natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Acquisition of ABX by SNCB. This concerns investments by SNCB between 1998 and 2001 amounting to EUR 672,4 million (since revised to EUR 433,8 million for the ‘acquisition’ of the ABX network, and certain information concerning the allocation of guarantees granted either by SNCB or by the government for financing (re)investments in ABX, whose substance had to be checked.
„Nakup ABX s strani SNCB“: Gre za naložbe družbe SNCB med letoma 1998 in 2001 v višini 672,4 milijona EUR (ki je med tem popravljen na 433,8 milijona EUR za „nakup“ mreže ABX kakor tudi za določeno število navedb v zvezi z dodelitvijo jamstev, ki jih je odobrila bodisi družba SNCB bodisi država za financiranje ponovnih naložb v ABX, za katere je bilo treba preveriti vsebino.
Other amounts. The Commission also had doubts about the legality/compatibility of the payment in 2001 of other subsidies totalling EUR 150 million (since revised to EUR 114,6 million granted by SNCB to ABX-D, -NL and –F, which were paid without being notified to the Commission in advance.
„Drugi zneski“: Komisija je izrazila dvome tudi o zakonitosti/združljivosti nakazila „drugih subvencij“ iz leta 2001 v skupnem znesku 150 milijonov EUR (ki je med tem popravljen na 114,6 milijona EUR, ki jih je družba SNCB dodelila ABX-D, -NL in -F in so bila nakazana brez predhodne priglasitve Komisiji.
The Commission ' s doubts in this respect concerned the presumed absence of aid and the compatibility of such potential aid.
Dvomi Komisije v zvezi s tem so se nanašali na domnevno neprisotnost pomoči in združljivost takih morebitnih pomoči.
Parallel amounts. The Commission also expressed its doubts about the statement by the Belgian authorities that the conversion into capital in 2004 of loans granted by SNCB to ABX totalling EUR 21 million (since revised to EUR 12,1 million, hereinafter ‘parallel amounts’, for ABX Logistics (Ireland) Ltd (EUR 3,2 million), ABX Logistics (Portugal) Lda.
„Vzporedni zneski“: Komisija je prav tako izrazila dvome glede trditve belgijskih organov, da preoblikovanje posojil, ki jih je leta 2004 družba SNCB dodelila ABX, v kapital v skupnem znesku 21 milijonov EUR (ki je bil med tem popravljen na 12,1 milijona EUR, v nadaljnjem besedilu „vzporedni zneski“, v korist podjetij ABX LOGISTICS (Ireland) Ltd. (3,2 milijona EUR), ABX LOGISTICS (Portugal) Lda.
(EUR 2 million), ABX Logistics (Singapore) Pte Ltd. (EUR 3,8 million) and ABX Logistics International (Belgium) NV/SA (EUR 12 million) (‘ABX-Irl’, ‘ABX-P’, ‘ABX-Sing’ and ‘ABX-B’ respectively), constituted a normal transaction within the SNCB group.
(2 milijona EUR), ABX LOGISTICS (Singapore) Pte Ldt. (3,8 milijona EUR) in ABX LOGISTICS International (Belgium) NV/SA (12 milijonov EUR), (v nadaljnjem besedilu „ABX-Irl“, „ABX-P“, „ABX-Sing“ in „ABX-B“), pomeni običajno transakcijo znotraj skupine SNCB.
The Belgian authorities considered that this amount would be paid ‘outside the notified restructuring’ and did not therefore constitute state aid within the meaning of Article 87 of the Treaty.
Belgijski organi so ocenili, da se bo ta znesek nakazal „zunaj okvira priglašenega prestrukturiranja“ in zato ne pomeni državne pomoči v smislu člena 87 Pogodbe.
The Commission's doubts in this respect also concerned, therefore, the compatibility of this potential aid.
Dvomi Komisije v tej zvezi so se zato nanašali tudi na vprašanje združljivosti takih morebitnih pomoči.
Supplementary notifications
Dodatne informacije k priglasitvi
By letters dated 14 January and 24 February 2005, the Belgian authorities supplemented the original notification with information substantially altering the ABX restructuring plan.
V dopisu z dne 14. januarja 2005 in 24. februarja 2005 so belgijski organi dopolnili prvotno priglasitev z informacijami, ki so bistveno spremenile načrt za prestrukturiranje ABX.
