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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
|
ZHONGSHAN FUCHENG INDUSTRIAL Petitioner, v. THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, Respondent. |
Civil Action No. _______________ PETITION TO RECOGNIZE |
Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd. (“Petitioner” or “Zhongshan”), by its undersigned attorneys, for its Petition to Recognize and Enforce a Foreign Arbitral Award, alleges as follows:
1. This is an action for recognition and enforcement of a foreign arbitral award dated March 26, 2021 that was rendered in London, United Kingdom (the “Award”) and for judgment to be rendered thereon, pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act (the “FAA”), 9 U.S.C. § 201 et seq., implementing the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, 21
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U.S.T. 2517, T.I.A.A. 6997, 330 U.N.T.S. 3 (the “New York Convention”). A duly certified copy of the Award is attached as Exhibit A to the Declaration of Hussein Haeri dated January 20, 2022 (the “Haeri Declaration”) filed in support of this Petition.
2. The Award was rendered in Petitioner’s favor in an arbitration that Petitioner commenced against the Federal Republic of Nigeria (“Respondent” or “Nigeria”) on August 30, 2018, pursuant to the Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments (the “BIT”). A true and correct copy of the BIT as on file with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development is attached as Exhibit B to the Haeri Declaration. The ad hoc arbitration took place under the rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and was seated in London, United Kingdom (the “Arbitration”).
3. The Award was rendered on March 26, 2021.
4. To date, Respondent has not paid any sums due under the Award.
5. Accordingly, pursuant to 9 U.S.C. § 207, Petitioner respectfully requests that this Court:
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equivalent to GBP LIBOR plus 2%, compounded monthly, until and including the date of payment);¹ and
6. Petitioner Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd. is a Chinese-registered company and has its principal place of business at Room 05, Floor 15, Tower 5, Shangfeng Financial Business Center, No. 88 Zhongshan 4th Road, East District, Zhongshan City, PRC. Petitioner was initially established as the subsidiary of Zhuhai Zhongfu Industrial Group Co. Ltd (“Zhuhai”). Zhuhai is a large and successful Chinese bottling company that, inter alia, operates in Free Trade Zones in the PRC and in other countries.
7. Respondent the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a foreign state within the meaning of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1603.
8. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 9 U.S.C. §§ 203 and 207 since this action seeks recognition and enforcement of an award rendered in an arbitration falling under the New York Convention.
9. The Award is governed by the New York Convention because it arises out of a commercial legal relationship memorialized by a written agreement—including an agreement to arbitrate any disputes in London, United Kingdom (a contracting state to the New York Convention)—and at least one of the parties is not a citizen of the United States. See 9 U.S.C. § 202.
¹ For all of the aforementioned payments in US dollar equivalent, Petitioner respectfully requests that such payment be based on the exchange rate most favorable to Petitioner from the time that the Award was issued to the date of this Court’s order or the date of payment.
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10. This Court also has subject matter jurisdiction to recognize and enforce the Award against Respondent, a foreign state, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1330(a) which states:
The district courts shall have original jurisdiction without regard to amount in controversy of any nonjury civil action against a foreign state as defined in section 1603(a) of this title as to any claim for relief in personam with respect to which the foreign state is not entitled to immunity either under sections 1605-1607 of this title or under any applicable international agreement.
11. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1605(a)(6), Respondent is not entitled to immunity in this proceeding since Petitioner is seeking to recognize and enforce a foreign arbitral award governed by the New York Convention.
12. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Respondent pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1330(b), where Petitioner is making service in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 1608.
13. Venue is proper in this Court pursuant to 9 U.S.C. § 204 and 28 U.S.C. § 1391(f)(4), which provides that a civil action against a foreign state may be brought in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
14. The facts leading up to the dispute between the parties are reflected in paragraphs 4-45 of the Award and are summarized below. (See Haeri Declaration, Ex. A.)
15. From approximately 2010-2016, Petitioner made substantial investments in Nigeria. Through its local subsidiary, Zhongfu International Investment (NIG) FZE (“Zhongfu”), it developed and managed Fucheng Industrial Park (“Fucheng Park”) in the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone in Nigeria (the “Zone”), a free trade zone established in Ogun State in Nigeria as a joint venture to promote trade between the PRC and Nigeria.
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16. Zhuhai originally acquired the right to develop and operate Fucheng Park within the Zone through the Agreement on Establishment of Fucheng Industrial Park in the Zone dated June 29, 2010 (“the 2010 Framework Agreement”) entered into between Zhuhai and the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone Company (“OGFTZ”). A deed dated October 10, 2010 (the “2010 Deed”) among Zhuhai, OGFTZ, and Zhongshan had “the practical effect of transferring Zhuhai’s rights and obligations under the 2010 Framework Agreement to Zhongshan[.]” (Award, ¶ 9.)
