Daily News 14 / 08 / 2023

State aid: Commission approves amendment to Spanish scheme, including a €340 million annual budget increase, to support films and other audiovisual works

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, an amendment to a Spanish scheme, including a €340 million annual budget increase, to support the production of Spanish and international films and other audiovisual works.

The scheme was originally approved by the Commission in May 2014 (SA.37516), and amended in December 2015 (SA.40170) and in December 2020 (SA.57608). Under the scheme, Spanish and international film and audiovisual work producers receive support in the form of tax deductions in their corporate tax due in Spain.

Spain notified the Commission of the following amendments to the existing scheme: (i) an annual  budget increase by €340 million, bringing the annual budget to €400 million; (ii) an increase of the maximum amount of tax deduction that the beneficiaries can apply to €20 million per film (from €10 million); (iii) the setting of a maximum of €10 million of tax deduction per series episode; and (iv) the extension of the duration of the scheme until 31 December 2026.

The Commission assessed the amended scheme under EU State aid rules, in particular the 2013 Communication on State aid for films and other audiovisual works. The Commission found that the Spanish scheme, as amended, remains necessary, appropriate and proportionate to promote culture in Spain and the EU, and continues to have a limited impact on competition and trade between Member States. On this basis, the Commission approved the amendment under EU State aid rules.

The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.105988 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.

(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)

Concentrations: la Commission autorise l'acquisition du Groupe HCS par ICI 3

La Commission européenne a approuvé, en vertu du règlement européen sur les concentrations, l'acquisition de Haltermann Besitzgesellschaft GmbH, HCS Group GmbH et HCS Holding GmbH et ses filiales (« Le Groupe HCS »), basées en Allemagne, par International Chemical Investors 3 S.E. (« ICI 3 »), basée au Luxembourg.

Le Groupe HCS produit et distribue des produits de chimie fine et spécialisée comme les solvants et les additifs. ICI 3 est un groupement d'entreprises chimiques et pharmaceutiques actives dans la chimie fine, les chlorovinyls et les composés chimiques.

La Commission a conclu que l'acquisition envisagée ne soulèverait pas de problème de concurrence, étant donné qu'il n'existe pas de chevauchement d'activités, ni de liens entre les activités du Groupe HCS et ICI 3 dans l'Espace économique européen. La transaction a été examinée dans le cadre de la procédure simplifiée de contrôle des concentrations.

De plus amples informations sont disponibles sur le site internet concurrence de la Commission, dans le registre public des affaires sous le numéro d'affaire M. 11195.

(Pour plus d'informations : Arianna Podesta – Tél. : +32 2 298 70 24; Sara Simonini – Tél. : +32 2 298 33 67)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Arconic by Apollo Management

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Arconic Corporation (‘Arconic') by Arsenal AIC Parent LLC (‘Arsenal Parent'), both of the US.

Arconic produces aluminium flat rolled products, extrusions, as well as building and construction systems used in aerospace, automotive, commercial transportation, brazing and industrial industries. Arsenal Parent is an investment vehicle indirectly controlled by Apollo Management, L.P., a subsidiary of Apollo Global Management, Inc. The latter is active in the manufacturing and supply of semi-finished aluminium products and extrusions through its subsidiary Altermira.

The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given the absence of overlaps and vertical links between the companies' activities in the European Economic Area. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.11171.

(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)

Liste des points prévus à l'ordre du jour des prochaines réunions de la Commission

Veuillez noter que ces informations sont données sous réserve de modifications.

Prochains événements de la Commission européenne

Eurostat: communiqués de presse