The changes concerned in particular an increase by SNCB and the ABX group in the financing for the restructuring, the sale of ABX-France in the form of a management buyout (‘MBO’) at less than the market price, further capacity reductions, substantial internal restructuring measures and the proposed sale at the market price of the entire ABX group.
Te spremembe so se zlasti nanašale na povečanje financiranja za prestrukturiranje s strani SNCB in skupine ABX, na prodajo podjetja ABX-Francija v obliki odkupa podjetja s strani zaposlenih („MBO“) pod tržno ceno, zmanjšanje dodatnih zmogljivosti, znatne notranje ukrepe prestrukturiranja ter na predvideno prodajo celotne skupine ABX po tržni ceni.
Extension of the procedure on 3 May 2005
Razširitev postopka z dne 3. maja 2005
The Commission extended the investigation procedure — supplementing rather than replacing the original procedure — with regard to two main aspects of this extra information: the change in the budget for the ABX restructuring and the terms of the sale of ABX-France in particular but also of ABX-WW (ABX Worldwide), the new ABX holding company set up during the restructuring.
Komisija je razširila postopek preiskave, vendar pa ta razširitev ne nadomešča prvotne sprožitve postopka, ampak jo dopolnjuje v zvezi z dvema glavnima točkama teh dodatnih informacij: spremembo proračuna, namenjenega za prestrukturiranje ABX, in način prodaje, zlasti ABX-France, pa tudi ABX-WW (ABX Wordwide), novega holdinga ABX, ustanovljenega med prestrukturiranjem.
In the new situation, therefore, the following amounts were to be contributed:
Glede na novo stanje bi tako bilo treba prispevati:
EUR 157,4 million instead of the EUR 50 million in equity for the restructuring of ABX in Germany, to bring ABX-D to an equity level of EUR 14,4 million (at 31 December 2004), compared with a balance sheet total of EUR 234 million (at 31 December 2003);
157,4 milijona EUR namesto 50 milijonov EUR lastnega kapitala za prestrukturiranje podjetja ABX v Nemčiji, da ABX-D doseže raven lastnega kapitala v višini 14,4 milijona EUR (na dan 31. 12. 2004), v primerjavi z bilančno vsoto 234 milijonov EUR (na dan 31. 12. 2003);
EUR 223 million to enable an MBO of part of ABX in France.
223 milijonov EUR, da se v Franciji omogoči odkup enega dela podjetja ABX v Franciji s strani zaposlenih.
This amount is permanent expenditure for SNCB and consists in particular of debt write-offs and covering future losses.
Ta znesek ustreza dokončnim obveznostim družbe SNCB in ima zlasti obliko črtanja terjatev in pokritja prihodnjih izgub.
As to the sale at a loss of ABX-F (MBO), the Commission raised doubts about the presence of state aid in the funds contributed by SNCB to the purchaser.
V zvezi s prodajo podjetja ABX-F (odkup podjetja s strani zaposlenih) pod ceno je Komisija izrazila dvome glede prisotnosti državne pomoči v sredstvih, ki jih je družba SNCB prispevala kupcu.
Concerning the proposed sale of ABX-WW, the Commission stressed the need to provide all the necessary information, so that it could check that the company was effectively being sold at the market price.
V zvezi s predvideno prodajo ABX-WW je Komisija opozorila, da je treba predložiti vse potrebne informacije, da se lahko preveri, ali bo taka prodaja dejansko opravljena po tržni ceni.
Further information
Druge dodatne informacije
In particular by letter dated 9 June 2005, Belgium provided the Commission with a whole set of information concerning the extension of the procedure, while emphasising and supplementing other details concerning the case as a whole.
Belgija je zlasti v dopisu z dne 9. junija 2005 Komisiji predložila cel sklop informacij, ki odgovarjajo na razširitev postopka ter opozarjajo in dodajajo elemente informacij v zvezi s celotno zadevo.
By letter dated 1 December 2005, Belgium submitted certain supplementary information basically clarifying earlier points and expressing a new commitment as regards the presence of ABX in Germany.