17. On September 28, 2013, Ogun State, Zhongfu and Zenith Global Merchant Limited entered into the Joint Venture Agreement For the Development, Management and Operation of the Zone (“2013 JVA”).
18. Beginning in May 2016, and in breach of its obligations under the BIT, Nigeria took over Zhongshan’s rights and assets and forcibly evicted its local subsidiary, Zhongfu, from the Zone, and consequently deprived Petitioner and Zhongfu of their rights under the 2010 Framework Agreement and/or the 2013 JVA.
19. On May 27, 2016, Ogun State wrongfully purported to terminate the 2013 JVA.
20. Subsequent to this wrongful termination, Respondent then mounted a campaign to threaten, harass, and evict Zhongfu from the Zone (including Fucheng Park) utilizing the police, Ogun State officials, and other governmental agencies.
21. A description of the BIT and arbitration proceedings is reflected in paragraphs 46-69 of the Award and is summarized below. (See Haeri Declaration, Ex. A.)
22. On September 21, 2017, Petitioner gave Respondent notice of a dispute in accordance with Article 9 of the BIT. The notice also contained a request to meet at Respondent’s
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earliest convenience to discuss the terms of an amicable settlement under the BIT. As evidenced in the Award, Petitioner did not receive any response to the notice. (See Award, ¶ 81.)
23. On August 30, 2018, Petitioner commenced the Arbitration, seeking damages for losses resulting from Respondent’s violations of the BIT. Petitioner claims for Respondent’s breaches of the BIT included:
24. Petitioner and Respondent consented to arbitration. Respondent consented to the submission of a claim to arbitration pursuant to Article 9 of the BIT which provides, in relevant part:
(1) Any dispute between an investor of the other contracting Party and the other Contracting Party in connection with an investment in the territory of the other Contracting Party shall, as far as possible, be settled amicably through negotiations between the parties to the dispute.
(2) If the dispute cannot be settled through negotiations within six months, the [sic.] either party to the dispute shall be entitled to submit the dispute to the competent court of the Contracting Party accepting the investment.
(3) If a dispute cannot be settled within six months after resort to negotiations as specified in Paragraph 1 of this Article it may be submitted
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at the request of either Party to an ad hoc arbitral tribunal. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply if the investor concerned has resorted to the procedure specified in Paragraph 2 of this Article.
25. In turn, on August 30, 2018, Zhongshan consented to arbitration by filing its Request for Arbitration. It showed that the requirements for jurisdiction and admissibility in Article 9 of the BIT had been satisfied:
26. Respondent appeared and participated in the Arbitration. In the context of the Arbitration, Respondent challenged the Tribunal’s jurisdiction on the basis of a number of arguments. Specifically, Respondent asserted that:
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27. A hearing took place from November 9-13, 2020. (See Award, ¶ 69.)
28. On 26 March 2021, the Tribunal rendered its Award.
29. The Tribunal considered Respondent’s arguments with respect to jurisdiction at some length and rejected them all. Taking each of the above arguments in turn, the Tribunal held, inter alia, that:
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30. On the above basis, the Tribunal concluded, in its Award, that it had jurisdiction to hear the dispute.
31. With respect to Petitioner’s claims in the Arbitration, the Tribunal found, inter alia, that Respondent breached:
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engaged in illegal conduct or threats of illegal conduct towards Zhongfu and its employees;
32. Petitioner refers to paragraphs 121-132 of the Award for full details of the Tribunal’s analysis regarding Respondent’s breaches of the BIT.
33. On the basis of these breaches of the BIT, the Tribunal ordered Nigeria to pay Zhongshan:
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34. To date, Respondent has not complied with the Award and has not paid any part of the sums so awarded.
35. On April 23, 2021, Respondent filed an arbitration claim form in the English High Court seeking to challenge the Award under the English Arbitration Act, on the purported basis that the Tribunal lacked jurisdiction to render the Award (the “English Challenge”). (See Haeri Decl., ¶ 5.) A true and correct copy of the English Challenge is attached as Exhibit C to the Haeri Declaration.
36. In summary, Respondent contended that:
(See Haeri Decl., ¶ 6.)
37. On June 9, 2021, Zhongshan filed its response to the English Challenge. (See Haeri Decl., ¶ 7.) In summary, Zhongshan opposed the English Challenge on the basis that:
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(See id.)
38. On June 18, 2021, Zhongshan filed an application for security for costs and an application for security for the Award. Nigeria did not respond to those applications. (See Haeri Decl., ¶ 8.)
39. On October 11, 2021, four days before the hearing of Zhongshan’s application for security for costs, Nigeria filed a notice to discontinue the English Challenge. (See Haeri Decl., ¶ 9.) A true and correct copy of Nigeria’s notice of discontinuance of the English Challenge is attached as Exhibit D to the Haeri Declaration.
40. On November 3, 2021, the parties reached an agreement for Nigeria to pay Zhongshan’s costs of, and arising from, the English Challenge in the sum of GBP 175,000. (See Haeri Decl., ¶ 10.) An order of the English High Court was issued to this effect on November 4, 2021 requiring Nigeria to pay the agreed sum by 4pm on December 1, 2021. (See id.) In breach of this order, Nigeria paid only GBP 100,000 by the deadline. On December 2, 2021, Nigeria paid a further GBP 35,000. (See id.) On December 3, 2021, Nigeria paid a further GBP 25,000. On December 7, 2021, Nigeria paid the remaining GBP 15,000 due. (See id.)
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41. On November 8, 2021, following the discontinuance of the English Challenge, Petitioner invited Respondent to pay the sums awarded in the Award. No response was forthcoming. (See Haeri Decl., ¶ 11.) A true and correct copy of this November 8, 2021 correspondence is attached as Exhibit E to the Haeri Declaration. On November 26, 2021, Petitioner sent a second invitation for Respondent, which also received no answer. (See Haeri Decl., ¶ 11.) A true and correct copy of this November 26, 2021 correspondence is attached as Exhibit F to the Haeri Declaration.
42. On December 8, 2021, Petitioner commenced enforcement proceedings against Respondent in the UK court. (See Haeri Decl., ¶ 12.) On December 21, 2021, the English court issued an order recognizing the Award. This order will be served on Nigeria by Petitioner’s English counsel. (See id.)
43. As of the date of this Petition, Respondent still has not paid any part of the Award. (See Haeri Decl., ¶ 13.)
(Recognition and Enforcement of the Award under 9 U.S.C. § 207)
44. Petitioner repeats and re-alleges paragraphs 1 through 43 as if fully set forth herein.
45. The Award is a binding arbitration award and was rendered in Petitioner’s favor.
46. The Award is governed by the New York Convention because it arises out of a commercial legal relationship between Zhongshan and Nigeria and was rendered following an arbitration in London, United Kingdom (a contracting state to the New York Convention)—and at least one of the parties is not a citizen of the United States. See 9 U.S.C. § 202.
47. As of the date of this Petition, Respondent has not complied with the Award.
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48. The Federal Arbitration Act provides that the “court shall confirm the award unless it finds one of the grounds for refusal or deferral of recognition or enforcement of the award specified in the said Convention.” 9 U.S.C. § 207.
49. The Award has not been set aside or suspended by a court in the United Kingdom, the competent authority of the country in which and under the law of which the Award was made.
50. None of the grounds available for refusal or deferral of recognition or enforcement of an award specified in the New York Convention are applicable to the Award.
51. Pursuant to 9 U.S.C. § 207, Petitioner has brought this action within three years after the Award was made on March 26, 2021.
52. Under the terms of the Award, Respondent was ordered to pay:
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such interest to be compounded monthly, until and including the date of payment (and should, for any reason, USD LIBOR cease to be operative while any amount remains outstanding, the interest due shall from that date onward be calculated on the basis of whatever rate is generally considered equivalent to USD LIBOR plus 2%, compounded monthly, until and including the date of payment).”
53. By reason of the foregoing, pursuant to 9 U.S.C. § 207, Petitioner respectfully requests that the Court recognize and enforce the Award and enter judgment in favor of Petitioner and against Respondent in the amount of the Award and as reflected in the accompanying proposed order.
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month GBP LIBOR rate plus 2 per cent for each year, or proportion thereof, such interest to be compounded monthly, until and including the date of payment (and should, for any reason, GBP LIBOR cease to be operative while any amount remains outstanding, the interest due shall from that date onward be calculated on the basis of whatever rate is generally considered equivalent to GBP LIBOR plus 2%, compounded monthly, until and including the date of payment); and
Respectfully submitted,
Dated: January 25, 2022
By: /s/ Steven Moore
Steven Moore, D.C. Bar No. CT0012
WITHERS BERGMAN LLP
1700 East Putnam Avenue
Suite 400
Greenwich, Connecticut 06870
Telephone: (203) 302-4100
Fax: (203) 302-6609
[email protected]
Emma Lindsay (pro hac vice pending)
Jovana Crncevic (pro hac vice pending)
WITHERS BERGMAN LLP
430 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Telephone: (212) 848-9800
Fax: (212) 848-9888
[email protected]
[email protected]
Counsel for Petitioner Zhongshan Fucheng
Industrial Investment Co. Ltd.