The present Terms and Conditions are binding on the Contracting Parties, i.e., the Client and Accountancy Europe.
These Terms and Conditions are applicable to the Parties as of 18/03/2025.
1. Service
1.1. Accountancy Europe releases updates on four (4) topics on a rotating basis, though not in a fixed sequence: sustainability, tax, SMEs, and audit (the “Accountancy Europe Policy Update issue”). Each topic update is issued around 10 times a year, once a month.
1.2. The Client determines the update topic(s) to sponsor within the topics listed in Section 1.1 of this Agreement. The topic should be decided before the timing at section 2.1 of this Agreement.
1.3. Accountancy Europe shall perform the following services for the sponsored issue agreed upon by the Parties. The Client hereby retains Accountancy Europe and Accountancy Europe agrees to carry out the services listed hereunder:
1.3.1. Include a 200-300p x 200-300p logo and a 30-word message of the Client’s choice in an Accountancy Europe Policy Update issue, as determined by the Parties.
1.3.2. Publish and send via email the agreed issue to the corresponding subscriber list.
1.3.3. Communicate the performance of the sponsored issue to the Client within fifteen (15) days after the release of the update.
2. Timing and Duration
2.1. Accountancy Europe and the Client will agree by writing on the specific month(s) for the sponsorship.
2.2. Accountancy Europe will provide an approximate issue date to the Client within 7 days after both the Client and Accountancy Europe have signed the agreement.
2.3. Accountancy Europe reserves the right to adjust the exact date of issuance of the update until two days before the originally communicated date.
2.4. Accountancy Europe reserves the right to postpone the update to the following month and will inform the Client no later than 7 days before the originally communicated date.
2.4. The Client must provide the logo and message to Accountancy Europe no later than 2 days before the scheduled release of the update.
3. Logo and Message
3.1. The sponsorship includes the display of the sponsor’s logo and a thirty (30)-word message in the issue, as per Section 1.3.1.
3.2. The logo and message will appear between the update’s “Highlights” section and the first story.
3.3. The logo and message will be introduced by the sentence: “This update is presented by [Client name].”
3.4. The logo should be in PNG or JPEG format with a resolution of at least 150 dpi.
3.5. The logo and message should not contain adult material, illegal activities, offensive, or harmful content. Accountancy Europe reserves the right to refuse to publish the Client’s logo and message if such logo and/or message can be considered as illegal, offensive or harmful. In this case, the Agreement will automatically be terminated and the Client will have to indemnify Accountancy Europe for the services provided under the Agreement and the costs incurred.
3.6. The Client explicitly grants Accountancy Europe the right to use free of charge its logo for the purpose of the sponsorship outlined in this Agreement.
4. Payment and Fees
4.2. Any applicable taxes, such as VAT, will be the responsibility of the Client and will be charged in addition to the costs mentioned above.
4.4. Accountancy Europe shall submit an invoice to the Client following the release of the update issue. Invoices shall be paid within thirty (30) days from the invoice date.
4.5. Any delay in the payment of sums due under this Agreement after the invoice’s due date shall automatically and without notice results in (i) late payment interest at the rate of the law of 2 August 2002 combating late payments in commercial transactions and (ii) the application of the lump sum provided under the above-mentioned law.
5. Relationship of the Parties
5.1. In performing its obligations under this Agreement, Accountancy Europe shall act as an independent co-contractor.
5.2. The Parties understand that exclusive sponsorship applies per update issue, meaning no other sponsor will be featured in the same issue.
5.3. This Agreement is not an exclusive arrangement, and the Parties are free to enter into similar agreements with other entities.
6. Exclusion of Liability and Responsibility
6.1. The Client is responsible for ensuring that the message and logo provided to Accountancy Europe, as per Section 1.3.1, do not violate any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights or any other applicable laws.
6.2. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Accountancy Europe shall not be held liable for any legal contractual or extracontractual claims or liabilities arising from or in relation with the Client’s published content. The Client assumes full responsibility for its materials and agrees to indemnify Accountancy Europe against any and all related claims.