Belgija je v dopisu z dne 1. decembra 2005 poslala nekatere dodatne informacije, ki so predvsem podrobneje pojasnile že prej poslane informacije in izražale novo obveznost v zvezi s prisotnostjo ABX v Nemčiji.
Activities of ABX
Dejavnosti ABX
Apart from the ABX activities summarised above and described in the initiation of the procedure, the Belgian authorities state that the strategic and commercial positioning of ABX Logistics Worldwide is clearly that of a ‘transport managing company’ or ‘freight forwarder’.
Poleg dejavnosti ABX, povzetih zgoraj in opisanih ob sprožitvi postopka preiskave, belgijski organi navajajo, da se ABX LOGISTICS Worldwide strateško in komercialno jasno umešča kot „organizator prevoza“ ali „špediter“.
As such, ABX carries out transport logistics operations.
Kot tak ABX opravlja dejavnosti na področju logistike prevoza.
According to the expert study commissioned by the Commission (‘Jacobs’), logistics consists generally speaking in ‘managing how and when to transport resources to the place where they are needed’.
Po strokovni študiji, ki jo je naročila Komisija (v nadaljnjem besedilu „Jacobs“), logistika na splošno pomeni „upravljanje, kako in kdaj prepeljati sredstva na kraj, na katerem so potrebna“.
According to this study, in the case of ABX it is a question more specifically of optimising the continuous flow of equipment over an interconnected transport network and through nodal warehousing points.
V skladu s to študijo gre v primeru ABX predvsem zato, da se optimizira stalni tok materiala po medsebojno povezani prevozni mreži in vozliščih skladiščenja.
The Belgian authorities add that freight forwarders do not usually own transport assets (lorries, boats, planes, etc.) but use haulage companies; this is confirmed by Jacobs.
Belgijski organi dodajajo, da „prevozniki“ običajno nimajo prevoznih sredstev (tovornjakov, ladij, letal in drugih prevoznih sredstev), ampak uporabljajo prevozna podjetja, kar je potrdil Jacobs.
In this particular case, apart from a few exceptions mainly in the Netherlands, the ABX group's transport capacity is almost entirely subcontracted.
V tem primeru, razen pri nekaterih izjemah, predvsem na Nizozemskem, je prevozna zmogljivost skupine ABX skoraj v celoti oddana podizvajalcem.
The number of lorries owned in the Netherlands has been declining steadily since 2001, and the objective is to reduce it to zero.
Število tovornjakov, ki jih ima v lasti na Nizozemskem, se poleg tega od leta 2001 stalno znižuje in cilj je, da bi se nagibalo k ničli.
In 2001, ABX Logistics in the Netherlands owned 240 lorries, which figure was reduced to 166 in 2002, 138 in 2003 and 110 in 2004.
Leta 2001 je ABX LOGISTICS na Nizozemskem imel 240 tovornjakov, ta številka pa se je leta 2002 znižala na 166, leta 2003 na 138 in leta 2004 na 110.
For domestic and international road transport operations, ABX Logistics subcontracts the transport activity proper to independent road hauliers.
V domačem ali mednarodnem cestnem prometu ABX LOGISTICS prevozno dejavnost v pravem pomenu besede oddaja neodvisnim cestnim prevoznikom kot podizvajalcem.
For air and maritime transport, ABX Logistics acts as a broker, buying the necessary transport capacity on behalf of its customers from shipping lines or airlines.
Za zračni in pomorski promet ABX LOGISTICS deluje kot „posrednik“, saj pri podjetjih za pomorski („shipping lines“) ali zračni prevoz („airlines“) zakupi zahtevano prevozno zmogljivost v imenu svojih strank.
The table below clearly confirms this strategic positioning: only 3 % of the lorries used by ABX Logistics are owned or leased by group companies.
Spodnja razpredelnica jasno potrjuje ta strateški položaj: samo 3 % tovornjakov, ki jih uporablja ABX LOGISTICS, so v lasti ali v zakupu družb skupine.
Transport capacity of ABX Logistics
„Prevozne zmogljivosti“ ABX LOGISTICS
Owned (or leased)
V lasti (ali v zakupu)
Subcontracted
Podizjavalci
Transport capacity (lorries)
Prevozna zmogljivost s tovornjaki
Transport capacity (planes)
Prevozna zmogljivost z letalom
Transport capacity (ships)
Prevozna zmogljivost z ladjami
ABX's place in the different market segments: According to the Belgian authorities, in 2003 49 % of ABX's operations were in the road transport market, 42 % in the air and sea markets and 8 % in the contract logistics market, which comes under the warehousing of goods.
Položaj ABX v različnih tržnih segmentih: Po podatkih belgijskih organov je delež podjetij ABX leta 2003 znašal 49 % na trgu cestnega prometa, 42 % na trgu zračnega in pomorskega prometa in 8 % na trgu pogodbene logistike, ki se nanaša na skladiščenje blaga.
Given its level of activity in Germany, the Netherlands and France, ABX is not among the five leading firms in the individual markets at national level (road, air, sea and contract logistics), and this is confirmed by Jacobs.
Glede na njegovo raven poslovanja v Nemčiji, na Nizozemskem in v Franciji ABX ne spada med pet največjih podjetij na posameznih trgih na nacionalni ravni (cestni, zračni, pomorski promet, pogodbena logistika), kar naj bi potrdil tudi Jacobs.
Growth potential of the markets concerned — general: According to both the Belgian authorities and Jacobs, despite recent difficulties due in particular to the events of 11 September 2001, demand for logistical services continues to grow.
Potencial rasti zadevnih trgov – splošni vidik: Po podatkih belgijskih organov in študije Jacobsa povpraševanje po logističnih storitvah kljub nedavnim težavam zaradi dogodkov 11. septembra 2001 še naprej raste.
According to Jacobs, this is due to the growth of Europe's population, consumers' increasing preference for a variety of products to choose from, growth in consumers' purchasing power and increasing outsourcing of logistical services by producers to logistics specialists.
Po navedbah v študiji Jacobs so vzrok za to rast evropskega prebivalstva, vedno večje povpraševanje potrošnikov po raznoliki ponudbi izdelkov, večja kupna moč potrošnikov in vedno pogostejše oddajanje logističnih storitev s strani proizvajalcev specializiranim podjetjem za logistiko.
Growth potential in Germany: Jacobs considers that there is considerable potential for growth in the German logistics market.
Potencial rasti v Nemčiji: V študiji Jacobsa je navedeno, da ima nemški logistični trg velik potencial rasti.
The trend of subcontracting logistical services in the German market over the last eight years indicates that both supply and demand could grow by 15 % to 20 % annually in the years ahead.
Razvoj oddajanja logističnih storitev podizvajalcem na nemškem trgu v zadnjih osmih letih kaže, da bi se ponudba in povpraševanje lahko povečala za 15–20 % na leto v naslednjih letih.
Growth potential in the air market: Both Airbus and Boeing forecast that the number of cargo aircraft will double in the next 15 to 20 years on account of the increase in air freight, which will exceed that in air passenger transport.
Potencial rasti v zračnem prometu: Airbus in Boeing predvidevata podvojitev števila tovornih letal v naslednjih 15 do 20 letih zaradi povečanja zračnega prevoza tovora, ki bo presegel prevoz potnikov.
Airbus forecasts a tripling of freight transport, with average annual growth of 5,7 % (6,4 % according to Boeing) between now and 2021.
Airbus predvideva potrojitev tovornega prometa, pri čemer naj bi do leta 2021 imel povprečno rast 5,7 % na leto, Boeing pa 6,4 % na leto.
These high growth margins should also give a growth margin for carriers and logistics operators.
Ti veliki razponi rasti bi morali prav tako zagotavljati razpon rasti za prevoznike in logistična podjetja.
Growth potential in the road market: The expert states that, in Europe as a whole, road transport is an industry with low barriers to entry which therefore suffers from long-term structural overcapacity, which has been confirmed during the last five to seven years when prices have fallen.
Potencial rasti v cestnem prometu: Strokovnjaki navajajo, da je cestni promet v vsej Evropi industrija z majhnimi vstopnimi ovirami in da zato trpi zaradi stalnih strukturnih presežkov zmogljivosti, kar se je potrdilo v zadnjih petih do sedmih letih, ko so cene padle.
However, the overcapacity concerns the firms carrying out the transport operations in question; this is not the case with ABX, which ‘organises’ the transportation but does not carry it out.
Vendar se ta presežek zmogljivosti nanaša na podjetja, ki opravljajo zadevne prevoze, kar ne velja za ABX, ki „organizira“ prevoz, ki pa ga sam ne opravlja.
According to Jacobs, there is a strong growth trend in the road freight transport market.
Po podatkih v študiji Jacobsa trg cestnega tovornega prometa kaže visoko rast.
Consequently, such a market trend should also ensure a margin of growth for carriers and logistics operators.
Iz tega izhaja, da bi tak razvoj trga moral prav tako zagotavljati razpon rasti za prevoznike in logistična podjetja.
Growth potential in the maritime market: According to Jacobs, growth in the maritime freight forwarding sector was 7 % on average between 1998 and 2002.
Potencial rasti v pomorskem prometu: V študiji Jacobsa je navedeno, da je bila rast v sektorju pomorskih špediterskih storitev (odpreme tovora) v obdobju med letoma 1998 in 2002 v povprečju 7 %.
Future growth in maritime freight transport will depend on more general, global developments.
Prihodnji razvoj rasti prevoza blaga po morju bo odvisen od splošnega dogajanja na svetovni ravni.
Creation of the ABX network
Ustanovitev mreže ABX
Acquisition of companies in the ABX network by SNCB
Nakup družb mreže ABX s strani SNCB
Although the transactions for the acquisition of the ABX network by SNCB, which by their very nature cannot contain advantages for ABX, are not the subject of this Decision, the Commission highlights their main stages below (as presented by the Belgian authorities) by way of general background.
Čeprav dejavnosti nakupa mreže ABX s strani SNCB, ki zaradi njihove narave same ne morejo imeti prednosti za ABX, niso predmet te odločbe, Komisija v nadaljevanju na splošno opozarja na glavne faze, kot so jih predstavili belgijski organi.
The Belgian authorities explained that SNCB decided to acquire the different companies in the ABX Logistics group on the basis of business plans which, at the time of the investment, suggested a rapid return to profitability.
Belgijski organi so navedli, da je o nakupih različnih družb skupine ABX LOGISTICS družba SNCB odločala na podlagi poslovnega načrta, ki je v času naložbe kazal možnost hitre povrnitve donosnosti.
For Thyssen Haniel Logistik (‘THL’)/Bahntrans, Dubois and Saima Avandero (which became ABX in Germany, France and Italy), the acquisition conditions are briefly summarised below.
Nakupni pogoji za Thyssen Haniel Logistik („THL“)/Bahntrans, Dubois in Saima Avandero (ki so postali ABX v Nemčiji, Franciji in Italiji) so na kratko povzeti v nadaljevanju.
Acquisition of THL/Bahntrans (subsequently ABX in Germany): According to the information provided by the Belgian authorities in October 2000, the purchase price for the THL group as a whole was DEM [...] million (Thyssen group) plus DEM [...] million (Deutsche Bahn AG).
Nakup podjetja THL/Bahntrans (ki je postalo ABX v Nemčiji): Po informacijah belgijskih organov, zlasti iz oktobra 2000, je nakupna cena za celotno skupino THL znašala [...] milijonov nemških mark (DEM) (skupina Thyssen) + [...] DM (Deutsche Bahn AG).
The group's business had been valued at DEM [higher value than the above purchase price] million by Coopers & Lybrand (of which DEM [...] million for the groupage business) and at DEM [...] million, taking account of the holding company's costs.
Coopers & Lybrand je vrednost dejavnosti te skupine ocenil na [višja vrednost od nakupne cene, navedene zgoraj] milijonov DEM (od tega [...] milijonov DEM za dejavnosti združitve) in na [...] milijonov DEM ob upoštevanju stroškov tega holdinga.
When it made this acquisition, SNCB assumed the commitments of the former shareholders with regard in particular to an existing guarantee on a building in Munich.
Med tem nakupom je družba SNCB prevzela obveznosti starih delničarjev, zlasti v zvezi s predhodno obstoječim jamstvom za zgradbo v Münchnu.
The lower-than-market price of EUR [...] million (DEM [...] million) was paid by the former shareholders of Bahntrans, Thyssen Handelsunion and Deutsche Bahn, on 1 October 1998.
Ceno, ki je bila pod tržno, v višini [...] milijonov EUR ([...] milijonov DEM) za nakup Bahntrans so dne 1. oktobra 1998 plačali stari delničarji podjetij Bahntrans, Thyssen Handelsunion AG in Deutsche Bahn AG.
ABX-D made losses from the time of acquisition onwards.
Od prevzema naprej je podjetje ABX-D ustvarjalo izgube.
These considerably weakened the financial structure of the undertaking, whose equity turned negative in 1999.
Te izgube so močno oslabile finančno strukturo podjetja, katerega lastni kapital je od proračunskega leta 1999 naprej postal negativen.
This situation, which lasted until 2005, led SNCB as the parent company to issue a comfort letter concerning the risk associated with the negative equity position.
Ta položaj, ki se je nadaljeval do leta 2005, je SNCB kot matično družbo pripeljal do tega, da je izdala priporočilno pismo za odobritev posojila, povezano s tveganjem, ki je bilo posledica negativnega lastnega kapitala.
Acquisition of Dubois (subsequently an important part of ABX in France). The Belgian authorities state that, for the period 1998-2002, the calculation available to SNCB resulted in an internal rate of return (IRR) of 12,7 % for a weighted average cost of capital (WACC) of 9,5 % and a net present value (NPV) of EUR 9,7 million, making it possible to expect a reasonable return on investment.
Nakup podjetja Dubois (ki je postalo pomemben del ABX v Franciji): Belgijski organi navajajo, da je za obdobje med letoma 1998 in 2002 izračun, ki ga je imela na voljo družba SNCB, pripeljal do notranje stopnje donosa (IRR – „Internal Rate of Return“) v višini 12,7 % za tehtani povprečni strošek kapitala (WACC – „Weighted Average Cost of Capital“) v višini 9,5 % in neto sedanjo vrednost (NPV – „Net Present Value“) v višini 9,7 milijona EUR, kar je dovoljevalo pričakovati razumno donosnost naložbe.
Acquisition of Gruppo Saima Avandero (subsequently ABX in Italy). The Belgian authorities state that, for the period 1998-2002, the calculation available to SNCB resulted in an internal rate of return (IRR) of 13,0 % for a weighted average cost of capital (WACC) of 9,0 % and a net present value (NPV) of EUR 51,8 million, making it possible to expect a reasonable return on investment.
Nakup podjetja Gruppo Saima Avandero (ki je postalo ABX v Italiji): Belgijski organi navajajo, da je za obdobje med letoma 1998 in 2008 izračun, ki ga je imela na voljo družba SNCB, pripeljal do notranje stopnje donosa (IRR) v višini 13,0 % za tehtani povprečni strošek kapitala (WACC) v višini 9,0 % in neto sedanjo vrednost (NPV) v višini 51,8 milijona EUR, kar je dovoljevalo pričakovati razumno donosnost naložbe.
In response to the Commission's question about possible cross-subsidies used by SNCB to finance its investments in ABX, the Belgian authorities provided the following clarifications:
Ker je poleg tega Komisija sprožila vprašanje morebitne prisotnosti navzkrižnih subvencij, ki jih je družba SNCB uporabila za financiranje svojih naložb v ABX, belgijski organi dodajajo naslednja pojasnila:
They state that ‘for the period from 1998 to 2002 as whole, state support is not enough to cover the public service mission expenses [of SNCB]’.
Belgijski organi navajajo, da „za celotno obdobje med letoma 1998 in 2002 državne intervencije ne zadostujejo za pokritje izdatkov nalog javne službe [SNCB]“.
They stress that in 2001 the Belgian Court of Auditors had already stated that ‘as regards the investment and operating functions, for the period as a whole, except for 1997, appropriations cumulatively exceed resources for both functions, so that there is nothing to indicate a disposal, by balance, between the two public service missions and the other activities [of SNCB]’.
Opozarjajo, da je Računsko sodišče leta 2001 že navedlo, da „v zvezi z nalogami vlaganja in poslovanja za celotno obdobje, razen za proračunsko leto 1997, uporabe skupaj presegajo sredstva za obe nalogi, tako da ni nobenega znamenja o prenosu preostanka med dve nalogi javne službe in druge dejavnosti [družbe SNCB]“.