natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
The company would have had to be liquidated had the repayment date for tranche B of the EUR 10 million FDES loan not been deferred, the result being that the impact on the competitive structure of the market is non-negligible.
Komisija ima pomisleke glede opredelitve in združljivosti treh ukrepov: (i) posojila iz sklada FDES v višini 10 milijonov EUR, (ii) posojila iz sklada FDES v višini 47,5 milijona EUR ter (iii) odpisa davčnih in socialnih obveznosti.
This consideration becomes all the more important if one takes into account the size and importance of the recipient on the French household appliance market.
Ocena obstoja pomoči v smislu člena 107(1) PDEU
The interested party stresses that the recipient company had already been granted restructuring aid of EUR 31 million in 2008 (authorised by the Commission on 25 July 2012 [17]), with the result that the ‘one time, last time’ principle set out in the 2004 Guidelines is not respected.
Komisija mora preučiti, ali bi obravnavani ukrepi lahko pomenili državno pomoč v smislu člena 107(1) PDEU.
Since this argument is valid only in the event of economic continuity between FagorBrandt and Groupe Brandt, the interested party stresses a number of points: the new owner acquired almost all the tangible and intangible fixed assets of the companies belonging to FagorBrandt in France; Groupe Brandt today employs more than two thirds of the workers of the old structure; it engages in the same economic activity and similar production, and, lastly, most of the senior management remained in their posts.
V skladu s členom 107(1) PDEU 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 z notranjim trgom, kolikor prizadene trgovino med državami članicami“.
The interested party points out that, in the event that economic continuity between the two entities was not recognised, two of the three measures constituting State aid would still infringe the ‘one time, last time’ principle.
Na podlagi te določbe morajo biti za opredelitev ukrepa kot državne pomoči izpolnjeni naslednji kumulativni pogoji, in sicer: (i) da ukrep izvira od države, (ii) da je selektiven, (iii) da daje gospodarsko prednost upravičencu ter da (iv) izkrivlja ali bi lahko izkrivljal konkurenco in bi lahko prizadel trgovino med državami članicami.
Likewise, were Groupe Brandt to be considered a newly created firm, the State aid measures would be strictly incompatible with the 2004 Guidelines.
Obstoj državnih sredstev in merilo pripisljivosti
With regard to the criterion of the limitation of the aid to the strict minimum, the interested party notes that the recipient firm belongs to the Cevital group, whose consolidated turnover was EUR 2,4 billion in 2013.
Posojili iz sklada FDES sta bili dodeljeni z odlokom ministra za gospodarstvo in finance, pri čemer je za njuno izvedbo pristojen generalni direktor zakladnice.
Accordingly, it is surprised that France did not provide more information on the possibility for Cevital to address the recipient's difficulties in house.
Zadevna sredstva izhajajo s posebnega računa zakladnice, vračili glavnice in obresti pa se prav tako nakažeta v proračun Francije.
The 2004 Guidelines spell out that restructuring aid must not be used to keep firms artificially alive.
Posojila podpiše, izplača in vodi banka Natixis v imenu Francije na podlagi sporazuma, sklenjenega med banko Natixis in Francijo.
This situation may arise in the context of a sector affected by substantial structural overcapacity where the recipient stays afloat thanks only to a series of State aid measures.
Odpis davčnih in socialnih obveznosti se sam po sebi šteje za uporabo državnih sredstev.
The interested party notes that in 2012 FagorBrandt had a low utilisation rate (57 %) in relation to the rest of the market (82 %).
Z njim naj bi se Francija odpovedala prihodkom, zato naj bi neposredno vplival na njen proračun.
In this context, the recipient's return to viability seems very uncertain because, on the one hand, the market is extremely competitive and, on the other, the Cevital group has no experience of this sector in Europe.
Komisija posledično ugotavlja, da obravnavani ukrepi vključujejo državna sredstva in so pripisljivi Franciji.
The same group's lack of experience in research and development illustrates the difficulty of creating genuine synergies.
