Press Release: State aid: Commission decides Nordbrandenburger UmesterungsWerke does not qualify for regional investment bonus for SMEs

The European Commission on 12 June 2006 decided, on the basis of EC Treaty state aid rules, that NUW was not eligible for the bonus for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) under approved regional investment schemes in Germany. Germany intended to grant regional investment aid to NUW Nordbrandenburger UmesterungsWerke GmbH & Co. KG, which was active in the production of bio-diesel. The proposed aid included a bonus, subject to Commission approval, for SMEs. However, given the ownership structure and links between companies held by the same family, NUW did not constitute an SME as defined under Community law.