On April 2, 2009, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (‘ICSID’) received a request for arbitration of Vattenfall AB, Vattenfall Europe AG, Vattenfall Europe Generation AG & Co. KG (‘the Claimants’) submitted against the Federal Republic of Germany (‘the Respondent’). Vattenfall AB is a Swedish company, while Vattenfall Europe AG and Vattenfall Europe Generation AG & Co. KG are German companies. The Request was registered by the Acting Secretary-General of ICSID on April 17, 2009, pursuant to Article 36(3) of the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States.