Selektivnost
The interested party is surprised that France did not submit a restructuring plan with a specific timetable, whereas the 2004 Guidelines state that the restructuring plan must intervene within a reasonable timescale.
Komisija ugotavlja, da so bila obravnavna posojila dodeljena družbi FagorBrandt in družbi Groupe Brandt, ki je prevzela njena sredstva.
Lastly, the interested party highlights the distortion of competition that the measures in question will inevitably produce.
Čeprav je naloga sklada FDES dodeljevanje posojil za gospodarski in socialni razvoj pod pogoji, ki so določeni v okrožnici z dne 26. novembra 2004 [19] o ukrepanju države za preprečevanje in reševanje težav podjetij ter urejajo njegovo delovanje, se vsaka odobritev posojil iz sklada FDES obravnava posebej.
The interested party has undertaken a costly restructuring programme financed by its own contribution.
Pogoj v zvezi s selektivnostjo je torej izpolnjen.
This effort would bear greater rewards if the recipient firm did not have significant market share thanks to public support.
Nasprotno pa se glede na elemente, zbrane med temeljito preiskavo, zlasti odgovor Francije na sklep o začetku postopka zdi, da je bil odpis davčnih in socialnih obveznosti izveden v običajnem okviru pravil, ki veljajo za podjetja v prisilni poravnavi, v zvezi s katerimi nastanejo tovrstne terjatve.
Larger sales volumes would enable the interested party to increase its utilisation rate and reduce its unit costs to the benefit of consumers.
Tako je v skladu s predpisi, ki se uporabljajo za podjetja v prisilni poravnavi, družba FagorBrandt v obdobju opazovanja še naprej plačevala prispevke za socialno varnost in davke, vendar del teh davščin ob likvidaciji ni bil izterljiv in se je torej prenesel med obveznosti v obdobju opazovanja družbe FagorBrandt.
The absence of compensatory measures does not, therefore, seem justified.
V okviru likvidacije družbe FagorBrandt bodo te davščine plačane po ustreznem vrstnem redu v skladu s členom L. 622-17 trgovinskega zakonika.
Observations by France
Zdi se torej, da ni šlo za odpis davčnih socialnih terjatev družbe FagorBrandt, temveč za uporabo v skladu s splošnim okvirom, ki se uporablja za podjetja v prisilni poravnavi.
Background
Komisija zato ugotavlja, da družba FagorBrandt zaradi odpisa davčnih in socialnih obveznosti ni bila obravnavana selektivno.
First, France denies the existence of aid in the form of a debt reduction or authorisation to acquire assets at a price below the market price by Nanterre Commercial Court.
Komisija posledično ugotavlja, da so bila posojila iz sklada FDES selektivni ukrepi.
It points out here that this allegation by the interested party is not supported by any facts, and that the decision taken by Nanterre Commercial Court does not involve a transfer of State resources.
Nasprotno pa družbi FagorBrandt z odpisom davčnih in socialnih obveznosti ni bil dodeljen selektivni ukrep.
With regard to the aid received by Brandt Italia, France stresses that the Commission has imposed compensatory measures on FagorBrandt to confirm the compatibility of this aid with the internal market [18].
Obstoj gospodarske prednosti
The same applies to the restructuring aid received by FagorBrandt, which was approved by the Commission provided that compensatory measures were granted [18] Ibid.
V skladu z ustaljeno sodno prakso je treba za presojo, ali državni ukrep pomeni pomoč v smislu člena 107(1) PDEU, ugotoviti, ali je upravičeno podjetje dobilo gospodarsko prednost, ki je pod običajnimi tržnimi pogoji ne bi pridobilo [20].
Thus, by trying to demonstrate that the measure is along the lines of previous public support, the interested party in fact refers to measures that do not constitute State aid, or which are deemed to be without effect on the internal market because of the compensatory measures.
Za gospodarsko prednost gre, če se zaradi posredovanja države izboljša finančni položaj podjetja.
