News

Renewable Energy: Regulation of Distributed Generation Law No. 27,424

On November 1, 2018, Decree No. 986/2018 (the “Decree”) was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Argentina.

The Decree contains the applicable regulation of Law No. 27,424, which approved the Distributed Renewable Energy Generation Incentive Scheme (the “Law”), passed by the National Congress on November 2017.

The Law sets forth policies and contractual conditions applicable to the distributed renewable energy generation by distribution network users (which in turn are enabled to connect their small-scale renewable energy projects to the electricity grid for purposes of supplying power remainders) and declared this activity as of national interest. Moreover, the Law is also based on open access rules, whereby the distribution companies regulated as public utilities must provide open access to the systems operated by them in this regard.

The Decree establishes that measures implemented under the Law shall be oriented towards achieving a total installed capacity of one thousand megawatts (1,000 MW) on the twelfth- year anniversary as from the date on which the Decree becomes effective (year 2030).

The most relevant aspects of the Decree are summarized below:

1) Enforcement Authority

  • The Secretary of Government of Energy, under the Ministry of Treasury, is designated as the enforcement authority of the Law and the Decree (the “Enforcement Authority”), with faculties to issue clarifying and complementary regulations.
  • The Enforcement Authority shall: (a) provide technical requirements which users-generators must fulfill in order to generate electric energy for self-consumption and to inject surpluses to the distribution network, and (b) define the categories of users-generators according to technical parameters.
  • Further regulation containing safety and technical requirements, to be carried out by the distribution companies in order to enable connection to their grid, is differed to a later stage.
  • The Enforcement Authority will approve the terms and conditions of the renewable energy contract to be entered by and between the user-generators and distribution companies. Pursuant to the Decree, the Enforcement Authority shall define the Distributed Renewable Energy Generation Contract main terms and conditions.

2) Scope

  • Categories of user-generators shall be defined by the Enforcement Authority, based on power of contracted load and capacity of generation to be installed.
  • The way upon the user-generators will connect to the grid, as well as procedural steps including a special authorization, are deferred to further complementary regulation.

3) Connection authorization

  • In order to obtain a connection authorization, users willing to install a distributed generation equipment connected to the distribution network shall comply with the procedure to be approved by the Enforcement Authority.
  • Such procedure shall include -inter alia- the following steps:

    • Analysis of connection feasibility based on the distribution network and the characteristics of distributed generation equipment to be installed.
    • Verification of the installations.
    • Execution of a distributed electric energy generation agreement.
    • Set-up of smart-grid equipment.
    • Connection to the distribution network.
  • When the technical and security evaluation is approved, the user-generator and the distributing companies shall execute a distributed electric energy generation agreement.
  • Once such agreement is executed and the connection is allowed, the Enforcement Authority shall issue a certificate of compliance with applicable requirements and the date of connection to the bidirectional measuring equipment.

4) Invoicing system

The Decree sets forth a net balance invoicing system, whereby costs of consumed energy and produced energy are compensated between each other.

Each distribution company shall comply with the following:

  • Distributing companies shall buy and pay to user-generators all energy that may be injected to the distribution network generated by renewable sources.
  • The “Injection Rate” shall be the purchase price of electric energy, including the transmission rate of the Wholesale Electricity Market (the “WEM”).
  • This compensation shall be valued in Argentine pesos and included in the pertaining invoice.
  • If there are any surpluses in favor of user-generators, a credit for future invoices will be generated. If such credit remains, user-generators may request the distribution companies to compensate the remaining amounts. Distribution companies shall pay the remaining amounts in no less than two fixed annual payments.
  • Credits may be assigned by users connected to the same grid and may be allocated for tax benefit purposes.

5) FODIS

  • The Law creates a government-trust fund known as the Distributed Renewable Energy Generation Fund (the “FODIS”, for its Spanish acronym), which is regulated by the Law, the Decree, rules dictated by the Enforcement Authority, the trust agreement and further regulation. FODIS’ most relevant aspect are summarized below:
    • FODIS’ parties: the Enforcement Authority shall act as FODIS’ trustor. A public financial entity shall act as trustee.
    • FODIS’ beneficiaries: final beneficiaries shall be the owners of renewable energy generation projects as approved by the FODIS (the “Beneficiaries”).
    • Purpose:

      • The FODIS is entitled to grant non-fiscal incentives.
      • The FODIS may also grant other benefits–e.g., through bonuses in the capital cost for the acquisition of distributed generation equipment–.
      • Beneficiaries’ may also benefit from benefits granted by the FODIS, in their capacity of equipment supplier’s or services providers.
      • Equity contributions are enabled, as well as financing facilities.
    • Funding: the FODIS will be funded by means of:

      • Resources from the national budget, determined from time to time by the Enforcement Authority. In this matter, the Law has allocated the sum of Argentine Pesos five hundred million (AR$ 500,000,000) for 2018.
      • Capital reimbursements; interests, fines, charges, expenditures, administrative costs and any amounts which the FODIS is entitled to receive; rights, guarantees or insurance which the FODIS receives from the Beneficiaries or third parties.
    • Other issues: financing facilities shall be in accordance with requirements that will be determined by the FODIS. Interest rate for repayment may also be subject to a reduced rate.

6) Promotional regime

  • The granting of incentives shall be available to user-generators of jurisdictions which adhere to the Law and only if general, technical and security requirements are fulfilled.
  • The Enforcement Authority shall set forth the conditions and procedures which shall be fulfilled for the granting of incentives.
  • The Enforcement Authority shall set forth the procedure by which the Beneficiaries may request the fiscal credit certificate.
  • The Enforcement Authority and the Federal Bureau of Public Income (the “AFIP”, for its Spanish acronym) shall regulate further conditions in this regard.
  • The fiscal credit certificate shall not be designated to set off obligations arising from liability caused by third parties’ debts or from the acting of taxpayers as withholding agents.
  • Credits and other incentives of the Law may be granted during the twelve (12) year period as of the entry into force of the Decree.

7) FANSIGED:

  • The Ministry of Production and Work (the “MPyT”, for its Spanish acronym) shall set forth the requirements and technical regulations related to the Systems, Equipment and Inputs National Manufacturing Incentives Scheme (the “FANSIGED”, for its Spanish acronym).
  • Activities of technical assistance for the investigation and development of new prototypes of the addition of improvements in products design shall be considered activities of investigation, design and development and, consequently, shall be benefited by the FANSIGED.
  • The MPyT shall set forth requirements and procedures which interested parties shall comply with in order to receive incentives.
  • Micro, Small and Medium enterprises which comply with requirements set forth in the Law and which wish to adhere to the FANSIGED shall obtain a PyME Certificate and shall submit documentation which shows proof of turnover and shareholding structure of the corresponding company.

