On 6 September 2007, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (“ICSID” or “the Centre”) received from (i) three U.S. (Delaware) companies, Mobil Corporation (“Mobil”), Mobil Cerro Negro Holding, Ltd. (“Mobil CN Holding”), and Mobil Venezolana de Petróleos Holdings, Inc. (“Mobil Venezolana Holdings”); (ii) two Bahamian companies, namely Mobil Cerro Negro, Ltd. (“Mobil CN”), and, Mobil Venezolana de Petróleos, Inc. (“Mobil Venezolana”); and (iii) one Dutch company, Venezuela Holdings, B.V. (“Venezuela Holdings”), a request for arbitration, dated 6 September 2007, against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (“Venezuela” or the “Respondent”).