With regard to intervention by Cevital, France stresses that the business plan was prepared as part of a new industrial and commercial strategy intended to create a structure different from that of FagorBrandt.
Vendar posredovanje javnega organa ne pomeni nujno prednosti za upravičenca in zato ne pomeni državne pomoči, če je pomoč izvedena pod normalnimi tržnimi pogoji, tj. če je javni organ ravnal kot bi v enakih razmerah ravnal preudaren udeleženec v tržnem gospodarstvu.
This strategy includes in particular […].
V zvezi s tem lahko obstoj pomembnih naložb z enakimi značilnostmi, ki so jih sočasno s posredovanjem Francije izvedli drugi zasebni subjekti, pri čemer ti subjekti prevzemajo podobna tveganja (pod enakimi pogoji), nakazuje, da je Francija ravnala kot preudaren vlagatelj.
France takes the view that the credibility of the business plan persuaded a group of private investors, including Natixis and Société Générale, to finance these projects.
Politične okoliščine odobritve obeh posojil iz sklada FDES
France adds that […] is a viable solution to the current problem of the low utilisation rate referred to by the interested party.
Francoska vlada je že od vsega začetka zagotavljala, da bo družbo FagorBrandt podprla za vsako ceno in ne glede na to, koliko zasebnega denarja bo na koncu posojenega navedeni družbi [21].
France points out that Cevital already had an electrical household appliances segment within its industrial activity: the group launched the creation of an industrial site for the production of electrical household appliances in Algeria in 2013.
Francoska vlada je na primer dva dneva pred začetkom postopka prisilne poravnave, tj. 5. novembra 2013, navedla: „Storiti je treba vse za ohranitev industrijskih zmogljivosti skupine za proizvodnjo električnih gospodinjskih aparatov Fagor, ki ima v Franciji prihodnost“ [22].
Thus, Cevital was not, as suggested by the interested party, present solely in assembly operations.
Minister za gospodarsko oživitev je na centralnem svetu delavcev o prihodnosti skupine 6. novembra 2013 pojasnil, da „želi vlada rešiti čim več industrijskih obratov in delovnih mest v družbi“ [23].
Moreover, the group also has substantial negotiating power for the purchase of raw materials.
11. aprila 2014 je bilo v sporočilu za javnost ministra za gospodarstvo, gospodarsko oživitev in digitalni sektor – objavljenem po odločitvi gospodarskega sodišča v San Sebastiánu (Španiji), s katero se je dovolila prodaja blagovnih znamk družbe FagorBrandt skupini Cevital – pojasnjeno: „Vlada je že od vsega začetka družbi FAGOR-BRANDT stala ob strani in bo v okviru njenega prevzema finančno podprla to ponudbo, s čimer bo zagotovila nadaljnji obstoj industrijskih zmogljivosti in rešila delovna mesta“.
According to France, there is therefore a high degree of complementarity between Cevital's activity and the takeover of well-known brands.
14. aprila 2014 je bilo v novem sporočilu za javnost ministra za gospodarstvo, gospodarsko oživitev in digitalni sektor ter ministra za delo, zaposlovanje in socialni dialog – tokrat objavljenem po odločitvi gospodarskega sodišča v Nanterru, s katero se je skupini Cevital dovolil prevzem družbe FagorBrandt – pojasnjeno: „Minister bo bdel nad ponovno oživitvijo vseh obratov“.
Classification of the measures as aid
Komisija zato ugotavlja, da je Francija na vsaki stopnji sodnega postopka javno in vztrajno izražala svojo odločenost, da zagotovi gospodarsko kontinuiteto družbe FagorBrandt zaradi ohranitve dejavnosti in delovnih mest, na kar se zasebni vlagatelj ne more sklicevati in kar je v nasprotju z domnevno preudarnostjo posojilnih poslov.
France points out that the social security and tax debts incurred under the court-supervised administration proceedings are the result of a standard mechanism in that type of proceedings.