8) Tax incentives

The following incentives are included in the FANSIGED:

  • Fiscal certificate for the investment on investigation and development, design, capital assets and certificates for manufacturing companies. The procedure to obtain such certificate shall be jointly determined by the MPyT and the AFIP.
  • Accelerated depreciation in Income Tax, for the acquisition of capital assets for the manufacturing of equipment and supplies destined for the distributed renewable energy generation, except for automobiles, in the conditions which shall be set forth by the MPyT and the Ministry of Treasury.
  • VAT early reimbursement for the acquisition of assets mentioned in the immediately preceding section, pursuant to a procedure to be determined by the MPyT and the Ministry of Finance.
  • Access to financing with preferential rates, in accordance with regulation which the MPyT shall set forth.
  • Access to the Suppliers Developers Program, in accordance with regulation which the MPyT shall set forth.

9) Penalties

The Decree also sets forth that failure to comply with terms related to information and authorization requests, as well as to measuring systems installation and connection by user-generations, shall be penalized and shall result in a compensation in favor of the user-generator based on the penalties set forth by each regulatory authority.
 
Further steps regarding implementation of applicable procedures as well as other requirements mentioned above are due and expected to occur briefly.

At TRSyM we are available to provide clarifications or further information of any matter addressed above.

by trsym

Improvements in Databases Registration Process

On October 22, 2018, the Public Information Agency issued Resolution No. 132/2018 (the “Resolution”), amending Provision No. 2 issued by the National Directorate for the Protection of Personal Data. These amendments are aimed at enhancing the registration of databases with the National Database Registry, not only for private but also for state-owned companies.

In this regard the Resolution sets forth that:

  • all registrations, modifications and deregistration of personal databases -both private and public- must be processed exclusively through the Distance Procedures Platform (Trámites a Distancia – TAD) or through the Electronic Document Management System (Gestión Electrónica Documental – GDE).
  • any and all officers responsible for of private archives, registers, databases or personal data banks registered with the National Database Registry should proceed to renew their registration through any of the abovementioned procedures by October 31, 2019. Any and all officers responsible for public databases must comply with this obligation by February 28, 2019; and
  • all registration procedures to be carried-out will be free of any costs.

Finally, please note that the Resolution entered into force on October 23, 2018.

Please do not hesitate to contact Juan Pablo Bove, Federico Otero, Julián Razumny, or corporate@tavarone.com for any further information.

by trsym

Integrity Guidelines to comply with the provisions of the Criminal Liability of Legal Entities Law No. 27,401

The Argentine Anticorruption Office (“AO”) has recently published the Integrity Guidelines (the “Guidelines”), in order to comply with the provisions under sections 22 and 23 of the Criminal Liability of Legal Entities Law No. 27,401 (the “Law”). The Guidelines consist of a technical guide for the implementation of Integrity Programs (each, a “Program”) required under the Law and include, among others, the following issues:

  • Accountability of the Program before the Argentine authorities
    The legal entities comprised by the Law must create a Program in accordance with the dynamics of their own activities, and explain its foundations and reasonableness to the applicable authority.
  • Not mandatory
    Notwithstanding the advantages mentioned by the AO, adopting a Program is not mandatory. The decision on its implementation will be subject to the analysis that each legal entity makes in accordance with its risk’s exposure and the framework for the development of its activities, among other factors.
  • Reasonableness of the Program
    In case a Program is implemented, it must be made in a reasonable way, i.e., considering the Guidelines on Risk, Dimension and Economic Capacity of the legal entity.
  • Mandatory and optional content
    In addition to the elements that are mandatorily required (Code of Ethics, Rules and Preventive Procedures and Periodic Training), the Guidelines suggest to adopt other tools such as Internal Complaint Channels, Whistleblower Protection, Periodic Risk Analysis, among others.
  • Steps for designing and implementing a Program
    Although each Program should be created in accordance with the particulars of each legal entity, the Guidelines suggest that certain steps be followed in connection with its design and implementation. Among them, commitment of senior management regarding the development of the Program; evaluation of the legal entity and identification of its risks; definition of a risk exposure plan; implementation of such plan; evaluation of the Program in progress; communication and diffusion of the Program to the employees of the legal entity and relevant third parties.
  • Content
    The Guidelines describe certain elements that the Program may contain, providing general parameters to facilitate its design and implementation:
    • Code of Ethics
      The Program should group in a single document all general integrity policies applicable to the legal entity’s employees and third parties. The values of the organization, the ethical guidelines applicable to its members, prohibitions of improper behavior and sanctions in case of non-compliance should be clearly stated.
    • Integrity in bidding procedures and interactions with the public sector
      These rules and procedures must cover all relevant interactions of the legal entity with the public sector. The Guidelines suggest to cover: (i) with respect to purchases and contracts, interactions with public officers who: (a) have decision-making capacity in the allocation of public resources; (b) prepare investment projects; (c) make tender procedures public; (d) take part in evaluation committees; (e) are in charge of inspection activities or work supervision; (f) take part in commissions that receive or express conformity to purchased services and products; (g) take part in accounting or financial sectors in charge of making payments. (ii) With respect to other potential risky interactions, officers who oversee: (a) authorizations and permits; (b) fundraising activity; (c) inspections and superintendence; (d) exercise of a regulatory activity. (iii) With respect to its own members: (a) commercial, sales, purchasing and marketing sectors; (b) managers and legal and commercial representatives; (c) areas of institutional relationships and relations with governments; (d) distributors and operational areas responsible for the delivery of goods; (e) technical representatives in works and operational areas responsible for the execution of contracted works; (f) financial areas and areas responsible for approving or making payments.

      Regarding rules and procedures, the Guidelines suggest to include: (i) clear identification of public officers as risky counterparties; (ii) specific reference to zero tolerance to bribery or illegal payments made on behalf, or in the interest, of the legal entity; (iii) clear intention that no act carried out on behalf, or in the interest, of the legal entity pursues, as its main purpose, to unduly influence a public officer for the benefit of the legal entity; (iv) prohibit searching or using of privileged or confidential information; (v) disincentives to any participation or collaboration in fraudulent acts conducted by public officers; (vi) clear regulation on prohibitions and exceptions to gifts to public officers; (vii) disincentives to any illegal employment, solidarity initiatives or similar actions; (viii) clear distinction between payments to organizations and payments directed to public officers that result in personal benefit; (ix) prohibition of campaign contributions on behalf of the legal entity; (x) obligation to internally communicate the existence of relationships with senior officers that ease compliance with Decree 202/17 (Conflicts of Interest) or similar.

