Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Misrepresentation under Omani Law
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Centre for the Protection of Competition and Prevention of Monopoly
Monday, December 9, 2019
Enforcement of Arbitral Awards, Part 3: Enforcement of Awards That Have Been Set Aside
Introduction
As mentioned in a previous article, under certain circumstances if an award has been set aside (denied ratification) by the court where the award was rendered, in very limited instances that award may still be enforced by the courts in another country. This is a particularly interesting occurrence as it goes against comity (the mutual recognition of legislative, executive, and judicial acts) as well as res judicata (a case in which there has been a final judgment and the matter is no longer subject to appeal). When this takes place, it is the result of a court setting aside an award on spurious grounds.As summarised in this article, the enforcement of an award that has been set aside at the seat takes place through the New York Convention (the “NYC”) (or other comparable convention) and is a considerably complex situation. This is a particularly noteworthy issue as courts in particular in the GCC have had a reputation for occasionally setting aside awards on grounds that are not internationally recognised, notably based on “unique” public policy grounds; this article will demonstrate that it is not the end of the road for those awards set aside.
When an award becomes binding
In order for an award to be enforceable under the NYC, that award needs to be binding. However, interestingly, the time at which an award becomes binding is not uniform across all countries.Notably, under Omani law, an award is binding and final after the 90-day period to challenge the award has elapsed (Article 58, Sultani Decree 47/1997, the "Arbitration Law"). In some jurisdictions an award is binding only after the award has been confirmed by a court; in others, it is considered final when it is rendered. In light of the fact that under the NYC the enforcement of foreign awards must not be given more onerous treatment than domestic awards, there is an argument that those courts must also treat an award that is rendered in Oman as binding and final when rendered despite the fact that the 90-day period under Omani law has not elapsed. This is a peculiar application of the NYC and international law, in that a foreign court would treat an Omani award as final before an Omani court. The counterargument to this is an award cannot be enforced until it is binding under the laws where it is made. Nonetheless, following the above, a foreign court could enforce an award that is binding in accordance with its domestic law and disregard the law of where it is rendered as to whether it is binding and final.
Article V(1)(e) hurdle
Article V of the NYC lists the grounds on which a court may refuse to enforce an award. Article V(1)(e) provides that: “The award has not yet become binding on the parties, or has been set aside or suspended by a competent authority of the country in which, or under the law of which, that award was made.”This article is noteworthy as it underpins that an award should be considered final or it may be denied enforcement.
Article V(1)
Even though an award is set aside by the courts where it is rendered, there is no obligation on a court in a foreign country to give comity to the decision to set the award aside.In this respect, Article V(1) of the NYC provides that a court may, but not must, refuse enforcement of an award if it falls under one of the five grounds to set aside an award that are listed under Article V(1).
The wording of Article V(1) is as follows:
“Recognition and enforcement of the award may be refused, at the request of the party against whom it is invoked, only if that party furnishes to the competent authority where the recognition and enforcement is sought ….”
The use of the word “may” is particularly important as it provides courts the discretion as to whether it will refuse enforcement. The drafters of the NYC intentionally included the word “may” in Article V(1) to provide this discretion to courts. This is also supported by case law from a number of jurisdictions.
Article V(2)(b)
In addition to the above is the local standards annulment provision: under the NYC an award may be set aside based on local standards that are unique to a particular jurisdiction; generally, this falls under public policy grounds that are unique to a certain country. When this takes place, an award that is set aside based on these unique standards may then be enforced in another jurisdiction that does not apply the same grounds for nullifying awards.For a more in-depth discussion of this topic, see M. Dunmore, Austrian Yearbook of International Arbitration, Chapter III: The Award and the Courts, Enforcement of Awards Set Aside in their Jurisdiction of Origin, 2014.
Sunday, December 8, 2019
In the Pipeline - November 2019
Sultani Decree 76/2019 promulgates the Civil Aviation Law. The law applies to civil aircraft registered in the Sultanate of Oman, civil airports, commercial air transport and general aviation, air navigation services and any other activities related to civil aviation in the Sultanate. Article 27 prohibits the use of remote-controlled aircraft, drones and any other flying object prior to obtaining approval from the competent authority. In addition, Article 27 prohibits the transport of weaponry, explosives, ammunition and all hazardous or inflammable materials in a civil aircraft prior to obtaining consent/approval from the competent authority. Sultani Decree 76/2019 repeals Sultani Decree 93/2004 and the law comes into force on the day following its publication.
The Law Governing the Practice of the Medical Profession and Associated Health Professions is promulgated by Sultani Decree 75/2019. The Minister of Health is set to issue the Executive Regulations within a period not exceeding one year from the date of publication. A technical committee shall be formed with the aim of preserving and maintaining the medical profession and to help it abide by its principles. Medical practitioners and associated health practitioners are under an obligation to perform their duties with integrity as required by the profession, to comply with the rules and regulations governing the practice of medicine and to document patients’ diagnosis and treatment. This law repeals Sultani Decree 22/1996 and comes into force on the day following its publication.
Please contact us if you would like more detailed advice on the above.
Monday, November 18, 2019
Letters of Credit under Omani Law
Letters of credit are vital instruments in the financing of international trade. Most letters of credit in international transactions are governed by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits 500 and 600. In the Sultanate of Oman (“Oman”) letters of credit are governed by the provisions contained in Chapter 6 [Documentary credit] of Sultani Decree 55/90 (the “Law of Commerce”).
A documentary credit, under the Law of Commerce, is a contract whereby the bank (the issuing bank) undertakes to open credit at the request of one of its customers (the applicant/buyer). The consideration is set for a certain amount and a specified period, in favour of another person (the beneficiary/seller), secured by documents which represent the goods that have been shipped or are being prepared for shipment (Article 377).
Usually, four parties are involved in the context of documentary credit transactions, namely: the applicant/buyer, the issuing bank, the beneficiary/seller, and the correspondent bank (confirming/advising and negotiating the letter of credit) (the correspondent bank). The bank opening the credit is obligated to implement the terms as to payment, acceptance and discounting agreed in the contract that opens the credit, provided the documents comply with the particulars specified in such contract (Article 379).
After opening the credit, the issuing bank informs the beneficiary directly or through a correspondent bank in the country of the recipient. The issuing bank may ask the correspondent bank either to advise the beneficiary (in which case the correspondent bank may not be obliged to make any payment to the recipient and is referred to as the advising bank); or advise the beneficiary and add its confirmation (in this case the correspondent bank can be held responsible for making payment to the beneficiary and is called the confirming bank). Once the advising bank has confirmed the documentary credit, it must refuse to accept any instructions to the contrary from the buyer.
