On 21 October 2003, Corn Products International, Inc. (“CPI”), a company incorporated in the State of Delaware, submitted a Request for Institution of Arbitration Proceedings to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (“ICSID”) against the United Mexican States (“Mexico”) under Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”), for alleged breaches of Articles 1102, 1106 and 1110 of NAFTA arising from the imposition of an excise tax with effect from January 1, 2002 on soft drinks containing high fructose corn syrup. On 4 August 2004, Archer Daniels Midland Company and Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas, Inc. (hereinafter “ADM/Tate & Lyle” or “the ALMEX shareholders”), two Illinois based companies incorporated in the State of Delaware, submitted a similar Request for Institution of Arbitration Proceedings against Mexico, based on the same tax measure.