    • Trainings
      With respect to periodic trainings, the Guidelines recommend the following: (i) promotion by the Board of Directors and the management of the legal entity of active participation in the activities by the employees; (ii) full participation of senior management in training activities; (iii) synchronization with the Code of Ethics and Program’s policies; (iv) combination of general trainings with personalized trainings; (v) an initial training (as part of the induction of each employee starting in the organization) and a mandatory general training at least once a year; (vi) clear incentives for training; (vii) evaluation of the trainings in terms of: (a) proper training of those receiving it; (b) through satisfaction surveys or other mechanisms;(c) evidence of existence by documenting its details; (d) projection of continuous monitoring; (e) update and continuous renewal of its contents, incorporating lessons learned; (f) incorporation of guidance stages that include advice upon queries and specific cases.
    • Internal Research
      Internal Research should be regulated in such a way that the limitations arising from privacy rights and worker’s dignity be respected, while, as per the management of information, the provisions for obtaining and processing personal data must be complied with. The Guidelines recommend putting in place a written internal protocol to regulate on matters related to media access and devices that the employer provides to its workers informing that the information stored in those sources and devices belongs to the legal entity. Also, it is advisable to consider policies related to the chain of information custody (and the adoption of external support when dealing with electronic evidence), witnesses’ interviews, and involvement or exclusion of internal areas, depending on the potential involvement in the investigated facts. The Guidelines suggest to implement rules on how to proceed in certain special cases such as: access to employees’ corporate e-mail, access to telephone call records; vehicle satellite tracking records; access to Internet browsing history; access to stored documents; access to drawers or cabinets; video surveillance; access to entry and exit records; inspections of clothing, bags and automobiles; tests for drug consumption; interviews on internal investigations.
    • Due diligence to third parties
      The Guidelines suggest to: (i) know the counterparties and have information about the characteristics and relationships of third parties, including their commercial reputation and the relationship, if any, with local or foreign public officers; (ii) increase the level of scrutiny to the extent that the alerts are greater; (iii) ensure an adequate understanding of the rationale of the relationship that is created with third parties. In addition, it is important to control that the third party is actually performing the work for which it was hired and that its compensation is in accordance with its work; (iv) transmit properly to third parties the integrity policies of the legal entity and demand their compliance; (v) control the actions of third parties in such activities that may be perceived as acting on behalf, for the benefit or in the interest, of the legal entity according to its usual meaning in the context of the businesses that are carried out. The following will be considered relevant counterparties: subsidiaries; partners in joint ventures; dealers; agents; commercial representatives; intermediaries; managers; lobbyists; contractors; consultants; customs’ brokers; suppliers; service providers and customers.

      The analysis to be applied on the third parties must include aspects such as: structure and operation; composition of the third party's business; reputation; links and relationships; potential conflicts of interest; financial solvency; technical/professional suitability; track record; existence of anti-corruption program or policies.

    • Due diligence in processes of corporate transformation
      The Guidelines recommend to carry out an analysis on the integrity of the acquired legal entity consisting of a broad and rigorous scrutiny. The cases include transformation, merger and split in the terms of the General Corporation Law.

      The M&A due diligence may include actions such as: verification of anti-corruption compliance by the target company; implementation of anti-corruption policies by the target company; providing directors with training in such policies; and post-closing audit.

    • Internal Responsible Person
      The Guidelines provide for rules on the functions of the Internal Responsible, listing the following, among others: analysis of ethical risks; design of internal policies; conduction of the Program; advice on ethical dilemmas; management of complaints received; whistleblower protection; leadership in internal investigations; support on self-denunciation and cooperation with authorities; Program supervision; strategic planning of the legal entity; training design; adaptation of the Code of Ethics to current regulations.

At TRS&M we remain available to provide a further analysis on the matters described herein.

by trsym

Public-Private Partnership Agreements – Preliminary Terms for National and International Public Tender Power Transmission Works

On September 21, 2018, the Secretary of Public-Private Partnership (the “SPPP”) has made available in its website, the preliminary tender terms (the “Preliminary Tender Terms”) for the first-high voltage power transmission lines under a new public-private partnership (“PPP”) scheme. The awardee will be selected as contractor (the “PPP Contractor”), who will undertake the construction and further operation and maintenance of the 500 kV high-voltage line, the future substations Río Diamante and Charlone, and complementary works (the “Project”).

The preliminary PPP Agreement (the “PPP Agreement”), the Preliminary Tender Terms and its appendixes contain the main characteristics of the Project as of September 21, 2018.

The awarded bidder will execute a PPP Agreement for a total fifteen-year term. The PPP Agreement comprises (i) a construction period (the “Construction Period”), for the term comprised within its execution and commercial operation date (“COD”), term that may not exceed the maximum a term of thirty-six (36) months; and (ii) further to COD, an operation and maintenance services period (the “O&M Period”), up to the fifteenth (15) year as from its execution.

The Project’s total compensation –CAPEX and OPEX– (the “Required Total Amount”) will be due and payable by means of (i) investment payment titles (“TPI”, for its Spanish acronym) equivalent to 90% of the Required Total Amount, and (ii) a residual compensation (the “Residual Compensation”) equivalent to 10% of the Required Total Amount. Both will be issued and paid by and individual PPP Trust (Fideicomiso Individual PPP Transmisión Eléctrica and hereinafter, the “PPP Trust”), which will be constituted specifically for the Project and in order to manage issuance and payments due to the PPP Contractor. For specifics about this matter, please refer to point 9 below.

The Argentine government, through the Secretary of Government of Energy (the “SGE”), currently under the Ministry of Treasury, shall provide funding to the PPP Trust by yearly budgetary contributions. The PPP Trust will also receive those funds collected by the Compañía Administradora del Mercado Mayorista Eléctrico S.A. (“CAMMESA”), related to charges under Resolution No. 1085/17 of the former Secretary of Energy.

The relevant authorities in relation to the Project are: (i) the SGE, as convening authority of the tender, and (ii) Integración Energética Argentina S.A. (the “Contracting Entity”), successor of former Energía Argentina S.A. (“ENARSA”).

Schedule, final terms and conditions of the tender are yet still to be defined. A consultation period and a deadline for the tender of bids will be specified in such schedule.

It should be noted that, due to the preliminary nature of the documents and the fact that the SPPP will be publishing complementary information regarding the Project, the information contained herein may be updated in the future and therefore, subject to further modifications In this respect, we will be closely following this process and inform any relevant updates as soon as possible.

The most relevant aspects of the Preliminary Tender Terms are summarized below:

1) Selection process

The selection process of the PPP Contractor will be implemented through a two-stage national and international tender procedure.

2) Main rules

The main legal rules and documents to be considered regarding the Preliminary Tender Terms are comprised by the following: (i) Law No. 27,328 and its regulatory Decree No. 118/2017; (ii) Law No. 27,431, which approved the national budget for the current 2018 year; (iii) the 2019 period national budget law1; (iv) the PPP Agreement; (v) the agreement and rules of the Law 27,431 PPP Trust; (vi) the Trust Agreement; (vii) Trust joinder agreement; (viii) Resolution No. 1/2017 issued by the SPPP; (ix) Resolution No. 1/2018, issued by the SPPP; and (x) specific regulations of the electricity regulatory framework, such as (a) Laws No. 15,336 and 24,065; (b) their regulatory decrees (i.e., Decrees No. 1398/1992 and 186/1995), and (c) the Procedures for Programming the Operation, the Dispatch and Calculation of Prices, approved by the former SEE Resolution No. 61 dated April 29, 1992, as amended and supplemented to date.