Under the Law of Commerce, documentary credits may be either revocable or irrevocable (Article 380).
Revocable
In the case of a revocable documentary credit, the bank may, at any time, amend or cancel the documentary credit on its own initiative or at the request of the buyer and without incurring any liability towards the beneficiary (Article 381).Irrevocable
An irrevocable documentary credit constitutes a categorical undertaking by the bank which is conclusive and direct in relation to the beneficiary, provided the conditions therein are complied with (Article 382). An irrevocable documentary credit may not be cancelled or amended save by agreement of all the parties.It thus represents a direct relationship between the beneficiary and the bank and the right of the beneficiary against the bank is not infringed by any dispute between the buyer and seller to the contract of sale. An irrevocable documentary credit is therefore more advantageous to the seller as it gives more security in terms of payment.
Principle of autonomy
A documentary credit is considered a separate contract from the underlying sales contract under the principle of autonomy. Accordingly, the bank remains independent of such sales contract. The issuing bank assumes the liability of the buyer towards the beneficiary without involving itself in the underlying transaction between the buyer and the seller.The issuing bank will pay the beneficiary unconditionally if the beneficiary fulfils the documentary obligations based on terms mentioned in the documentary credit, irrespective of any disputes connected to the underlying contract between the buyer and seller (Article 385). Courts are reluctant to grant injunctions ordering banks to withhold payment unless there is a clear indication of fraud.
If the applicant does not pay to the bank the value of shipping documents complying with the terms of the opening of the credit within three months of the date of notice of the arrival of such documents, the bank may sell the goods pursuant to procedures specified by the court.
Monday, November 11, 2019
Enforcement of Awards, Part 2: Enforcing an Arbitral Award
Introduction
This article sets out the procedure under Omani law for enforcing an arbitral award, whether it be in Oman or abroad.After an arbitration is concluded and an award is rendered by a tribunal, the award cannot be enforced immediately. First, the party seeking enforcement will need to have the award executed by a court in Oman before it will be considered final and in turn enforceable in Oman.
Enforcement of an award in Oman
Under Omani law, once an award is rendered, the losing party has a 90-day period to commence proceedings to have an award annulled. Once the 90-day period has lapsed without proceedings having been commenced to annul the award, or after the rejection by the court of the annulment application, an application can be made to the Oman courts to have the award executed.The procedures for the annulment and the execution of an award are similar to the procedures in other countries that are party to the United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York, 10 June 1958) (the “New York Convention”).
Enforcement is initiated by giving the debtor notice of the enforcement proceedings. Notice can be effected by in-person service or service at the debtor’s domicile or place of business. The notification must include the required particulars and the order to the debtor to pay within seven days as of date of the notification.
The whole process of enforcement can take from seven months to one year in court.
Enforcement of an Omani arbitration award abroad
If the party that the award is being enforced against does not have assets in Oman, the award may be enforced in a foreign country that is also a signatory to the New York Convention. Currently there are 159 countries that are parties to the New York Convention, including Oman. Below is a general procedure overview of how a foreign award is enforced under the New York Convention.The New York Convention facilitates the enforcement of awards in countries that are signatories to the New York Convention. Once an award is binding and enforceable in the country where it is rendered, the award is then enforceable in other signatories to the New York Convention. Not only is the award enforceable but, owing to the reciprocal nature of the New York Convention, the award will not be subject to stringent confirmation procedures in the country of enforcement. It should be noted that there is a general (rebuttable) presumption that, once an award is final where it is rendered, it will be enforceable in a foreign country.
When enforcing a foreign award, Article IV of the New York Convention requires several basic formal requirements to be met in order for a foreign court to enforce an award under the New York Convention. This includes the submission of: the original award, the arbitration agreement and translations if necessary. These requirements have been universally transposed into domestic legislation of the parties to the New York Convention.
When an application for the enforcement of a foreign award is made, the court in the foreign country must apply the same grounds for the enforcement of the foreign award that it would apply to a domestic award. Generally these follow the grounds in the New York Convention. However, it is permissible for countries to adopt “local standards” so long as the process for enforcement of foreign awards is not more onerous then the enforcement of domestic awards.
The narrow grounds for setting aside an award are listed in Article V of the New York Convention.
It should be noted that the grounds for refusing to enforce an award are the same as denying execution. In light of this, if an award has been granted execution/confirmation where it is rendered, it is unlikely to be refused enforcement elsewhere under the New York Convention. In light of the above, it can be said that once an award has been executed in Oman, it is relatively straightforward to have that award enforced abroad.
Lastly, it should be noted that the enforcement of a foreign award in Oman follows the same process.
Conclusion
While arbitral awards in Oman are not enforceable immediately after they are rendered, the enforcement of awards in Oman is a relatively straightforward process. Likewise, the process for the enforcement of an Omani award in a foreign country is a relatively straightforward process through the New York Convention.Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Oman Drives Privatization and PPP Initiatives
Introduction
A series of laws were passed earlier this year that signify Oman’s ambition to be more active in adopting PPP models and drive privatization. These laws comprise:(a) The Public Private Partnership Law (Sultani Decree 52/2019) (“PPP Law”);
(b) Privatization Law (Sultani Decree 51/2019) (“Privatization Law”); and
(c) Establishment of the Public Authority for Privatization and Partnership (Sultani Decree 54/2019) (“PAPP” or “Authority”).
During the recent PPP Oman Forum held in October 2019, it was reiterated that PPP is one of the cornerstones of Vision 2040 and that projects valued at approximately OMR 2.5 billion are envisaged for implementation during the current (ninth) five-year development plan spanning health, education, transportation and public services sectors.
In this article we highlight some of the key provisions of the PPP Law, Privatization Law and the role of the Authority.
PPP Law
The PPP Law was published in the Official Gazette on 7 July 2019 and came into force on 8 July 2019 with Executive Regulations (and related decisions) to be issued by 8 July 2020. The PPP Law applies to Partnership Contracts and consultancy contracts relating to them. Whilst the Tender Law and the Privatization Law are expressly carved out from such contracts, the PPP Law does not affect provisions of any other laws relating to management, lease, licensing, usufruct, or concession of any public facility.The term “Partnership Contract” is broadly defined and is essentially the contract between the government (public) body and the private project company.
The key takeaways from the PPP Law are:
(a) Partnership Contracts must relate to partnership projects which have economic or social return and are in line with the strategy of the Sultanate and its development plan;
(b) Partnership Contracts are subject to competitive bidding, but direct award is possible with permission from the Council of Ministers;
(c) mandatory conditions and specifications for a partnership project (such as information and specifications about partnership project, value of temporary bond and calculation of final bond, technical, financial & legal principles on which bid will be evaluated, essential conditions of Partnership Contract along with statement of non-negotiable conditions);
(d) if a bid is submitted by a consortium, it is prohibited for any qualified candidate who is a member of the consortium to submit another bid (whether alone or in conjunction with another person (such as consortium or company in which he holds majority of capital or exercises control));
(e) the Authority is permitted to negotiate with a winning bidder and if negotiations fail, the Authority can negotiate with another bidder, but the Authority is not permitted to re-negotiate with a bidder with whom negotiations failed;
(f) requirement to establish a project company which may be 100% non-Omani owned;
(g) restrictions on project company during term of Partnership Contract (e.g., not permitted to sell shares, modify legal form, create encumbrances over shares (other than for the purposes of raising finance));
(h) mandatory content of Partnership Contract (ranging from identity of parties, insurance requirements, oversight, unilateral termination rights by public body and dispute resolution, amongst other requirements);
(i) step-in rights by public body (with consent from the Authority) to take over partnership project;
(j) mechanism for transfer of assets to State after expiration or termination of Partnership Contract;
(k) Partnership Contract must be subject to the laws of Oman;
(l) obligations on project company (such as prohibition to mortgage / sell land, compliance with Omani law, transfer of know-how, non-discrimination of products, preservation of assets, issuance of periodic reports); and
(m) the Authority can exercise control and oversight over partnership project.
Privatization Law
The Privatization Law was published in the Official Gazette on 7 July 2019 and came into force on 8 July 2019. The Privatization Law contemplates the issuance of Executive Regulations by the Authority by 8 July 2020. The Privatization Law expressly repeals the Privatization Law from 2004.The key takeaways from the Privatization Law are:
(a) distinction between:
1. “Privatization Project” (where a public project or a company wholly or partially owned by the government is transferred to a private person); and
2. “Company Transformation Project” (where a public project is to be transformed into a joint stock company wholly owned by the government);
(b) definition of “Project Company,” which means:
1. in respect of a Privatization Project: an Omani joint stock company which may be 100% non-Omani owned and whose rules and regulations in respect of capital etc. will be as set out in the Executive Regulations; and
2. in respect of a Company Transformation Project: a joint stock company wholly owned by the government whose mechanism for appointing its board shall be specified by the Council of Ministers;
(c) Tender Law does not apply to Privatization Project or Company Transformation Project;
(d) public projects or companies which are wholly or partially owned by the government must only be privatized in the manner prescribed by the Privatization Law and such privatization must be part of the privatization programme; if not within privatization programme, the Council of Ministers to approve privatization;
(e) award procedures for a Privatization Project subject to rules of transparency, publicity, equal opportunity, non-discrimination and free competition;
(f) the Authority may negotiate with winning bidder on items which were not marked “non-negotiable”;
(g) if negotiations fail, the Authority may negotiate with next bidder, but the Authority may not re-negotiate with a bidder with whom negotiations previously failed;
(h) content of privatization contract to be stipulated in Executive Regulations;
(i) mechanism for Omani employees who are subject to the State law and who are affected by a Privatization Project or Company Transformation Project;
(j) if employees are transferred then they cannot be dismissed within a period of five years from date of transfer provided that these employees abide by work systems and other controls; and
(k) status of employees who are not absorbed by the Project Company shall be adjusted per the rules decided by the Council of Ministers.
Role of the Authority
The Authority assumes an important and active role. Both the Privatization Law and the PPP Law make frequent references to the Authority. The law establishing the Authority lists the expansion of PPP, increased private sector activity and job creation as some of the Authority’s objectives as well as specifying the role of its Board and its CEO. It will be interesting to observe the role of the Authority as PPPs and privatization projects get underway.In the Pipeline - October 2019
Monday, October 21, 2019
The New Oman Standard Conditions of Contract
Background
Since 1999, the standard form construction contract most commonly used in Oman has been the 4th edition of the Standard Documents for Building and Engineering Works, especially for large, government-led infrastructure works. This year the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Legal Affairs published a new edition, which contains some noteworthy changes.The Standard Form Contract for Building and Civil Engineering Works (the “2019 Standard Form”) is based on the FIDIC Red Book (building and engineering works designed by the employer) in that it has an employer-design and contractor-build risk profile.
The 2019 Standard Form is based on the 1999 FIDIC Red Book, not the 2017 edition. Overall, this is a safer approach as the 2017 FIDIC Red Book is less used in the market than its 1999 counterpart.
Key changes
Defects liability
In relation to defects liability, the 1999 Standard Form provided for a ‘Period of Maintenance’ of 365 days, whereas the new ‘Defects Notification Period’ (“DNP”) under the 2019 Standard Form must now be agreed between the parties, and also allows the employer to extend the DNP. The engineer’s role in determining the condition of the works has been limited.Dispute resolution
With regard to dispute resolution, the 1999 Standard Form contained provisions for referral of disputes or differences to the engineer and thereafter to ad hoc arbitration. The 2019 Standard Form allows, where positively elected, for court-based litigation. The provisions relating to the Dispute Adjudication Board (“DAB”), which appeared in the 1999 version, do not feature in the 2019 Standard Form.Variations
The variations provisions have also been improved in the 2019 Standard Form, with value engineering built into the contract, providing greater scope for efficiencies and potential cost-savings to the employer.Omanisation
There is also the option in the 2019 Standard Form for the contractor to undertake to engage Omani SME contractors in relation to supply and sub-contracts. Omanisation is also now explicitly referenced but with the details to be agreed between the parties.Anti-bribery and corruption
Anti-bribery and corruption (“ABC”) provisions feature in the 2019 Standard Form, bringing Oman in line with international best practice. The ABC provisions oblige, for example, the contractor to operate effective ABC reporting and disclosure controls and procedures.Intellectual and industrial property rights
There is a new clause governing intellectual and industrial property rights (“IP”), which places reciprocal obligations and indemnities on the parties in relation to IP infringements.Force majeure
The ‘Special Risks’ regime has been replaced with ‘Force Majeure’ provisions and associated termination rights. Testing and Suspension mechanics, as well as Commencement, Delay and Extension of Time provisions, have also witnessed considerable changes.Tuesday, October 8, 2019
The New Oman Bankruptcy Law
(This article by Zainab Aziz, counsel in Curtis' Muscat office, appeared in the Lexis Nexis Middle East Legal Insight on 16 September 2019)
Applicability
Main provisions of the Bankruptcy Law
Roll of experts
The Bankruptcy Law prescribes that a roll of experts be established. The roll of experts will include individuals and companies specialising in restructuring, the management of assets during a bankruptcy proceeding, valuators, and all other experts as may be needed in connection with the provisions of the Bankruptcy Law.Restructuring
The Bankruptcy Law introduces the concept of restructuring, which aims to assist traders to overcome financial and administrative challenges in settling debts by restructuring the traders’ outstanding obligations in accordance with a restructuring plan prepared by a restructuring committee comprising of experts registered on the roll of experts. Restructuring the debts will allow the trader to avoid liquidation, by reaching a compromise with its creditors. The Bankruptcy Law also provides timelines within which the restructuring plan needs to be prepared, and the time within which the court must decide on an appeal in order to make the process expeditious. Unlike in the case of preventive composition, traders are permitted to submit a petition for restructuring prior to reaching a position where they are unable to pay their debts – only a showing of financial and administrative disorder is required to submit a restructuring petition. The term “financial and administrative disorder” is not defined in the Bankruptcy Law, and it remains to be seen how it will be interpreted by the courts.The petition for restructuring may be submitted by a trader who has been continuously engaged in business for the two years that precede the filing of the petition, provided that such trader has not committed any fraud. In addition, a petition for restructuring cannot be submitted until 3 years have lapsed from the date of refusal or stay of the previous petition. In the case of companies applying for a restructuring, the approval of a majority of the shareholders will be required.
The petition is required to be submitted to the Control and Inspection Department of Commercial Establishments at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (the “Department”). Filing a petition for restructuring will result in the stay of a petition in bankruptcy and preventive composition, until the final adjudication of the petition for restructuring.
The petition for restructuring is required to include the reasons for the financial and administrative disorder, the date of the disorder, the steps taken by the trader to overcome or remedy such disorder, as well as the steps the trader deems necessary to overcome such disorder. The petition for restructuring is required to be submitted within six months from the date of the financial and administrative disorder.
The Department will hold meetings with all the concerned parties to mediate and the settle the issues detailed in the petition. The Department will also appoint a restructuring committee comprising of members of the roll of experts to review the petition, determine the reason of the disorder, and manage and assess the assets of the petitioner. The restructuring committee is required to a prepare a report including the reasons for the disorder, a restructuring feasibility study, and a restructuring plan to be submitted to the Department or the relevant court, as the case may be, within three months of the restructuring committee being appointed. Any proposed restructuring plan must be capable of being implemented within five years.
If the creditors agree to a settlement or the restructuring plan, the trader and the creditors will execute the settlement agreement or restructuring plan, which will then be submitted to the court and will be binding on all the signatories.
If the parties are unable to reach a settlement or agree to the restructuring plan, the petition for restructuring will be considered to be rejected. The petitioner is entitled to appeal such rejection before the court within 15 days of notification of rejection of the petition. The court is required to decide on such appeal within seven days of the date of referral, and such decision will be final.
If the parties agree on a restructuring plan, the court may appointment a person from the roll of experts to assist the trader in implementing the restructuring plan. Such person will be required to prepare a report every three months in respect of the implementation and compliance with restructuring plan and submit such report to the Department and the signatories to the restructuring plan.
During the implementation of the restructuring plan, unlike in the case of an insolvency proceeding, the trader will continue to administer its property, and will remain liable in respect of obligations that are not included in the restructuring plan, are subsequent to the accreditation date of the restructuring plan, or that are contrary to the terms of the restructuring plan.
Preventive composition
The concept of preventive composition under the Bankruptcy Law is similar to provisions in respect of preventive composition set forth in Book 5 of the Law of Commerce. By applying for a preventive composition, a trader seeks to achieve a settlement with creditors and avoid bankruptcy.A trader is entitled to apply for a preventive composition if the trader is likely to cease payment of the trader’s debts. In order to be eligible to apply for preventive composition, the trader should have been engaged in business in the preceding two years and must not have committed any act of fraud or gross fault. All companies except for joint ventures are entitled to apply for preventive composition provided that they comply with the aforementioned requirements and obtain the approval of a majority of the shareholders. Unlike in bankruptcy proceedings, creditors cannot make an application for preventive composition.
Following the submission of a petition for a preventive composition that is accepted by the relevant court, all bankruptcy proceedings and other claims and enforcement actions relating to the trader are automatically stayed, which includes proceedings in respect of both secure and unsecured debts. The stay against secured claims is distinct from bankruptcy proceedings, where only unsecured claims are stayed. The court may also decide to take precautionary measures in order to preserve the trader’s assets. By preserving the assets of the trader, both from secure creditors and potentially from the trader, it is anticipated that the trader will be able to achieve a resolution whereby the business is preserved and able to settle the debts, as opposed to liquidating the business. During this time, the trader can continue to administer the property and undertake acts in the ordinary course of business.
A composition trustee is appointed by the court, and the trustee must, within five days of being notified of his appointment, notify the Commercial Registry of the commencement of the composition proceedings and publish the initial consent to commence composition proceedings in the Commercial Register and invite all creditors of the trader to a meeting. Such invitation is required to be published in a well-known daily newspaper or any other publication specified by the court. Within 15 days of such publication, all creditors of the trader are required to provide details in respect of their debts to the composition trustee to enable the composition trustee to prepare list of debts and creditors and submit the same to the relevant court within 40 days of the date of issuance of the decision opening the preventive composition proceedings. Once the list of creditors has been verified, the court will set a time within which the creditors are required to meet to decide on the terms of the preventive composition. Five days prior to such meeting of the creditors, the composition trustee is required to submit their report including their opinion on the terms of the preventive composition proposed by the trader.
A judge of the relevant competent court will preside over such meeting of creditors and an approval of a majority of the creditors whose debts have been accepted is required to approve the preventive composition, provided that such majority of creditors also holds two-thirds of the verified debts. In the case of a company that has issued bonds or sukuks, where the value of the outstanding bonds or sukuks exceeds one-third of the total outstanding debts, the composition will require the approval of a general assembly of the holders of such bonds or sukuks. Secured creditors are prevented from participating in voting unless they waive their rights as secured creditors.
Once the preventive composition is approved by the requisite majority and is ratified by the court, the terms of the composition will apply to all unsecured creditors, including those who voted against it.
The rights of secured creditors are not impacted by the preventive composition, and they remain entitled to enforce their securities against the trader.
A preventive composition may be annulled by the court after ratification if it is later discovered that the trader acted in a fraudulent or misleading way, such as by concealing assets or over estimating debts etc.
Bankruptcy
The provisions relating to insolvency proceedings under the Bankruptcy Law are similar to provisions previously set forth in Book 5 of the Law of Commerce.A trader may submit a bankruptcy petition if the trader has suspended payment of commercial debts due to a disruption in the trader’s business. The petition is required to be submitted within 15 days from the date of cessation of payment. Unlike in the case of preventive compositions, creditors owed commercial debts are also entitled to submit a bankruptcy petition to declare a debtor trader bankrupt.
In addition, a court may, on its own initiative, adjudicate a trader bankrupt. With respect to companies, submission of a bankruptcy petition by the trader company requires the approval of majority of its shareholders.
Bankruptcy claims will be examined by the court on a summary basis and the court may order precautionary measures against the assets of the trader debtors to preserve the assets of the trader prior to the adjudication of bankruptcy. The court will also determine a date for the cessation of payments by the trader, and appoint a liquidator and appoint a judge as the official receiver to oversee the insolvency proceedings. The liquidator takes over the management of the assets of the bankrupt person and acts on behalf of the bankrupt person during the liquidation process. The fees and expenses of the liquidator are determined by the official receiver.
Following the adjudication of bankruptcy by the court, the liquidator will enter the adjudication in the Commercial Register and publish a summary of the adjudication in the official gazette, which should include an invitation to creditors to submit details of their debts. The bankrupt person will no longer be entitled to administer, dispose of any property, pay any debts or recover any amounts owed to him. The management of the assets and liabilities of the bankrupt person rests with the liquidator.
If a partnership is adjudicated to be bankrupt, all the partners will also be declared bankrupt, regardless of whether the court adjudicating the bankruptcy has jurisdiction over such partners. In addition, former partners of a partnership who withdrew from the partnership after the cessation of payment of debts but prior to the adjudication of bankruptcy will also be declared bankrupt when the partnership is declared bankrupt.
The fact that a person has been declared bankrupt does not have the effect of vitiating, or automatically terminating, those contracts that were entered into by the bankrupt person prior to the declaration of bankruptcy. Any contract entered into by the bankrupt person prior to the date of declaration of bankruptcy remains valid and continues to exist although certain obligations under those contracts may become suspended by reason of bankruptcy.
Following the declaration of bankruptcy of an insolvent person, interest will cease to accrue on the debts of the bankrupt person and creditors will not be entitled to initiate or continue any legal proceedings against the bankrupt person. Secured creditors may however, continue or initiate proceedings against the liquidator for the sale of the securities securing the amounts owed to the secured creditors.
Upon the declaration of bankruptcy, the bankrupt person’s debts will be settled in the following order of priority:
- salaries of employees;
- government dues and taxes;
- preferred or secured creditors; and
- unsecured creditors.
In the event that the assets of a company adjudicated bankrupt are not sufficient to settle at least 20% of the debts, the court may, at the request of the liquidator, oblige all or some members of the board of directors of the company to jointly or severally settle the debts of the company, unless the directors are able to prove that they exercised due care and diligence in the management of the company. The liquidator may also request that the bankruptcy judge require shareholders to settle outstanding debts of the bankrupt company from their shares in the company or the remainder of the value of their shares in the company.
Pursuant to the Commercial Companies Law, insolvency of a company is one of the reasons for which it may be dissolved and be struck off from the Commercial Register. The Bankruptcy Law states that a company may be dissolved if it is established that the remaining assets after liquidation are not sufficient to proceed with its activities.
Under the provisions of Oman Sultani Decree No. 35/2003 on the Promulgation of the Labour Law, an employer is responsible for all obligations towards its employees arising under the contract of employment and Oman Sultani Decree No. 35/2003. Article 47 of Oman Sultani Decree No. 35/2003 states that the liquidation, insolvency or bankruptcy and final authorised closure of an employer are valid grounds for termination of an employment contract by that employer. To the extent that the employer terminates its employees on the ground of its insolvency, that would be considered a valid ground for termination of such employees.
Judicial composition
A judicial composition may be initiated by a bankruptcy judge after a declaration of bankruptcy at the request of an interested party. The liquidator will be asked to provide an opinion on the terms of the proposed composition, and similar to a preventive composition, approval of a majority of creditors (whose debts have been approved in the bankruptcy) is required, provided that the amounts owed to such creditors comprise of two-thirds of the total outstanding amount.Once the creditors and the bankrupt person have agreed the terms of the judicial composition, it will be ratified by the judge and all effects of the person being adjudicated bankrupt will be removed. Upon ratification of the judicial composition, the liquidator must resign and the bankrupt person will be entitled to manage their assets.
A bankrupt person will not be entitled to enter into a judicial composition if they have been sentenced for committing fraud during the bankruptcy proceedings, and a ratified judicial composition may be annulled if the bankrupt person is later convicted a committing fraud during the bankruptcy proceeding.
Creditors’ union
If a bankrupt person does not apply for a judicial composition or the composition is rejected or annulled, the creditors will be ipso jure in a state of union.Following the establishment of the union of creditors, the bankruptcy judge will convene a meeting of the union of creditors to appoint a trustee of the union of creditors and to determine whether to retain or change the liquidator, as may be determined by a majority of the creditors.
The trustee is not entitled to continue the business of the bankrupt person without the prior approval of three-quarters of the total number of creditors forming the union and the bankruptcy judge. The trustee may, however, be entitled to sell moveable and immoveable assets of the bankrupt person, the amount of which may be deposited into a designated bank account. The fees associated with the bankruptcy proceeding, the cost of administration of the estate, and any amounts to be paid to the bankrupt individual will be deducted from amounts realized from the insolvency, followed by amounts due to secured creditors. The remaining amount will be distributed amongst the unsecured creditors on a pro-rata basis based on the debts verified by the liquidator.
The official receiver may terminate the bankruptcy proceedings under the following conditions:
- no debts were accepted in the bankruptcy proceedings or debts were owed to one creditor;
- the payment of all debts accepted under the bankruptcy proceedings;
- entering into a composition with creditors;
- non-availability of property belonging to the bankrupt person that may be subject to the execution; and
- liquidating all the property of the bankrupt person and ratifying the final accounts.
Rehabilitation
Penalties
- in bad faith conceals all or some their property with the aim of achieving a restructuring or a preventive composition;
- induces or enables a creditor to unlawfully participate in a restructuring or preventive composition; or
- in bad faith neglects to include the name of certain creditors in the list of creditors.
Conclusion
Monday, September 23, 2019
Dissolution and Liquidation Under the New Commercial Companies Law
The recently issued Commercial Companies Law (Royal Decree No. 18/2019), introduced in our previous post, has implemented several changes that modernize and increase the efficiency of commercial company practice in Oman. Among these, we will review some notable changes to the regime governing the dissolution and liquidation of commercial companies.
Generally, the new provisions regarding liquidation are more elaborate and detailed in setting out the liquidation process and the responsibilities of the parties involved, resulting in a clear and more organized procedure. They also establish new or more stringent deadlines to expedite the liquidation process. Below, we set out the key changes as introduced in Section 3 of the Commercial Companies Law.
Reasons for Dissolution
The list of reasons for the dissolution of a company has expanded. The failure of a company to conduct business from the date of its incorporation or a halt in its operations and business for more than two years are now valid reasons for dissolution. Moreover, the reduction of the company’s share capital beyond a stipulated minimum limit, with no possibility of increasing it within a specified period, can also justify dissolution.Under the previous Commercial Companies Law (Royal Decree No. 4/1974), transfer of all shares in the capital of the company to one partner was a reason for dissolution. As the new Commercial Companies Law introduced the Sole Shareholder Company, this was changed to “the transfer of all shares to a number of partners or shareholders below the stipulated limit” and remains applicable only to Joint Stock Companies, which still require at least three shareholders.
Liquidators and Liquidator Responsibilities
A noteworthy change is that liquidators must be licensed accountants and auditors, accredited by the competent authorities. This excludes lawyers from acting as liquidators, and reflects the nature of the liquidation process and the necessity of involving accountants in the process.The new law now also requires liquidators to prepare financial statements of the company, in addition to the inventory of the company’s assets and liabilities.
Time Limits
The following new time limits have been imposed in order to streamline the liquidation process:- the period of voluntary liquidation is now limited to three years, and can only be extended with the approval of the competent authority (the Ministry of Commerce and Industry or the Capital Market Authority, depending on the type of company);
- a copy of the liquidation resolution or the order must be lodged with the Registrar within 15 days of issuance, and then published by the Registrar within seven days;
- the announcement for the creditors’ grace period to bring forward claims must be issued by the liquidator within seven days from the date on which the issued liquidation order is lodged with the Registrar;
- the report on liquidation activities conducted during the year, together with the financial statements, must be submitted within 30 days of the end of the financial year during liquidation;
- on conclusion of liquidation, the final report must be submitted within 30 days for approval. Once issued, a copy of the approval must be lodged with the Registrar within seven days of issuance, and then published within two days.
Unpaid and Unclaimed Proceeds of Liquidation
Any remaining unpaid balance of liquidation is to be deposited in a fund set up by the Ministry of Commerce. Entitled persons must be notified, and publication must be made in two daily newspapers at least twice in one year before the passage of fifteen years from the date of deposit. Monies that remain unclaimed for fifteen years are to be hypothecated for charitable activities.Read more about the New Commercial Companies Law (Sultani Decree 18/2019):
New Commercial Companies Law Permits Work and Services as Contributions in Kind to the Share Capital of Joint Stock Companies (April 2019)
Access to Company Documents under the Old CCL and the New CCL (June 2019)
The Board of Directors of an Omani Joint Stock Company under the New Commercial Companies Law (June 2019)
Establishment of Companies by Sultani Decree (July 2019)
Monday, September 16, 2019
Islamic Banking in Oman: Rapid Growth Towards Competing with Conventional Banking
Islamic banks in Oman have made their mark in the banking sector since their adoption at the end of 2012.
They can no longer be considered a mere diversification of the banking system. Over the past few years, these banks have developed significantly and are now competing with their conventional counterparts, earning huge profits and enjoying high asset quality.
Strong presence and expansion in Oman
Over the past years, Islamic banks and windows have registered a strong presence across a network of branches throughout Oman. The total number of branches of Islamic banks and windows operating in Oman reached 77 licensed branches at the end of March 2018, according to data published on the Central Bank of Oman’s (the “CBO’s”) website. These branches belong to two Islamic banks, Bank Nizwa and Alizz Islamic Bank; in addition to these, there are six Islamic windows operated by conventional banks.According to recent data published by the CBO at the end of last month, the total Islamic banking assets in the country had increased from OMR3.3 billion in 2017 to OMR3.991 billion. In the third quarter of 2018 alone, there was 21% growth.
Combined Islamic finance institutions accounted for 12.4% of the total assets of the Omani banking sector at the end of March 2018.
The volume of financing provided to private sector institutions and companies from Islamic banks and banking windows amounted to OMR2.747 billion, equivalent to 1.3% of the total funding provided to the private sector by banks.
Continuing growth
In May 2018, Bank Nizwa, Oman's first Islamic bank, announced a net profit of OMR3.8 million at its annual general meeting, representing growth of 3.343% from the previous year.The bank’s total assets increased by 35% to reach OMR697 million, up from OMR516 million in the previous year.
Taher bin Salim Al Omari, chief executive officer of the CBO, said in remarks published by the official Oman News Agency (“ONA”) in July of this year, that Islamic banks and windows accounted for 13.2% and 13%, respectively, of the total financing and deposits in the Omani banking sector until the end of March 2019.
He explained that Islamic banks and windows generally require a period ranging between three and four years to achieve good results, and to draw level with other banks.
He also explained that Oman’s adoption of Islamic banking in 2013 was aimed at diversifying banking and financial services in the local market and increasing financial depth and comprehensiveness, in order to serve the national economy.
Islamic banks in the Gulf region hold approximately a third of the assets of their international counterparts, according to a study by the Arab Monetary Fund issued in June 2017.
According to the same study, the period following the global financial crisis in 2008 witnessed a remarkable growth in Islamic banking activity, with a compound growth rate of 17% during that period, reflecting widespread global interest in Islamic banking financing opportunities.
There are around 700 Islamic banking institutions worldwide, of which 250 are operating in the Gulf region.
Read more about Islamic Banking and Finance in Oman in previous Oman Law Blog articles:
Islamic Project Finance - Part 1 (March 2016)
Islamic Project Finance - Part 2 (May 2016)
Islamic Project Finance - Part 3 (September 2016)
Takaful in Oman (May 2015)
Shari'a-Compliant Investment Banking in the Sultanate of Oman (March 2013)
Sukuk in the Sultanate of Oman (February 2013)
Islamic Banking Law Decree in the Sultanate of Oman (January 2013)
Islamic Banking: Home Purchase Financings Part I - The Lease (August 2012)
Islamic Banking: Home Purchase Financings Part II - Musharaka Mutanaqisa (August 2012)
Islamic Banking: Home Purchase Financings Part III - Murabaha and Tawarruq (October 2012)
Islamic Banking: A Brief Introduction (July 2012)
Islamic Banking (November 2012)
Islamic Banking: Shari'a Governance (December 2012)
Islamic Banking in Oman - Part 2 (July 2011)
Monday, September 9, 2019
Istishkal Appeals
Istishkal is a mechanism that is used to enforce one’s rights to stop the enforcement of an award. This article provides an overview of how Istishkals work.
The Law
Article 363 of the Code of Civil and Commercial Procedures outlines two types of Istishkal:- Istishkal for urgent relief:
The first type of Istishkal provides a party with urgent relief. This article gives a bailiff the option to either suspend the execution of an award or continue with the execution of an award. If this type of Istishkal application is made, the parties must appear before the enforcement court. The notice period before which a party must appear at the hearing may be very short, in some cases the parties may be given only 1 hour to appear before a judge, and if the court is closed the parties may even appear before a judge at the judge’s home, if necessary. - Istishkal related to the ownership of property or a substantive dispute in the enforcement of an award:The second type of Istishkal application relates to the suspension of the enforcement of an award after the award has been submitted to an execution court for enforcement. The enforcement judge decides on the Istishkal application in a hearing after notice is given to the parties. This second type of Istishkal application has been increasingly used to stall the enforcement of awards in Oman.
Procedures
Submission of an Istishkal application:
- An Istishkal application is directly submitted to the enforcement judge or to the bailiff in the case of an urgent Istishkal application.
- If the Istishkal is of the first type described above, the litigants are assigned to appear before the enforcement judge urgently, even within an hour and at the judge’s residence; the bailiff in this case cannot complete the enforcement procedures before the judge issues his judgment.
- If the Istishkal is of the second type described above, the parties are notified of the Istishkal application and a judge holds a hearing to determine whether to grant the Istishkal.
- In both cases, the enforcement judge shall issue a judgment on the Istishkal application. The enforcement judge may make the applicant pay a fine if his Istishkal application is not successful. In cases where a party files a vexation Istishkal application to stop the enforcement, the other party may claim compensation.
- It takes approximately one month from the time of filing an Istishkal application to a court issuing a decision on an Istishkal application.
- Filing an Istishkal application will stall the enforcement.
Appeal of Istishkal decision:
- If the Istishkal is of the first type, the appeal shall be made to the Primary Court. The appeal panel at the primary court will consist of three judges.
- If the Istishkal is of the second type, when the value of the dispute is between RO 1,000 and RO 3,000 the appeal shall be made to the Primary Court and heard by a bench of three judges. If the value of the dispute exceeds RO 3,000, the appeal shall determined by the Court of Appeal.
- An appeal of an Istishkal decision shall be filed no more than 7 days from the date of the judgment.
- If the judgment is issued by a Primary Court consisting of three judges, it may not be appealed before the Supreme Court, and if it is issued by the Court of Appeal, it may be appealed before the Supreme Court.
- It takes approximately one month from the time of filing an appeal to a court issuing the Judgment.
- Filing the appeal will stall the enforcement.
Legal Precedents before the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has issued judicial precedents which establish the following in relation to Istishkals:- The purpose of Istishkal is a timely or precautionary measure that does not affect the disputed right, which may be presented by the enforcement parties or by third parties of interest.
- The Supreme Court is not allowed to prejudice the right to settle Istishkal.
- Istishkal judgments issued by the Courts of Appeal may be appealed at the Supreme Court.
Read more about disputes in Oman and the enforcement of Omani court judgments:
Omani Arbitration Law: Time for a Change? (July 2018)
Enforcement of Omani Court Judgments and Arbitration Awards in Commercial Disputes: Process and Procedure (November 2015)
Monday, September 2, 2019
In the Pipeline - August 2019
Monday, August 26, 2019
Construction of Contracts in English and Omani Law
English law
In English law the process by which courts decide what an agreement means is based on the objective view of a reasonable person, given the context in which the contracting parties made their agreement, though recent judgments suggest that the courts are reverting to a more rigid mode of interpretation paying closer attention to the formal expression of the parties’ intentions and taking more of a literal view of what they have said.The lead case remains, for now, Investors Compensation Scheme Ltd. v West Bromwich Building Society [1997] UKHL 28, which laid down that a contextual approach must be taken to the interpretation of contracts. In his judgment, Lord Hoffman set out five principles, so that contractual terms should be construed in accordance with:
1. what a reasonable person having all the background knowledge would have understood;
2. where the background includes anything in the ‘matrix of fact’ that could affect the language’s meaning;
3. but excluding prior negotiations, for the policy of reducing litigation;
4. where meaning of words is not to be deduced literally, but contextually; and
5. on the presumption that people do not easily make linguistic mistakes.
Omani law
By contrast, under Omani law, if there is any ambiguity in a contractual term, a subjective test is applied to discover what the real intention of the parties was when drafting the contract. Article 165 of the Civil Transactions Law, promulgated by the Civil Code, provides that:“If the wording of a contract is clear, it may not be departed from under the pretext of construing same to find the intention of the parties.”
However:
“If there is ambiguity in the phrase of the contract, it must be construed to find the mutual intention of the parties without limiting the construction to the literal meaning of the words. This shall be guided by the nature of the transaction, common practice and the trust and confidence which should exist between the parties to a contract.”
Further, article 166 of the Civil Code states that any ambiguity in a contractual term should be construed against the party seeking to rely on the provision.
However, it is important to remember that the parties are free to modify or exclude any of these statutory rules of construction by agreement and to stipulate their own rules of construction in their place.
Monday, August 19, 2019
Latent Defects in Omani Construction Contracts
In Justin Sweet’s authoritative work Defects, the term “defect” is defined as “a failure of the completed project to satisfy the express or implied quality or quantity obligations of a construction contract.”
The question of whether a defect is patent or latent is determined objectively. A latent defect is one that would not be apparent in the course of a reasonable inspection. A particular defect may be latent to the casual observer, but patent to a construction professional, such as an architect or engineer. In a commercial context, there are cases that suggest that a defect is patent if it is reasonably discoverable with the benefit of such skilled third-party advice.
