L 245/26 Official Journal of the European Communities 14.9.2001 COMMISSION DECISION of 13 February 2001 on the State aid implemented by Germany for KataLeuna GmbH Catalysts (notified under document number C(2001) 403) (Only the German version is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2001/685/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 88(2) thereof, Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62(1)(a) thereof, Having called on interested parties to submit their comments pursuant to the provisions cited above (!) and having regard to those comments, Whereas: I. PROCEDURE (1) By the notification of the aid by letter dated 8 January 1999, the Commission was informed that Germany had implemented aid measures for KataLeuna GmbH Catalysts. By letters dated 19 March, 7 May, 26 August, 28 September, 26 October, 8 December and 30 December 1999, Germany provided the Commission with further information. () By letter dated 16 March 2000, the Commission informed Germany that it had decided to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 88(2) of the EC Treaty in respect of the aid. (3)  The Commission decision to initiate the procedure was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (?). The Commission invited interested parties to submit their comments on the aid. (4 The Commission received comments from interested parties. It forwarded them to Germany, which was given the opportunity to react, its comments being received () O C 142, 20.5.2000, p. 26. (3 See footnote 1. by letter dated 24 July 2000. Additional information was received from Germany by letters dated 11 August, 4 September and 30 November 2000. II. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE AID (5)  KataLeuna GmbH Catalysts (*) (hereinafter referred to as ‘KataLeuna’) was legally established on 1 October 1994 when it was split off from Leuna-Werke GmbH. (6)  KataLeuna produces catalysts. It is situated in Leuna, Saxony-Anhalt, which is an Article 87(3)(a) region. In 1999 KataLeuna employed 85 people. According to the notification, the company specialises in research, development and production in the field of industrial catalyst systems. (7)  The areas where catalysts are used are the chemical industry (24 %), the mineral oil industry (24 %), environmental protection (36 %) and polymerisation (16 %). (8)  The relevant market segment for KataLeuna is above all that of chemical catalysts, or more particularly hydrogenation/selective hydrogenation catalysts, which in 1998 had a world market volume of DEM 600 Million. (99 In 1998 Kataleuna produced three products: nickel-based hydrogenation catalysts, palladium-based selective  hydrogenation catalysts and nickel-based absorption masses. The breakdown of sales was as follows: Germanyl[...]* %; Europe (without Germany) [...]* %; and outside Europe [...]* %. (*) Formerly Leuna-Katalysatoren GmbH. The company was the legal entity in Leuna-Werke producing catalysts. *  Business secret.