Case Details

Compañía de Aguas del Aconquija S.A. and Vivendi Universal S.A. v. Argentine Republic (ICSID Case No. ARB/97/3)

Proceeding Materials Procedural Details

  • Water and sewer services concession agreement
  • Water, Sanitation & Flood Protection
  • BIT France - Argentina 1991
  • ICSID Convention - Arbitration Rules

    (a) Original Proceeding

    • Compañía de Aguas del Aconquija S.A.  (Argentine), Vivendi Universal S.A. (French)
    • Argentine Republic (Argentine)
    • February 19, 1997
    • December 1, 1997

      Composition of Tribunal

    • Francisco REZEK (Brazilian) - Appointed by the Chairman of the Administrative Council
    • Thomas BUERGENTHAL (U.S.) - Appointed by the Chairman of the Administrative Council
      Peter D. TROOBOFF (U.S.) - Appointed by the Claimant(s)

      Party Representatives

    • Abeledo Gottheil Abogados, Buenos Aires, Argentina
      Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
    • Arnold & Porter, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
      Estudio Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites, Arnsten & Martí­nez de Hoz (h), Buenos Aires, Argentina
      Secretary of Public Works, Ministry of Economy and of Public Works and Services, Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • English
    • Concluded
    • November 21, 2000 - The Tribunal renders its award.

    (b) Annulment Proceeding

    • Claimant(s)
    • March 23, 2001 (Claimant(s))
    • May 18, 2001

      Party Representatives

    • Abeledo Gottheil Abogados, Buenos Aires, Argentina
      B. Cremades y Asociados, Madrid, Spain
      Ignacio Colombres Garmendia & Asociados, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
      Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
      Stephen M. Schwebel, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
    • Procuración del Tesoro de la Nación, Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • English,Spanish
    • Concluded
    • July 3, 2002 - The ad hoc Committee renders its decision partially annulling the award.

    (c) Supplementary Decision and Rectification Proceeding

    • Respondent(s)
    • August 23, 2002 (Respondent(s))

      Party Representatives

    • Abeledo Gottheil Abogados, Buenos Aires, Argentina
      B. Cremades y Asociados, Madrid, Spain
      Ignacio Colombres Garmendia & Asociados, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
      Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
      Stephen M. Schwebel, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
    • Procuración del Tesoro de la Nación, Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • English,Spanish
    • Concluded
    • May 28, 2003 - The ad hoc Committee renders its decision concerning the Argentine Republic’s request for supplementary decisions and rectification.

    (d) Resubmission Proceeding

    • Claimant(s)
    • October 24, 2003 (Claimant(s))
    • April 14, 2004

      Party Representatives

    • Abeledo Gottheil Abogados, Buenos Aires, Argentina
      Ignacio Colombres Garmendia & Asociados, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
      Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
      Stephen M. Schwebel, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
    • Bruce Heyman, London, U.K.
      Philippe Sands and Alison Macdonald, London, U.K.
      Procuración del Tesoro de la Nación, Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • English,Spanish
    • Concluded
    • August 20, 2007 - The Tribunal renders its award.

    (e) Second Annulment Proceeding

    • Respondent(s)
    • December 19, 2007 (Respondent(s))
    • May 22, 2008

      Party Representatives

    • Abeledo Gottheil Abogados, Buenos Aires, Argentina
      Ignacio Colombres Garmendia & Asociados, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
      Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
      Stephen M. Schwebel, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
    • Procuración del Tesoro de la Nación, Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • English,Spanish
    • Concluded
    • August 10, 2010 - The ad hoc Committee renders its decision on the application for annulment; attached to the decision is a separate opinion by one of the members of the ad hoc Committee.

(a) Original Proceeding

Published Decisions

Introductory Note

Award of November 21, 2000, [English original] 16 ICSID Rev.—FILJ 641 (2001); 40 ILM 426 (2001); 125 I.L.R. 1 (2004); 26 Y.B. Com. Arb. 61 (2001) (excerpts); Spanish translation of English original in La Ley (Buenos Aires) Año LXV No. 25, February 5, 2001, p. 1.

Available on the ICSID Website

Introductory Note (November 21, 2000)

Award of the Tribunal (November 21, 2000) English (Original); Spanish (Translated)

(b) Annulment Proceeding

Published Decisions

Introductory Note

Decision on the Challenge to the President of the Committee of October 3, 2001, [English original] 17 ICSID Rev.—FILJ 168 (2002); 6 ICSID Rep. 330 (2004); 125 I.L.R. 46 (2004); [Spanish original] 17 ICSID Rev.—FILJ 182 (2002).

