TERMS OF SERVICE

Effective Date: February 9th 2026

Welcome to SMC. These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of SMC’s website, consulting services, advisory services, market-entry support, business development services, and related solutions (collectively, the “Services”).

By accessing our website or engaging SMC for Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms.

1. About SMC

SMC provides strategic business consulting, market-entry support, market intelligence, regulatory guidance, business development, local representation, and related advisory services to international businesses seeking to enter, establish, and expand across African markets.

SMC’s Services are designed to support informed commercial decision-making and do not constitute a guarantee of commercial success, regulatory approval, investment returns, market acceptance, or business performance.

2. Scope of Services

The specific Services provided by SMC will depend on the engagement agreed with the Client and may include:

Market research and market intelligence
Market-entry and expansion strategies
Business development and commercial advisory
Regulatory and compliance support
Import and export advisory
Local business representation
Partner and distributor identification
Strategic introductions and business matchmaking
Supplier and market assessments
Government and institutional engagement support
Investment and commercial opportunity assessment
Supply-chain and operational advisory
Other consulting services agreed in writing

The exact scope, deliverables, timelines, fees, and responsibilities will be defined in a proposal, quotation, engagement letter, statement of work, or other written agreement.

3. Client Responsibilities

Clients are responsible for providing SMC with accurate, complete, and timely information necessary to perform the Services.

The Client agrees to:

Provide accurate business, product, financial, technical, and regulatory information;
Respond promptly to requests for information or approvals;
Obtain and maintain any licences, permits, registrations, or approvals required for its business;
Ensure that its products and services comply with applicable laws and regulations;
Make independent commercial decisions based on appropriate professional advice;
Promptly notify SMC of any material changes that may affect the engagement.

SMC shall not be responsible for delays, losses, or adverse outcomes resulting from inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading information supplied by the Client.

4. Regulatory and Compliance Advisory

SMC may assist Clients in understanding and navigating regulatory, customs, import/export, licensing, standards, and compliance requirements.

Unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing, SMC does not act as a government authority, customs authority, certification body, legal counsel, tax adviser, or regulatory authority.

Where specialist legal, tax, customs, engineering, certification, or other professional advice is required, SMC may recommend or coordinate with appropriately qualified third-party professionals.

Regulatory requirements may change, and SMC does not guarantee that any authority will approve, certify, register, license, clear, or otherwise accept a Client’s application, product, service, or transaction.

5. Third-Party Services and Introductions

SMC may introduce Clients to suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, agents, consultants, logistics providers, financial institutions, government agencies, technology providers, or other third parties.

While SMC may conduct reasonable assessments or due diligence where agreed, Clients remain responsible for conducting their own independent verification and due diligence before entering into any third-party transaction.

SMC does not guarantee the performance, financial position, reliability, quality, legality, solvency, or conduct of any third party unless expressly agreed in writing.

6. Fees and Payment

Fees for Services shall be communicated to the Client through a quotation, proposal, invoice, engagement letter, or other written agreement.

Unless otherwise agreed:

Fees are payable according to the agreed payment schedule;
Third-party costs, government charges, certification fees, travel expenses, logistics costs, taxes, duties, and other external expenses are payable by the Client;
Delayed payments may result in suspension of Services;
Fees already paid for Services performed or committed third-party expenses may be non-refundable.

All applicable taxes shall be charged in accordance with applicable law.

7. Confidentiality

SMC and the Client agree to treat confidential business, commercial, financial, technical, strategic, and other proprietary information received during an engagement as confidential.

Confidential information shall not be disclosed to third parties except:

With the consent of the relevant party;
Where disclosure is necessary to perform the Services;
Where required by law, regulation, court order, or government authority;
Where the information is already publicly available through no breach of confidentiality.

This obligation shall survive the termination of the relevant engagement.

8. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, SMC retains ownership of its pre-existing methodologies, frameworks, templates, processes, know-how, research tools, systems, and intellectual property.

Upon full payment of applicable fees, the Client may use deliverables specifically created for the Client for its internal business purposes, subject to the terms of the applicable engagement.

The Client shall not reproduce, resell, distribute, or commercially exploit SMC’s proprietary materials without prior written consent.

9. Information and Website Content

SMC seeks to provide accurate and useful information through its website and Services. However, market conditions, regulations, policies, commercial circumstances, and other information may change.

Website content and general publications are provided for informational purposes and should not be treated as legal, tax, financial, investment, or other professional advice.

Clients should obtain appropriate professional advice before making material commercial or investment decisions.

10. No Guarantee of Results

SMC provides professional advisory and support services but does not guarantee:

Successful market entry;
Government or regulatory approval;
Product certification;
Customs clearance;
Business licences;
Sales or revenue;
Investment returns;
Successful partnerships;
Contracts or business opportunities;
Supplier performance;
Customer acquisition;
Market share; or
Any specific commercial outcome.

Business performance depends on numerous factors outside SMC’s control.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, SMC shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or unforeseeable losses arising from or relating to the Services.

This may include loss of profits, revenue, business opportunities, contracts, anticipated savings, goodwill, or business interruption.

Where liability cannot legally be excluded, SMC’s liability shall be limited to the extent permitted by applicable law and, where appropriate, to the fees paid by the Client for the specific Services giving rise to the claim.

Nothing in these Terms shall exclude or limit liability where such exclusion or limitation is prohibited by applicable law.

12. Indemnification

To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Client agrees to indemnify and hold SMC, its directors, employees, consultants, and representatives harmless from claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, or expenses arising from:

Information or documentation supplied by the Client;
The Client’s products, services, or business activities;
The Client’s breach of these Terms;
The Client’s violation of applicable law or regulation; or
Transactions entered into by the Client with third parties.

13. Anti-Bribery and Ethical Conduct

SMC is committed to conducting business with integrity and in accordance with applicable anti-bribery