Case 1:11-cv-04296-DLC ECF CASE BEFORE FEDERAL COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

SKANGA ENERGY & MARINE LIMITED

v. AREVENCA, S.A., PETROLEOS DE VENEZUELA S.A., and JAVIER GONZALEZ ALVAREZ

STATEMENT OF ABRAHAM EDUARDO ORTEGA

I, Abraham Eduardo Ortega, hereby declare the following:

I.

Personal Background.

1.1 I am licensed as a Public Accountant and hold a licensed degree in Business Management from Universidad Cat61ica Andres Bello, Venezuela, I also have a Master's degree in Business Administration from University of Newcastle, England.

1.2 In 2004, I began working for Petr61eos de Venezuela, S.A. (hereinafter referred to as PDVSA); I currently am Executive Director of Finance. II.

Legal Nature, Organization and Operation of PDVSA.

2.1 PDVSA is a Venezuelan company organized in the form of a sociedad an6nima, the sole shareholder of which is the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. PDVSA is an independent legal entity, with the authority to create branches and offices in other locations within the Republic or abroad.

2.2 Pursuant to its Bylaws, PDVSA is the company that exercises a share controlling interest in a set of subsidiary companies. In effect, Clause Two of its Corporate Chart specify that PDVSA has the purpose of planning, coordinating and supervising the action of the companies that it owns, as well as controlling them in regards to their activities. 2.3 The aforementioned Corporate Chart establishes the Shareholders Assembly as the entity charged with the administration and control of the company.

2.4 The Board of Directors has the broadest authority for administrative and dispositive actions within the Company, and, among other authority, within the management of the company's business, corresponds to it: a. Establishing and closing branches, agencies and offices and appointing correspondents in Venezuela or abroad. b. Auditing and supervising the activities of subsidiary companies, and in particular, ensuring that its decisions are respected. c. Authorizing the execution of contracts, being able to delegate this authority per the special internal regulation issued in this regard. d. Delegating the exercise of one or several of its authorities to one or more members of the Board of Directors or to other company officials. 2.5 Article 29 of the Law for the Partial Amendment of Public Contracting, published in Official Gazette No. 39,181 dated May 19, 2009, requires any individual or legal entity that intends to participate in any bidding process to register with the National Register of Contractors. 2.6 In developing said standard, PDVSA implemented and developed a set of Internal Registers, referred to as the Unique Register for Qualified Customers for Export Sales (RUCCVE), Auxiliary Register of PDVSA's Contractors (RAC), Register of Socialist Production Companies ((REPS), SAP and PR1. 2.7 The Human Resources Department of PDVSA at all times maintains an updated list of the Company's officials, employees and workers of the Company.

III.

Commercial Actions of PDVSA

3.1 Since PDVSA is a company the purpose of which is the planning, coordination and control of its subsidiary companies, it does not directly carry out any commercial activity regarding the purchase-sale of oil or hydrocarbon by-products. Nevertheless, several subsidiaries of PDVSA are authorized to sell oil and hydrocarbon by-products.

IV.

Absence of a Relationship between PDVSA and AREVENCA, S.A.

4.1 Based on my knowledge, within the corporate structure of PDVSA, there is no subsidiary named AREVENCA, S.A. Similarly, neither is there a partner of any of the subsidiaries and/or public-private companies or any other form of association or direct or indirect relationship with PDVSA, under this business name. 4.2 Based on the information given to me by the Corporate Matters Secretariat of PDVSA, I can affirm that no decision of the Meeting of Shareholders has established or authorized the creation or acquisltlon of any company bearing the business name AREVENCA, S.A.

4.3 Similarly, based on the information given to me by the Corporate Matters Secretariat of PDVSA, I can affirm that no resolution of the Board of Directors or any other entity or authority of the company authorized legal business of a commercial nature with or through any company under the corporate name of AREVENCA, S.A. 4.4 After a thorough review of the National Register of Contractors (RNC), as well as the internal records of PDVSA (Unique Register for Qualified Customers for Export Sales (RUCCVE), Auxiliary Register of PDVSA's Contractors (RAC), Register of Socialist Production Companies ((REPS), SAP and PR1), effectuated by the Management for the Inscription Process of National Register of Contractors and the Auxiliary Register of Contractors of PDVSA, I can affirm that no record appears of any company whatsoever bearing the name AREVENCA, S.A. V. Absence of a Relationship between PDVSA and Javier Gonzalez Alvarez.

