19. 3. 87 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 77/43 (Acts whose pziblication 15 not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 12 November 1986 on a FIM loan to a mineral-water and glass-bottle manufacturer (Only the French text is authentic) (87/194/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular the first subpara- graph of Article 93 (2) thereof, Having given notice to the parties concerned to submit their comments in accordance with the above provision, and having regard to those comments, Whereas : On 11 November 1985 the French Government notified the Commission, pursuant to Article 93 (3) of the EEC Treaty, of a proposal to grant aid to a mineral-water and glass-bottle manufacturer. The proposal provides for the grant of a FIM (Fonds Industriel de Modernisation — Industrial Modernization Fund) loan of FF 70 million for an investment of FF 266,5 million which the recipient firm intends to under- take in 1985/86 with a view primarily to stepping up and automating its glass-bottle production and increasing the output of its two bottling plants, while saving energy and improving working conditions. By Decision 85/378/EEC ('), the Commission informed *he French authorities that the grant of FIM loans consti- () O] No L 216, 13. 8. 1985, p. 12. tuted aid within the meaning of Article 92 (1) of the EEC Treaty and made the grant of such loans subject to the obligation to notify, at the proposal stage, all significant individual awards. At the end of 1985 such loans were made available at a rate of 8,75 % for a maximum period of 10 years, and were coupled with a grace period of up to two years. They are designed to assist investments of an innovative nature and, in particular, those aimed at the installation of high- technology machinery and equipment and the develop- ment of office automation and biotechnology. I After scrutinizing the aid proposal under Article 93 (3) of the Treaty, on the basis of an analysis of the market in the products concerned and of the information furnished by the French authorities, the Commission decided, on 18 December 1985, to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 93 (2) in respect of the aid consisting of the FIM loan of FF 70 million to the abovementioned mineral- water and glass-bottle manufacturer on grounds of the aid’s effect on trade between Member States and on competition between the recipient firm and its rivals in the Community. As part of that procedure, the Commission gave the French Government, the other Member States and inte- rested parties other than Member States notice to submit their comments.