insurance for such amounts as a prudent owner or operator of the Goods would insure for, or such amount as the Company may from time to time reasonably require, to cover any third party or public liability risks of whatever nature and however arising in connection with the Goods; and
insurance against such other or further risks relating to the Goods as may be required by law, together with such other insurance as the Company may from time to time consider reasonably necessary and advise to the Customer.
All insurance policies procured by the Customer shall be endorsed to provide the Company with at least 1 months' prior written notice of cancellation or material change (including any reduction in coverage or policy amount) and shall upon the Company's request name the Company on the policies as a loss payee in relation to any claim relating to the Goods. The Customer shall be responsible for paying any deductibles due on any claims under such insurance policies.
The Customer shall give immediate written notice to the Company in the event of any loss, accident or damage to the Goods arising out of or in connection with the Customer's possession or use of the Goods.
If the Customer fails to effect or maintain any of the insurances required under this Contract, the Company shall be entitled to effect and maintain the same, pay such premiums as may be necessary for that purpose and recover the same as a debt due from the Customer.
The Customer shall, on demand, supply copies of the relevant insurance policies or other insurance confirmation acceptable to the Company and proof of premium payment to the Company to confirm the insurance arrangements.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Subject to Condition 11(d) below, the Company is not liable, whether in contract, tort (including negligence or breach or statutory duty), misrepresentation or otherwise, howsoever arising, in connection with the Contract for any:
direct or indirect loss of profit, loss of revenue, loss of business, loss of anticipated savings; or
indirect, special or consequential loss or damage.
Subject to Conditions 4.1(e), 8.1(j), 11.1(a)and 11.1(d), the total aggregate liability of the Company arising out of, or in connection with the performance or contemplated performance of the Contract, whether for negligence or breach of contract or any case whatsoever, shall in no event exceed 120% of the Rental Payments paid or payable to the Company.
Each party agrees that the Rental Payments are set by the Company taking into account the limitation of the Company’s liability as set out in these Conditions. Each party agrees that the limitation of the Company’s liability as set out in these Conditions is reasonable.
Nothing in these Conditions shall exclude or limit the Company's liability:
for death or personal injury resulting from the negligence of the Company, its servants or agents;
for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or
to the extent that such liability cannot be excluded or limited by law.
FORCE MAJEURE
If the Company's ability to perform any of its obligations under the Contract is affected by any circumstances beyond its reasonable control (including act of God, fire, flood, lightening, compliance with any law or governmental order, rule, regulation or direction, war, revolution, act of terrorism, riot or civil commotion, strikes, lock-outs or other industrial action, inability to obtain materials or labour, power or machinery breakdown or failure) further performance of the Contract shall be suspended for so long as the Company is so affected provided that if the performance of the Contract shall be suspended for more than six consecutive calendar months the Customer shall be entitled by written notice to the Company to terminate the Contract or to cancel any outstanding part thereof and the Customer shall pay the pro rata Rental Payments for all Goods and Services supplied and materials used by the Company to the actual date of such termination. Subject to Condition 11.1(d) above, the Company shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential or special loss or damage suffered by the Customer, howsoever arising, as a result of the Company's inability to perform its obligations under the Contract due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control.
CUSTOMER'S PROPERTY
All Customer Property shall be deemed to be entirely at the Customer’s risk and the Company shall not be liable for any loss of or damage to any Customer Property whilst it is in the possession of the Company or in transit unless such loss or damage is due directly to the negligence of the Company, its servants or agents. The Customer shall insure all Customer Property on an all risks basis.
LIEN
Without prejudice to any other rights and remedies which the Company may have under the Contract, the Company shall in respect of all debts due and payable by the Customer to the Company have a general lien on all Goods and property belonging to the Customer in its possession (whether worked on or not) and shall be entitled upon the expiration of at least 14 days' notice to the Customer, to dispose of such Goods or property as it thinks fit and to apply any proceeds of sale thereof towards the payment of such debts.
HEALTHAND SAFETY
The Customer agrees to pay due regard to any information supplied by the Company relating to the use for which the Goods or product of the Services are designed or have been tested or concerning conditions necessary to ensure that they will be safe and without risk to health at all times when they are being set, used, cleaned, serviced or maintained by any person, and the Customer represents, warrants and undertakes to take such steps as may be specified by such information or otherwise necessary to ensure that as far as is reasonably practicable the Goods will be safe and without risk to the health of any person at all times as mentioned above and the Customer indemnifies the Company from and against all claims made and all liability, damages, losses, costs (including legal costs on a full indemnity basis) and expenses incurred by the Company to the extent arising from a breach by the Customer of this Condition 15.
COMPLIANCE
The Customer shall comply with all relevant anti-corruption legislation in connection with the Contract and the Company’s business and shall immediately notify the Company if it discovers or suspects that any of its officers, directors, employees or representatives are acting or have acted in a way which violates such legislation.
