natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The key elements of the SME Recommendation of 1996 for the determination of a partner enterprise (share of 25 % or more of the capital or the voting rights) have been taken up and just refined by SME Recommendation 2003/361/EC.
aasta VKEde määratlemise soovituse olulisemad kriteeriumid partnerettevõtja kohta (vähemalt 25 % kapitaliosalus või hääleõigus) võeti VKEde määratlemise soovitusse 2003/361/EÜ üle ja muudeti täpsemaks.
Nevertheless as even the most sophisticated criteria may always be circumvented, a control of attempts to circumvent the applicable definition of an SME must in any case be possible.
Kuna on oht, et ka kõige selgemate ja täpsemate kriteeriumide kohaldamisest püütakse mõnikord ikkagi kõrvale hoiduda, peab olema igal juhul võimalik sellisele käitumisele vastu astuda.
Indeed, it is rather a general principle — no circumvention — which the Courts have accepted.
Kohtud kinnitasid seega vaid üldist põhimõtet – kõrvalehoidumise keeldu.
Company documents and factual situation
Ettevõtja dokumendid ja ettevõtjaga seotud asjaolud
There are clear indications in the company documents (Heads of Agreement, Articles of Association of Sovello dated 13 January 2005, and MJVA1) that the initial corporate architecture was designed and aimed at obtaining the SME bonus.
Ettevõtja dokumentidest (lepingu põhitingimused, Sovello 13. jaanuari 2005. aasta põhikiri ja MJVA1) nähtub selgelt, et ettevõtja esialgne struktuur kujundati teadlikult eesmärgiga saada VKE lisatoetust.
Point 5 of the Heads of Agreement is most explicit on this issue:
Lepingu põhitingimuste punktiga 5 nähakse sõnaselgelt ette, et:
‘The Parties understand that, in order to qualify for maximum grants, it is in the interest of JVCo that Q restricts its equity portion of JVCo until such time that either E or JVCo are no longer categorised as “small or medium enterprises” under the rules for investment grants etc., or that this restriction becomes null and void.
„The Parties understand that, in order to qualify for maximum grants, it is in the interest of JVCo that Q restricts its equity portion of JVCo until such time that either E or JVCo are no longer categorised as „small or medium enterprises’ under the rules for investment grants etc., or that this restriction becomes null and void. As such, Q’s ownership of JVCo must be less than 25 % in order to qualify for certain German government subsidies.”
As such, Q’s ownership of JVCo must be less than 25 % in order to qualify for certain German government subsidies’.
[Pooled on seisukohal, et JVCo huvides on hoida Q osalus võimalikult suure abikõlblikkuse saavutamiseks nii kaua teatavates piirides, kuni E-d või JVCo-d ei käsitleta investeerimistoetuste eeskirjade jms kohaselt enam väikese või keskmise suurusega ettevõtjana või kuni vajaduse sellise piirangu järgi kaob.
