natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
Point 25(a) of the Guidelines states that liquidity support in the form of loan guarantees must be granted at ‘an interest rate at least comparable to those observed for loans to healthy firms …’.
Räntan har beräknats i överensstämmelse med kapitel V i förordning (EG) nr 794/2004 och kommissionens förordning (EG) nr 271/2008 [28] om ändring av förordning (EG) nr 794/2004.
Moreover, the Belgian authorities, despite a specific request for information on this point, have not provided details on whether the obligation to end the guarantee after 6 months (point 25(a) of the Guidelines) was met.
Artikel 3
In the light of the above, the Commission considers that the aid resulting from the free granting of the guarantee cannot be considered rescue aid compatible with the common market, nor can it be declared compatible on other bases.
Återkravet av det stöd som avses i artikel 1 ska genomföras omedelbart och effektivt.
Consequently, Measure 3 is incompatible rescue aid granted in 2008 prior to CVSL's takeover and it is therefore necessary to establish whether there was economic continuity between the bankrupt CVSL and the activities transferred to the buyers who established VSL, in order to determine whether VSL benefited from advantages relating to the granting of this measure.
Belgien ska säkerställa att detta beslut genomförs inom fyra månader från den dag det har delgivits.
Assessment of the presence of economic continuity between CVSL and VSL
Artikel 4
In the opening decision, the Commission queried whether or not economic continuity had been established between CVSL and VSL, in other words, whether the advantages resulting from the granting of the guarantee of EUR 150000 in September 2008 had been passed on to the buyers of CVSL who established VSL.
Inom två månader efter den dag då detta beslut har delgivits ska Belgien lämna följande uppgifter till kommissionen:
The conclusions of this analysis depend both on identifying the company which would have to repay any incompatible unlawful aid, and on an analysis of the compatibility of Measure 1, in particular with regard to the ‘one time, last time’ principle.
Det totala belopp (kapitalbelopp och räntor) som ska återkrävas från stödmottagarna.
In this regard, the Belgian authorities consider that this measure benefited CVSL and not VSL and that there was a break in economic continuity between CVSL and the buyers.
En ingående beskrivning av de åtgärder som redan har vidtagits eller som planeras för att följa beslutet.
According to case law, the recovery obligation may be extended to a new company to which the beneficiary company has transferred its assets where that transfer permits the conclusion that there is an economic continuity between the two companies [23].
Handlingar som visar att stödmottagaren har anmodats att betala tillbaka stödet.
Extension of the repayment obligation to another entity cannot be ruled out, provided it is established that this entity is effectively benefiting from the aid in question, due to an economic continuity between the two.
Belgien ska hålla kommissionen underrättad om de nationella åtgärder som har vidtagits för att genomföra detta beslut till dess att återkravet av de stöd som avses i artikel 1 har slutförts.
According to the judgment of the Court of Justice of 8 May 2003 in Joined Cases C-328/99 and C-399/00 Italy v Commission [24], the economic continuity between the original company and new structures is assessed by means of a number of factors: in particular the purpose of the sale (assets and liabilities, continuity of the workforce, bundled assets), the transfer price, the identity of the shareholders or owners of the new company, the moment at which the transfer was carried out (after the start of the investigation, the initiation of the formal investigation procedure or the final decision) and, lastly, the economic logic of the transaction.
Belgien ska på kommissionens begäran omgående lämna uppgifter om de åtgärder som redan har vidtagits eller som planeras för att rätta sig efter detta beslut.
Assessment of the criterion of the purpose of the sale (assets and liabilities, continuity of the workforce, bundled assets)
Belgien ska även lämna detaljerade uppgifter om de stöd- och räntebelopp som redan återkrävts av stödmottagaren.
By way of introduction, the Belgian authorities pointed out that CVSL's assets had been distributed among several companies (the parent company VSLI, VSLI SARL in France and CVSL).
Artikel 5
To facilitate the takeover, on 23 October 2008 the insolvency administrators concluded a transaction agreement to transfer assets shared between these different companies into the hands of the failed company.
Detta beslut riktar sig till Belgien.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding of 1 October 2008 and the takeover agreement of 31 August 2009, VSL took over all the assets belonging to CVSL, excluding current assets: the buildings in which CVSL's workshops were housed and the storage areas, the land on which they were built, CVSL's equipment and stock-in-trade i.e. production tools, moulds, patents and possible sub-brands that belonged to CVSL on that date, orders under way, and stock, including that sold to Val Saint-Lambert International SARL, a company incorporated under French law, which the insolvency administrators had undertaken to make available to the buyers.
Utfärdat i Bryssel den 31 juli 2014.
Part of the assets that belonged to VSLI was also sold, i.e. the trade marks, designs and models and other intellectual property (the items referred to in the agreement signed on 5 October 2005 and including plans, moulds, designs, sketches, …, the built and non-built immovable assets owned by VSLI at Seraing, stocks of VSL products, the business premises at Seraing (showroom), the stocks at sales outlets in Seraing and Brussels (Sablon).
På kommissionens vägnar
Full ownership of the leased production tools (cutting machine, furnace and furnace nose) was also transferred to VSL.
Vice ordförande
Releasing CVSL from all responsibility, VSL undertook to continue all the work and employment contracts signed by VSL that were current on 30 September 2008.
Statligt stöd SA.34791 20../C (f.d.
VSL also undertook to continue the individual, collective and social agreements that had been concluded, merely reserving the right to jointly renegotiate some of their terms should the new circumstances so require.
2012/NN) – Belgien – Undsättningsstöd till Val Saint-Lambert – och statligt stöd SA.35528 20../C (f.d.
Finally, VSL also took over a liability of EUR 280000 resulting from CFV's sale of CVSL's intellectual rights.
2012/N) – Belgien – Omstruktureringsstöd till Val Saint-Lambert – Uppmaning enligt artikel 108.2 i EUF-fördraget att inkomma med synpunkter (EUT C 213, 26.7.2013, s. 38).
In accordance with the agreement of 29 January 2009 between Compagnie financière du Val SL and VSL, VSL replaced Interagora SA and took over the commitments it had made to CFV in an agreement dated 5 October 2005.
Se fotnot på sidan 1.
Through this agreement, CFV had transferred to Interagora SA all the trade marks, designs and models relating directly or indirectly to CVSL.
Konfidentiella uppgifter.
EUR 280000 of the agreed price remained unpaid.
Rekonstruktionsförfarandet har som syfte att under domarens kontroll bevara fortlevnaden av hela eller en del av företaget i svårigheter eller av dess verksamheter.
The takeover of CVSL's assets was approved by Liège Commercial Court on 20 October 2009.
Det föregick konkursdomen av den 14 oktober 2013.
In the light of these facts, the Commission has come to the following conclusion with regard to the purpose of the sale: the takeover related to almost all of CVSL's assets (including orders commenced), all work and employment contracts signed by the bankrupt company and in effect on 30 September 2008, and the use of trade marks and intellectual rights.
Kommissionens förordning (EG) nr 1998/2006 av den 15 december 2006 om tillämpningen av artiklarna 87 och 88 i EG-fördraget på stöd av mindre betydelse (EUT L 379, 28.12.2006, s. 5.
Consequently, the Commission notes that the scope of the activities taken over was the same as that of CVSL and that the scope of the takeover went even beyond CVSL to include the assets of VSLI which were necessary to continue crystal production.
Se fotnot 4.
Assessment of the sale price
EUT C 244, 1.10.2004, s. 2.
This condition applies both to tangible and intangible assets.
Se dom av den 16 maj 2002, Frankrike mot kommissionen, C-482/99, EU:C:2002:294, punkt 38.
The Belgian authorities pointed out that, under Belgian bankruptcy laws, the determining factor when liquidating assets is that of the creditors' interest.
Genom beslut av den 27 april 2012 av den minister som ansvarar för fysisk planering.
Article 75(3) of the Bankruptcy Law enables the creditors or the bankrupt party to oppose the disposal of certain assets if they feel that the planned disposal might harm them.
Domstolens dom av den 16 maj 2002, Frankrike mot kommissionen, mål C-482/99.
The Belgian authorities pointed out that the granting of the public guarantee of EUR 150000 was in fact motivated by a desire to maintain continuity of activity and make the most of the steps taken to sell assets.
EUT C 155, 20.6.2008, s.
The Commission notes that the sale of CVSL's assets took place via an open call for bids, managed by the insolvency administrators.
10.
Thirty-six bids were received by the insolvency administrators, who selected 12 at the end of an initial phase.
http://ec.europa.eu/competition/state_aid/legislation/base_rates_eu27_en.pdf
A data room of information on CVSL was organised.
Meddelande från kommissionen om en översyn av metoden för att fastställa referens- och diskonteringsräntor (EUT C 14, 19.1.2008, s. 6)
The publicity apparently focused on all the assets, without any bundled assets having been defined in advance.
Se skälen 21–23.
The Commission notes that this procedure would a priori enable the sale price of each of CVSL's assets to be maximised.
EUT C 14, 19.1.2008, s. 6.
However, two factors lead the Commission to consider that this procedure alone was insufficient to guarantee that the price offered by the buyers for the assets was the market price.
Kommissionens förordning (EU) nr 1407/2013 av den 18 december 2013 om tillämpningen av artiklarna 107 och 108 i fördraget om Europeiska unionens funktionssätt på stöd av mindre betydelse (EUT L 352, 24.12.2013, s. 1).
The sale of CVSL's assets was conditional on taking over all the work contracts.
Enligt de belgiska myndigheterna beskriver och lokaliserar karaktäriseringsstudien på ett detaljerats sätt nedsmutsningen i marken för att förvaltningen ska kunna uttala sig om nödvändigheten och formerna för en rening.
This shows that the sale was not unconditional and this obligation may have lowered the sale price.
Förordning (EG) nr 1998/2006.
In exchange, the Walloon Region required compensation from VSL, as recorded in the novation agreement dated 29 January 2009 between the Walloon Region (represented by CFV) and VSL: ‘This licence for use may be cancelled at any moment, automatically and without notice by the Walloon Region should VSL (or its successors) be unable to demonstrate production on the Val Saint-Lambert site at Seraing of high added-value crystal products now in activity at a minimum 60 % of the full-time equivalent employment, excluding temporary lay-offs, existing on the day of CVSL's bankruptcy …’.
SA N541/09 – Sverige – Statlig garanti till förmån för Saab Automobile AB, 8 februari 2010.
The Commission notes that, in return for granting the exclusive licence, the Walloon Region imposed on VSL an obligation to maintain production at the Seraing site and to maintain a previously determined level of employment.
Domstolens dom av den 28 mars 2012 i mål T-123/09 Ryanair Ltd mot kommissionen, EU:T:2012:164, punkt 155.
These political conditions may have lowered the sale price and discouraged other potential purchasers, thus affecting competition under the call for bids, with the result that the best financial bid was not in line with the actual market value [25].
REG, s.
Given these facts, the Commission considers that the criterion of the sale price is not met.
I-4035
Assessment of the criterion of the transaction's economic logic
Se i analogi med kommissionens beslut 2008/717/EG av den 27 februari 2008 om statligt stöd C 46/07 (ex NN 59/07) som Rumänien har beviljat företaget Automobile Craiova (tidigare Daewoo Romania) (EUT L 239, 6.9.2008, s. 12).
The criterion of the transaction's economic logic is intended to verify whether the buyer of the assets is using the transferred assets in the same way as the vendor, in order to continue the same economic activity.
Rådets förordning (EG) nr 659/1999 av den 22 mars 1999 om tillämpningsföreskrifter för artikel 108 i fördraget om Europeiska unionens funktionssätt (EGT L 83, 27.3.1999, s.
The Belgian authorities consider that the logic followed by VSL was radically different from that of its predecessors, in particular because it was based on the Cristal Park property development project when it took over the crystal works' activities.
1).
In this case, the Commission observes that the Belgian authorities have not demonstrated the existence of a direct relationship between CVSL's takeover and the Cristal Park project since October 2008.
Kommissionens förordning (EG) nr 794/2004 av den 21 april 2004 om genomförande av rådets förordning (EG) nr 659/1999 om tillämpningsföreskrifter för artikel 93 i EG-fördraget (EUT L 140, 30.4.2004, s.
The oldest of the documents relating to the Cristal Park project sent by the Belgian authorities dates back to December 2011.
1).
In any event, the Commission notes that the buyers bought the trade mark in order to continue to use it along with all the assets and means of production.
Kommissionens förordning (EG) nr 271/2008 av den 30 januari 2008 om ändring av förordning (EG) nr 794/2004 om genomförande av rådets förordning (EG) nr 659/1999 om tillämpningsföreskrifter för artikel 93 i EG-fördraget (EUT L 82, 25.3.2008, s.
The object of the company referred to in VSL's act of incorporation dated 20 November 2008 is, in fact, very similar to that of CVSL.
1)
VSL's object was indeed to continue the activity of the CVSL crystal works using the same human and production resources.
BILAGA
Moreover, the guarantee itself was granted with a view to ensuring the continuity of the activity.
Upplysningar om stöd som tagits emot, stöd som ska återkrävas och stöd som redan har återkrävts
Consequently, for the reasons noted above, the Commission concludes that there was economic continuity between CVSL and VSL.
(i miljoner i den nationella valutan)
The takeover of all the means of production (at a price subject to conditions, which did not correspond to the actual market value), of employment contracts and of the exclusive and unlimited use of trade marks with a view to continuing to produce crystal items forms a decisive factor in establishing economic continuity.
Stödmottagarens namn och adress
The advantage resulting from the granting of the guarantee to CVLS when it was bankrupt continued after the takeover and VSL retained the benefit of this advantage.
Totalt stödbelopp som tagits emot genom ordningen
Compatibility of Measures 4 (sale and use of the trade marks), 5 (loan of EUR 1,5 million), 6 (capital injection of EUR 1,5 million) and 8 (SPAQuE's provision of certain buildings to VSL)
Stödbelopp totalt som ska återkrävas
Belgium provided no justification for the compatibility of these measures in its comments on the opening decision and the Commission has no information with which to conclude that any of the exceptions laid down in Article 107(2) and (3) might apply.
(Kapitalbelopp)
Consequently, the Commission considers that these aid measures are incompatible with the common market.
Redan återkrävt stödbelopp, totalt
Recovery
Kapitalbelopp
The Commission points out that, in in accordance with Article 14(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 [26], all unlawful aid that is incompatible with the internal market must be recovered from the beneficiary.
Räntor
In this case, it is clear from the above considerations that the following measures involve aid, that this aid is unlawful and incompatible and, in so far as the aid was made available to VSL, it must be recovered:
De belgiska myndigheterna lämnade svar genom e-postmeddelande av den 12 december 2013 och e-postmeddelande av den 11 december 2013.
Measure 1: soft loan of EUR 1 million granted to VSL on 3 April 2012 by the Walloon Region, represented by the Société Wallonne de Gestion et de Participations (hereinafter ‘Sogepa’).
De begärde ytterligare frist för att besvara begäran om ytterligare upplysningar av den 14 november 2013.
The entire loan constitutes aid.
En sådan förlängning beviljades genom skrivelse av den 19 december 2013.
EUR 400000 was granted the same day that the agreement was concluded.
Svaret från de belgiska myndigheterna mottogs slutligen den 6 januari 2014.
The remaining EUR 600000 was granted at a later date not specified by the Belgian authorities.
Kommissionen begärde ånyo ytterligare upplysningar den 7 februari 2014.
Measure 2: restructuring aid consisting of an extension of the EUR 1 million loan.
De belgiska myndigheterna och advokaten för företaget Société Wallonne de Gestion et de Participations (nedan kallat SOGEPA) lämnade svar den 25 respektive den 27 februari 2014.
This measure was not implemented and so recovery is not necessary.
En ny begäran om ytterligare upplysningar riktades till de belgiska myndigheterna den 11 april 2014.
Measure 3: guarantee of EUR 150000 granted by Sogepa on 24 September 2008 to CVSL's insolvency administrators.
Genom e-postmeddelande av den 30 april 2014 förlängde kommissionen de belgiska myndigheternas svarsfrist fram till den au 23 maj 2014.
This guarantee involves aid because it was not remunerated at the market price.
Kommissionen mottog detta datum deras svar.
The aid element must be calculated using the method set out in this Decision.
Särskilt 2002 gjorde SA Cristallerie du Val Saint-Lambert konkurs och verksamheten återupptogs av SA La cristallerie du Val Saint-Lambert (nedan kallat CVSL) som bildades den 19 december 2002.
Measure 4: sale and use of the Val Saint-Lambert trade marks agreed on 29 January 2009 between CFV and VSL.
Handelsdomstolen i Liège förklarade därefter CVSL i konkurs genom dom av den 11 augusti 2008.
This sale of the trade marks did not take place and so recovery is not necessary.
Hittills har endast försäljningen av den 13 december 2012 förverkligats.
The element of aid concerning the use of the trade mark must be calculated in accordance with generally used and accepted methods of managing intellectual property assets.
Transaktionerna i avtalsutkasten godkända av Seraings stadsfullmäktige och nämnda i ovanstående skälen 28 och 29 har inte genomförts.
Measure 5: loan of EUR 1,5 million granted by Sogepa to VSL on 31 August 2009.
Enligt förvaltningskontraktet för 2008–2012 mellan den vallonska regeringen och SPAQUE från juli 2007, vilket förnyades i oktober 2012 i ytterligare sex månader, utför SPAQUE verksamheterna inom ramen för de uppdrag som regionen Vallonien delegerat till den.
This loan involves aid to VSL, corresponding to the difference between the market rate and the rate at which the loan was granted, i.e. 1,07 % (5,77 % – 4,7 %), or EUR 16050 per year.
Inom denna ram agerar det på uppdrag av regionen.
This aid was provided unlawfully and must therefore be repaid.
Enligt de uppgifter som kommissionen slutligen kommit över gällde denna garanti ett lån på 300000 euro som ING beviljade CVSL:s konkursförvaltare.
Measure 6: capital injection of EUR 1,5 million by the Walloon Region into VSL decided on 17 March 2011.
Garantin omfattade 150000 euro, och ställdes utan ersättning.
The entire capital injection constitutes aid since it cannot be deemed equivalent to the behaviour of a private investor.
Kommissionen noterar att regionen Vallonien inte hade någon direkt juridisk eller affärsmässig koppling till CVSL.
Measure 8: relating to the provision of part of the ‘Cristalleries du Val Saint-Lambert’ site free of charge
Regionen var varken direkt eller indirekt via SOGEPA aktieinnehavare i CVSL.
The agreement for the temporary provision of a part of the Val Saint-Lambert crystalworks site, concluded on 11 December 2012 between SPAQuE and VSL, confers an advantage on VSL that consists of the amount of rental income that SPAQuE willingly waived.
Belgien har för övrigt till följd av en datakrasch som inträffade sommaren 2009 inte kunnat förse kommissionen med utdrag ur företagets räkenskaper per den 31 augusti 2009, den dag lånet beviljades.
The precise amount of this aid must be calculated in accordance with recital 123.
Kommissionen har inte någon information om företagtes finansiella situation den 31 augusti 2009, men väl om läget den 31 december 2009.
For the purposes of recovery, the Belgian authorities must also add to the amount of the aid the recovery interest due from the date on which the aid in question was first made available to the company until the aid is recovered, in accordance with Chapter V of Commission Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 [27].
CFC:s kapitaltillskott på 5,2 miljoner euro består nämligen i verkligheten av summan av ett flertal förskott som gjorts mellan den 25 maj 2009 och den 29 mars 2011.
CONCLUSION
Regionen Vallonien och CFC befinner sig heller inte i samma situation och löper inte samma risker.
The Commission finds that Belgium unlawfully implemented a set of measures in breach of Article 108(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
De belgiska myndigheterna anförde följande orsaker för att bortse från noten från december 2011.
These measure are the following: the rescue aid of EUR 1 million (Measure 1), the guarantee of EUR 150000 (Measure 3), the sale and use of the Val Saint-Lambert trade marks (Measure 4), the loan of EUR 1,5 million (Measure 5), the capital injection of EUR 1,5 million (Measure 6) and SPAQuE's provision of certain buildings to VSL free of charge (part of Measure 8).
De menar för det första att den inte gäller de renings- och saneringsarbetena som ska säkerställa tomten för dess nuvarande industriella användning, utan avser att möjliggöra utvecklingen av ett köpcentrum med inriktning på utrutning till hemmet, dekoration och fritidsaktiviteter, vilket är lika med den planerade användningen av tomten.
By letter dated 18 June 2014, the Belgian authorities authorised the Commission to adopt and notify this Decision in French only,
De belgiska myndigheterna vidhåller därefter att de byggnader som nämns i noten från december 2011 inte går att identifiera och förklarar därefter att deras sammanlagda yta ungefärligen uppgår till 67000 m2, vilket är mer än den totala ytan (50299 m2) för de byggnader som nämns i köpebrevet av den 13 december 2012.
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1
Enligt de belgiska myndigheterna motiverar denna skillnad på 17000 m2 de lägre reningskostnaderna.
The following measures: the rescue aid of EUR 1 million (Measure 1), the guarantee of EUR 150000 (Measure 3), the sale and use of the Val Saint-Lambert trade marks (Measure 4), the loan of EUR 1,5 million (Measure 5), the capital injection of EUR 1,5 million (Measure 6) and SPAQuE's provision of certain buildings to VSL free of charge (a part of Measure 8) involve elements of aid that have been unlawfully implemented by Belgium, in breach of Article 108(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and are incompatible with the internal market.
Kommissionen konstaterar till att börja med att försäljningspriset värderats av oberoende experter i maj 2012.
In accordance with Article 8(2) of Regulation (EC) No 659/1999, Belgium withdrew its notification concerning Measure 2 (restructuring aid) following the decision to initiate the formal investigation procedure.
Kostnaderna för saneringen har alltså även bedömts av en oberoende och specialiserad expert, GEOLYS.
Article 2
I sitt svar av den 23 maj 2014 bekräftade de belgiska myndigheterna att de marker och fastigheter som utvärderades i rapporten från GEOLYS verkligen var desamma som de som omfattades av försäljningen den 13 december 2012.