The Customer acknowledges that the Company has a code of responsible business: The Hill & Smith Holdings PLC Code of Business Conduct ("HS Code of Conduct"). The HS Code of Conduct together with the Company’s Anti Bribery and Corruption Policy ("HS ABC Policy") are available at www.hsholdings.co.uk and the Customer shall, at all times, conduct, and procure that its officers, directors, employees and/or representatives, conduct business ethically and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the HS Code of Conduct and the HS ABC Policy. This Condition 16 shall apply whether or not the Customer is acting pursuant to the Contract or its relationship with the Company.
The Customer agrees that it must be able to demonstrate its compliance with the requirements referred to in this Condition 16 at the request of and to the satisfaction of the Company, which includes the Company having the right to inspect any site involved in work for the Company. If the Customer fails to comply with this Condition 16, the Company shall be entitled, in its sole discretion, to terminate this Contract and any other contracts between the Customer and the Company without penalty to the Company, and the Customer shall indemnify the Company in full for any losses suffered by the Company as a result of such termination.
The parties agree:
to use their best endeavours and be duly diligent to:
avoid the use in their business and its supply chains of any form of human trafficking, slavery, servitude or forced labour, to exploit children or any other person in Australia or elsewhere - including without limitation anything that would if done in New South Wales be a modern slavery offence under the Modern Slavery Act2018 (NSW) (modern slavery); and
identify the parts of their business and supply chains and those of their subcontractors and suppliers where there is a risk of modern slavery taking place and duly manage that risk;
comply with all laws in connection with the avoidance or reduction of modern slavery;
comply with any reasonable policy or direction notified to each other from time to time in relation to the avoidance of modern slavery in the parties' business and supply chains and those of their subcontractors or suppliers; and
promptly comply with all reasonable requests from one another for information in relation to each party's compliance with this Condition 16.
TERMINATION
The Company shall be entitled, without prejudice to the Company's other rights and remedies, either to terminate wholly or in part any or every Contract between the Company and the Customer and/or to suspend any further deliveries of Goods, or performance of Services, in any of the following circumstances:
non-compliance by the Customer with the Company's terms of payment set out in Condition 3 above;
the Customer has failed to provide a letter of credit or guarantee, bill of exchange or any other security required by the Contract;
the Company becomes aware or is of the reasonable opinion that the Customer is in breach of Condition 15;
where the Customer is a body corporate:
an administrator, liquidator or provisional liquidator is appointed to the Customer;
a receiver or receiver and manager is appointed to the Customer or any part of its property;
the Customer enters into or proposes to enter into a deed of company arrangement or scheme of arrangement or a composition with, or assignment for the benefit of, all or any class of its creditors, or a moratorium involving any of them, otherwise than for the purpose of an amalgamation or reconstruction;
the Customer becomes insolvent within the meaning of section 95A(2) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth);
a winding up order is made in respect of the Customer or a resolution for the winding up of the Customer is passed or attempted to be passed, except for the purposes of reconstruction or amalgamation;
an application is made (which is not dismissed within 10 Business Days) for an order, a resolution is passed or proposed, a meeting is convened or any other action is taken to cause anything described above, other than for the purposes of an amalgamation or reconstruction;
the Company forms the view that, or the Customer is or states that, the Customer is unable to pay its debts when they fall due; or
anything analogous to or of a similar effect to anything described above under the law of any relevant jurisdiction occurs to the Customer;
where the Customer is a person:
the Customer becomes bankrupt;
an official manager is appointed to all or any part of the property of the Customer;
the Customer enters into or proposes to enter into a scheme of arrangement or a composition with, or assignment for the benefit of, all or any class of its creditors, or a moratorium involving any of them;
the Company forms the view that, or the Customer is or states that, the Customer is unable to pay his or her debts when they fall due;
an application is made (which is not dismissed within 10 Business Days) for an order, a resolution is passed or proposed, a meeting is convened or any other action is taken to cause anything described above; or
anything analogous to or of a similar effect to anything described above under the law of any relevant jurisdiction occurs to the Customer;
the Company reasonably believes that any of the events mentioned at Conditions 17.1(a)(i) to (v) above or any equivalent or similar event under any relevant laws to which the Customer or any connected person is subject, has occurred or may occur;
the Customer or any connected person commits any breach of this Contract or any other contract whenever made between the Customer and the Company.
This Contract shall automatically terminate if a Total Loss occurs in relation to the Goods.
Termination of Contract shall not affect the accrued rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities of the parties existing at termination.
On termination of the Contract for any reason:
the Company's consent to the Customer's possession of the Goods shall terminate and the Company may, by its authorised representatives, without notice and at the Customer's expense, retake possession of the Goods and for this purpose may enter any premises at which the Goods are located;
the Customer shall pay to the Company on demand:
the pro rata Rental Payments for all work done, materials used and Goods delivered up to and including the date of termination and other sums due but unpaid at the date of such demand together with any interest accrued pursuant to Condition 3(i)(iv); and
any costs and expenses incurred by the Company in recovering the Goods, repairing any damage, impairment or loss to the Goods, and/or in collecting any sums due under this Contract (including any storage, insurance, repair, transport, legal and remarketing costs);
the Customer shall promptly:
return to the Company all equipment, materials and property belonging to the Company that the Customer has in its custody;
return to the Company all documents and materials (and any copies) containing the Company’s Confidential Information;
erase all of the Company’s Confidential Information from its computer systems (to the extent possible); and
on request, certify in writing to the other party that it has complied with the requirements of this Condition.
Upon termination of this Contract pursuant Condition 17.1(a), any other repudiation of this agreement by the Customer which is accepted by the Company or pursuant to Condition 17.1(b), without prejudice to any other rights or remedies of the Company, the Customer shall pay to the Company on demand a sum equal to the whole of the Rental Payments that would (but for the termination) have been payable if the Contract had continued from the date of such demand to the end of the Rental Period.
The sums payable pursuant to Condition 17.1(e) shall be agreed compensation for the Company's loss and shall be payable in addition to the sums payable pursuant to Condition 17.1(d)(ii).
On termination of the Contract, Conditions which expressly or by implication have effect after termination shall continue in full force and effect.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Any Intellectual Property Rights created by the Company in the course of the performance of the Contract or otherwise in the manufacture of the Goods or provision of the Services shall remain the Company’s property. Nothing in the Contract shall be deemed to have given the Customer a licence or any other right to use any of the Intellectual Property Rights of the Company.
CONFIDENTIALITY
The Customer shall keep and procure to be kept secret and confidential all Confidential Information disclosed to it or obtained by it as a result of the relationship of the parties under the Contract and shall not use or disclose the same, save for the purposes of the proper performance of the Contract or with the prior written consent of the Company.
PRIVACY
To the extent that the Customer and the Company respectively collect personal information about one another, their businesses and personnel ("Personal Information") they shall at all times abide by the Privacy Laws in the handling of that Personal Information.
The Customer acknowledges and agrees that the Company may transfer Personal Information to other companies to related bodies corporate of the Company, to credit rating agencies and other third parties engaged by the Company in accordance with the Company's legitimate business needs including for the purpose of obtaining credit reports about the Customer, its directors and guarantors for the purpose of assessing creditworthiness and for the purpose of exchanging Personal Information with other credit agencies in case of any default by the Customer or its guarantors.
NOTICES
Any notice or other communication required to be given to a party under or in connection with the Contract shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the other party personally or sent by prepaid post or by commercial courier, at its registered office (if a company) or (in any other case) its principal place of business.
Any notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly received if delivered personally, when left at such address, if sent by prepaid post, at 10.00 am on the second Business Day, after posting, or if delivered by commercial courier, on the date and at the time that the courier's delivery receipt is signed.
OPTION TO PURCHASE
This condition 22 applies if, and only if, the Company's Order specifies that the Customer shall be entitled to purchase the Goods from the Company at the end of the Rental Period.
The Customer has the option to purchase the Goods from the Company, at or immediately following the end of the Rental Period. The Customer may not exercise the option to purchase the Goods at any other time, and the Customer may not exercise the option to purchase the Goods if the Company has terminated the Contract early.
To exercise that option, the Customer must pay the Company:
the purchase price shown in the Order (or, if no purchase price is shown in the Order, the purchase price notified in writing by the Company to the Customer);
any unpaid Rental Payments (so that the Customer has paid the total of all Rental Payments for the whole of the Rental Period); and
any other costs and expenses, interest, taxes or duties, due to the Company in accordance with the Contract.
OPTION TO EXTEND RENTAL PERIOD
The Customer may, by giving the Company written notice not later than 90 days prior to the end of the Rental Period, request an extension to the Rental Period, such extension to be at the sole discretion of the Company.
GENERAL
If at any time any one or more of the provisions of these Conditions become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any law, the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of the Contract shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Nothing in the Contract shall create, or be deemed to create a partnership or joint venture or relationship of employer and employee or principal and agent between the parties.
The rights and remedies of the Company under the Contract shall not be diminished waived or extinguished by the granting of any indulgence, forbearance or extension of time by the Company nor by any failure of or delay by the Company in asserting or exercising any such rights or remedies.
The Customer shall not be entitled to assign, charge, subcontract or transfer the Contract or any part of it without the prior written consent of the Company.
The Company may assign, charge, subcontract or transfer the Contract or any part of it to any person.
Subject to Condition 24.1(g) below, a person who is not a party to the Contract has no rights to enforce any provision of the Contract.
The Company and any member of its group may enforce the provisions of this Contract subject to and in accordance with Condition 24.1(h).
The rights of the parties to terminate, rescind or agree any variation, waiver or settlement under this Contract are not subject to the consent of any person that is not a party to this Contract.
GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTES
The Contract and any issues, disputes or claims arising out of or in connection with it (whether contractual or non-contractual in nature such as claims in tort, from breach of statute or regulation or otherwise) shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of New South Wales, Australia.
The parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales, Australia and courts that have the right to hear appeals therefrom.
The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods shall not apply to these Conditions or the Contract.
LANGUAGE
The Contract is drafted and entered into in the English language. All amendments to the Contract and all other documents provided under or in connection with the Contract shall be in the English language. If the Contract, or any documents provided under or in connection with the Contract, are translated into any other language, the English language version shall prevail.