INHALT

2006/947/EC: Commission Decision of 7 December 2005 on the State aid implemented by Belgium for ABX Logistics (No C 53/2003 (ex NN 62/2003)) (notified under document number C(2005) 4447) Text with EEA relevance

COMMISSION DECISION
of 7 December 2005
on the State Aid implemented by Belgium for ABX Logistics (No C 53/2003 (ex NN 62/2003))
(notified under document number C(2005) 4447)
(Only the French and Dutch texts are authentic)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2006/947/EC)
1. PROCEDURE
2. GENERAL CONTEXT OF THE RESTRUCTURING OF ABX
2.1. The principal stages of the procedure
2.1.1. Notification of 17 February 2003
2.1.2. The Commission's doubts as at 23 July 2003
2.1.3. Supplementary notifications
2.1.4. Extension of the procedure on 3 May 2005
2.1.5. Further information
2.2. Activities of ABX
2.3. Creation of the ABX network
2.3.1. Acquisition of companies in the ABX network by SNCB
2.3.2. Reinvestments made by SNCB in 2001
2.3.3. ‘Parallel contributions’ from SNCB to ABX
2.4. Role of the state in SNCB's decisions concerning ABX
2.4.1. SNCB's board of directors and activities
2.4.2. Conclusions of the Court of Auditors
2.4.3. Council of Ministers involvement in the restructuring of ABX
2.4.4. SNCB's financing capacity from 1998 to 2001
3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ABX RESTRUCTURING AND PRIVATISATION MEASURES
3.1. Integration and reorganisation of the ABX group
3.2. Measures specific to ABX Germany
3.3. Measures specific to ABX Netherlands
3.4. Divestiture of domestic road activity in France
3.4.1. Selection of an MBO
3.4.2. Cost of the different scenarios
3.4.3. Other considerations put forward by the Belgian authorities
3.5. Reduction of the ABX network
3.6. Loans granted by SNCB to ABX in 2002
3.7. Privatisation of ABX-WW
4. OBSERVATIONS FROM INTERESTED PART IES
4.1. Initiation of the procedure
4.2. Extension of the procedure
5. COMMENTS FROM BELGIUM
5.1. Initiating and extending the procedure
5.2. Reply from the Belgian authorities on the observations made by third parties
6. COMMISSION'S ASSESSMENT
6.1. Presence of state aid
6.1.1. Investments made in 2001 and parallel contributions
6.1.2. Recapitalisation measures
6.1.3. Loans in 2002
6.1.4. Guarantee granted for setting up a cash pool
6.1.5. Other SNCB off-balance sheet commitments
6.1.6. Disposal of the Road domestic France business
6.1.7. Sale of ABX-WW
6.2. Compatibility of restructuring aid
6.2.1. Eligibility
6.2.2. Restoring viability
6.2.3. Avoidance of undue distortions of competition
6.2.4. Aid limited to the minimum
6.2.5. One time, last time
6.2.6. Conclusion
Article 1
Article 2
Article 3
Article 4