Introductory Note

Decision on Annulment of July 3, 2002, [English original] 19 ICSID Rev.—FILJ 89 (2004); 41 ILM 1135 (2002); 6 ICSID Rep. 340 (2004); 125 I.L.R. 58 (2004); French translation of English and Spanish originals in 130 Journal du droit international 195 (2003).

Available on the ICSID Website

Introductory Note (October 3, 2001)

Decision on the Challenge to the President of the Committee (October 3, 2001) English (Original); Spanish (Original)

Introductory Note (July 3, 2002)

Decision on Annulment (July 3, 2002) English (Original); Spanish (Original)

(c) Supplementary Decision and Rectification Proceeding

Published Decisions

Introductory Note

Decision of the ad hoc Committee on the Request for Supplementation and Rectification of its Decision Concerning Annulment of the Award of May 28, 2003, 19 ICSID Rev.—FILJ 139 (2004); 8 ICSID Rep. 490 (2005).

Available on the ICSID Website

Introductory Note (May 28, 2003)

Decision of the ad hoc Committee on the Request for Supplementation and Rectification of its Decision Concerning Annulment of the Award (May 28, 2003) English (Original); Spanish (Original)

(a) Original Proceeding

Date Development
February 19, 1997 The Secretary-General registers a request for the institution of arbitration proceedings.
December 1, 1997 The Tribunal is constituted. Its members are: Francisco Rezek (Brazilian), President; Thomas Buergenthal (U.S.); and Peter D. Trooboff (U.S.).
January 8, 1998 The Respondent files its objections to jurisdiction.
January 20, 1998 The Tribunal holds its first session.
February 28, 1998 The Tribunal meets with the parties in Washington, D.C.
April 20, 1998 The parties file their observations on the Respondent's objections to jurisdiction.
May 11, 1998 The parties file their further observations on the Respondent's objections to jurisdiction.
May 26, 1998 The Tribunal meets with the parties in Washington, D.C.
July 2, 1998 The Tribunal issues an order joining the issue of jurisdiction to the merits.
November 2, 1998 The Claimants file their memorial.
February 1, 1999 The Respondent files its counter-memorial.
March 4, 1999 The Claimants file their reply.
April 5, 1999 The Respondent files its rejoinder.
April 22, 1999 The parties file a pre-hearing memorandum and a joint pre-hearing memorandum.
April 25, 1999 The Tribunal holds a hearing on marshalling of evidence in Washington, D.C.
April 27, 1999 The Tribunal issues an order on the marshalling of evidence.
June 23, 1999 The parties file a joint appendix of authorities.
July 29, 1999 Pursuant to the Tribunal's Order of April 27, 1999, the Claimants file an additional witness statement.
August 11, 1999 - August 13, 1999 The Tribunal holds a hearing in Washington, D.C.
August 25, 1999 The Tribunal issues a post-hearing order.
September 30, 1999 The parties file their post-hearing memorials.
October 12, 1999 The parties file their post-hearing rejoinders.
November 21, 2000 The Tribunal renders its award.

(b) Annulment Proceeding

Date Development
March 23, 2001 The Secretary-General registers an application submitted by the Claimants for annulment of the award of November 21, 2000.
May 18, 2001 The ad hoc Committee is constituted. Its members are: L. Yves Fortier (Canadian), President; James R. Crawford (Australian); and Jose Carlos Fernandez Rozas (Spanish).
June 21, 2001 The ad hoc Committee holds its first session with the parties in Washington, D.C.
August 20, 2001 The Applicants file their memorial on annulment.
August 24, 2001 The Respondent files a proposal for disqualification of one of the members of the ad hoc Committee.
October 3, 2001 The ad hoc Committee issues a decision rejecting a proposal for the disqualification of one of its members.
November 12, 2001 The Respondent files its counter-memorial on annulment.
December 10, 2001 The Applicants file their reply on annulment.
January 8, 2002 The Respondent files its rejoinder on annulment.
January 31, 2002 The ad hoc Committee holds a hearing in Washington, D. C.
February 2, 2002 The ad hoc Committee holds a hearing in Washington, D. C.
July 3, 2002 The ad hoc Committee renders its decision partially annulling the award.

