Commission Decision of 18 February 2004 on restructuring aid implemented by Germany for Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG (notified under document number C(2004) 327) (Only the German text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2005/345/EC)

General provisions governing implementation and reporting U.K.

(a)

Germany will not amend the notified restructuring plan of 29 January 2004, which takes account of all the undertakings given in Article 2(1) of this decision, without the prior approval of the Commission.

(b)

Germany will ensure that the divestments and sales provided for in Article 2(1)(b), (c) and (e) take place according to transparent procedures that will be open to any potential domestic or foreign buyer. The sales conditions must not contain any clause that inappropriately restricts the number of potential bidders or is tailored to a specific potential bidder. Germany will ensure that those divestments and sales are adequately publicised. With the exception of sales in accordance with Article 2(1)(c), this will take place via publication in at least one international press medium that is available throughout the Community in English. As far as the law permits, bidders will be afforded direct access to all the necessary information in the due‐diligence procedure. The buyers will be selected on the basis of economic criteria. The proceeds from the bank’s sales will be used in full to finance the bank’s restructuring plan, in so far as they do not accrue to the Land of Berlin under the detailed agreement of 16 April 2004 (Annex 25 to the notification).

(c)

Germany will ensure that the performance of all the undertakings set out in Article 2 can be verified at any time by the Commission or by an expert acting for it until such time as they have been carried out. It will ensure unrestricted access for the Commission to any information necessary for the monitoring of the implementation of this decision. The Commission may, with the consent of Germany, seek explanations and clarifications directly from the bank. Germany and the bank will cooperate fully in any enquiries made by the Commission or by a consultant acting for it.

(d)

Each year until 2007 (inclusive) Germany will send a progress report to the Commission. The report must give the details of the sales and closures of subsidiaries and departments in accordance with Article 2(1) of this decision, with an indication of the date of sale or closure, the book value as at 31 December 2003, the purchase price, all profits and losses in connection with the sale or closure and the details of the measures still to be taken to implement the restructuring plan. The report must be submitted by the supervisory board of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG within one month of BGB group's annual accounts being approved for the relevant financial year, and in any event at the latest by 31 May of each year.

(1)

The following summarises the contents of the commitments communicated by Germany on 6 February 2004. The original German text of the communication contains the wording relevant for this decision.