natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
No such third party comments were submitted.
Tretje stranke takšnih pripomb niso predložile.
Germany's response to the initiation of the formal investigation procedure was submitted by letters dated 16 and 24 September 2004, registered as received on the same respective days.
Nemčija je svoj odgovor na sprožitev formalnega postopka preiskave sporočila z dopisoma z dne 16. in 24. septembra 2004, ki sta bila evidentirana istega dne.
The Commission requested further information on 6 September 2005, which Germany submitted by letter dated 5 October 2005, registered as received on 6 October 2005.
Komisija je dne 6. septembra 2005 zaprosila za nadaljnje informacije, ki jih je Nemčija posredovala z dopisom z dne 5. oktobra 2005 (evidentiranim dne 6. oktobra 2005).
Additional information was submitted on 6 February 2006, registered as received on 7 February 2006.
Dodatne informacije so bile posredovane dne 6. februarja 2006 (evidentirano dne 7. februarja 2006).
THE BENEFICIARY
UPRAVIČENEC
Schneider AG, a large undertaking, was a German producer of colour television sets headquartered in Türkheim, Bavaria.
Schneider AG je bilo veliko nemško podjetje s sedežem v Türkheimu na Bavarskem, ki je izdelovalo barvne televizijske sprejemnike.
In addition to its manufacturing activities, the company had embarked in the 1990s on an ambitious project concerning the development of a laser display technology which was expected to deliver sharper images, higher brightness, unlimited screen size and flexibility in terms of projection surface.
Poleg izdelovanja televizijskih sprejemnikov je podjetje v 90. letih prejšnjega stoletja sodelovalo pri ambicioznem projektu v zvezi z razvojem tehnologije laserskih prikazovalnikov, ki naj bi omogočila ostrejšo sliko, boljšo osvetljenost, neomejeno velikost zaslona in fleksibilnost v povezavi s površino projekcije.
Between 2000 and 2002, these two main areas of activity were allocated to two newly created subsidiaries of Schneider AG: Schneider Electronics AG (‘SE’), which continued the television set production, and Schneider Laser Technologies AG (‘SLT’).
Obe dejavnosti sta bili med letoma 2000 in 2002 preneseni na dve na novo ustanovljeni hčerinski podjetji družbe Schneider AG, in sicer na Schneider Electronics AG („SE“), ki je prevzelo izdelovanje televizijskih sprejemnikov, ter na Schneider Laser Technologies AG („SLT“).
The LfA, a public bank having as its object the promotion of regional economic development, had held shares in Schneider AG since 1998.
LfA, ki je pristojen za regionalno pospeševanje gospodarstva, ima od leta 1998 delež podjetja Schneider AG.
In 1999/2000, the LfA was the biggest shareholder, holding 35,6 % of the shares.
Leta 1999 in 2000 je bil LfA z udeležbo v višini 35,6 % največji delničar.
At that time, the market had high expectations of Schneider AG's future success as a result of its leading role in laser display technology.
V tistem času je trg podjetju Schneider AG zaradi njegove vodilne vloge v tehnologiji laserskega prikazovalnika napovedoval velik uspeh.
Between 1998 and 2000, Schneider AG's share price increased almost tenfold, and between 1999 and 2000 it increased by about two and a half times.
Med letoma 1998 in 2000 se je vrednost delnic Schneiderja zvišala za skoraj desetkrat; od 1999 do 2000 pa za okoli 2,5-krat.
This positive view of the company's future was shared by the second biggest investor, Lehman Brothers, as evidenced by a study issued in April 2000 which explained that break-even in the field of production of consumer electronics was expected by the end of 2000, whereas break-even in laser display technology was expected for Q4 of 2001.
V prihodnji uspeh podjetja je verjel tudi drugi največji vlagatelj, Lehman Brothers, kar je pokazala študija iz aprila 2000, v kateri je bil dobiček pri zabavni elektroniki predviden ob koncu leta 2000, dobiček pri tehnologiji laserskega prikazovalnika pa v zadnjem četrtletju leta 2001.
Lehman Brothers bought [...] shares from the LfA between mid-1999 and mid-2000.
Lehman Brothers je od sredine leta 1999 do sredine leta 2000 od LfA kupil […] delnic.
However, the companies did not perform as expected.
Vendar pa podjetje ni bilo tako uspešno, kot je bilo pričakovano.
SE produced television sets of a lower quality range and could not compete with low-price products imported mainly from Asia.
SE je proizvajal televizijske sprejemnike slabše kakovosti in ni bil zmožen konkurirati poceni izdelkom, ki so bili v prvi vrsti uvoženi iz Azije.
Since no income could be derived from the television set business, Schneider AG ran out of funds needed by SLT to continue its laser technology activities, which progressed much more slowly than originally expected.
Ker proizvodnja televizijskih sprejemnikov ni prinašala dobička, je podjetju Schneider AG primanjkovalo sredstev, ki jih je potreboval SLT za nadaljevanje dejavnosti na področju tehnologije laserskih prikazovalnikov, ki pa je napredovala bistveno počasneje, kot so prvotno pričakovali.
A first prototype was available only in May 2000, much later than scheduled, and it was suitable only for industrial use.
Prvi prototip je bil na voljo šele maja 2000, precej pozneje, kot je bilo načrtovano, primeren pa je bil le za industrijsko uporabo.
By 2002, the company had not succeeded in developing a product suitable for the private consumer, the actual economic aim of SLT.
Do leta 2002 podjetju ni uspelo razviti izdelka, primernega za zasebne potrošnike, kar pa je dejansko bil edini gospodarski cilj SLT.
In March 2002, three separate sets of insolvency proceedings were initiated in respect of Schneider AG and its two subsidiaries.
Marca 2002 so bili sproženi trije ločeni stečajni postopki za Schneider AG in njegovi hčerinski družbi.
The insolvency administrator sold the assets of Schneider AG and SE to the Chinese electronics company TCL, and the assets of SLT to Jenoptik Laser, Optik, Systeme GmbH (‘LOS’).
Stečajni upravitelj je premoženje podjetij Schneider AG in SE prodal kitajskemu podjetju za elektroniko, TCL, premoženje SLT pa podjetju Jenoptik Laser, Optik, Systeme GmbH (v nadaljevanju „LOS“).
TCL and LOS had made the highest respective offers.
Podjetji TCL in LOS sta podali najvišji ponudbi.
THE FINANCIAL MEASURES
FINANČNI UKREPI
In its decision to initiate the procedure, the Commission expressed doubts as to the compatibility of the following two sets of measures.
Komisija je v svoji odločitvi o sprožitvi postopka izrazila dvom glede združljivosti naslednjih dveh ukrepov.
THE THREE LFA LOANS
TRI POSOJILA LFA
The three LfA loans were part of a package agreed in autumn 1999 between the LfA, Lehman Brothers, the complainant and a pool of banks.
Tri posojila LfA so bila del skupnega koncepta, sklenjenega jeseni 1999 med LfA, Lehman Brothers, pritožnikom in skupino bank.
Germany explained that, in 1998, the company had to face losses because the attempt to increase sales of television sets through the specialised retail channel had failed.
Nemčija je pojasnila, da je imelo podjetje leta 1998 izgubo, potem ko je neuspešno poskušalo povečati prodajo televizijskih sprejemnikov s specializirano maloprodajo.
The management therefore decided to restructure the company and to reinforce the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) business.
Uprava je zato sklenila, da bo podjetje prestrukturirala in okrepila proizvodnjo originalne opreme.
Liquidity was needed to finance the restructuring, prefinance the production for large-scale orders and cover the losses.
Za financiranje prestrukturiranja, predfinanciranje proizvodnje za velika naročila in za pokritje izgub je podjetje potrebovalo likvidnost.
The first LfA loan (‘loan 1’) amounted to EUR 2,1 million and was granted in September 1999. The interest rate was [...] %.
Prvo posojilo DfA („posojilo 1“) v višini 2,1 mio EUR je bilo dodeljeno septembra 1999 z obrestno mero […] %.
The second loan (‘loan 2’) amounted to EUR 5,1 million and was also granted in September 1999. The interest rate was [...] %.
Drugo posojilo LfA („posojilo 2“) v višini 5,1 mio EUR je bilo prav tako odobreno septembra 1999, z obrestno mero [...] %.
The third loan (‘loan 3’) amounted to EUR 5,6 million, was granted in February 2000 and the interest rate was [...] %.
Tretje posojilo („posojilo 3“) v višini 5,6 mio EUR je bilo odobreno februarja 2000, obrestna mera pa je znašala [...] %.
The first two loans were granted for a duration of one year, while loan 3 was granted until 31 December 2001, i.e. for almost two years.
Prvi posojili sta bili dani na razpolago za obdobje enega leta, posojilo 3 pa je bilo odobreno do 31. decembra 2001, kar pomeni za skoraj dve leti.
Loan 1 was secured by several collateral items such as a charge on land, the cession of receivables and a product property transfer by way of security.
Posojilo 1 je bilo zavarovano z osnovnim dolgom, odstopom terjatev in prenosom premičnin na upnika zaradi zavarovanja terjatev.
These collateral items were ranked below the securities granted to the pool banks, whose loans had been granted earlier.
Ta dodatna jamstva pa so bila uvrščena za terjatvami skupine bank, katerih posojila so obstajala že prej.
Loans 2 and 3 were not secured by any collateral.
Posojili 2 in 3 nista bili zavarovani z dodatnim jamstvom.
Germany explained that securities had been replaced by a higher interest rate.
Nemčija je pojasnila, da je bila namesto jamstev dogovorjena višja obrestna mera.
The actual value of securities for the LfA as a shareholder was very limited because it was likely that the shareholder loan would be treated as equivalent to a capital injection under German law (Section 30 of the Law concerning Companies with Limited Liability).
Dejanska vrednost jamstev za LfA kot družbenika podjetja Schneider AG je bila zelo majhna, saj bi po nemškem pravu posojilo družbenika najverjetneje lahko označili kot kapitalski vložek (po § 30 GmbHG).
The contributions by the private parties to the package were as follows:
Zasebni partnerji so k skupnemu konceptu prispevali naslednje prispevke:
Lehman Brothers first injected EUR 25 million into the firm at the end of 1999 to purchase the shares in SLT until then held by Daimler Chrysler and (ii) was lead investor in a further capital increase in February 2000 by an additional EUR 46 million for the financing of the further development of the laser business.
Lehman Brothers je najprej v podjetje konec leta 1999 z nakupom delnic SLT, ki so bile do tedaj v lasti podjetja Daimler Chrysler, prispeval 25 mio EUR in je bil poleg tega februarja 2000 glavni vlagatelj pri dokapitalizaciji z dodatnimi 46 mio EUR, namenjenimi financiranju nadaljnjega razvoja posla z laserjem.
The pool of private banks had granted Schneider AG a credit line of EUR 31 million in 1998. The agreed interest rate was [...] %.
Skupina zasebnih bank je podjetju Schneider AG leta 1998 odobrila kreditno linijo v višini 31 mio EUR. Dogovorjena obrestna mera je znašala […] %.
This credit line was expressly upheld in September 1999 as part of the package.
Ohranitev te kreditne linije je bila kot del skupnega koncepta izrecno dogovorjena septembra 1999.
In addition, the pool banks accepted a short-term exceeding of the credit line up to EUR [...]. In the same month, the pool leader increased its interest rate to [...] %.
Poleg tega je skupina bank sprejela kratkoročno preseganje kreditne linije do višine […] EUR. V istem mesecu je glavna banka iz te skupine bank svoje obresti zvišala na […] %.
Germany explained that it had no information as to any deviation by the other pool banks from the originally agreed interest rate of [...] %.
Nemčija je pojasnila, da nima podatkov o odstopanju drugih bank od prvotno dogovorjene obrestne mere v višini [...] %.
The complainant provided a shareholder loan amounting to EUR 7,7 million on the same conditions as the pool banks.
Pritožnik je odobril posojilo družbenika v višini 7,7 mio EUR pod enakimi pogoji kot skupina bank.
THE R&D SUBSIDIES
SUBVENCIJE ZA R&R
In 1994 and 1997, the BFS provided two grants to Schneider AG totalling EUR 9050121,88.
Leta 1994 in 1997 je Bayrische Forschungsstiftung (BFS) podjetju Schneider AG dodelil dve subvenciji v skupni višini 9050121,88 EUR.
Project 1 (‘Laser-Display-Technologie’)
Projekt 1 („Tehnologija laserskega prikazovalnika“)
The first subsidy amounted to EUR 6498468,68. It was granted on 16 December 1994 with the aim of co-financing the ‘Laser-Display-Technologie’ project (‘project 1’).
Prva finančna pomoč v višini 6498468,68 EUR je bila dodeljena 16. decembra 1994 in je bila namenjena financiranju projekta „Tehnologija laserskega prikazovalnika“ („projekt 1“).
The aid was disbursed in several instalments over the lifetime of the project, i.e. between January 1995 and June 1997.
Ta finančna pomoč je bila med trajanjem projekta, tj. med januarjem 1995 in junijem 1997, izplačana v več obrokih.
Eligible costs amounted to EUR 12484972,74, while the aid intensity amounted to 48,9 %.
Upravičeni stroški so znašali 12484972,74 EUR, intenzivnost pomoči je bila 48,9 %.
Project 1 focused on creating the bases for new working methods for the projecting of large, high-resolution colour images for different applications and the scientific and technological bases for the individual components of the future system.
Cilj projekta 1 je bil razviti podlago za nove metode dela pri projekciji velikih barvnih slik visoke ločljivosti za različna področja uporabe in znanstveno-tehnološko podlago za posamezne komponente poznejšega sistema.
The following project costs were taken into account when granting the aid:
Pri dodelitvi pomoči so bili upoštevani naslednji stroški projekta:
Project element
Stroški projekta
Cost in EUR
Stroški (v EUR)
Personnel costs (incl. travelling expenses)
Stroški osebja (vključno s potnimi stroški)
Other operating expenses (material and supplies)
Drugi stroški poslovanja (material in potrebščine)
Cost of instruments and equipment
Instrumenti in oprema
Cost of research by third parties
Raziskave tretje osebe
Additional overheads
Dodatni splošni stroški
Germany has confirmed that the costs were incurred directly as a result of the research project.
Nemčija je potrdila, da so stroški nastali neposredno v povezavi z raziskovalnim projektom.
In accordance with the grant agreements, the results of the project were presented to a broad public and made generally available.
V skladu z dogovori v zvezi s finančno pomočjo so bili rezultati projekta predstavljeni širši javnosti in dani na razpolago javnosti.
The BFS also financed 100 % of a ‘blue laser’ research project carried out by the University of Würzburg.
Poleg tega je BFS v celoti financiral raziskovalni projekt Univerze v Würzburgu na temo „Modri laser“.
The project costs were EUR 0,26 million. At the BFS's request, project 1 and the ‘blue laser’ project were associated with each other in the expectation of a mutual know-how exchange.
Stroški projekta so znašali 0,26 mio EUR. Projekt 1 in projekt „Modri laser“ sta bila na željo BFS združena, saj je bil pričakovan prenos znanstvenega strokovnega znanja.
Project 2 (‘Laser-Display-Technologie — Systemintegration und Prototypen’)
Projekt 2 („Tehnologija laserskega prikazovalnika – Integracija sistema in prototipi“)
The second grant amounted to EUR 2551653,20 and was awarded on 23 July 1997.
Druga subvencija v višini 2551653,20 EUR je bila odobrena 23. julija 1997.
It was intended to finance the project ‘Laser-Display-Technologie — Systemintegration und Prototypen’ (‘project 2’), which followed project 1.
Subvencija je bila namenjena financiranju projekta „Tehnologija laserskega prikazovalnika – Integracija sistema in prototipi“ (v nadaljevanju „projekt 2“), ki je sledil projektu 1.
The aid was disbursed in several instalments over the project's lifetime, i.e. between April 1997 and September 1999.
Ta subvencija je bila med trajanjem projekta, tj. med aprilom 1997 in septembrom 1999, izplačana v več obrokih.
The planned eligible costs amounted to EUR 5103293,22, with the result that the aid intensity amounted to 50 %.
Načrtovani upravičeni stroški so znašali 5103293,22 EUR, tako da je intenzivnost pomoči znašala 50 %.
Project 2 concerned further elaboration on the results of project 1 and the attempt to integrate the individual key components into an overall system.
V okviru projekta 2 naj bi bili nadalje razviti rezultati projekta 1; poleg tega naj bi se poizkusilo v celotni sistem vključiti najpomembnejše posamezne komponente.
It comprised studies into image production with picosecond impulse lasers, laser resistance of the individual components and basic research into the miniaturisation of monochrome laser systems.
Dela so poleg tega obsegala študije za izdelavo slike s pikosekundnim impulznim laserjem, za lasersko odpornost posameznih komponent ter za miniaturizacijo monokromatiziranih laserskih sistemov.
Cost in euro
Stroški (v EUR)
Upon request, user rights had to be granted at market rates.
Pravice uporabe so morale biti na zahtevo predane po tržnih pogojih.
As regards the three loans, the Commission expressed its initial view that they probably fulfilled the market economy investor test.
V zvezi s tremi posojili je Komisija sprva zastopala stališče, da so ta posojila najverjetneje združljiva z načelom vlagatelja v tržnem gospodarstvu.
However, more detailed information was missing in order to enable to Commission to finalise its assessment.
Vendar pa ni razpolagala s podrobnejšimi informacijami, ki bi ji omogočile dokončno oceno.
The Commission further doubted that the R&D grants for the two laser technology projects were compatible with the state aid rules.
Komisija je nadalje dvomila v združljivost obeh projektov v zvezi z lasersko tehnologijo s predpisi Skupnosti o pomoči.
No comments were submitted by third parties.
Tretje stranke niso predložile svojih pripomb.
In its comments on the initiation of the formal investigation procedure, Germany argued that the loans did not constitute state aid because they fulfilled the market economy investor test.
Nemčija je v svojih pripombah glede sprožitve formalnega postopka preiskave trdila, da posojila niso državna pomoč, saj so združljiva z načelom vlagatelja v tržnem gospodarstvu.
As regards the R&D grants, Germany expressed the opinion that both projects qualified as industrial research and that their subsidisation to the tune of up to 50 % of the eligible cost was therefore compatible with the state aid rules applicable to R&D grants at the time the respective aid awards were made.
V zvezi s finančno pomočjo za R&R je Nemčija pojasnila, da je treba po njenem mnenju oba projekta obravnavati kot industrijsko raziskavo, posledično pa je finančna pomoč v višini do 50 % upravičenih stroškov združljiva s predpisi o pomoči za R&R, ki so veljali v času odobritve posamezne finančne pomoči.
With regard to project 2, Germany emphasized that the title of the project — ‘system integration and prototypes’ — was misleading and that the project had the aim of further deepening research into individual components of the project.
V zvezi s projektom 2 je Nemčija pojasnila, da je naslov projekta „Integracija sistema in prototipi“ zavajajoč, saj je bil cilj projekta podrobnejše raziskovanje posameznih komponent projekta.
THE LFA LOANS
POSOJILA LFA
Pursuant to Article 87 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.
Po členu 87 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, v kolikor prizadene trgovino med državami članicami.
In order to determine whether shareholder loans granted by a public authority constitute state aid within the meaning of Article 87 of the EC Treaty, it is necessary to consider whether in similar circumstances a market economy investor might have provided loans on conditions comparable to the ones granted by the public authority.
Da bi ugotovili, če posojilo družbenika, ki ga je odobrila državna ustanova, pomeni državno pomoč v smislu člena 87 Pogodbe ES, je treba preveriti, ali bi vlagatelj v tržnem gospodarstvu posojila v podobnih okoliščinah dodelil pod primerljivimi pogoji.
The Commission considers that there are strong indicators that the three loans did not constitute state aid because the market economy investor test is fulfilled.
Po mnenju Komisije veliko dejstev govori v prid temu, da ta tri posojila ne pomenijo državne pomoči, saj so v skladu z načelom vlagatelja v tržnem gospodarstvu.
The information available to the Commission indicates that granting loans to Schneider AG with interest rates of between [...] %, [...] % and [...] % (Commission reference rate 4,76 %), later increased to [...] %, [...] % and [...] % (Commission reference rate 5,7 %), was not economically irrational in the given circumstances of 1999/2000.
Po informacijah, s katerimi je razpolagala Komisija, v okoliščinah v letih 1999 in 2000 ni bilo gospodarsko nespametno podjetju Schneider AG dodeliti posojila z obrestnimi merami med […] %, […] % in […] % (referenčna obrestna mera Komisije: 4,76 %), ki so bile pozneje zvišane na […] %, […] % in […] % (referenčna obrestna mera Komisije: 5,7 %).
The trust of the market in future profits by Schneider AG, mainly through a leading position in the laser technology business, is evidenced for instance by the almost tenfold increase in the price of Schneider shares between 1998 and 2000 and by the very favourable study by the strategic investment bank Lehman Brothers, which purchased an additional [...] shares in Schneider AG during that period.
Zaupanje trga v prihodnje dobičke podjetja Schneider AG – v prvi vrsti zaradi vodilnega položaja v panogi laserske tehnologije – se je na primer izražalo v tem, da se je vrednost Schneiderjevih delnic med letoma 1998 in 2000 zvišala za skoraj desetkrat in da je strateška investicijska banka Lehman Brothers po zelo pozitivni študiji v tem obdobju kupila nadaljnjih […] delnic podjetja Schneider AG.
In July 2000, about 50 % of the capital was held by about 40 strategic investors.
Julija 2000 je bilo okoli 50 % kapitala družbe v lasti okoli 40 strateških vlagateljev.
Secondly, compared with the behaviour of the private shareholder Lehman Brothers, the behaviour of the LfA was much more cautious.
LfA pa je ravnal precej bolj previdno kot zasebni delničar Lehman Brothers.
Lehman Brothers increased the capital of Schneider AG by EUR 25 million in December 1999 and was lead investor in the EUR 46 million capital increase of February 2000. Apart from contributing about EUR 8,74 million to the February capital increase (which was already accepted as complying with the market economy investor test in the decision to initiate the procedure), the LfA provided a further EUR 12,8 million only in the form of a reimbursable loan with interest.
Lehman Brothers je decembra 1999 kapital družbe Schneider AG zvečal za 25 mio EUR in je bil glavni vlagatelj pri dokapitalizaciji februarja 2000, in sicer za nadaljnjih 46 mio EUR. Poleg udeležbe pri dokapitalizaciji v februarju s približno 8,74 mio EUR (kar je bilo v odločitvi o sprožitvi postopka že označeno kot združljivo z načelom vlagatelja v tržnem gospodarstvu), je LfA zagotovil nadaljnjih 12,8 mio EUR, in sicer izključno v obliki povračljivih posojil z obrestmi.
Thirdly, the LfA interest rates were higher than the rates of the pool banks, both at the time of the original grant of the loans (September 1999 and February 2000) and at the time of the loans' prolongation (September and December 2002).
Obrestne mere LfA so bile višje od obrestnih mer skupine bank, in sicer tako pri prvotni odobritvi posojil (septembra 1999 in februarja 2000) kot tudi pri poznejšem podaljšanju posojil (septembra in decembra 2002).
Nevertheless, some doubts persist as to the nature of the loans.
Kljub temu pa še vedno obstaja določen dvom glede vrste posojil.