Arbitral Digest

Matter

France Telecom v Republic of the Congo — Enforcement of ICC Award and seizure of ANAC receivables

  1. 1 November 2007Arbitration

    1 November 2007Arbitration

    ICC Award dated 1 November 2007

    International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce

    Decision summary
    The award ordered the Republic of the Congo, the Office National des Postes et des Telecommunications du Congo (ONPT), and Société des Telecommunications du Congo (SOTELCO) jointly and severally to pay France Telecom EUR 6,105,467.67 in principal, plus French statutory interest from 1 April 2012.

    Supporting details

    4 participants
    France Telecom
    Republic of the Congo
    Office National des Postes et des Telecommunications du Congo (ONPT)
    Société des Telecommunications du Congo (SOTELCO)
    International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce

    3 months and 20 days later · 112 days

  2. 21 February 2008France

    21 February 2008France

    Judgment of the Tribunal de grande instance de Paris dated 21 February 2008

    Tribunal de grande instance de Paris

    Decision summary
    The Tribunal de grande instance de Paris granted exequatur to the ICC award of 1 November 2007.

    4 years, 9 months and 13 days later · 1748 days

  3. 4 December 2012France

    4 December 2012France

    Judgment of the Tribunal de grande instance de Bobigny in case RG 12/10089 dated 4 December 2012

    Tribunal de grande instance de Bobigny

    Case no.
    RG 12/10089
    Decision summary
    The enforcement judge found that ANAC was not an emanation of the Congolese State, annulled the 20 July 2012 seizure of sums owed by Air France to ANAC and ordered its release to that extent. France Telecom was ordered to pay ANAC and Air France EUR 2,000 each for irrecoverable costs and to bear the costs; claims for a civil fine, damages for abusive seizure, and legal interest were rejected.

    1 year, 1 month and 12 days later · 408 days

  4. 16 January 2014France

    16 January 2014France

    Judgment of the Paris Court of Appeal in case RG 12/22406 dated 16 January 2014

    Paris Court of Appeal

    Case no.
    RG 12/22406
    Decision summary
    The Paris Court of Appeal confirmed the 4 December 2012 judgment concerning France Telecom’s seizure of sums owed by Air France to ANAC in execution of the ICC award. It held that the Republic of the Congo’s participation in the arbitration did not amount to an express and special waiver of execution immunity, and that the seized airport-security and civil-aviation charges were sovereign tax or parafiscal resources and therefore immune from execution. The court ordered Orange to pay ANAC and Air France EUR 4,000 each under Article 700 of the French Code of Civil Procedure, dismissed the parties’ further claims, and ordered Orange to pay the appeal costs.

    Supporting details

    6 authorities · 16 participants
    France Telecom
    Representative
    SCP Fisselier (For: France Telecom)
    Representative
    Alain Fisselier (For: France Telecom)
    Representative
    Stephane Bonifassi (For: France Telecom)
    Agence Nationale de l’Aviation Civile (ANAC)
    Republic of the Congo
    Representative
    Jean-Claude Cheviller (For: Republic of the Congo)
    Representative
    AARPI Scemla Loizon Veverka & de Fontmichel (For: Republic of the Congo)
    Representative
    Olivier Loizon (For: Republic of the Congo)
    Air France
    Representative
    Anne Grappotte-Benetreau (For: Air France)
    Representative
    Catherine Visy (For: Air France)
    Paris Court of Appeal
    Other
    Court Reporter
    Emilie Guichard

    Authorities cited

    6
    • French Code of Civil Procedure
      statute
    • Law of 9 July 1991
      statute
    • Law No. 23-95 dated 23 August 1994
      statute
    • Law No. 36-2011 dated 29 December 2011, Finance Law for 2012 of the Republic of the Congo
      statute
    • United Nations Convention dated 2 December 2004 on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property
      treaty
    • European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
      treaty

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France Telecom v Republic of the Congo — Enforcement of ICC Award and seizure of ANAC receivables · Matter