7. Cancellation of the services and Termination
7.1. The Client must inform Accountancy Europe about the cancellation by email as soon as possible.
7.2. In case of cancellation with more than fifteen (15) working days’ notice before the agreed date of issuing the update, the Client undertakes to indemnify Accountancy Europe to the amount of a fixed fee of 25% of the agreed costs fixed under Article 4.1.
7.3. In case of cancellation with less than fifteen (15) working days’ notice before the agreed date of issuing the update), the Client undertakes to indemnify Accountancy Europe of 50% of the agreed costs fixed under Article 4.1.
7.4. In case of cancellation received by Accountancy Europe less than five (5) working days before the agreed date of issuing, the full amount of the agreed costs must be paid by the Client.
7.5. The Agreement shall immediately be terminated without any formal prior notice in case of fraud or serious breach which has not been rectified by the defaulting Party within (fifteen) 15 calendar days from receiving a demand from the other Party to cease the breach, by one Party of its obligations as provided under the Agreement, without prejudice to the right of the Party invoking the express termination clause to claim any indemnity for the actual suffered damage.
8. Force Majeure
8.1. Neither Party will be liable to the other for failure to fulfil its obligations under this Agreement caused by a force majeure event as defined by the Belgian Civil Code (an “Event of force majeure”) l (e.g., natural disaster, act of war, terrorism, riot, labour condition, governmental action, or internet disruption).
8.2 If either Party is faced with an Event of force majeure, it shall notify the other Party without delay by email, stating the nature, likely duration, and foreseeable effects. The Parties shall take the necessary measures to reduce damage to a minimum. If the Event of force majeure lasts for more than [2 months], each Party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement.
9. Confidentiality and Data Protection
9.1. Any private information shared between Accountancy Europe and the Client (e.g., financial details) must remain confidential. The Parties undertake to keep the terms and conditions of this Agreement strictly confidential and therefore undertake not to disclose any information they might have known following the conclusion of the Agreement and its implementation.
9.2. Each Party undertakes to respect the applicable data protection legislation, including EU General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679, as well as any applicable national implementing, executing or supplementing provisions, and to ensure compliance with such legislation by its personnel, agents and representatives and subcontractors.
10. Dispute Resolution
10.1. Choice of Law: This Agreement shall be exclusively governed by and construed in accordance with Belgian law.
10.2. Negotiation: In the event of any dispute concerning the validity, interpretation, enforcement, performance or termination of the Agreement, the Parties agree to work toward an amicable resolution through good-faith negotiation.
10.3. Mediation and Arbitration: If the negotiation fails after (3) three months, or if either Party chooses to terminate the negotiation process, any disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be finally settled under the CEPANI Rules of Arbitration by one arbitrator appointed in accordance with the said Rules. The place of the arbitration shall be Brussels. The arbitration shall be conducted in the English language. The applicable rules of law are the laws of Belgium. The Parties expressly exclude any application for setting aside the Arbitral Award.
10.4. Legal Fees: In the event of arbitration, the prevailing Party will be entitled to reasonable legal fees, including attorneys’ fees as specified under the CEPANI Rules of Arbitration.
11. General
11.1. Assignment: The Parties may not assign or transfer their rights and/or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, without written consent.
11.2. Complete Contract: This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the Parties and supersedes any prior written or verbal communications. This Agreement may be amended and modified with written agreement between the Parties containing all the Parties’ signatures.
11.3. Severability: If any section of this Agreement is found invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will still be enforceable. The Parties hereby agree to attempt to substitute for any invalid or unenforceable provision a valid or enforceable provision, which achieves to the greatest extent possible the economic legal and commercial objectives of the invalid or unenforceable provision.
11.4. Waiver: Neither Party may waive any provision of this Agreement unless agreed to in writing. Any waiver is only applicable to the extent explicitly stated.
11.5. Notices: Any notice or communication required or permitted under this Agreement shall be sufficiently given if delivered by email to the following addresses: