Petrochemical Industries Co. (PIC) of Kuwait must pay Dow Chemical Co. $2.16 billion under an arbitrator’s ruling for wrongly canceling a planned plastics joint venture in 2008, Dow said yesterday.
The ruling against PIC of Kuwait by the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Court is final and binding, Reuters reported.
It is believed to be one of the largest-ever arbitration awards, according to Dow’s law firm, Shearman and Sterling LLP.
Kuwait pulled out of the planned $17.4 billion “K-Dow” petrochemical joint venture as the global economy sunk into the deep recession nearly four years ago, triggering charges from Dow that the move violated its agreements.
PIC is a unit of the Kuwait Petroleum Corp.
“This outcome brings resolution and closure to the issue,” Andrew Liveris, Dow`s chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement, cited by Reuters.
“We remain focused on continuing to move forward with our transformation and profitable business partnerships — both in Kuwait and around the world.”
A spokeswoman for Dow said it was not yet known when the company would receive the money from PIC.
Dow and PIC currently operate four other joint ventures, including ME Global, Equate, Kuwait Olefins Co. and Kuwait Styrene Co.
Dow wins $ 2 bn in Kuwait case
