natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
By letter dated September 2005 the Dutch authorities responded to the Commission's decision to initiate the procedure, providing further information concerning (i) the development of the bankruptcy proceedings of KH and OK; (ii) the financial and operating performance of NK; and (iii) the development of the legal proceedings opposing NK and the Dutch state.
V dopisu iz meseca septembra 2005 so nizozemski organi poslali pripombe na odločitev Komisije o sprožitvi postopka, v katerih so razkrili dodatne informacije glede i) poteka stečajnega postopka družb KH in OK, ii) finančnih rezultatov in donosnosti družbe NK ter iii) poteka sodnega postopka med družbo NK in Nizozemsko državo.
The latter concerns specifically the legal application filed by NK to the competent Dutch court, in the wake of the bankruptcy of KH and OK, asking the court to order the state to convert into equity the EUR 9,25 million rescue loan facility extended by KH to NK following the authorisation of the rescue aid by the Commission.
Zadnje navedena točka se navezuje predvsem na zahtevek, ki ga je zaradi stečaja družb KH in OK pri pristojnem nizozemskem sodišču vložila NK, in sicer, da se državi odredi, naj posojilo za reševanje v višini 9,25 milijona EUR, ki ga je KH zagotovila družbi NK, potem ko je Komisija odobrila pomoč za reševanje, preoblikuje v lastniški kapital.
Notwithstanding the fact that, pursuant to the guidelines, such aid must be liquidity support and temporary in nature and may only be considered permanent after the Commission's approval of the restructuring aid, in the summer of 2005 the Dutch authorities informed the Commission that the competent Dutch court had ordered them to convert the above loan into equity.
Čeprav mora biti taka vrsta pomoči v skladu s Smernicami likvidnostna pomoč in mora biti začasna ter se lahko obravnava kot stalna šele takrat, ko Komisija odobri pomoč za prestrukturiranje, so nizozemski organi poleti 2005 obvestili Komisijo, da jim je pristojno nizozemsko sodišče naložilo, naj posojilo preoblikujejo v lastniški kapital.
Further, by letter dated January 2006, the Netherlands informed the Commission of the bankruptcy of NK as of 14 December 2005 and the ensuing proceedings.
Poleg tega je Nizozemska v dopisu iz meseca januarja 2006 obvestila Komisijo o stečaju družbe NK z dne 14. decembra 2005 in postopku, ki je iz tega izhajal.
Finally, by letter dated February 2006, the Netherlands provided updated information concerning the bankruptcy proceedings of KH and OK.
Na koncu je Nizozemska v dopisu iz meseca februarja 2006 predložila dopolnjene podatke glede stečajnega postopka družb KH in OK.
ASSESSMENT
6 OCENA
According to Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty ‘any aid granted by a Member State or through State resources in any form whatsoever which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods, shall, in so far as it affects trade between Member States, be incompatible with the common market’.
V skladu s členom 87(1) Pogodbe ES je „vsaka pomoč, ki jo dodeli država članica, ali kakršna koli vrsta pomoči iz državnih sredstev, ki izkrivlja ali bi lahko izkrivljala konkurenco z dajanjem prednosti posameznim podjetjem ali proizvodnji posameznega blaga, nezdružljiva s skupnim trgom, kolikor prizadene trgovino med državami članicami“.
Firstly, the restructuring aid is granted by means of transformation into equity capital of the state-granted rescue loan to KH plus interest due on the loan by the latter, and thus clearly constitutes state resources.
Kot prvo ukrep zadeva preoblikovanje pomoči za reševanje, ki jo je družbi KH dodelila država, in pripadajočih obresti v lastniški kapital in se lahko jasno pripiše državi ter se financira iz državnih sredstev.
The rescue loan granted to KH and its transformation into restructuring aid confer on it an advantage that an undertaking in such difficulties, close to bankruptcy, would not have obtained on the financial market.
Posojilo za reševanje, dodeljeno družbi KH, in preoblikovanje tega posojila v lastniški kapital pomeni ugodnost, ki je podjetje, ki se znajde v takšnih težavah in je na robu stečaja, ni deležno na finančnem trgu.