(c) Supplementary Decision and Rectification Proceeding

Date Development
August 23, 2002 The Acting Secretary-General registers the Argentine Republic’s request for supplementary decisions and for rectification of the decision on annulment.
November 4, 2002 The Applicants submit their observations on the Argentine Republic’s request for supplementary decisions and rectification.
December 6, 2002 The Argentine Republic files its reply to the Applicants’ observations on the request for supplementary decisions and rectification.
May 28, 2003 The ad hoc Committee renders its decision concerning the Argentine Republic’s request for supplementary decisions and rectification.

(d) Resubmission Proceeding

Date Development
October 24, 2003 The Acting Secretary-General registers a request for resubmission of the dispute to a new tribunal.
April 14, 2004 The Tribunal is constituted. Its members are: J. William Rowley (Canadian/British), President; Gabrielle Kaufmann-Kohler (Swiss); and Carlos Bernal Verea (Mexican).
July 7, 2004 The Tribunal holds its first session in Washington, D.C.
November 24, 2004 The Claimants file their memorial on the merits.
March 23, 2005 The Respondent files its memorial on jurisdiction.
May 31, 2005 The Claimants file their counter-memorial on jurisdiction.
June 21, 2005 The Respondent files its reply on jurisdiction.
July 12, 2005 The Claimants file a rejoinder on jurisdiction.
August 16, 2005 - August 17, 2005 The Tribunal holds a hearing on jurisdiction in Washington, D.C.
August 31, 2005 The Claimants file a memorial on costs.
September 12, 2005 The Respondent files observations on the Claimants' memorial on costs.
November 14, 2005 The Tribunal issues a decision on jurisdiction.
November 29, 2005 The Respondent files a counter-memorial on the merits.
February 15, 2006 The Claimants file a reply on the merits.
May 19, 2006 The Respondent files a rejoinder on the merits.
July 24, 2006 - August 4, 2006 The Tribunal holds a hearing on the merits in Washington, D.C.
August 25, 2006 The parties file post-hearing briefs.
September 29, 2006 The parties file submissions on costs.
May 25, 2007 The Tribunal declares the proceeding closed in accordance with ICSID Arbitration Rule 38(1).
August 20, 2007 The Tribunal renders its award.

(e) Second Annulment Proceeding

Date Development
December 19, 2007 The Acting Secretary-General registers an application for the institution of annulment proceedings, and notifies the parties of the provisional stay of enforcement of the award.
May 22, 2008 The ad hoc Committee is constituted. Its members are: Ahmed S. El-Kosheri (Egyptian), President; Jan Hendrik Dalhuisen (Dutch); and Andreas J. Jacovides (Cypriot).
May 23, 2008 Compañía de Aguas del Aconquija S.A. and Vivendi Universal S.A. file a request for termination of the stay of enforcement of the award.
June 20, 2008 The Argentine Republic files observations on the request for termination of the stay of enforcement of the award.
October 17, 2008 The Argentine Republic files a memorial on annulment.
November 28, 2008 The Argentine Republic files further observation on the provisional stay of the enforcement of the award.
December 8, 2008 Compañía de Aguas del Aconquija S.A. and Vivendi Universal S.A. file a response to the Argentine Republic’s observations of November 28, 2008.
December 30, 2008 The Argentine Republic files a request for reconsideration of the ad hoc Committee’s decision on the stay of enforcement of the award.
January 5, 2009 Compañía de Aguas del Aconquija S.A. and Vivendi Universal S.A. file observations on the Argentine Republic’s request of December 30, 2008.
January 14, 2009 The Argentine Republic files a response to Compañía de Aguas del Aconquija S.A. and Vivendi Universal S.A.'s observations of January 5, 2009.
January 15, 2009 Compañía de Aguas del Aconquija S.A. and Vivendi Universal S.A. file a counter-memorial on annulment.
March 6, 2009 The Argentine Republic files a reply on annulment.
April 24, 2009 Compañía de Aguas del Aconquija S.A. and Vivendi Universal S.A. file a rejoinder on annulment.
July 15, 2009 - July 17, 2009 The ad hoc Committee holds a hearing on annulment in Paris.
September 30, 2009 The parties file statements of costs.
April 16, 2010 The ad hoc Committee declares the annulment proceeding closed.
August 10, 2010 The ad hoc Committee renders its decision on the application for annulment; attached to the decision is a separate opinion by one of the members of the ad hoc Committee.