Multilateral Treaties

 B-40: INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON CONFLICTS OF LAWS CONCERNING COMMERCIAL      
COMPANIES                                                                       


        ADOPTED AT: MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY                                         

              DATE: 05/08/79

CONF/ASSEM/MEETING: SECOND INTER-AMERICAN SPECIALIZED CONFERENCE ON PRIVATE     
                    INTERNATIONAL LAW                                           
                            ,

  ENTRY INTO FORCE: 06/14/80   IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 12 OF THE CONVENTION  

        DEPOSITORY: GENERAL SECRETARIAT, OAS (ORIGINAL INSTRUMENT AND           
                    RATIFICATIONS)                                              
                            ,           ,
              TEXT: OAS, TREATY SERIES, NO. 50                                  

   UN REGISTRATION: 03/20/89  No. 24389   Vol.       

      OBSERVATIONS:                                                             

               GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE TREATY: B-40               

===============================================================================
SIGNATORY COUNTRIES    SIGNATURE REF   RA/AC/AD REF   DEPOSIT INST  INFORMA REF
===============================================================================
Argentina ...........   12/01/83       11/07/83       12/01/83 RA     /  /     
Bolivia .............   08/02/83         /  /           /  /          /  /     
Brazil ..............   05/08/79       08/31/95       11/27/95 RA     /  /     
Chile ...............   05/08/79         /  /           /  /          /  /     
Colombia ............   05/08/79         /  /           /  /          /  /     
Costa Rica ..........   05/08/79         /  /           /  /          /  /     
Dominican Republic ..   05/08/79         /  /           /  /          /  /     
Ecuador .............   05/08/79         /  /           /  /          /  /     
El Salvador .........   08/11/80         /  /           /  /          /  /     
Guatemala ...........   05/08/79       06/06/83  R a  11/07/84 RA     /  /     
Haiti ...............   05/08/79         /  /           /  /          /  /     
Honduras ............   05/08/79         /  /           /  /          /  /     
Mexico ..............   08/03/82    1  01/21/83       03/09/83 RA     /  /     
Panama ..............   05/08/79         /  /           /  /          /  /     
Paraguay ............   05/08/79       07/05/85       08/16/85 RA     /  /     
Peru ................   05/08/79       04/09/80       05/15/80 RA     /  /     
Uruguay .............   05/08/79 D  2  02/12/80 D  b  05/15/80 RA     /  /     
Venezuela ...........   05/08/79       03/29/85       05/16/85 RA     /  /     
===============================================================================
REF = REFERENCE                                      INST = TYPE OF INSTRUMENT
       D = DECLARATION                                      RA = RATIFICATION
       R = RESERVATION                                      AC = ACCEPTANCE
INFORMA  = INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE TREATY               AD = ACCESSION
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
       B-40. INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON CONFLICTS OF LAWS                   
                  CONCERNING COMMERCIAL COMPANIES                             
                                                                              
                                                                              
1. Mexico:                                                                    
                                                                              
   Signed ad referendum.                                                      
                                                                              
2. Uruguay:                                                                   
                                                                              
   (Declaration made at the time of signature)                                
                                                                              
   The scope of public order:                                                 
                                                                              
   Uruguay wishes to state that it expressly ratifies the line of             
thought enunciated in Panama at CIDIP-I, reaffirming its genuine Pan          
American spirit and its clear and positive decision to contribute             
with its ideas and endorsement to the successful development of the           
legal community.                                                              
                                                                              
   This line of thinking and conduct has been evidenced in an                 
unquestionable manner by the unreserved ratification by Uruguay of            
all the Conventions of Panama, approved by law number 14,534 in               
1976.                                                                         
                                                                              
   In line with the foregoing, the Oriental Republic of Uruguay               
gives its affirmative vote to the formula regarding public order.             
Nevertheless, Uruguay wishes to state expressly and clearly that, in          
accordance with the position it maintained in Panama, its                     
interpretation of the aforementioned exception refers to                      
international public order as an individual juridical institution,            
not necessarily identifiable with the internal public order of each           
state.                                                                        
                                                                              
   Therefore, in the opinion of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,             
the approved formula conveys an exceptional authorization to the              
various States Parties to declare in a nondiscretionary and                   
well-founded manner that the precepts of foreign law are                      
inapplicable whenever these concretely and in a serious and open              
manner offend the standards and principles essential to the                   
international public order on which each individual state bases its           
legal individuality.                                                          
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
a. Guatemala:                                                                 
                                                                              
   (Reservations made at the time of ratification)                            
                                                                              
   1.   With respect to Article 4 of the Convention, the Republic             
of Guatemala declares that it will apply the provisions of Article            
213 of the Commercial Code, which prohibits foreign companies from            
doing business when they provide professional services, the                   
performance of which requires  a legally  recognized  university              
degree,  title  or diploma.  Consequently, it will not permit                 
commercial companies incorporated in another state to do business             
whenever their direct or indirect purpose is to provide that type of          
service.                                                                      
                                                                              
   2.    In respect of Article 5 of the Convention, the Republic of           
Guatemala will apply and make binding the pertinent provisions of             
its domestic legislation to companies incorporated in another state           
that intend to establish the real headquarters of their central               
administration, or their agencies or branches in Guatemalan                   
territory, and such companies must abide by the requirements                  
established in the laws of Guatemala.                                         
                                                                              
b. Uruguay:                                                                   
                                                                              
   (Declaration made at the time of ratification)                             
                                                                              
   With the declaration made at the time of signature.                        

Text of the Treaty