3) Tender documents

The final tender terms and conditions will be published by the SPPP. Clarifying circular letters (circulares aclaratorias) may be issued upon queries of the bidders, which shall be performed no less than fifteen (15) days as from the date set forth as deadline for bid submission.

4) Bidders

  • Legal capacity: bidders may accredit their legal capacity by any of the following: (i) having an address in the Republic of Argentina; (ii) having its principal place of business in the Republic of Argentina; or (iii) being dully registered as a branch.
  • Limitations: the same legal entity or may not integrate different bidders. However, a bidder may be integrated by two or more legal entities or persons, in which case they will be held as jointly and severally liable vis-à-vis the SGE.
  • Corporate purpose and term: the corporate purpose of those legal entities acting as bidders or members of a bidder must allow their performance as bidders and, subject to being awarded, PPP Contractor. The term of these legal entities must be, for at least three (3) years greater than the total duration of the PPP Agreement.
  • Restrictions: certain restrictions are set forth in the tender documents (i.e., corporation matters, anti-corruption).
  • National component: minimum thresholds for national component are mandatory.
  • Minimum capital stock: the PPP Contractor must subscribe a capital stock of at least 0,1% of the Required Total Amount as follows:
    1. 25%, concurrently with the execution of the PPP Agreement.
    2. 50%, at the sixth (6) month anniversary as from the execution of the PPP Agreement.
    3. 75%, at the twelfth (12) month anniversary as from the execution of the PPP Agreement.
    4. Outstanding balance, at the eighteenth (18) month anniversary as from the execution of the PPP Agreement.
  • Prior to the execution of the PPP Agreement, the awarded bidder must incorporate the PPP Contractor as a sociedad anónima, which will act as a sole purpose vehicle.

5) Reference and alternative projects

The reference project comprises the design, construction, expansion, maintenance and operation of the Project, in accordance to the technical specifications, which must be complied with by the PPP Contractor. These are attached as Appendixes V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and X (the “Reference Project”).

Bidders must expressly indicate if they adopt the Reference Project or if they propose alternatives, in which case they must include a detail of their alternative project (the “Alternative Project”). Alternative projects must comply with the minimal technical requirements which are attached to the Preliminary Tender Terms as Appendix V.

If an Alternative Project fails to comply with the Preliminary Tender Terms’ minimal technical requirements or if the Alternative Project fails to obtain CAMMESA’s approval, the PPP Contractor must adopt the Reference Project with the same Annual Fee (as such term is defined below) than the one offered for the Alternative Project.

6) Bid formalities

Bids must be submitted in original or certified copies.

Bidders must submit the following documents:

  • Envelope No. 1: this envelope shall include the technical bid, which is comprised of (i) legal documents regarding the bidder and its legal capacity; (ii) documents which prove technical capacity and bidder’s track record, and (iii) documents which prove financial capacity of the bidder.

    With respect to the documents mentioned in point (ii), the bidder shall comply with the following requirements:

    1. Background on construction of high-voltage lines and substations:
      Requirements Acceptable minimum
      i. Civil works and mechanical and electromechanical assembly and erection of power transmission lines and of substation projects, which operate with a voltage equal or higher than 500 kV, with metallic structures, including control, protection and telecommunications systems, in the last twenty (20) years. - Length of high-voltage lines of no less than two-hundred and fifty (250) kilometers
      - 1 substation
      - 1 project in the last ten (10) years
      ii. Civil works and mechanical and electromechanical assembly and erection of substation projects, which operate with a voltage equal or higher than 500 kV, with metallic structures, in the last twenty (20) years. - Length of high-voltage lines of no less than two-hundred and fifty (250) kilometers.
      - 1 substation
      - 1 project in the last ten (10) years


    2. Background on provision of operation and maintenance services for high-voltage lines and substations:
      Requirements Acceptable minimum
      i. Power transmission lines and substations which operate with a voltage equal or higher than 500 kV maintenance, in the last twenty (20) years. Five (5) years
      ii. Power transmission lines and substations which operate with a voltage equal or higher than 500 kV operation, in the last twenty (20) years. Five (5) years


    3. Design engineering background:
      Requirements Acceptable minimum
      i. Preparation of electric studies and projects for 500 kV facilities One project of at least two-hundred and fifty (250) kilometers

      Bidders must submit a copy of those contracts or certificates issued by their contracting parties, for compliance with these standards.

      With regards to those requirements indicated in point b) above, the Preliminary Tender Terms do allow subcontracting as a way to comply with those minimum standards.

  • Envelope No. 2: this envelope must include the economic bid, which must be submitted using the forms attached in Appendix IV of the Preliminary Tender Terms.

    The economic bid must indicate a specific amount of an annual fee in US dollars (the “Annual Fee”)2. Preference will be granted to the bidder who bids the lowest Annual Fee.

7) Guarantees

Pursuant to the Preliminary Tender Terms, the following guarantees are mandatory and therefore required: (i) a bid bond, (ii) a financial close bond, and (iii) a main works bond.

Such guarantees must be constituted by the PPP Contractor in favor of the SGE as first-demand guarantees and may be constituted as (i) a bank deposit, (ii) a bank guarantee, and/or (iii) a stand-by letter of credit.

  • Bid bond:
    1. Amount: fifteen-million US dollars (US$ 15,000,000).
    2. Requirements: if bidders are integrated by more than one legal entity, the bid bond must be issued by the bidder’s controlling shareholder.
    3. Execution: the SGE shall be entitled to execute the bid bond in the event that (i) a bidder withdraws its bid in advance; (ii) a bidder forges information; (iii) the PPP Agreement is not executed; or (iv) a bidder fails to issue the main works bond or the financial close bond in accordance with the PPP Agreement.
    4. Term: one-hundred and twenty (120) days as from tender submission with automatic term renewal.
    5. Return: upon execution of the PPP Agreement and submission of the financial close bond and main works bond.
  • Financial close bond:
    1. Term: as from execution of the PPP Agreement and achievement of financial close.
    2. Initial amount: 2% of the Required Total Amount.
    3. Increases: if the financial close is not achieved by the PPP Contractor within the term of six (6) months since the PPP Agreement is executed, the PPP Contractor must increase the financial close bond in a 2.25% of the Required Total Amount for TPI. If financial close is not achieved within the term of nine (9) months, the financial close bond must be increased in a 2.75% of the Required Total Amount for TPI.
    4. Execution: the Contracting Entity may execute the financial close bond in the event that (a) the PPP Contractor does not achieve financial close upon the committed date (considering extensions); and/or (b) the PPP Contractor does not extend or renew the financial close bond.
  • Main works bond:
    1. Term: as from execution of the PPP Agreement once year further to COD.
    2. Initial amount: the amount of the main works bond shall be equal to: (a) as from the execution of the PPP Agreement, 2.5% of the Required Total Amount for TPI; and (b) from the financial close until one (1) year after the Project’s COD, to 4.5% of the Required Total Amount for TPI.
    3. Increases: the main works bond may be subject to renewals and increases in the event of late COD.
    4. Execution: the Contracting Entity may execute the main works bond in case that (i) the PPP Contractor is fined under the PPP Agreement and such penalty is not paid in due time; (ii) the PPP Contractor fails to compensate the Contracting Entity for liquidated damages related to the execution of the Project; (iii) the PPP Contractor fails to pay any charges or penalties owed to the Contracting Entity if the PPP Agreement is terminated prior to its maturity date; (iv) the PPP Contractor fails to pay any amounts which are determined by recommendation of a technical board or an arbitral award in favor of the Contracting Entity; or (v) the PPP Agreement is terminated by justified decision by the Contracting Entity.