(Underlining added) [28])(87) This clear intention is confirmed by Article 2.5(c) of the MJVA1:
Selleks et olla õigustatud saama Saksamaal teatavat riigi toetust, peab Q osalus JVCo-s jääma alla 25 %.]” [28](Teksti on alla jooninud komisjon) (87) Selline selge kavatsus sisaldub ka MJVA1 artikli 2.5 punktis c:
‘The Parties shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain the Government Investment Grant Approval as soon as reasonably practicable following the Closing Date, including, but not limited to, making changes to the overall structure of the joint venture, this Agreement, the shareholdings in VentureCo, the Articles of Association and the Concurrent Agreements in order to ensure that the maximum amount of Government Investment Grants available for small and medium size enterprises will be secured by VentureCo; and to obtain the funds necessary to fund to VentureCo the amounts specified in Section 2.4 (b) and 2.4 (c) when due.’(Underlining added)
„The Parties shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain the Government Investment Grant Approval as soon as reasonably practicable following the Closing Date, including, but not limited to, making changes to the overall structure of the joint venture, this Agreement, the shareholdings in VentureCo, the Articles of Association and the Concurrent Agreements in order to ensure that the maximum amount of Government Investment Grants available for small and medium size enterprises will be secured by VentureCo; and to obtain the funds necessary to fund to VentureCo the amounts specified in Section 2.4 (b) and 2.4 (c) when due.” [Lepinguosalised teevad kõik nendest sõltuva, et saavutada pärast tähtaja lõppemist heakskiit riiklike investeerimistoetuste saamiseks, kusjuures lepinguosaliste jõupingutused hõlmavad muu hulgas, aga mitte ainult, muudatuste tegemist ühisettevõtte üldstruktuuris, käesolevas lepingus, VentureCo aktsiate jaotuses, põhikirjas ja muudes asjaomastes kokkulepetes, eesmärgiga tagada, et VentureCo oleks õigustatud saama võimalikult suures summas väikestele ja keskmise suurusega ettevõtjatele ettenähtud riiklikke investeerimistoetusi; ning et saada VentureCo jaoks tähtaja lõppedes tema rahastamiseks vajalikud vahendid vastavalt artikli 2.4 punktidele b ja c.] (Teksti on alla jooninud komisjon)
Several elements suggest that from the start the intention of Evergreen and Q-Cells was to give equal power to both partners as soon as the SME bonus was secured:
Asjaolule, et Evergreen ja Q-Cells kavatsesid algusest peale anda mõlemale partnerile samaväärsed õigused, niipea kui VKE lisatoetuse saamine on kindel, viitab mitu elementi:
The MJVA1 lays down in its Article 3(6) that, ‘if it is possible under the applicable grant regulations, that Q-Cells increases its ownership interest in Sovello to 50 %, without such increase of Q-Cells’ ownership interest in Sovello possibly resulting in an application for Government Investment Grants being turned down, (…), then Q-Cells shall be offered to increase its ownership interest in Sovello to a level equal to the percentage’ then held by Evergreen.
artikli 3 lõikes 6 sätestatakse, et juhul kui Q-Cellsil oleks võimalik kehtivate riigiabieeskirjade kohaselt oma osalust EverQ-s 50 %-ni suurendada, ilma et pädevad asutused jätaksid seetõttu riiklike investeerimistoetuste taotluse rahuldamata […], antaks Q-Cellsile võimalus osaleda EverQ-s protsentuaalselt sama suures ulatuses nagu osaleb Evergreen.
In this context, a preferential price shall apply.
Sellisel juhul kohaldataks soodushinda.
The MJVA1 contains in its Article 3(6) even an emergency plan, foreseeing to find other ways than shareholding participation to increase Q-Cells ownership, if necessary:
artikli 3 lõikega 6 nähakse ette ka võimalus, mille kohaselt on Q-Cellsil häda korral võimalik suurendada oma osalust ettevõttes teisiti kui aktsiaosaluse suurendamise kaudu:
The Commission considers that the provisions contained in the Articles of Association, the Heads of Agreement, and the MJVA1 give Q-Cells a level of influence on Sovello’s business decisions that goes beyond what a minority shareholder with a participation of 24,9 % could expect under normal company law (though in a joint venture arrangement, this is not necessarily unusual).
Komisjoni arvates antakse Q-Cellsile põhikirja, lepingu põhitingimuste ja MJVA1 sätetega võimalus mõjutada Sovello tegevusega seotud otsuseid ning selline mõjuvõim on suurem kui see on tavapärase äriühinguõiguse kohaselt vähemusaktsionäril, kellele kuulub 24,9 % aktsiatest (ühisettevõtte lepingutes pole see siiski ebaharilik). Lepingu põhitingimustega nähakse ette, et:
The Heads of Agreement stipulates that:
„The Governance of JVCo will generally be structured and balanced to take into account each Party’s relative economic interest in JVCo and the fact that E needs initially to have a higher degree of control of JVCo as a result of the materiality of the operations of JVCo relative to E’s operations on a consolidated basis. At the same time, the JVCo governance structure will include provisions that ensure that both E and Q have a shared voice in major actions of JVCo.”