Although KH is operating only on the Dutch market, it is not excluded that granting an advantage to KH distorts or threatens to distort competition and has a potential effect on trade between Member States.
Čeprav družba KH posluje le na nizozemskem trgu, ni mogoče izključiti dejstva, da dajanje ugodnosti družbi KH izkrivlja ali bi lahko izkrivljalo konkurenco in lahko prizadene trgovino med državami članicami.
In addition, as indicated by the Dutch authorities, there are smaller international players on the Dutch market such as TMP and Creyff's (subsidiary of Solvus, Belgium).
Poleg tega so po navedbah nizozemskih organov na nizozemskem trgu dejavna manjša mednarodna podjetja, kot sta na primer TMP in Creyff's (hčerinski družbi družbe Solvus, Belgija).
Consequently, the advantage appears to favour a company over its competitors, thus distorting or threatening to distort competition and affect trade between Member States.
Zato se zdi, da ugodnost daje podjetju prednost v razmerju do njegovih konkurentov, s čimer se izkrivlja ali bi se lahko izkrivljala konkurenca in je prizadeta trgovina med državami članicami.
Consequently, the notified measure for KH must be considered to constitute state aid within the meaning of Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty and has to be assessed accordingly.
Glede na navedeno je treba priglašeni ukrep v korist družbe KH šteti za državno pomoč v smislu člena 87(1) Pogodbe ES in mora biti temu ustrezno predmet presoje.
The aid falls to be assessed by the Commission as ad hoc aid.
Komisija mora ukrep pomoči presojati kot pomoč ad hoc.
Article 87(2) and (3) of the EC Treaty provides for exemptions from the general incompatibility of aid stated in Article 87(1) of the EC Treaty.
Člen 87(2) in (3) Pogodbe ES določa izjeme glede splošnega pravila o nezdružljivosti pomoči, ki je določeno v členu 87(1) Pogodbe ES.
The aid measure in question clearly fails to qualify for the exemptions provided for in Article 87(2) of the EC Treaty.
Zadevni ukrep pomoči nedvomno ne izpolnjuje pogojev za izjeme, navedene v členu 87(2) Pogodbe ES.
The notified aid measure does not have a social character, nor is it granted to individual consumers, nor does it make good the damage caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences, nor is the aid granted to the economy of certain areas of the Federal Republic of Germany affected by its division.
Priglašeni ukrep pomoči namreč ni ukrep socialnega značaja v dobro posameznih potrošnikov, niti ni namenjen povrnitvi škode, ki so jo povzročile naravne nesreče ali izjemni dogodki, prav tako pa tudi ne koristi gospodarstvu nekaterih območij Zvezne republike Nemčije, ki jih je prizadela delitev Nemčije.
Further exemptions are set out in Article 87(3)(a) to (d) of the EC Treaty.
Druge izjeme so navedene v členu 87(3)(a)–(d) Pogodbe ES.
As the primary objective of the aid is not regional but concerns the restructuring of an undertaking in difficulty, only the exemption provided for in Article 87(3)(c) appears relevant in that it provides for the authorisation of state aid granted to promote the development of certain economic sectors, where such aid does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common interest.
Ker prvotni cilj pomoči ni regionalnega značaja, ampak zadeva prestrukturiranje podjetja v težavah, je relevantna le izjema iz člena 87(3)(c), saj predvideva odobritev državne pomoči, ki se dodeli za pospeševanje razvoja določenih gospodarskih dejavnosti, kolikor takšna pomoč ne spreminja pogojev trgovanja v taki meri, da bi bil ukrep v nasprotju s skupnimi interesi.
For its assessment of rescue and restructuring aid the Commission has issued the above mentioned guidelines.
Komisija je oblikovala smernice, ki ji omogočajo presojo pomoči za reševanje in prestrukturiranje.
The Netherlands has requested the Commission to scrutinise the measure under those guidelines.