8) Transmission companies

The Preliminary Tender Terms provide that in case TRANSENER S.A. or TRANSBA S.A. are awarded as PPP Contractor, as applicable, they will be not entitled to collect he supervision fee that the PPP Agreement establishes. Project’s supervision will be defined in a future tender process to be carried out by the SGE.

9) PPP Contractor’s payment scheme

TPIs will be issued by the PPP Trust during the Construction Period on a quarterly basis, pursuant to the actual works progress. Monthly investment advancement acts (“ARAI”) will be executed. TPIs shall be considered mature on the forty-two (42) month anniversary of the PPP Agreement’s execution date and will be payable on twenty-four (24) semi-annual payments.

With respect to the Residual Compensation, it shall be due and payable as from the Project’s COD monthly. Invoices for the corresponding Residual Compensation shall be issued by the PPP Contractor and delivered to the Contracting Entity. The PPP Trust will pay those invoices within fifteen (15) days.

  • Both TPIs and the Residual Compensation will be nominated in US dollars and shall be deemed as fixed, unconditional, irrevocable and transferable, without the Contracting Entity’s prior consent.
  • Non-timely TPIs will accrue interests to a rate equivalent to two-hundred (200) points above the performance of bonds ARG2026, ARG2027 and ARG2028N.
  • As TPIs are issued in accordance with the main works’ progress, the PPP Contractor will benefit itself with a speedy execution of the works under the Project.

10) Dispute resolution

  • Amicable negotiations: the PPP Agreement sets forth an initial stage of amicable negotiations in case there are any disputes between the parties. This initial stage has a period of thirty (30) days.
  • Technical board: once the thirty (30) day period of amicable negotiations expires, a technical board must intervene and issue a recommendation.
  • Arbitration:
    1. Requirements: if the technical board does not issue a recommendation in the term of ninety (90) days, any party may submit the dispute to arbitration.
    2. Venue: venue shall be in the City of Buenos Aires, unless: (i) the dispute is not quantifiable; (ii) the value under dispute exceeds the sum of ten-million US dollars (US$ 10,000,000); or (iii) the controlling shareholder is not Argentine. Upon any of those circumstance, the seat of arbitration may be in the City of Buenos Aires or in a member state of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York, 1958).
    3. Composition: the arbitral tribunal shall be composed of three (3) members when the dispute is not quantifiable or when the value under dispute is equal or higher to ten-million US dollars (US$ 10,000,000). If the value under dispute is less than ten-million US dollars (US$ 10,000,000), the arbitral tribunal shall be composed of one (1) member.
    4. Nationality: the president of the arbitral tribunal shall not be national to any of the parties nor to any controlling shareholder with a direct or indirect participation higher than 10% of the PPP Contractor.

11) Risk matrix

A preliminary risk matrix has been made available, whereby the Project’s risks are allocated either to the PPP Contractor or to the Contracting Entity, as the case may be. Such risk matrix indicates that the PPP Contractor shall bear, inter alia, (1) power-line easement-associated risk, pursuant to Law No. 19,552; (2) COD risk; (3) environmental risk. As for the Contracting Entity, it shall bear: (1) demand risk; and (3) exchange variation risk.


We are available to provide clarifications or further information of any matter addressed above.

*****

1. Currently, such bill as proposed by the National Executive is under review in the National Congress of the Republic of Argentina.↑
2. The Annual Fee is the PPP Agreement awarding variable and represents a sum equal to the twelfth part of the Required Total Amount.↑

by trsym

Simplification of requirements for foreign companies

On August 28, 2018, the Public Registry of Commerce of the City of Buenos Aires (Inspección General de Justicia) issued General Resolution N°6/2018, which amends and includes relevant changes for the registration of, and procedures to be carried out by, foreign companies under Articles 118 and 123 of General Corporations Act N° 19,550 (the “GCA”), in order to continue with the adaption of the Public Sector to the so-called “Good Practices in matters of Simplification”.

In this regard, the main modifications are as follows:

• It will no longer be necessary to submit documentation from the foreign company regarding its shareholding structure nor to inform details of its assets located abroad in order to comply with the registration procedure provided for in Article 118, third paragraph of the GCA.

• A foreign company’s obligation to submit Annual Information was repealed.

• Regulations on isolated acts were repealed.

• Representation of foreign companies will no longer be limited to the legal representative appointed in Argentina, but may be extended to officers appointed directly by the head office.

• For those companies from countries considered high-risk and non-cooperative, according to the criteria of fiscal transparency and/or categorized as non-collaborators in the fight against Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, the obligations set forth in Article 217 of General Resolution N° 7/2015 to file annual information remain in effect.

General Resolution N° 6/2018 shall be enforceable as from August 30, 2018, both for new procedures to be filed, as well as for those already in progress.

Please do not hesitate to contact Juan Pablo Bove, Federico Otero, Julián Razumny, or corporate@tavarone.com for any further information.

by trsym

Julián Razumny joins TRS&M as partner of the Mergers and Acquisitions and General Corporate Department

Tavarone, Rovelli, Salim & Miani continues with the expansion and growth of its Mergers and Acquisitions and General Corporate Department through the addition of Julián Razumny as partner. The firm reaffirms its commitment to expand and once again invests in what has been its main distinctive feature: a young and talented team of lawyers led by partners highly committed to both clients and their team.

Julián specializes in corporate and financial law, areas in which he has more than 12 years of experience. He has a J.D. degree from the School of Law of the University of Buenos Aires and holds a post-graduate course in economy and finance for lawyers from the Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona.

Prior to joining Tavarone, Rovelli, Salim & Miani, Julián excelled in renowned Argentine firms, advising in general corporate matters, M&A, debt restructuring processes with both local and foreign creditors, strategic negotiations and complex contracts negotiation and drafting. During the latest years, he has served as Corporate Legal Manager in Celulosa Argentina S.A., as well as advisor to its Board of Directors.

He has also attended and organized numerous seminars, conferences, workshops and congresses in Argentina and has been distinguished in 2017 by Legal 500 in their “GC Powerlist: Argentina” as one of the most influential in-house corporate lawyers.

In joining Tavarone, Rovelli, Salim & Miani, Julián will contribute, together with partners Juan Pablo Bove and Federico Otero, to the development and expansion of its M&A and Corporate team, area in which the firm has experienced a remarkable growth, increasing its participation in M&A deals, as well as expanding even more the client base to which the firm renders legal advice.