‘The Governance of JVCo will generally be structured and balanced to take into account each Party’s relative economic interest in JVCo and the fact that E needs initially to have a higher degree of control of JVCo as a result of the materiality of the operations of JVCo relative to E’s operations on a consolidated basis.
[JVCo juhtimine korraldatakse üldiselt nii, et võetakse arvesse partnerite majanduslikke huve seoses JVCo-ga ning asjaolu, et JVCo äritegevus mõjutab olulisel määral E äritegevust, mistõttu E-le tuleb esialgu kokkuleppeliselt võimaldada JVCo üle suurem kontroll.
At the same time, the JVCo governance structure will include provisions that ensure that both E and Q have a shared voice in major actions of JVCo.’(Underlining added)
Samal ajal hõlmab JVCo juhtimisstruktuur sätteid, millega tagatakse nii E-le kui ka Q-le võimalus osaleda JVCo-ga seotud oluliste otsuste tegemises.] (Teksti on alla jooninud komisjon)
In addition, the Heads of Agreement mentions that the parties will agree to identify certain major corporate actions that require the consent of both parties in a mutually agreed upon manner.
Lisaks on lepingu põhitingimustes märgitud, et partnerid lepivad ühiselt kokku, et teatavate oluliste otsuste tegemisel on nõutav mõlema partneri nõusolek.
Indeed, the initial Articles of Association of Sovello foresee that:
Sovello esialgses põhikirjas sisalduvad järgmised sätted:
The Supervisory Board is composed of three persons (two nominated by Evergreen, of which the president, who should be ‘acceptable’ for Q-Cells; one by Q-Cells, who is at the same time the substitute president).
järelevalvenõukogusse kuulub kolm liiget (kaks neist, sealhulgas Q-Cellsile „vastuvõetava” esimehe nimetab Evergreen; ühe liikme (kes on ühtlasi aseesimees) nimetab ametisse ja vabastab ametist Q-Cells);
The agreement of at least one of each of both Evergreen and Q-Cells nominees is required for several important corporate actions (approval of annual plan and balance sheet; strategic decisions concerning timing and volume of production, capacity extension, sale of wafers/cells additionally to module; definition of brands and brand names; agreements concerning intellectual property…).
mitmesuguste oluliste otsuste puhul (iga-aastase tööplaani ja bilansi heakskiitmine, strateegilised otsused tootmise ajakava ja mahu ning tootmisvõimsuse suurendamise kohta, samuti otsused selle kohta, et lisaks päikesemoodulitele hakatakse müüma ka päikeseelemente ja pooljuhtplaate; otsused kaubamärkide ja nende nimetuste kohta, intellektuaalomandit käsitlevad kokkulepped jne) on nõutav vähemalt ühe Evergreeni nimetatud ja ühe Q-Cellsi nimetatud järelevalvenõukogu liikme nõusolek.
As a consequence, since Q-Cells has substantial decisional rights, the German argument that Evergreen needed a participation exceeding 75 % to protect its interests (and thus the 24,9 % participation of Q-Cells is justified by other than circumvention-considerations) cannot be upheld.
Kuna Q-Cellsil on otsuste tegemisel oluline mõju, ei pea paika Saksamaa väide, mille kohaselt Evergreenil oli üle 75 %-list osalust tarvis oma huvide kaitseks (ja Q-Cellsi 24,9 % osalus ei tulenenud seega katsest hoiduda kõrvale VKEde määratlemise soovituse sätete kohaldamisest).
The Commission notes that Evergreen indeed desired to initially have a majority interest in Sovello (as stated in point 5 of the Heads of Agreement: ‘E will be required to own a majority interest in the equity of JVCo in the near term’), but such majority could also be achieved with another participation percentage (between 51 % and 75 %).
