Toptip Holdings Pte Ltd («Toptip») – сингапурская компания, торгующая железной рудой, 10 октября 2014 года продала груз железной руды и пожелала зафрахтовать судно для его доставки. Они использовали брокера («г-н Шу») чтобы организовать чартер с Mercuria – Mercuria Energy Trading Pte Ltd («Mercuria») – сингапурская компания, занимающаяся отфрахтованием судов для перевозки сухих грузов. 13 октября 2014 года Toptip (через г-на Шу) направила запрос с изложением своих условий. В запросе предлагалось, чтобы фрахтовщик (сторона чартера) согласился на общие формулировки проформы, используемой в торговле. На следующий день Mercuria ответила в том смысле, что хотела бы предложить “следующие условия» («Bid»). Это означало согласие на предложение условий на «твердой основе». Заявка в основном отразила условия запроса, но было предложено считать предметом рассмотрения фрахтователей проформу чартера с логическими поправками. Toptip ответил через своего брокера: «Мы подтверждаем принятие Вашего предложения». 24 октября 2014 года Toptip направил в Mercuria проект своего стандартного чартера с изменениями, отражающими условия Bid. Через пять дней Mercuria ответила, что не может принять условия после “пересмотра”, так что предмет не прошел проверку.
Ключевой вопрос, стоящий перед Судом, заключался в том, что уже существует договор, таким образом, Mercuria может быть признана нарушающей его, если не будет действовать согласно чартеру. Высокий суд Сингапура первоначально обнаружил, что на этом этапе не существовало договора. Однако это решение было отменено в прошлом году Сингапурским апелляционным судом, поскольку поведение сторон не указывало на то, что у Mercuria были какие-либо оговорки в отношении условий чаpтера. Кроме того, условия Bid были четкими и определенными и включали все существенные отношения, необходимые для формирования действительного чартера.
A recent case in Singapore proved that Members contracting in the jurisdiction should be wary of “subject to review” clauses. Such wording is frequently used in fixture proposals to indicate that the parties have not yet agreed to an enforceable contract. However, the recent case of Toptip v Mercuria[1] highlights that the mere use of such phrases may not be sufficient to avoid the contract coming into force.
In ascertaining the intention of parties, the Singapore Courts will consider the wider factual context, such as the conduct of and correspondence between the parties. They may determine that a binding contract exists even in the face of terminology to the contrary; substance takes precedence over form.
The fact of the case
Toptip Holdings Pte Ltd (‘Toptip’) is a Singaporean company trading in iron ore. Mercuria Energy Trading Pte Ltd (‘Mercuria’) is a Singaporean company engaged in chartering out vessels to carry dry cargo.
On 10 October 2014, Toptip sold a cargo or iron ore to a customer and wished to charter a ship to deliver it. They used a broker (‘Mr Shu’), to arrange a charter with Mercuria.
On 13 October 2014, Toptip (through Mr Shu) sent an enquiry setting out its requirements. The enquiry suggested the charterparty be based on a common proforma wording in use in the trade.
The following day, Mercuria responded that “Mercuria would like to offer firm bss following terms …” (the ‘Bid’). This language was agreed to mean an offer of terms on a ‘firm basis’. The Bid essentially mirrored the terms of the enquiry but stated: “OTHERWISE SUB REVIEW OF CHTRS PFMA CP WITH LOGICAL AMENDMENT”. This was accepted to mean subject to review of charterers proforma charterparty, with logical amendments.
Toptip replied through their broker “We confirm the acceptance of your offer.” On 24 October 2014 Toptip sent a draft copy of their standard charterparty wording, with amendments to reflect the Bid terms, to Mercuria. Five days later Mercuria replied to stating that “Owrs cannot accept chtrs cp after review, so subject failed on cp review”.
A key issue before the Court was whether a binding contract already existed, such that Mercuria could be found to be in repudiatory breach of the same by failing to proceed with the charterparty.
The judgment
The High Court in Singapore originally found that no binding contract existed at this stage. However, this judgment was overturned last year by the Singapore Court of Appeal (the ‘CA’). On an objective analysis of the facts, the CA found that, notwithstanding the “subject review” clause, the Bid was a complete and certain offer which immediately became a binding contract, upon Toptip’s acceptance. The CA’s main reasons were as follows:
- The terms of the Bid were clear and certain and included all the essential matters required to form a workable charter contract.
- Mercuria offered terms on a ‘[firm basis]’. The court felt that, when objectively ascertained, this constituted an ‘offer’. The experienced broker had no hesitation in reading the Bid as an offer and Toptip, upon receiving it, replied “we confirm the acceptance of your offer”.
- The background facts did not indicate that Mercuria had any reservations in relation to the terms of the c/p.
- Mercuria’s conduct after the Bid was accepted indicated that they considered a binding contract existed: (i) it nominated the carrying vessel and provided cargo documentation; (ii) it requested the laycan be pushed back; (iii) when the cargo buyer suggested rejecting the vessel, Mercuria worked to convince them not to; and (iv) there was no urgency on Mercuria’s part to finalise the c/p details, which displayed an apparent indifference to the specific c/p terms.
- The words “OTHERWISE SUB REVIEW OF CHTRS PFMA CP WITH LOGICAL AMENDMENT” were held to mean that Mercuria was entitled to review the proposed proforma charterparty only to confirm that it had been amended in line with the Bid terms. They were not entitled to review the c/p terms subjectively, to decide if they would accept them. The court denied that the “subject review” wording amounted to a condition precedent, and instead found it to be a condition subsequent. This meant that the contract came into existence on acceptance of the bid, but if the necessary amendments were not made to the c/p when provided the contract could be brought to an end.
Takeaway points
Ultimately, each case will turn on its own facts, and this judgment will be seen by many as quite fact dependent. Nevertheless, it serves as a reminder that if Members do not wish to be immediately bound in their Singapore-based c/p negotiations, they should incorporate specific language to this effect in any correspondence. Furthermore, all their conduct and correspondence should be clear and consistent with the position that no binding contract exists.
[1] Toptip Holding Pte Ltd v Mercuria Energy Trading Pte Ltd and another appeal [2017] SGCA 64 (“Toptip v Mercuria”)
Автор: Yap Yin Soon
Источник: https://www.shipownersclub.com/yap-yin-soon-subject-to-review-clauses-is-there-an-intention-to-be-immediately-bound/?utm_source=The%20Shipowners%20Protection%20Limited&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9712040_LCC%3A%20%22Subject%20to%20review%22%20clauses%20-%20Is%20there%20an%20intention%20to%20be%20immediately%20bound&dm_i=1S5G,5S5UW,P7MR08,MK7PP,1