Nizozemska je zaprosila Komisijo, da ukrep prouči z upoštevanjem navedenih smernic.
The assessment is outlined in the paragraphs (30) to (55) below.
Presoja je pojasnjena v uvodnih izjavah 30 do vključno 55.
Eligibility of the company
Upravičenost podjetja do pomoči
Pursuant to point 30 of the guidelines, the company must qualify as a firm in difficulty within the meaning of section 2.1 (points 4 to 8).
Na podlagi točke 30 Smernic mora obstajati možnost, da se podjetje obravnava kot podjetje v težavah v skladu z opredelitvijo iz dela 2.1 (točke 4 do vključno 8) Smernic.
According to point 6 of the guidelines the usual signs of a firm being in difficulty are increasing losses, diminishing turnover, growing stock inventories, excess capacity, declining cash flow, mounting debt, rising interest charges and falling or nil net asset value.
Na podlagi točke 6 Smernic so za podjetje v težavah običajno značilni naraščajoče izgube, upadanje prometa, kopičenje zalog, presežki prostih zmogljivosti, padanje denarnih tokov, naraščajoči dolgovi, naraščajoči stroški obresti in zmanjševanje čiste vrednosti sredstev.
Point 5(a) of the guidelines specifically defines a company as being in difficulty where more than half of its registered capital has disappeared and more than one quarter of that capital has been lost over the preceding 12 months.
V točki 5(a) Smernic se družba izrecno šteje za podjetje v težavah, če je izgubljena več kot polovica njenega osnovnega kapitala in je bila v preteklih dvanajstih mesecih izgubljena več kot četrtina tega kapitala.
According to the notification this is the case with KH.
V skladu s priglasitvijo navedeno velja za družbo KH.
From the audited accounts of 31 December 2002 it can be concluded that the registered capital of the holding company (consolidated) amounted to approximately EUR 73 million on 1 January 2002. At the end of that year it amounted to only EUR 22 million. This equates to a reduction of approximately 70 %.
Iz revidiranih letnih računovodskih izkazov z dne 31. decembra 2002 se lahko zaključi, da je lastniški kapital holdinške družbe (konsolidirano) na dan 1. januarja 2002 znašal približno 73 milijonov EUR. Ob koncu navedenega leta se je osnovni kapital zmanjšal na 22 milijonov EUR. To je pomenilo približno 70-odstotno zmanjšanje.
In addition, there was a further significant decrease in the nine months to September 2003.
Poleg tega se je kapital v devetih mesecih do septembra 2003 znatno manjšal.
The Dutch authorities plan to grant the restructuring aid to KH.
Nizozemski organi nameravajo družbi KH dodeliti pomoč za prestrukturiranje.
KH will in turn extend this aid to its two subsidiaries, NK and OK, in order to complete the restructuring.
V zameno bo KH to pomoč vložila v svoji dve hčerinski družbi, NK in OK, da bi se lahko zaključilo prestrukturiranje.
The Commission considers that KH qualifies as a company in difficulties pursuant to the concept defined in points 4 to 8 of the guidelines and is consequently eligible for restructuring aid.
Komisija meni, da se družba KH lahko šteje za podjetje v težavah, kakor je opisano v točkah 4 do vključno 8 Smernic, in je zato upravičena do pomoči za prestrukturiranje.
Restoration of viability
Obnovitev sposobnosti preživetja
The grant of aid is conditional on implementation of a restructuring plan which must be endorsed by the Commission in the case of individual measures such as the one under review.
Pogoj za dodelitev pomoči je izvedba načrta za prestrukturiranje, ki ga mora za posamezne primere pomoči, kot je zadevni ukrep, odobriti Komisija.
In particular, pursuant to points 31 to 34, the guidelines require inter alia that:
V skladu s točkami 31 do vključno 34 Smernic se zahteva naslednje:
‘the restructuring plan, the duration of which must be as short as possible, must restore the long-term viability of the firm within a reasonable timescale and on the basis of realistic assumptions as to future operating conditions.
