Collective Action Clause – Greece and Austerity Policies: Where Next for its Economy and Society? https://greececonference2014.weaconferences.net 20th October to 21st December 2014 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 12:25:56 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 Investors vs. Greece: The Greek ‘Haircut’ and Investor Arbitration under BITs https://greececonference2014.weaconferences.net/papers/investors-vs-greece-the-greek-haircut-and-investor-arbitration-under-bits/ Sat, 18 Oct 2014 17:12:58 +0000 http://greececonference2014.worldeconomicsassociation.org/?post_type=wea_paper&p=87 More ›]]> Since 2012 a large number of foreign investors have been exploring legal avenues in order to challenge the Greek Haircut in investment arbitrations. This development follows the decision by Greece to trigger Collective Action Clauses (CAC) that were added to bonds issued under Greek law. The clauses force all bondholders to go along with the decision by the majority of the debt’s owners – including banks, insurers and pension funds – to agree to the swap. The possibility of legal action over imposed ‘haircuts’ to sovereign debt is seen by many as an alternative strategy for seeking compensation instead of relying on payments from Credit Default Swaps. A legal precedent is offered by Argentina which defaulted on its sovereign debt in December 2001, prompting over 180,000 Italian bondholders to file a class action, known as Abaclat v Argentina, claiming a violation of their rights under a bilateral investment treaty.

This paper discusses options in the courts and international investment arbitration for investors who have suffered losses on the Greek restructuring of March 2012. The paper considers the precedents available under bilateral investment treaties (especially the Germany-Greece BIT of 1961), European Law (including the ECHR) and the Greek courts. The paper concludes by offering an assessment of the chances of success of claims under each of the above headings.

]]>