5.1 From a review of the payroll of officials, employees and workers of PDVSA prepared by the Human Resources Department of PDVSA, it was shown that Javier Gonzalez Alvarez is not an official. employee or worker of the Company. 5.2 After the review carried out by the Management for the Inscription Process of National Register of Contractors and the Auxiliary Register of Contractors of PDVSA, of the National Register of Contractors (RNC), as well as the internal records of PDVSA Auxiliary Register of PDVSA's Contractors (RAC), Register of Socialist Production Companies ((REPS), SAP and PR1), I can affirm that no person appears bearing the name of Javier Gonzalez Alvarez as a vendor of the Company. VI. Absence of a Relationship between PDVSA and SKANGA ENERGY & MARINE LIMITED.

6.1 Based on the review carried out by the Management for the Inscription Process of National Register of Contractors and the Auxiliary Register of Contractors of PDVSA, I can affirm that in the National Register of Contractors (RNC), as well as the internal records of PDVSA (Unique Register for Qualified Customers for Export Sales (RUCCVE), Auxiliary Register of PDVSA's Contractors (RAC), Register of Socialist Production Companies ((REPS), SAP and PR1 there appears no company bearing the name of SKANGA ENERGY & MARINE LIMITED. VII. Offices of PDVSA in New York City.

7.1 According to information provided to me by the Management of Corporate Treasury of PDVSA, I can affirm that with respect to the following address: 111 8th Avenue, New York, New York 10011, which SKANGA ENERGY & MARINE LIMITED referenced in its complaint, this address corresponds to the business department of CT Corp. a company that is registered as an agent of PDVSA and PDVSA Finance, in the "Underwriting Agreement" presented in relation to the offer of bonds in the United States of America which PDVSA Finance carried out in 2001 . CT Corp. has also provided its services as an agent to PDVSA and its subsidiaries

on several occasions, without that implying that CT Corp. is a company that is related to or a subsidiary of PDVSA.

VIII. PDVSA bank accounts in New York City.

8.1 According to information provided to me by the Management of Corporate Treasury of PDVSA, I can affirm that PDVSA does not have accounts with the financial institution Corp. Banca, with offices in New York, United States of America. 8.2 According to information provided to me by the Management of Corporate Treasury of PDVSA, I can affirm that, in spite of the fact that PDVSA has accounts with the financial entity Citibank with offices in New York, United States of America, the funds that PDVSA uses in or through said accounts are used for the specific performance of its functions and not for the activities of the sale of oil or hydrocarbon by-products. The foregoing is what I know, and is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. I so swear under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America.

Abraham Eduardo Ortega

100 Park Ave.16th FI.

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CERTIFICATE OF ACCURACY This is to certify that the attached document, "Statement ofAbraham Eduardo Ortega ", originally written in Spanish is, to the best of our knowledge and belief, a true , accurate, and complete translation into English .

Dated: 8/15/20 II

ID;g?::e:Consortra Translations Sworn to and signed before ME thi s / S"'"" day of /lv;'~ 2011.

,

JAMES G MAMERA Not ary Public , State of New York No. 01M A6157 195 Qualified In New Yo rk County Comm ission Expires Dec. 4, 20 14

ANTE LA CORTE FEDERAL DEL DISTRITO SUR DE NUEVA YORK

SKANGA ENERGY & MARINE LIMITED contra AREVENCA, SA, PETR6LEOS DE VENEZUELA SA, Y JAVIER GONZALEZ ALVAREZ

DECLARACI6N DE ABRAHAM EDGARDO ORTEGA

Yo, Abraham Edgardo Ortega, por medio de la presente declaro 10 siguiente: I.

Antecedentes Personales.

1.1 Soy Licenciado en Contadurfa Publica y Licenciado en Adrnlnistraclon de Empresas egresado de la Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, Venezuela, igualmente cuento con una Maestria en Admlnistracion de Negocios, de la Universidad de Newcastle, Inglaterra.

1.2 En el ana 2004, mlcle labores en PetroIeos de Venezuela, S.A (en 10 sucesivo PDVSA); Yactualmente desemperio el cargo de Director Ejecutivo de Finanzas. II.