„Načrt za prestrukturiranje, katerega trajanje mora biti čim krajše, mora obnoviti dolgoročno sposobnost preživetja podjetja v smiselnem časovnem okviru in na podlagi realističnih predvidevanj prihodnjih pogojev poslovanja.
Restructuring aid must therefore be linked to a viable restructuring plan to which the Member State concerned commits itself….’.
Pomoč za prestrukturiranje mora zato biti vezana na trden načrt za prestrukturiranje, h kateremu se zaveže zadevna država članica. …“
‘The plan should normally provide for a turnaround that will enable the company, after completing its restructuring, to cover all its costs including depreciation and financial charges.
„Načrt mora zagotavljati preobrat, ki bo podjetju omogočil, da bo po zaključku prestrukturiranja vse svoje stroške krilo samo, vključno z amortizacijo in finančnimi dajatvami.
The expected return on capital should be enough to enable the restructured firm to compete in the marketplace on its own merits’.
Pričakovan donos kapitala mora biti dovolj velik, da prestrukturiranemu podjetju omogoča samostojno konkuriranje na trgu.“
It should first of all be noted that the notified restructuring plan was incomplete: the Dutch authorities did not, for example, submit up-to-date liquidity planning.
Najprej je treba spomniti, da priglašeni načrt za prestrukturiranje ni bil popoln: nizozemski organi na primer niso predložili posodobljenega načrta likvidacij.
The restructuring plan did not provide the Commission with the information it needed in order to be able to carry out a full assessment under the guidelines.
Načrt za prestrukturiranje ni vseboval podatkov, ki jih je Komisiji potrebovala, da bi lahko opravila celovito presojo v okviru Smernic.
The Commission had to ask for KH's liquidity costs and for a sensitivity analysis in respect of the various business scenarios.
Komisija je morala zahtevati podatke o stroških likvidacije družbe KH in analizo občutljivosti družbe v zvezi z različnimi scenariji.
Because of the way KH's business was going, the Dutch authorities did not appear able at any point in time to provide all the required information.
Glede na potek dogodkov v zvezi z družbo KH se zdi, da nizozemski organi niso mogli niti enkrat samkrat predložiti zahtevanih informacij.
The Commission doubted from the outset whether the restructuring plan could bring about the required turnaround because of the insufficient internal rate of return compared with the expected return on capital, because of NK's underperformance compared with the benchmarks of the restructuring plan, because of the persistence of the serious structural problems that had caused KH's difficulties, and finally because of the failure of the Dutch authorities to give a proper account of the beneficiaries' significant contribution to the restructuring from their own resources.
Komisija je že od začetka dvomila, da bi načrt za prestrukturiranje lahko privedel do zahtevanega preobrata, in sicer zaradi nezadostne notranje donosnosti v primerjavi s pričakovanim donosom kapitala, zaradi dejstva, da so rezultati družbe NK zaostajali za ključnimi fazami iz načrta za prestrukturiranje, zaradi stalnih hudih strukturnih problemov, ki so povzročili težave družbe KH, in nazadnje zaradi neuspešnosti nizozemskih organov, da bi ustrezno poročali o pomembnem deležu, ki so ga upravičenci do pomoči za prestrukturiranje prispevali iz lastnih virov.
The presence of these substantial problems impeded the fulfilment of the guidelines' requirements for the authorisation of the restructuring aid.
Zaradi teh nemajhnih težav niso bili izpolnjeni v Smernicah navedeni pogoji za odobritev pomoči za prestrukturiranje.
Furthermore, as stated in paragraph (16), the Commission notes that KH was declared bankrupt in February 2005.
Poleg tega je Komisija, kot je že bilo navedeno v uvodni izjavi (16), upoštevala, da je bil februarja 2005 razglašen stečaj družbe KH.
Since KH failed to achieve the required turnaround according to plan, it must therefore be noted that its long-term viability can no longer be restored by the present or any modified restructuring plan.
Ker družbi KH ni uspelo izvesti načrtovanega zahtevanega preobrata, sledi ugotovitev, da tudi njene dolgoročne sposobnosti preživetja ni več mogoče obnoviti s pomočjo sedanjega ali spremenjenega načrta za prestrukturiranje.
