In a twist that could potentially change the trajectory of international business disputes, the Court of Appeal in London stepped in favor of Deutsche Bank AG. On Wednesday, the court granted the bank’s request for injunctions, stalling proceedings initiated by a Gazprom joint venture in Russia, RusChemAlliance LLC. This move relates to a whopping €238 million ($252 million) guarantee tied to a gas plant project that hit a wall due to sanctions.
Arbitration in France: The Crux of the Matter
The court’s decision hinged on a prior agreement between Deutsche Bank and RusChemAlliance to settle any disputes over the project’s financing through arbitration in France. Justice Christopher Nugee’s verdict was pivotal, overturning a previous decision by the High Court. Drawing parallels to a detective finding a missing puzzle piece, fresh insights into French law led Justice Nugee to believe that French arbitrators would support the orders.
In a statement echoing the plot of a courtroom drama, Justice Nugee declared, “It seems to me that it is only appropriate for RusChemAlliance to be restrained from executing any such judgment in addition to being restrained from prosecuting the proceedings itself.”
Deutsche Bank Gazprom Claim : From Collaboration to Confrontation
The foundation of this tussle was laid in 2021 when RusChem entered into an agreement with a German construction firm, Linde Engineering, to erect a natural gas plant in Russia’s Leningrad region. Deutsche Bank stepped in, promising to guarantee a series of advance payments to Linde. However, the course of this business partnership was disrupted by unforeseen events on the global stage: sanctions imposed on Russia post its invasion of Ukraine.