Naturaleza Juridica, Orqanizaclon y Funcionamiento de PDVSA.

2.1 PDVSA, es una sociedad venezolana constituida bajo la forma de sociedad anonima, cuya untca accionista es la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela. PDVSA es una persona jurfdica independiente, con facultad para crear sucursales y oficinas en otros lugares de la Republica 0 en el exterior. 2.2 De conformidad con sus Estatutos, PDVSA es la empresa que ejerce el control accionario de un conjunto de empresas filiales. En efecto, la Clausula Segunda de su Estatuto Social establece que PDVSA tiene por objeto planificar, coordinar y supervisar la accion de las sociedades de su propiedad, asi como controlar estas ultimas en sus actividades. 2.3 Los mencionados Estatutos Sociales establecen como orqano encargado de la administracion y control de la empresa a la Asamblea de Accionistas.

2.4 Ahara bien, la Junta Directiva por su parte, tiene las mas amplias facultades de administraci6n y disposici6n dentro de la Sociedad y entre otras atribuciones, dentro del giro del negocio de la sociedad Ie corresponde: a. Establecer y clausurar sucursales, agencias y oficinas y nombrar corresponsales en el pais 0 en el exterior. b. Controlar y supervisar las actividades de las sociedades filiales y en especial, vigilar que cumplan sus decisiones. c. Autorizar la celebraci6n de contratos, pudiendo delegar esta facultad de acuerdo con la reglamentaci6n interna especial que al efecto se dictare. d. Delegar el ejercicio de una 0 varias de sus atribuciones en uno 0 mas de los miembros de la Junta Directiva 0 en otros funcionarios de la sociedad. 2.5 EI articulo 29 de la Ley de Reforma Parcial de Contrataciones Publicas, publicado en Gaceta Oficial No. 39.181 de fecha 19 de mayo de 2009, impone a toda persona natural 0 jurfdica que pretenda participar en cualquier proceso Iicitatorio, la inscripci6n en el Registro Nacional de Contratistas. 2.6 En desarrollo de dicha norma, PDVSA implement6 y desarrollo un conjunto de Registros Internos, denominados Registro Unico de Clientes Calificados para Ventas de Exportaci6n (RUCCVE), Registro Auxiliar de Contratistas de PDVSA (RAC), Registro de Empresas de Producci6n Socialista (REPS), SAP Yel PR1. 2.7 La Direcci6n de Recursos Humanos de PDVSA mantiene en todo momento un Iistado actualizado de funcionarios, empleados y obreros de la Sociedad. III.

Aetos eomereiales de PDVSA

3.1 AI ser PDVSA una sociedad cuyo objeto es la planificaci6n, coordinaci6n y control de sus sociedades subsidiarias, no realiza directamente ninguna actividad comercial de compra-venta de petr61eo y derivados de hidrocarburos. Sin embargo, algunas filiales de PDVSA estan facultadas para la comercializaci6n de petr61eo y derivados de hidrocarburos. IV.

Inexisteneia de Relaei6n entre PDVSA y AREVENCA, SA

4.1 En base a mi conocimiento, dentro de la estructura corporativa de PDVSA no existe ninguna filial denominada AREVENCA, SA En el mismo orden de ideas, tampoco es socia con ninguna de las filiales y/o empresas mixtas 0 ninguna otra forma de asociaci6n 0 relaci6n directa con PDVSA, bajo esa denominaci6n comercial. 4.2 En base a la informaci6n que me fuera proporcionada por la Secretaria de Asuntos Corporativos de PDVSA, puedo afirmar que ninguna decision de la Asamblea de Accionistas de PDVSA ha establecido 0 autorizado la creaci6n 0

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adquisici6n de sociedad alguna bajo la denominaci6n comercial de AREVENCA, SA 4.3 Igualmente, con base a la informaci6n suministrada por la Secretaria de Entes Corporativos de PDVSA, puedo afirmar que ninguna decisi6n de la Junta Directiva de PDVSA ha autorizado la realizaci6n de negocios juridicos de indole comercial con 0 a traves de ninguna sociedad bajo la razon social AREVENCA, SA 4.4 Tras una exhaustiva revisi6n del Registro Nacional de Contratistas (RNC), as! como los registros internos de PDVSA (Registro Unico de Clientes Calificados para Ventas de Exportaci6n (RUCCVE), Registro Auxiliar de Contratistas de PDVSA (RAC), Registro de Empresas de Producci6n Socialista (REPS), SAP y el PR1), efectuada por la Gerencia de Proceso de Inscripci6n de Registro Nacional de Contratistas y Registro Auxiliar de Contratistas de PDVSA, puedo afirmar que no consta nlnqun registro de sociedad alguna bajo la denominaci6n AREVENCA, SA V. Inexistencia de Relaclon entre PDVSA y Javier Gonzalez Alvarez. 5.1 En base a la revision de la nomina de funcionarios, empleados y obreros de PDVSA realizada por la Direcci6n de Recursos Humanos de PDVSA, se desprende que el ciudadano Javier Gonzalez Alvarez no es funcionario, empleado u obrero de la Sociedad. 5.2 Tras la revisi6n efectuada por la Gerencia de Proceso de tnscripcion de Registro Nacional de Contratistas y Registro Auxiliar de Contratistas de PDVSA del Registro Nacional de Contratistas (RNC), asi como los registros internes de PDVSA (Registro Auxiliar de Contratistas de PDVSA (RAC), Registro de Empresas de Producci6n Socialista (REPS), SAP Y el PR1), puedo afirmar que no consta persona alguna bajo el nombre de Javier Gonzalez Alvarez como proveedor de PDVSA. VI. Inexistencia de Relaclon entre PDVSA y SKANGA ENERGY & MARINE LIMITED. 6.1 En base a la revisi6n realizada por la Gerencia de Proceso de Inscripci6n de Registro Nacional de Contratistas y Registro Auxiliar de Contratistas de PDVSA, puedo afirmar que en el Registro Nacional de Contratistas (RNC), asi como los registros internos de PDVSA (Registro Unlco de Clientes Calificados para Ventas de Exportaci6n (RUCCVE), Registro Auxiliar de Contratistas de PDVSA (RAC), Registro de Empresas de Produccion Socialista (REPS), SAP y el PR1), no consta sociedad alguna bajo la denorninacion de SKANGA ENERGY & MARINE LIMITED. VII. Oficinas de PDVSA en la ciudad de Nueva York. 7.1 De acuerdo a la informaci6n que me fuera suministrada por la Gerencia de Tesoreria Corporativa de PDVSA, puedo afirmar que con respecto a la siguiente direcci6n: 111 8th Avenue, New York, New York 10011, a la cual hace referencia SKANGA ENERGY & MARINE LIMITED en su escrito de demanda, la misma corresponde a la direcci6n de negocios de la cornpanla CT Corp. empresa que se

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encuentra registrada como agente de PDVSA y PDVSA Finance, en el "Underwriting Agreement" presentado en conexi6n con la oferta de bonos en los Estados Unidos de Norteamerica que realizara PDVSA Finance en el ario 2001. Igualmente, CT Corp. ha prestado sus servicios como agente a PDVSA y sus filiales en diversas ocasiones, sin que ello implique que CT Corp. sea una sociedad 0 empresa relacionada 0 filial de PDVSA. VIII. Cuentas bancarias de PDVSA en la ciudad de Nueva York.

8.1 Sequn la informaci6n que me fuera suministrada por la Gerencia de Tesoreria Corporativa de PDVSA, puedo afirmar que PDVSA no mantiene cuentas en la entidad financiera Corp Banca, con sede en la ciudad de Nueva York, Estado Unidos de America. 8.2 Con base a la informaci6n que me fuera suministrada por la Gerencia de Tesoreria Corporativa de PDVSA, puedo afirmar que, a pesar de que PDVSA mantiene cuentas en la entidad financiera Citibank, con sede en la ciudad de Nueva York, Estados Unidos de America, los fondos que utiliza PDVSA en 0 a traves de dichas cuentas son utilizados en el cumplimiento especifico de sus funciones y no para las actividades de comercializaci6n de petr61eo 0 derivados de hidrocarburos. Lo anterior es 10 que conozco y es a mi leal saber y entender cierto y correcto y 10 declaro bajo la pena de perjurio bajo las leyes de los Estados Unidos de America.

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