Moreover, as pointed out by the Dutch authorities following the initiation of the formal investigation procedure, it should be noted that even NK, the specially created vehicle that was to have brought about KH's turnaround, has been declared bankrupt, thus confirming NK's serious difficulties highlighted in the decision to initiate the procedure and the inappropriateness of the restructuring plan.
Dodatno je Komisija opozorila, da je bila – kot so po sprožitvi formalnega postopka preiskave opazili že nizozemski organi – tudi novoustanovljena družba NK, ki naj bi zagotovila preobrat v družbi KH, v stečaju, kar kaže na hude težave družbe NK, ki so bile pojasnjene v odločitvi za sprožitev postopka, in na neustrezno učinkovitost načrta za prestrukturiranje.
Since the core conditions for the granting of restructuring aid pursuant to the guidelines are not met, the Commission cannot approve the restructuring plan, and the restructuring aid cannot therefore be authorised.
Ker v Smernicah navedeni bistveni pogoji za dodelitev pomoči za prestrukturiranje niso izpolnjeni, Komisija ne more odobriti načrta za prestrukturiranje in zato se pomoč za prestrukturiranje ne more odobriti.
Nor, by the same token, can the notified measure be considered to be compatible with the common market under Article 87(3)(c) of the EC Treaty.
Iz navedenega razloga se priglašeni ukrep tudi ne more šteti kot združljiv s skupnim trgom na podlagi člena 87(3)(c) Pogodbe ES.
In light of the foregoing, the Commission considers that it is not necessary to examine in detail the other conditions required for authorisation of the restructuring aid under the guidelines, including the requirement in point 40 of the guidelines that the aid amount and intensity be limited to the minimum necessary and that the beneficiary make a significant contribution from its own resources.
Glede na navedeno Komisija meni, da ni potrebno temeljito proučiti, ali so izpolnjeni preostali v Smernicah navedeni pogoji za odobritev pomoči za prestrukturiranje, med katerimi je zahteva iz točke 40 Smernic, da morata biti intenzivnost in znesek pomoči omejena na potrebni minimum in da mora upravičenec do pomoči prispevati pomemben delež iz lastnih virov.
Further considerations
Dodatne pripombe
In line with the requirements set out in point 24 of the guidelines, the rescue aid for KH was initially granted for no more than six months.
V skladu s točko 24 Smernic je bila pomoč za reševanje družbe KH sprva odobrena za obdobje največ šest mesecev.
It is also noted that within six months of the authorisation of the rescue aid for KH, the Dutch authorities notified the restructuring plan for KH.
V šestih mesecih po odobritvi pomoči za reševanje družbe KH so nizozemski organi priglasili načrt za prestrukturiranje družbe KH.
According to the terms of the restructuring plan notified by the Dutch authorities, KH transferred EUR 35,75 million from the rescue loan to OK and EUR 9,25 million to NK.
V skladu z načrtom za prestrukturiranje, ki so ga priglasili nizozemski organi, je družba KH prenesla 35,75 milijona EUR posojila za reševanje na družbo OK in 9,25 milijona EUR posojila za reševanje na družbo NK.
Conversion into equity of the EUR 9,25 million rescue loan transferred to NK
Preoblikovanje 9,25 milijona EUR posojila za reševanje, prenesenega na družbo NK, v lastniški kapital
The Dutch authorities informed the Commission that the competent Dutch court had ordered them to convert the EUR 9,25 million loan into equity on the basis of Articles 53 and 69 of the Dutch Bankruptcy Law.
Nizozemski organi so Komisijo obvestili, da jim je pristojno nizozemsko sodišče na podlagi členov 53 in 69 nizozemskega zakona o stečajnem postopku odredilo preoblikovanje posojila v višini 9,25 milijona EUR v lastniški kapital.
The Commission would remind the Dutch authorities that, in accordance with the principle that Community law takes precedence over national law, the implementation of the decision of the national court referred to in paragraph (43) is in breach of the ban on implementing any state aid measure before the Commission has approved it under Article 88(3) of the EC Treaty.
Komisija opominja nizozemske organe, da je v skladu z načelom prevlade prava Skupnosti nad nacionalnim pravom izvršitev v uvodni izjavi (43) navedene odločitve nacionalnega sodišča v nasprotju s prepovedjo izvedbe ukrepa državne pomoči, preden ga v skladu s členom 88(3) Pogodbe ES odobri Komisija.
The conversion of the rescue loan into equity for the purposes of restructuring ranks as unlawful restructuring aid.
Preoblikovanje posojila za reševanje v lastniški kapital za potrebe prestrukturiranja velja za nezakonito pomoč za prestrukturiranje.
Since, moreover, the notified aid does not meet the requirements of the guidelines, a measure which constitutes partial implementation thereof is also incompatible.
Ker priglašena pomoč poleg tega ne izpolnjuje pogojev iz Smernic, je ukrep, ki pomeni delno izvedbo pomoči, prav tako nezdružljiv.
The fact that the measure was implemented by order of a national court is irrelevant in this context, since national courts, like other state bodies, are required to comply with the provisions of the Treaty.
Dejstvo, da je bil ukrep izveden na podlagi odločitve nacionalnega sodišča, v tej zvezi ni pomembno, saj so nacionalna sodišča, kot tudi drugi državni organi, zavezani spoštovati določbe Pogodbe ES.
Consequently, the conversion of the EUR 9,25 million rescue loan transferred to NK pursuant to the judgment of the national court is deemed to amount to the granting of unlawful and incompatible restructuring aid to NK.
Iz navedenega izhaja, da se mora preoblikovanje posojila za reševanje v višini 9,25 milijona EUR, ki se je preneslo na družbo NK v skladu z odločitvijo nacionalnega sodišča, obravnavati kot dodelitev nezakonite in nezdružljive pomoči za prestrukturiranje družbi NK.
Since this restructuring aid cannot be approved, it is incompatible with the common market.
Ker te pomoči za prestrukturiranje ni mogoče odobriti, je nezdružljiva s skupnim trgom.
Pursuant to Article 14 of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March 1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty, where negative decisions are taken in cases of unlawful aid, the Commission must decide that the Member State concerned has to take all necessary measures to recover the aid from the beneficiary.
V skladu s členom 14 Uredbe Sveta (ES) št. 659/1999 z dne 22. marca 1999 o določitvi podrobnih pravil za uporabo člena 93 Pogodbe ES Komisija v primeru sprejetja negativne odločbe v zvezi z nezakonito pomočjo odloči, da mora zadevna država članica sprejeti vse potrebne ukrepe, da upravičenec vrne pomoč.
However, the Commission may not require recovery of the aid if this would be contrary to a general principle of Community law.
Vendar pa Komisija ne zahteva vračila pomoči, če bi bilo to v nasprotju s splošnim načelom prava Skupnosti.
In the case being examined here, no such principle can be invoked.
Obravnavani primer ne dopušča sklicevanja na tako načelo.
Consequently, the aid granted in the form of conversion into equity of the rescue loan amounting to EUR 9,25 million must be recovered in full.
Zato se mora pomoč, ki je bila dodeljena s preoblikovanjem posojila za reševanje v višini 9,25 milijona EUR v lastniški kapital, v celoti vrniti.
Concerning the EUR 35,75 million rescue loan transferred to OK
Posojilo za reševanje v višini 35,75 milijona EUR, ki se je preneslo na družbo OK
Pursuant to the notified restructuring plan, in order to restore KH's long-term viability, KH transferred EUR 35,75 million from the total EUR 45 million state rescue loan to OK for the latter's closure.
Za obnovitev dolgoročne sposobnosti preživetja družbe KH je bilo v skladu s priglašenim načrtom za prestrukturiranje 35,75 milijona EUR od skupnega državnega posojila za reševanje v višini 45 milijonov EUR prenesenih iz družbe KH na družbo OK, preden se je slednja zaprla.