Tavarone, Rovelli, Salim & Miani is proud to have Julián among its members, who will strengthen the firm and will contribute to maintain it as one of the most active in our legal market.

by trsym

Public-Private Partnership Agreements. Indicative terms – Power transmission works

The Secretariat of Public-Private Partnership (the “SPPP”) has just outlined the tender terms for the first-high voltage power transmission lines (the “Executive Summary” and the “Project”, respectively), under the new public-private partnership scheme (“PPP”).

The Project comprises the construction and further operation and maintenance of: (1) the 500 kV high voltage line, between ET Río Diamante and the future ET Coronel Charlone; and (2) the future ET Coronel Charlone, along with the 132 kV connections in Laboulaye, Rufino, General Villegas, General Pico Sur and Realicó, and complementary works (hereinafter, referred as the “Main Works”).

The non-binding Executive Summary also foresees the provision of the O&M Services, during the O&M Period (as both terms are defined below).

The Project is designed under the PPP scheme, pursuant to Law No. 27.328 and its regulatory Decree No. 118/2017, which provides an alternative contracting structure to the Public Works and Public Works Concession frameworks (ruled by Laws No. 13,064 and 17,520, respectively).

The awarded bidders will execute a PPP Agreement (the “PPP Agreement”), with the Secretariat of Energy Politics Coordination, currently under the Federal Ministry of Energy (the “Contracting Entity” and the “ME”, respectively), for the execution of the Main Works and the performance of the O&M Services (as defined below).

Transmission projects must be up and running within thirty-three (33) months from the signing of the PPP Agreement (the “Construction Period”), while O&M Services will be provided for up to 15 years (the “O&M Period”) as from commercial operation date.

Please find below a summary of the most relevant aspects of the Project, as per indicated in the non-binding Executive Summary.

Main Works and O&M Services comprised by the Project

As indicated before, the Project involves the expansion of the current high-voltage transmission grid, by means of the execution of the Main Works -which shall be executed within the Construction Period-. The Construction Period is capped at a maximum of thirty-three (33) months from the execution of the PPP Agreement.

Following the Construction Period, the PPP Contractor shall provide the O&M Services within the O&M Period –capped at maximum fifteen (15) years-, comprised by the provision of O&M Services of the Main Works, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the PPP Agreement, electricity regulatory framework, The Procedures and applicable regulations.

Applicable regulatory framework

The PPP Agreement will be governed and construed by (1) Law No. 27,328 and its regulatory Decree No. 118/2017, (2) Law No. 27,431, which approved the national budget for the current 2018 year, and (3) specific regulations of the electricity regulatory framework, such as (a) Laws No. 15,336 and 24,065; (b) their respective regulatory decrees (i.e Decrees No. 1398/1992 and 186/1995), and (c) “The Procedures”, which is a compilation of many resolutions that rule the electric market’s operation (comprised by Resolution No. 61/1992 of the former Secretariat of Electric Energy, as further complemented and amended).

The obligatory and direct application of specific electricity regulations, turns out to be innovative, in comparison with similar projects under the same PPP scheme.

Project’s structure

The PPP Contractor shall (1) execute the Main Works, within the Construction Period, and (2) provide the O&M Services, within the O&M Period. Repayment of investments incurred both during construction –CAPEX- and operation (OPEX) of the Project will be split and subject to different provisions, in order to mitigate the typical risks to which the PPP Contractor is exposed during those stages.

PPP Contractor’s payment

Main Works Payment

When placing its bid, the PPP Contractor will have to choose within two different payment arrangements concerning the Main Works’ execution, whether by (1) Investment Payment Titles Fee and Remaining Compensation, or (2) by a Monthly Compensation.

Such structure is new and differs from those previously adopted for other Argentine PPP Projects, whereas the repayment of PPP Contractor’s CAPEX was linked to long term recoverable TPIs (for its Spanish acronym: Título de Pago por Inversión) or TPDs (for its Spanish acronym, Título de Pago por Disponibilidad) exclusively.

TPI Compensation and residual Compensation

Under the first option, the PPP Contractor will receive a part of the TPIs total amount –which will not exceed the maximum of 80%- as from the fourth (4) year of the PPP Agreement’s term, through TPIs, nominated in US dollars, unconditional and irrevocable, according to the actual Main Works’ progress. These TPIs are linked to the Construction Period phase only.

The remaining 20% of the required total amount will be due and payable as from the Project’s commercial operation date –after the end of the Construction Period-, on a monthly basis, and within the O&M Period, through the residual Compensation (the “Residual Compensation”).

Under this structure:

  • The bidder shall indicate the TPI required percentage –equal or lower than 80% of the required total amount-.
  • Each TPI –that, as mentioned, will be nominated in US Dollars and fixed, unconditional, irrevocable and transferable- will involve thirty (30) biannual payments in US Dollars, being TPI’s first payment date at the thirty-ninth (39) month as from the date on which the PPP Agreement is executed. Non-timely TPIs (either by delays on its issuance or in its payment) will accrue interests.
  • TPIs will be issued by the Electric Transmission Individual Trust (please, see below), by instruction of the Contracting Entity, which shall also be responsible for TPIs payment.
  • In connection with the Residual Compensation, it will also be due under the same terms of the Monthly Compensation (See below).

Payment under Monthly Compensation scheme

Under the second option, the PPP Contractor will receive the total required amount through a monthly compensation (the “Monthly Compensation”), as from the Main Works’ commercial operation date and during the O&M Period.

Such Monthly Compensation will be invoiced by the PPP Contractor to the Contracting Entity, and will be payable by the Electric Transmission Individual Trust in one hundred and eighty (180) US Dollars equal and monthly installments.

Electric Transmission PPP Individual Trust

The Parties to the PPP Trust (the “Electric Transmission PPP Individual Trust”), will be (i) the Republic of Argentina, through the ME, as trustor; (ii) the Governmental Bank for Investment and Foreign Trade (in Spanish: Banco de Inversión y Comercio Exterior S.A., hereinafter, the “BICE”, for its Spanish acronym), as trustee; (iii) Banco de Valores S.A., as administrative agent of the trust; and (iii) PPP Contractor, as beneficiary.

The Electric Transmission PPP Individual Trust will operate as a single trust for the Project, for the administration of the allocated funds to the Project, and will be the obligor in respect to all payments due and payable to the PPP Contractor.

The Electric Transmission PPP Individual Trust will be funded by (1) contributions made by the Wholesale Electric Market Management Company (In Spansh: Compañía Administradora del Mercado Mayorista Eléctrico S.A, hereinafter “CAMMESA” for its Spanish Acronym), by means of Resolution of the former Secretariat of Electric Energy No. 1085/2017- and, (2) contingent contributions of the Federal State. The trust’s reserve account must be funded, at all times, in an amount equal or greater than the yearly PPP Contractor’s required amount. Such eventual contribution will be included in every year’s national budget law.

Bidding process and bidder’s selection

The selection process will be implemented through a national and international tender process, of multiple stages, on which bidders shall: (1) make their technical bid and comply with all the requirements set forth in the bidding terms and conditions (i.e. having experience on constructing high voltage lines in Argentina and abroad); and (2) indicate its selected payment option, as well as the required amount for the Main Works and O&M Services.

The awardee shall be the bidder which indicates the lower total required amount.

Incumbent transmission companies are entitled to place bids within the bidding process, as part of their non-regulated activity.

Required guarantees

The following guarantees are mandatory and therefore required by the Executive Summary (1) a bid bond (the “Bid Bond”), (2) the financial close bond (the “Financial Close Bond”, further to the PPP Agreement’s execution), and (3) the Main Works Bond (the “Main Works Bond”, further to the PP Agreement’s execution), which all of them shall be payable on demand by the issuer.

The term for the Financial Close Bond will be of six (6) months, extendable at the PPP Contractor’s request for additional two consecutive periods of three (3) months each, financial close is achieved. Financial Close shall occur no later than twelve (12) months as from the date on which the PPP Agreement is executed.

It is not required to provide an O&M guarantee during the O&M Period.

PPP Contractor’s constitution - SPV

Before the PPP Agreement is executed, the awarded bidder shall establish a sole purpose vehicle, in the form of a corporation (Sociedad Anónima), which will act as PPP independent transmission company, under the terms of Annex 16 of The Procedures.

Other relevant matters:

  • Risks related to the execution of the Project will be allocated pursuant to a risk matrix, to be agreed by both parties.
  • The early termination of the PPP Agreement for any reason will in no event affect the repayment of unamortized investments incurred by the PPP Contractor.
  • PPP Contractor will be in charge of obtaining all necessary permits and constituting the required power line easements, pursuant to Law No. 19,552.
  • The PPP Agreement will provide for an initial stage for dispute resolution in relation for matters of a technical or financial nature, or related to the interpretation of the PPP Contract, by a dispute board. The PPP Agreement will also establish a further stage of arbitration, whether locally or abroad, which foreign venue may be set forth in accordance with the PPP Contractor’s controlling parties.

At TRS&M, we are following these matters with great interest and are available to discuss any query regarding the above.

by trsym

Julián Martin joins Tavarone, Rovelli, Salim & Miani

Julián Martin & Asoc. ​a​nd​ ​Tavarone, Rovelli, Salim & Miani​​ (TRS&M) are pleased to announce that, as of this month of June 2018, the Tax Advisory departments of both firms join their efforts and their capacities to add synergies and enhance their growth.

Julián Martin is a Chartered Public Accountant (UBA), was a Tax Partner of KPMG in charge of the Financial Services and Tax Planning Area, and previously was Manager of the Tax & Legal department of Price Waterhouse. He was also a member of the Federal Tax Administration working in the Internal Control Area.

His practice is recognized in the market due to his solid knowledge and experience in tax advisory matters with greater specialization in financial, banking, and capital market issues, which is why he was nominated by the International Tax Review among Argentina’s leading tax advisors in the Banking and Capital Markets Area.

The Tax Department of TRS&M, in charge of Gastón Miani, has established itself as a benchmark in the tax and customs dispute area, having obtained important rulings from the Federal Supreme Court of Justice and from the lower courts in highly complex cases. On the other hand, the tax advice practice of TRS&M has grown exponentially since the foundation of the firm, giving special support to the Corporate, Banking, Financial, and Energy areas, which is why TRS&M has managed to form a team of professionals with proven experience in the subject.

We are convinced that the union of both tax practices will develop the numerous synergies that will contribute to maintaining the sustained growth of the two firms.

by trsym

PPP News – Stage I Safe Roads Network and LED Luminaires

  1. Highways – Final Documents and Contracting Schedule Publication

    On January 29, 2018, Resolution No. 147/2018 issued by the National Highway Administration (hereinafter, “DNV”, for its Spanish Acronym), was published in the official gazette, which: (i) initiated the national and international procedure applicable to “Highways and Safe Roads Network – Stage 1” (the “Project”), (ii) approved the final documents for the Project, and (iii) sets forth April 3, 2018, as deadline for bid submission.

    As previously indicated in the newsletter “Public-Private Partnership Agreements. Preliminary Bidding Terms of the National and International Tender: Highways and Safe Roads Network- Stage 1”, dated as of December 21, 2017, the Project is the first procedure under the PPP regime, an innovative modality in Argentina, creating a high expectative and interest in its development.

    In addition, final documents are also available in the Undersecretariat of Public-Private Partnership’s (the “UPPP”) website.
     

  2. LED Luminaries Program

    Additionally, on January 22, 2018, a preliminary document in connection to the Public Lighting Energy Efficiency Program (hereinafter, the “Program”) was published on the web site of the UPPP. This Program is the second project under the PPP regime, and its main aspects are described below:

    1. Object of the Program

      The Program seeks to develop the energy efficiency and illumination quality of the public lighting, by means of the replacement of existing luminaries, for brand new LED technology luminaries. Therefore, the energy saved by using this new technology will have a positive impact in the maintenance costs of the public lighting network, whereas these will be ultimately reduced. This saving allows to afford the new LED luminaries installation and maintenance, as the cash flow related to such energy saving will be destined -either partially or totally- to the Program.

    2. Scope of the services

      The services to be provided by those awardees comprises:

      • Design of the LED luminaries, in accordance to high-quality standards.
      • Provision of the LED luminaries.
      • Installation and commissioning of such luminaries.
      • Waste disposal.
      • Training of municipal employees.
      • Public lighting service provision during the whole term of the PPP Contract.
    3. Contractual scheme
      • The Ministry of Energy and Mining is set forth as the entity in charge of the Program.
      • The Ministry of Energy will also act as contracting party thereof, by means of the Secretariat of Strategic Planning. Different agreements will be entered by and between the respective Governmental spheres involved in the execution of the Program.
      • The PPP Contractors will be those selected bidders.
    4. Program Stages and PPP Contractor’s works and services

      Upon selection as winner in this Program, the PPP Contractors will enter into a PPP Contract, for a total term of ten (10) years from its execution thereof. This PPP Contract will comprise two different stages: (i) Main Works construction and, (ii) Main Services provision.

      During the Main Works stage, the PPP Contractor will undertake all necessary works for the construction and commercial operation of the LED Luminaries. During the Main Works construction stage, the PPP Contractor shall conduct all the necessary works and tasks to put the luminaries into operation. The term for this stage is for a term of one (1) year, following the PPP Agreement execution.

      After the Main Works stage is completed, the Main Services provision stage will take place, for a term of nine (9) years. During the Main Services provision stage, the PPP Contractor is bound to comply with the following services: (i) LED luminaries’ maintenance; (ii) municipalities and citizens queries and claims, and (iii) elaboration of daily reports.

      In addition of these Main Works and Main Services, the Program also foresees the execution of: (i) Mandatory Additional Works –in light of public interest reasons-, and (ii) Voluntary Additional Works -proposed by the PPP Contractor-. Terms and conditions in regards to the payment of these additional works and services will be subject of regulation in the final bid documents.

    5. PPP Contractor’s income

      The PPP Contractor’s income comprises the Public Contribution (Spanish: Contraprestación Pública), which includes: (i) Availabilty contribution (Spanish: Contraprestación por Disponibilidad), linked to the Main Services during the Main Services Stage (OPEX); and (ii) Investment Contribution (Spanish: Contraprestación por Inversión), linked to the Main Works during the Main Works Stage (CAPEX).

      In regards to the Availability Contribution, Payment Availabilty Titles (“TPD”, for its Spanish acronym), will be issued in favor of the PPP Contractor, on a monthly-basis, whereas with respect to the Investment Contribution, Payment Investment Titles (“TPI”, for its Spanish acronym), will be issued in favor of the PPP Contractor. This TPI will represent the actual works executed during the respective investment period.

    6. Risk mitigation

      The PPP sets forth a risk-mitigation matrix, where the different risks that comprise the Program are assigned to each contracting party. As the PPP will be executed in EDENOR’s and EDESUR’s concession areas, these companies will act as collectors of the municipal taxes that will be affected to the Program, as a way to reduce the PPP Contractors’ payment risk. Therefore, the Program foresee that such distribution companies will collect the municipal taxes in favor of the Program, and these amounts will be then allocated to the Program.

      Additionally, for those cases where the exceeding cash flow results insufficient for the payment of the respective amount, the trustee will require the Province to allocate amounts resulting from the federal co-participation quota.

    7. Expected investment

      The Program contemplates the installation of around a hundred thousand (100,000) luminaries per year, with an expected initial investment of approximately US Dollars fifty millions (US$ 50,000,000) and annual operative costs (operation and maintenance) of approximately US Dollars two millions (US$ 2,000,000).

    8. PPP Trust

      As in the Highways Project, Stage 1, a separate PPP Trust will be created in order to administrate the necessary flows to perform the corresponding payments by the emission of the TPIs and TPDs. The trust will be funded with: (i) local municipal taxes, and (ii) contingent public contribution. The PPP Trust parties are not detailed, but it may be assumed that the National Estate – through the Ministry of Energy and Mining – will act as trustor; a financial entity as trustee; and every PPP Contractor as beneficiary.

    9. Other relevant matters
      • A risk matrix where the risk distribution between the contracting parties is available, in accordance to Section 9, subsection b) and c) of Law No. 27,328.
      • With regards to dispute resolution mechanism, a first technical instance is prescribed, following which arbitration will take place.

From TRS&M, we are following this process with much attention and we are available to expand any point developed above.

by trsym

Bureaucracy Reduction in the Public Administration

On January 11th, Necessity and Urgency Decree No. 27/2018 (hereinafter, the “Decree”) was published on the Official Gazette. The Decree introduces a great number of amendments to current rules in order to reduce bureaucracy and simplify the procedures before the National Public Administration. The declared aim of the Decree is to promote investment, productivity, employment and social inclusion.

Decree´s main amendments

  • SENASA: Certain rules regarding food safety and quality service were abrogated in order to avoid duplicate regulation.
  • CORPORATIONS:

    • Digital Registries are established for account and corporation books as prescribed for Simplified Corporations (“SAS”, for its Spanish acronym)
    • Section 34 of Law No. 19,950 was replaced, forbidding the performance of a hidden or pretended partner. Joint liability of the pretended partner is also established.
    • The digitalization of Public Registries is also settled.
  • FONCDE: The object of the Development of Entrepreneur Capital Fund is modified, introducing the possibility to finance micro, small and medium companies.
  • ARGENTINEAN GUARANTEE FUND (FOGAR): this fund replaces the Micro, Small and Medium Company Guarantee Fund (FOGAPYME). FOGAR´s object is: (i) to grant guarantees on behalf of the ones issued by reciprocate guarantee corporations and (ii) offer direct and indirect guarantees in order to facilitate credit access for developers of economics or productivity activities.
  • EANASE: the National Air Transit Control Direction is dissolved and the Air Navigation Argentinean Company State Corporation is created under the National Ministry of Transport´s orbit, transferring the jurisdiction of the first to the latter.
  • ROAD SECURITY AND TRANSIT: The requirements that owners of vehicles destined to passenger and load transport need to comply with are amended. National Road Direction is assigned as the Enforcement Authority of road concession agreements.
  • TRADEMARK AND PATENTS: Trademark and patents’ registration procedure is amended and simplified, by the introduction of e-government systems.
  • RECIPROCATE GUARANTEE CORPORATIONS: It is strictly forbidden to grant guarantees higher than five per cent (5%) of the risk fund total value to one partner or third parties.
  • DIGITAL SIGNATURE: Electronic official documents digitally signed have the same effectiveness and probative value than their equivalents in paper format.
  • FOSSIL FUELS: the National Ministry of Energy and Mining is assigned as the Enforcement Authority of Hydrocarbons Law No. 17,319. Additionally, the Decree entitles the National Executive Branch to delegate certain powers to the Enforcement Authority.
  • GAS: Section 66 of Law No. 24,076 is amended, introducing the possibility to appeal the National Gas Regulatory Agency´s (ENARGAS, for its Spanish acronym) jurisdictional resolutions before the pertaining Federal Court of Appeal.
  • STATE´S PROPERTY ADMINISTRATION: Certain sections of Decree 1023/01 regarding public auctions as the Administration´s contracting procedure are amended. It is also foreseen the preferential application of public auction rather than direct contracting.
  • PUBLIC WORKS: Section 10 of Law No. 13,064 referred to public tenders´ publicity is amended.
  • SUSTENTABILITY GUARANTEE FUND: ANSES is now authorized to issue any financial and trading market operation allowed by regulatory authorities.
  • SECURITIES: Amendments are introduced regarding digital deliverance, endorsement, guarantee and acceptance of securities.
  • INSURANCES: Related to insurance agreement´s proof, amendments to Law No. 17,418 are introduced. Mandatory Collective Life Insurance Law No. 13,003 is abrogated prior issuance of a regulation regarding National Public Sector employee’s life insurance by National Insurance Superintendence.
  • PORTS: The authorization can now be granted by the pertaining Ministry, and not only by the Executive Branch. Regulations are issued in order to regularize the situation of existing ports and penalties are updated.
  • FINANCIAL INFORMATION UNIT: Certain sections of Law No. 25,246 are amended, settling new information obligations.
  • SOCIAL CAPITAL FUND: The idea of “extraordinary incomes” is included in the definition of “Annual Rent” settled by section 1 of Annex II of the Trust Agreement executed between the National State and FONCAP S.A. Additionally, Financial Services Secretariat is authorized to re-arrange the Trust Agreement.
  • PAINTINGS: Certain aspects related to the importation of paintings are amended.
  • METRIC SISTEM: The necessity to register in a specific registry is established.

Please, do not hesitate to contact us for further information

by trsym

Contact

Tte. Gral. J.D. Perón 537, 1st Floor
(C1038AAK) Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

(+54 11) 5272-1750

info@tavarone.com

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