Komisjon võtab teadmiseks, et Evergreenile anti esialgu tõepoolest võimalus omandada Sovellos enamusosalus (vrd lepingu põhitingimuste punkt 5: „E will be required to own a majority interest in the equity of JVCo in the near term” [E peab esialgu omama enamusosalust JVCo põhikapitalis]), aga selline enamusosalus oleks võinud olla protsentides väljendatult ka teistsugune (51 % – 75 %).
The influence of Q-Cells on strategic decisions is confirmed by Evergreen’s annual report 2004 which mentions that:
Q-Cellsi mõju strateegiliste otsuste tegemisel leiab kinnitust ka Evergreeni 2004. aasta aruandes, milles on märgitud, et:
‘although initially a minority shareholder in the strategic partnership, Q-Cells will have the ability to influence the strategic direction of the strategic partnership and other material decisions of the strategic partnership; as a result, we may be unable to take certain actions that we believe would be in our best interests, which, given the expected materiality of the strategic partnership to our combined operations, could significantly harm our business; further, we may be liable to third parties for the material decisions and actions of Q-Cells in the strategic partnership, which actions may harm the strategic partnership and our business’.
„although initially a minority shareholder in the strategic partnership, Q-Cells will have the ability to influence the strategic direction of the strategic partnership and other material decisions of the strategic partnership; as a result, we may be unable to take certain actions that we believe would be in our best interests, which, given the expected materiality of the strategic partnership to our combined operations, could significantly harm our business; further, we may be liable to third parties for the material decisions and actions of Q-Cells in the strategic partnership, which actions may harm the strategic partnership and our business.”
(Underlining added)
[ehkki Q-Cells osaleb strateegilises partnerluses esialgu vähemusaktsionärina, on tal võimalus rääkida kaasa strateegilise partnerluse eesmärkide seadmisel ja muude oluliste otsuste tegemisel; seetõttu ei ole meil teatavatel juhtudel võimalik võtta meie jaoks olulisi meetmeid ning see võib oluliselt kahjustada meie äritegevust, pidades silmas strateegilise partnerluse eeldatavat mõju meie ühisele tegevusele; lisaks võib juhtuda, et meil tuleb kanda kolmandate isikute ees vastutust Q-Cellsi poolt strateegilise partnerluse raames tehtud oluliste otsuste ja meetmete tõttu, ning sellised Q-Cellsi meetmed võivad meie strateegilist partnerlust ja äritegevust kahjustada.] (Teksti on alla jooninud komisjon)
The following extracts from the Heads of Agreement demonstrate that the role of Q-Cells in Sovello was essential for the operability of the joint venture:
Lepingu põhitingimuste järgmistest lõikudest nähtub, et Q-Cellsil oli ühisettevõtte toimimise tagamisel oluline roll:
‘It is anticipated that because the facility will be located in Germany near Q’s current operations, that Q will be a major source of transferred and seconded employees for JVCo.
„It is anticipated that because the facility will be located in Germany near Q’s current operations, that Q will be a major source of transferred and seconded employees for JVCo. In addition, initially Q will take primary responsibility for recruiting new employees for the facility.”
In addition, initially Q will take primary responsibility for recruiting new employees for the facility.’
[Eeldatavasti saab Q-st, kelle asukoht on Saksamaal Sovello tootmiskoha läheduses, töötajate JVCo-sse üleviimise ja lähetamise oluline allikas.
‘JVCo may outsource to a Party on a permanent or temporary basis, certain services (Infrastructure, management, operational, technology support and development, etc.) that can be provided by a party to JVCo on a more cost effective basis than if JVCo were to provide such services itself.
Lisaks sellele on Q-l esialgu põhivastutus uute töötajate värbamisel Sovellosse.] „JVCo may outsource to a Party on a permanent or temporary basis, certain services (Infrastructure, management, operational and technology support and development, etc.) that can be provided by a party to JVCo on a more cost effective basis than if JVCo were to provide such services itself.