The Omani perspective
The Fédération Internationale des Ingénieurs-Conseils (FIDIC) Conditions of Contract for Construction, more commonly known as the FIDIC Red Book, is commonly used for building and engineering works designed by the employer in Oman. (This article references the 1999 first edition.)The provisions in the Red Book dealing with latent defects are generally consistent with the position under Omani law, essentially that contractors may be liable for latent defects discovered after the performance certificate has been issued by the employer.
Many of those familiar with the construction industry in the Middle East region will be familiar with the term “decennial liability.” In particular, many will be familiar with a requirement that, in relation to works performed under a construction contract, a contractor and an architect remain legally liable for a period of 10 years after the completion of the works.
A number of countries in the Middle East have similar legal provisions in that regard. Generally, neither a contractor nor an architect can contract out of the liability. The liability is a form of strict liability. There are some differences of opinion among the legal profession as to what extent (if any) a claimant needs to prove fault or causation against a contractor or architect, but it is clear that there is no obligation on a claimant to prove negligence, or a failure to achieve an industry standard, etc. To put it another way, there is no requirement to demonstrate the contractor or architect was “negligent,” but there are some differing views as to what extent (if any) there is a need to show that some action or inaction by the contractor or architect caused or contributed to the loss and damage.
In most parts of the Middle East, where there is a law imposing decennial liability, it only applies where the relevant structure has collapsed or suffers a major structural defect. The law in Oman is far more extensive. The relevant provisions of Sultani Decree 29/2013 (the “Civil Code”) are typical of what might be found in other jurisdictions in the Middle East, in that liability is limited to total or partial collapse, and defects affecting the stability or safety of the works.
However, the Engineering Consultancy Law promulgated by Sultani Decree 27/2016 (the “Engineering Consultancy Law”) provides that decennial liability extends to any defect, not just defects leading to collapse or those affecting stability or safety. This would suggest that the contractor and the engineer remain liable for ten years for even minor defects.
In summary, decennial liability is broader in Oman than elsewhere in the Middle East, and can cover defects, both patent and latent, that are neither structural nor safety-related. It is important that, when drafting contracts, contractors and consultants consider how best to allocate risk and protect themselves from claims. It is also critical that parties to construction contracts keep good records to protect themselves from such claims, including photographs of works, and any relevant warranties given by manufacturers and suppliers.
Monday, August 12, 2019
New Foreign Capital Investment Law
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos issued Sultani Decree 50/2019 on 1 July 2019, issuing the much-awaited new Foreign Capital Investment Law (the “New FCIL”) that replaced the earlier Foreign Capital Investment Law issued by Sultani Decree 102/1994 (the “Old FCIL”). The development of the New FCIL took over four years and involved assistance from the World Bank. During the course of the development of the New FCIL, the comments and input from various stakeholders, and consultation sessions, were organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (the “MOCI”). The New FCIL comes into force six months after the date of its publication in Official Gazette issue 1300 on 7 July 2019.
Under the Old FCIL regime, foreigners could not undertake commercial activity in Oman unless they had a formal presence by way of a legal entity or an agent. A legal entity would take the shape of either a commercial company under the Commercial Companies Law or a branch of a foreign company.
While foreigners could register a local commercial entity under the provisions of the Old FCIL and the Commercial Companies Law, their ability to establish a wholly owned commercial company was restricted. Under the provisions of the Old FCIL, a foreigner could establish a commercial company in Oman, subject to a restriction on maximum foreign ownership in the share capital of the commercial company. This restriction initially allowed up to a maximum foreign ownership of 49%. Upon Oman’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (the “WTO”), this restriction was relaxed to a maximum of 70% of the share capital of a commercial company. As an exception to the Old FCIL, complete foreign ownership was permitted in some exceptional circumstances. The exceptions were as follows:
(i) establishment in one of the Free Zones;
(ii) establishment under the Gulf Co-operation Council (the “GCC Treaty”);
(iii) establishment under the one of the free trade agreements (“FTA”) ratified and in force in Oman; and
(iv) special projects (with a minimum capital of OMR 500,000) which contribute to the development of the national economy as approved by committee for foreign investment following a recommendation from the MOCI under the provisions set out in the Old FCIL.
The New FCIL removes the requirement for having an Omani partner and shareholding restrictions on foreigners, thereby effectively permitting wholly owned non-Omani companies.
Under the New FCIL, all benefits, incentives and guarantees granted to foreign investment projects under the Old FCIL shall continue until such time that those benefits expire. The New FCIL is promulgated without prejudice to the regimes pertaining to GCC investment, the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates and the Free Zones. Article 3 prohibits foreigners from practicing investment activities in Oman save in accordance with the provisions of the New FCIL. It further provides that foreign investment projects will be subject to the laws of Oman and subject to any international treaty in force in Oman in relation to investment and double taxation. It appears that FTAs entered into by Oman will continue to be implemented in their usual course.
The New FCIL provides for establishment of an Investment Service Centre (the “Centre”) at the MOCI. The Centre will be responsible for licensing and easing the procedures relating to grant of licences, permits and other consents required for an investment project. The Centre will also be responsible for issuing foreign investment licences to foreign investors. While the Old FCIL also provided for grant of a licence for foreign investment, in recent practice that licence was not issued separately and was considered deemed to have been granted with the company registration documents.
Article 7 of the New FCIL states that foreign investors will be required to abide by the timetables provided by them for the execution of the project and approved in accordance with the economic feasibility study. It also restricts foreign investors from making substantial amendments to the project without the MOCI’s approval. It appears that under the New FCIL the foreign investors will be required to submit a business plan. We expect this to be similar to, although more detailed than, the foreign investment application form that the MOCI introduced few years ago.
In addition, the New FCIL provides that the Cabinet may grant a single approval based on a recommendation of the Minister of Commerce and Industry to establish, operate and manage strategic projects. This approval will be effective on its own without the need for further procedures. It appears that once the Cabinet’s single approval is granted as an umbrella approval, then the other project approvals from different governmental entities and authorities would not be required. What this would entail in practice and how different it would be from the other approvals mentioned in the New FCIL is yet to be seen.
While the New FCIL is substantially different from the Old FCIL, there are a number of similarities. Article 6 of the New FCIL provides that foreign investment projects may be carried out by an establishment or a company established under the law. Furthermore, Article 14 provides for a negative list of activities, in other words activities that are not open to foreign investment. The MOCI maintains a list a foreign investment negative list on the basis of the Old FCIL and following reservations made in its accession to the WTO. Until such time that a new negative list is published we expect that the negative list currently implemented will continue in effect.
The executive regulations of the New FCIL are to be issued within six months of its effective date. Until such time, the regulations under the Old FCIL will continue to the extent that they do not contradict the New FCIL.