Arbitral Digest

Matter

SGS Société Générale de Surveillance S.A. v. Republic of Paraguay (ICSID Case No. ARB/07/29)

Case no.
ARB/07/29
Applicable rules
ICSID Arbitration Rules
  1. 12 February 2010Arbitration

    12 February 2010Arbitration

    Decision on Jurisdiction dated 12 February 2010

    International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes

    Decision summary
    The Tribunal held that it had jurisdiction over SGS's claims under Articles 4(1), 4(2), and 11 of the Switzerland–Paraguay treaty, dismissed Paraguay's objections to jurisdiction, reserved costs, and directed the parties to confer on a schedule for the merits proceedings.

    Supporting details

    10 authorities · 13 participants
    SGS Société Générale de Surveillance S.A.
    Representative
    Olivier Merkt (For: SGS Société Générale de Surveillance S.A.)
    Representative
    Nicolas Grégoire (For: SGS Société Générale de Surveillance S.A.)
    Representative
    Paul Friedland (For: SGS Société Générale de Surveillance S.A.)
    Representative
    Damien Nyer (For: SGS Société Générale de Surveillance S.A.)
    Republic of Paraguay
    Representative
    José Enrique García Ávalos (For: Republic of Paraguay)
    Representative
    Brian C. Dunning (For: Republic of Paraguay)
    Representative
    Irene R. Dubowy (For: Republic of Paraguay)
    International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
    Tribunal secretary
    Sergio Puig de la Parra

    Authorities cited

    10
    • Agreement on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments between Switzerland and Paraguay (Switzerland-Paraguay BIT, signed 31 January 1992)
      statute
    • Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States (ICSID Convention)
      statute
    • Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
      statute
    • Bureau Veritas, Inspection, Valuation, Assessment and Control, BIVAC B.V. v. Republic of Paraguay (ICSID Case No. ARB/07/9, Decision of the Tribunal on Objections to Jurisdiction, 29 May 2009)
      case law
    • SGS Société Générale de Surveillance S.A. v. Islamic Republic of Pakistan (ICSID Case No. ARB/01/13, Decision on Jurisdiction, 6 August 2003)
      case law
    • SGS Société Générale de Surveillance S.A. v. Republic of the Philippines (ICSID Case No. ARB/02/6, Decision on Objections to Jurisdiction, 29 January 2004)
      case law
    • Impregilo S.p.A. v. Islamic Republic of Pakistan (ICSID Case No. ARB/03/3, Decision on Jurisdiction, 22 April 2005)
      case law
    • Bayındır Insaat Turizm Ticaret Ve Sanayi A.S. v. Islamic Republic of Pakistan (ICSID Case No. ARB/03/29, Decision on Jurisdiction, 14 November 2005)
      case law
    • Compañía de Aguas del Aconquija S.A. and Vivendi Universal v. Argentine Republic (ICSID Case No. ARB/97/3)
      case law
    • Azurix Corp. v. Argentine Republic (ICSID Case No. ARB/01/12, Decision on Jurisdiction, 8 December 2003)
      case law

    1 year, 11 months and 29 days later · 728 days

  2. 10 February 2012Arbitration

    10 February 2012Arbitration

    Award dated 10 February 2012

    International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes

    Decision summary
    The Tribunal found that Paraguay breached Article 11 of the Switzerland–Paraguay treaty by failing to guarantee observance of its commitments to SGS's investment. It awarded SGS US$39,025,950.86 plus interest at the average 30-day U.S. dollar LIBOR rate plus one percentage point from 1 July 1999 until payment, and one-half of the total arbitration costs of US$673,923.28.

    Supporting details

    6 authorities · 15 participants
    SGS Société Générale de Surveillance S.A.
    Representative
    Paul Friedland (For: SGS Société Générale de Surveillance S.A.)
    Representative
    Rafael E. Llano Oddone (For: SGS Société Générale de Surveillance S.A.)
    Representative
    Francisco Guzman (For: SGS Société Générale de Surveillance S.A.)
    Representative
    Damien Nyer (For: SGS Société Générale de Surveillance S.A.)
    Republic of Paraguay
    Representative
    José Enrique García Ávalos (For: Republic of Paraguay)
    Representative
    Raúl Sapena (For: Republic of Paraguay)
    Representative
    Brian C. Dunning (For: Republic of Paraguay)
    International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
    Other

    Authorities cited

    6
    • Agreement on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments between Switzerland and Paraguay (Switzerland-Paraguay BIT (1992))
      statute
    • Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States (ICSID Convention)
      statute
    • Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969)
      statute
    • International Law Commission Articles on State Responsibility (Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts (2001))
      statute
    • UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts
      statute
    • Treaty of Asuncion (1991)
      statute

Matter record

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SGS Société Générale de Surveillance S.A. v. Republic of Paraguay (ICSID Case No. ARB/07/29) · Matter