In particular for the early phases of JVCo, both Parties commit to enter into agreements to supply necessary services to JVCo for a period of at least 2 years, until JVCo is in a position to function cost effectively without this support from its owner entities.’
In particular for the early phases of JVCo, both Parties commit to enter into agreements to supply necessary services to JVCo for a period of at least 2 years, until JVCo is in a position to function cost effectively without this support from its owner entities.”
‘For example, it is anticipated that because of the proximity of the JVCo facility to Q, that Q will be in a position to effectively provide JVCo with infrastructure services until such time as JVCo is able to provide such services independently.’
[JVCo võib tellida teatavaid teenuseid (infrastruktuur, haldus, äritegevusega seotud ja tehnoloogiline tugi, tehnoloogiaarendus jne), mida mõni partner saaks osutada väiksemate kulutustega kui JVCo ise, pidevalt või ajutiselt allhanke korras. Mõlemad partnerid kohustuvad eelkõige JVCo algusetapis sõlmima lepinguid JVCo jaoks vajalike teenuste hankimiseks vähemalt kaheks aastaks või kuni JVCo on ise võimeline omanike abita majanduslikult tõhusalt toimima.] „For example, it is anticipated that because of the proximity of the JVCo facility to Q, that Q will be in a position to effectively provide JVCo with infrastructure services until such time as JVCo is able to provide such services independently.” [Seega eeldatakse, et Q, kes asub JVCo tootmiskoha geograafilises läheduses, osutab JVCo-le infrastruktuuriteenuseid, kuni JVCo suudab sellised teenused üle võtta.]
The MJVA1 also lists a whole range of services which may be provided to Sovello (by both parties Q-Cells and Evergreen): general advice regarding management issues, assistance with respect to Government investment grant application process, assistance with German permit applications, assistance with German management staff selection and recruitment process, Assistance with tax issues, advice regarding corporate and organizational structure, Advice and support regarding financing activities, making the parties’ suppliers available, advice in connection with the transfer of the Parties’ technology, technology support, local infrastructure purchasing, human resources and recruitment support (Article 9.9 of the MJVA1).
MJVA1-s on samuti loetletud hulk teenuseid, mida tuleks Sovellole osutada (ühisettevõtte partnerite Q-Cells ja Evergreen kaudu): üldine nõustamine haldusküsimustes, abi riikliku investeerimistoetuse taotlemisel, abi lubade taotlemisel Saksamaal, toetus halduspersonali valikul ja värbamisel Saksamaal, abi maksuküsimustes, nõustamine ettevõtlus- ja organisatsioonilise struktuuri küsimustes, nõustamine ja toetus kapitali hankimisega seotud küsimustes, partneritele tarnijate vahendamine, nõustamine seoses partnerite tehnosiirdega, tehnoloogiline tugi, abi kohalike infrastruktuuride omandamisel, inimressurssidealane toetus ja abi töötajate värbamisel (MJVA1 artikkel 9.9).
It is true that the texts mention that these services will be provided on a market-rate or cost-plus basis, but the above shows that there are close relations between Sovello and Q-Cells.
On tõsi, et osutatud dokumentides on ette nähtud kõnealuste teenuste osutamine turuhindadega või kulupõhiselt, aga see ei muuda olematuks tõsiasja, et Sovello ja Q-Cellsi vahel on tugev side.
A press release issued by the parties on 24 January 2005 states that ‘The proposed facility is expected to be constructed on property near Q-Cells’ existing solar cell factories, and should therefore capture strong synergies with Q-Cells’ operations.’
Ühisettevõtte partnerid avaldavad 24. jaanuari 2005. aasta pressiteates, et „kavandatav tehas ehitatakse eeldatavasti Q-Cellsi päikeseelemenditehaste läheduses asuvale krundile ning võib hakata seega olulisel määral kasu saama koostoimest Q-Cellsiga.”
Furthermore, Q-Cells acquired the shelf-company for the creation of Sovello, and the managing directors of this company were the CEO of Q-Cells and the CFO of Q-Cells, whereas the COO of Q-Cells had signing authority.