Komisija poleg tega opozarja, da je sredstva družbe Fagor Electrodomésticos (ki je od oktobra 2013 v zaščitnem postopku v Španiji), ki so pred tem pripadala družbi FagorBrandt, pridobila skupina CATA-CAN brez javne podpore.
Furthermore, France denies the existence of a timetable for the payment of the social security and tax debts that was favourable to Groupe Brandt.
Ta je industrijsko proizvodnjo električnih gospodinjskih aparatov prevzela septembra 2014.
France reiterates that the EUR 10 million FDES loan was granted at the same time as the bank loan granted by Thémis and that it benchmarked the terms laid down by the bank.
Nazadnje, zaveza skupine Cevital za nakup družbe FagorBrandt je bila pogojena s pridobitvijo financiranja, vključno z drugim posojilom iz sklada FDES.
Tranche A of the FDES loan was granted pari passu with the private loan in terms of pricing, repayment and collateral.
Kot je pojasnjeno v oddelku 2.2, sta bili javno (FDES) in zasebno (Thémis) posojilo dodeljeni pod enakimi pogoji, kar zadeva obrok A (5 milijonov EUR), ne pa tudi kar zadeva obrok B.
According to France, tranche B is also pari passu with the same loan in terms of pricing, arrangements for repayment at term in return for additional collateral.
Med kolektivnim postopkom sta dve zasebni banki [25] zavrnili dodelitev posojila v višini 5 milijonov EUR, ker sta menili, da poroštva ne zadoščajo glede na višino tveganja.
France takes the view that the deferral of the repayment of the loan referred to by the interested party is common practice in usual relations between private operators.
Enomesečna zamuda pri vračilu obroka B potrjuje analizo tveganja, ki so jo izvedli zasebni posojilodajalci [26].
France takes the view that the amount of the EUR 47,5 million loan is not excessively high because the financial situation of Cevital group is healthy (close to a financial rating of AA, rather than CCC, as mentioned by the interested party).
Nasprotno pa se je sklad FDES izpostavil za znesek 10 milijonov EUR in nato še za 47,5 milijona EUR, in to kljub zamudi pri plačilu obroka B.
France stresses that it is important to place the loan in the context of the totality of the amounts advanced by private investors, including Société Générale and Natixis.
Poleg tega je posojilo v višini 10 milijonov EUR iz sklada FDES vrnjeno v enakem znesku kot dvakrat nižje posojilo, ki ga je dodelila banka Thémis (5 milijonov EUR).
It reaffirms the credibility and size of the collateral granted.
Komisija sicer pripominja, da Francija tega v odgovoru na sklep o začetku postopka ni zanikala, čeprav je šlo za enega od glavnih pomislekov, ki jih je Komisija izrazila v sklepu o začetku postopka.
Lastly, France points out that it serves no purpose to submit an example of an offer by a financial institution since private investors, in this case, actually provided financing.
Francija je z odobritvijo obroka B posojila iz sklada FDES dodelila gospodarsko prednost, ki je preudaren posojilodajalec ne bi dodelil, vsaj ne pod enakimi pogoji.
ASSESSMENT OF THE AID MEASURES
Za obrok B veljajo poroštva, ki sicer niso šibka (deloma so prvovrstna), vendar jih ni mogoče šteti za močna, saj obrok B s tega vidika konkurira obroku A posojil iz sklada FDES in banke Thémis (za prvovrstna zavarovanja) in je podrejen zastavni pravici na nepremičnini.
The Commission has concerns about the classification and the compatibility of three measures: (i) an FDES loan of EUR 10 million, (ii) an FDES loan of EUR 47,5 million and (iii) a write-off of tax and social security debts.
Poroštva je torej mogoče šteti za običajna v smislu sporočila iz leta 2008.
Assessment of the existence of aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU
Glede na finančni položaj družbe FagorBrandt ob dodelitvi posojila jo je treba šteti za podjetje z bonitetno oceno CCC v smislu sporočila iz leta 2008.
The Commission must ascertain whether the measures under investigation could constitute State aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU.
Ker ni elementov, da bi podvomili v obrestne mere iz sporočila iz leta 2008, Komisija meni, da se obrestna mera lahko izračuna na podlagi tržne obrestne mere ter znaša 7,03 % (tj. 0,53 % za referenčno obrestno mero Francije v času odobritve posojila + 650 bazičnih točk).
Article 107(1) TFEU lays down that ‘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 internal market’.
V skladu s preteklo prakso Komisija meni, da znesek pomoči ustreza razliki med obrestno mero, izračunano na podlagi sporočila iz leta 2008 (7,03 %), za glavnico posojila, in sicer 10 milijonov EUR, in obrestno mero, ki jo uporablja Francija ([5–10] %), za glavnico posojila, in sicer 10 milijonov EUR, izračunano za obdobje, v katerem je bil znesek na voljo družbi FagorBrandt [27].
On the basis of this provision, a measure can be classified as State aid if all of the following tests are met: (i) the measure is imputable to the State; (ii) the measure is selective; (iii) the measure confers an economic advantage on the beneficiary; and (iv) the measure distorts or threatens to distort competition and is likely to affect trade between Member States.
Druga poroštva niso bila predmet neodvisnih ocen, na podlagi katerih bi lahko Komisija presodila njihovo kakovost.
Existence of State resources and imputability
Komisija zato meni, da je poroštva mogoče šteti za običajna v smislu sporočila iz leta 2008.
The FDES loans were granted by Order of the Minister for Economic and Financial Affairs, implementation of which was entrusted to the Director-General of the Treasury.
Obrestne mere.
The relevant funds come from a special Treasury account and repayments of principal and interest are also paid into France's national budget.
Francija v odgovor na sklep o začetku postopka navaja, da je Komisija družbi Groupe Brandt napačno pripisala bonitetno oceno CCC, ker je to podjetje del skupine Cevital, ki ima bonitetno oceno BB ali celo B. Če drugega ne, je ta trditev presenetljiva.
The loans are signed, paid and managed by Natixis on behalf of France, on the basis of an agreement signed between Natixis and France.
Skupina Cevital namreč ni niti posojilodajalka niti porok za posojilo iz sklada FDES.
By its very nature, a write-off of tax and social security debts would constitute a use of public resources.
Dejstvo, da je finančni položaj skupine Cevital dober, tako da ima bonitetno oceno BB ali celo B, je eventualno lahko zagotovilo za finančne ustanove, ki bi lahko dodelile posojilo hčerinski družbi skupine Cevital, vendar nikakor ne zavaruje tveganja, ocenjenega s CCC, ki ga pomeni družba Groupe Brandt.
It would mean France foregoing revenue and would therefore have a direct impact on the country's budget.
Če bi bilo treba v zvezi s tem sprejeti trditev Francije, da je treba zmožnost zadolževanja družbe Groupe Brandt presojati z vidika zmožnosti zadolževanja skupine Cevital, je, če drugega ne, presenetljivo, da ni bil noben zasebni vlagatelj pripravljen dodeliti posojila družbi Groupe Brandt.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that the measures in question involve State resources and are imputable to France.
Poleg tega, kot je opisano v oddelku 7.1.3.1, izjave različnih predstavnikov Francije kažejo, da je bil edini cilj ukrepov podpore pomagati družbama FagorBrandt in Groupe Brandt: tako je bilo javno predstavljeno upnikom.
Selectivity
Te trditve torej ni mogoče sprejeti.
The Commission notes that the loans under investigation were granted in favour of FagorBrandt and Groupe Brandt, the company which took over FagorBrandt's assets.
Poleg tega Francija trdi, da sta zasebna vlagatelja vsak obrok posojila dodelila po enaki obrestni meri kot sklad FDES.
Although the remit of the FDES is to grant loans for economic and social development under the conditions laid down in the Circular of 26 November 2004 [19] on State action in the prevention and resolution of business difficulties, which governs its operation, the granting of loans by the FDES is always subject to a case-by-case examination.
Za obroke A posojila iz sklada FDES in zasebnih posojil seveda veljajo enaki pogoji (EURIBOR + [300–600] bazičnih točk) in enaka poroštva, vendar je znesek obroka A posojila iz sklada FDES skoraj petkrat višji od zneska obrokov A zasebnih posojil.
The selectivity condition is therefore met.
Podobno tudi za obroke B posojil iz sklada FDES in zasebnih posojil dejansko veljajo enaki pogoji (EURIBOR + [300–600] bazičnih točk), čeprav je znesek obroka B posojila iz sklada FDES tudi tu skoraj petkrat višji.
On the other hand, the information gathered during the in-depth investigation, including France's response to the opening decision, indicates that the write-off of tax and social security debts took place within the normal framework of the rules applicable to undertakings in administration generating this type of claim.
Kar zadeva obrok C, Komisija navaja, da je višina plačila višja kot pri obrokih A ([0–5] %) in B ([0–5] %), medtem ko je njegov rok zapadlosti krajši kot pri drugih obrokih.
Therefore, in accordance with the rules applicable to undertakings in administration, during the observation period FagorBrandt continued to pay its social security and tax charges, but a part of these charges was not due when the company went into liquidation and was therefore entered as a liability incurred during FagorBrandt's observation period.
Čeprav so posojila razdeljena na različne obroke, je treba javna in zasebna posojila analizirati kot celoto.
As part of the liquidation of FagorBrandt, these charges will be paid in accordance with their respective rank pursuant to Article L. 622-17 of the French Commercial Code.
Če se posojilo iz sklada FDES ter posojili bank Société Générale in Natixis obravnavajo kot celota, se razkrije očitno nesorazmerje pri izpostavljenosti posameznega upnika: Francija je posodila šestkrat več kot vsaka od bank, ki se v nasprotju s Francijo ukvarjata prav z zagotavljanjem likvidnih sredstev podjetjem.
Consequently, the Commission concludes that FagorBrandt was not afforded selective treatment by means of a write-off of tax and social security debts.
Francija, ki a priori nima interesa za nadaljnje poslovanje družbe FagorBrandt, je najprej posodila 10 milijonov EUR, nato pa je kljub zamudi pri vračilu obroka B tega posojila dodelila novo posojilo, ki je bilo več kot štirikrat večje od prvega.
Consequently, the Commission concludes that the FDES loans were selective measures.
Tega ne bi storil noben drug preudaren upnik: dokaz za to je, da banka Thémis razen posojila v višini 5 milijonov EUR ni dodelila drugih posojil.
In contrast, no selective measures were awarded to FagorBrandt by means of a write-off of tax and social security debts.
Še več, čeprav je posojilo iz sklada FDES šestkrat večje od posojil bank Société Générale in Natixis, zanj veljajo enaka poroštva kot za posojili navedenih bank.
Existence of an economic advantage
Sicer pa glede na javne izjave predstavnikov Francije, banke Société Générale in banke Natixis banki nista mogli spregledati pripravljenosti Francije, da finančno pomaga družbi Groupe Brandt.
It is settled case-law that, in order to determine whether a State measure constitutes aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU, it is necessary to establish whether the recipient undertaking receives an economic advantage which it would not have obtained under normal market conditions [20].
Na njuno odločitev za dodelitev posojil je torej vsekakor vplivala skorajšnja gotovost, da bo Francija podprla nadaljevanje dejavnosti, ki jo je prevzela družba Groupe Brandt, s čimer bi se njuna tveganja zmanjšala.
An economic advantage exists whenever the financial situation of an undertaking is improved as a result of State intervention.
Poleg tega banka Natixis v imenu Francije upravlja posojila iz sklada FDES, kar je lahko vplivalo na njeno odločitev.