Société burkinabé des Ciments et matériaux (CIMAT) v Société ivoirienne des ciments d'Abidjan (SCA) (French Court of Cassation, joined appeals Nos. 99-10.741 and 00-12.144)

Procedural record

1. 25 October 1996Arbitration

   25 October 1996Arbitration

   First arbitral sentence dated 25 October 1996

   International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce

   Decision summary

   The tribunal declared itself competent and rejected CIMAT's objection that the arbitration agreement was absent because the contractual rights had been assigned to SCA.

   Participants

   Société ivoirienne des ciments d'Abidjan (SCA)

   Société burkinabé des Ciments et matériaux (CIMAT)

   International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce

   1 year, 9 months and 23 days later · 661 days

2. 17 August 1998Arbitration

   17 August 1998Arbitration

   Second arbitral sentence dated 17 August 1998

   International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce

   Decision summary

   The tribunal ordered CIMAT to pay SCA.

   Participants

   Société ivoirienne des ciments d'Abidjan (SCA)

   Société burkinabé des Ciments et matériaux (CIMAT)

   International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce

   3 months later · 92 days

3. 17 November 1998France

   17 November 1998France

   Judgment of the Paris Court of Appeal dated 17 November 1998

   Paris Court of Appeal

   Decision summary

   The Paris Court of Appeal rejected CIMAT's annulment challenge to the ICC arbitration sentence based on the alleged absence of an arbitration agreement after Pragoinvest assigned contractual rights to SCA.

   Participants

   Société burkinabé des Ciments et matériaux (CIMAT)

   Société ivoirienne des ciments d'Abidjan (SCA)

   Paris Court of Appeal

   1 year and 8 days later · 373 days

4. 25 November 1999France

   25 November 1999France

   Judgment of the Paris Court of Appeal dated 25 November 1999

   Paris Court of Appeal

   Decision summary

   The Paris Court of Appeal rejected CIMAT's annulment challenge to the ICC arbitration sentence based on the alleged absence of an arbitration agreement after Pragoinvest assigned contractual rights to SCA.

   Participants

   Société burkinabé des Ciments et matériaux (CIMAT)

   Société ivoirienne des ciments d'Abidjan (SCA)

   Paris Court of Appeal

   2 years, 6 months and 3 days later · 915 days

5. 28 May 2002France

   28 May 2002France

   Decision of the French Court of Cassation in joined appeals Nos. 99-10.741 and 00-12.144

   French Court of Cassation

   Case no.

   99-10.741 and 00-12.144

   Decision summary

   The Court of Cassation rejected the joined appeals against the Paris Court of Appeal judgments concerning the annulment of the ICC arbitration sentences. It held that, in international arbitration, an arbitration clause is legally independent of the main contract and is transmitted with the contract regardless of the validity of the transfer of substantive rights.

   Participants

   Société burkinabé des Ciments et matériaux (CIMAT)

   Société ivoirienne des ciments d'Abidjan (SCA)

   French Court of Cassation