Q-Cells omandas Sovello asutamise eesmärgil riiulifirma, mille juhatusse kuulusid Q-Cellsi tegevdirektor ja finantsdirektor ning milles oli allkirjaõigus Q-Cellsi juhatajal.
Q-Cells provided an executive officer to Sovello, and even if Germany argues that this was only a transitional arrangement, and that Evergreen also provided an executive officer, this nevertheless is again an indication that the relations between Q-Cells and Sovello were very close, at least at the start of the joint venture.
Q-Cells nimetas ametisse ühe Sovello tegevjuhi, ning hoolimata Saksamaa väitest, mille kohaselt Q-Cells tegi seda ainult ajutiselt ja mille kohaselt Evergreen nimetas samuti ametisse ühe tegevjuhi, viitab see asjaolule, et Q-Cellsi ja Sovello seos oli vähemalt ühisettevõtte algusetapis väga tugev.
Germany argued that Evergreen had negotiated with other possible joint venture partners on the basis of a participation exceeding 75 %, but failed to submit evidence in writing of such negotiations.
Saksamaa väitel pidas Evergreen üle 75 % osaluse baasil läbirääkimisi teiste võimalike ühisettevõtte partneritega, aga ei edastanud selle kohta kirjalikke tõendeid.
Germany offered in some correspondence to provide declarations under oath by representatives of Evergreen and Q-Cells on the considerations behind the 24,9 % share, but did finally not submit them.
Saksamaa lubas mõnes oma kirjas, et edastab Evergreeni ja Q-Cellsi esindajate poolt vande all antud kinnitused 24,9 % osalusega seotud kaalutluste kohta, aga jättis oma lubaduse täitmata.
For these reasons, the Commission cannot follow the argument that the participation of 24,9 % of Q-Cells results necessarily from German company law and is not determined by the intention to obtain an SME bonus.
Seetõttu ei saa komisjon nõustuda väitega, et Q-Cellsi 24,9 % osalus tuleneb Saksa äriühinguõiguse kohaldamisest ja mitte kavatsusest saada VKE lisatoetust.
The Commission is not convinced by the German argument that the possibility in the MJVA1 for Q-Cells to increase its participation to 50 % was not only conditional to the maintenance of the State subsidy, but also to a capacity expansion decision of both partners based on economic success of Sovello1, since the provisions of Article 3(6)(c) of the MJVA1 state:
Komisjoni ei veena Saksamaa väide, mille kohaselt Q-Cellsile MJVA1-ga ette nähtud võimalus suurendada oma osalust 50 %-ni, ei sõltu ainult sellest, kas riigiabi saamine on sellisel juhul endiselt võimalik, vaid ka mõlema partneri otsusest suurendada Sovello 1 majandusliku edu korral tootmisvõimsust. Sellise väite kummutamiseks toob komisjon esile MJVA1 artikli 3 lõike 6 punkti c sõnastuse:
‘Additional Financing.
„Täiendavad rahalised vahendid.
If, be it in relation to a Capacity Expansion or otherwise, VentureCo requests in writing from both E and Q additional financing in addition to the Aggregate Equity Funding or Alternative Funding (an “Additional Financing”), and the Shareholders approve the corresponding capital increase in accordance with the Articles of Association (an “Additional Financing Request”), the following shall apply:
Juhul kui VentureCo peaks kas seoses võimsuse suurendamisega või mõnel muul põhjusel nõudma E-lt ja Q-lt kirjalikult täiendavaid rahalisi vahendeid lisaks omakapitali koguressurssidele („Aggregate Equity Funding”) ja täiendavatele kapitaliressurssidele („Alternative Funding”) ning kui osanikud kiidavad kapitali suurendamise ühisettevõtte asutamislepingu sätteid järgides heaks („täiendavate rahaliste vahendite taotlus”), kohaldatakse järgmisi tingimusi: