COMMISSION DECISION
of 24 October 2011
on State aid SA 32600 (2011/C) — France — Restructuring aid to SeaFrance SA granted by the SNCF
(notified under document C(2011) 7808)
(Only the French version is authentic)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2012/397/EU)
I.
PROCEDURE
1.1.
General procedural context
1.2.
National procedural context
1.3.
Subject of the present decision
II.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BENEFICIARY
|
2007 |
2010 |
Passengers(8) |
3 720 |
2 920 |
Freight(9) |
770 550 |
550 884 |
III.
DESCRIPTION OF THE AID
(in EUR million) |
||||||||
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
Total |
Repayment of short-term credit facilities |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
Future operating cash flows (from December 2011) |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
Residual job-protection plan |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
Payments related to borrowings |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
Payments related to investments |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
Intra-annual WCR |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
Total financing needs |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
[…] |
IV.
REASONS FOR INITIATING THE FORMAL INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE
V.
COMMENTS BY INTERESTED PARTIES
5.1.
Comments by interested parties opposed to the restructuring aid
5.1.1.
Complaint and comments of P&O
5.1.1.1. Concerning the difficulties of SeaFrance
Year |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
Profits/losses of SeaFrance(23) |
–16,8 |
–1,7 |
–2,8 |
2,6 |
–3,5 |
3,4 |
14,8 |
–2,4 |
–3,0 |
–19,0 |
7,9 |
7,27 |
–13,6 |
–57,7 |
–36,0 |
Source: P&O’s comments. |
5.1.1.2. Concerning the compatibility of the aid
5.1.1.3. Concerning the causes of SeaFrance’s difficulties
5.1.1.4. Concerning the difficulty of restoring long-term viability
5.1.1.5. Concerning the ill-adapted nature of the internal restructuring measures
5.1.1.6. Concerning the market forecasts used by SeaFrance
5.1.1.7. Concerning the compensatory measures
5.1.1.8. Concerning the company’s own contribution
5.1.1.9. Concerning the conditions of granting the aid
5.1.2.
Comments by Eurotunnel
5.1.3.
Comments by DFDS
5.1.4.
Comments by CLdN
5.2.
Comments from interested parties in favour of the restructuring aid
5.2.1.
Comments by the SNCF
5.2.2.
Comments by an economic operator wishing to remain anonymous
5.2.3.
Comments by road haulage companies
5.2.4.
Comments of tour operators and travel agencies
Date of the comments |
Name of the interested parties |
26.07.2011 |
4 separate position papers: 1) R&T Tours; 2) Sports Tours Ltd; 3) TM Ski&Travel Ltd; 4) International Sport & Leisure |
27.07.2011 |
5 separate position papers: 1) Broadway Tours; 2) Gemini Travel; 3)DE Vere Travel Group; 4) Adaptable Travel; 5) Gower Tours Ltd |
28.07.2011 |
2 separate position papers: Angling Lines Ltd; Acorn Ventures Ltd |
29.07.2011 |
Bartletts Battlefield Journeys Ltd |
5.2.5.
Comments from the Côte d’Opale Chamber of Commerce and Industry
5.2.6.
Comments by the CFDT trade union
VI.
COMMENTS BY FRANCE
6.1.
Comments concerning the reasons for SeaFrance’s difficulties in general
Year |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
Profits/losses of SeaFrance(27) |
–16,8 |
–1,7 |
–2,8 |
2,6 |
–3,5 |
3,4 |
26,2 |
–2,4 |
4,9 |
–9,3 |
7,9 |
15,4 |
–20,9 |
–57,7 |
–36,2 |