15.9.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 24221 (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory) DECISIONS COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 11 February 2009 concerning the State aid C 55/07 (ex NN 63/07, CP 106/06) implemented by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Crown guarantee to BT (notified under document C(2009) 685) (Only the English text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2009/703/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 those provisions () and having regard to their comments, Whereas: 1) This case concerns State aid put into effect by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (here- inafter the United Kingdom) in favour of BT plc (here- inafter BT, unless otherwise stated). BT is a public limited company registered in England and Wales. British Tele- communications plc is a wholly owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all the businesses and assets of the BT group. The successor to the statutory corporation British Telecommunications, it was incorporated in England and Wales as a public limited company, wholly owned by the Government of the United Kingdom, as a result of the Telecommuni- cations Act 1984. Between November 1984 and July 1993, the Government of the United Kingdom sold all of its shareholding in British Telecommunications plc in three public offerings. () O] C 15, 22.1.2008, p. 8. 1. PROCEDURAL ASPECTS On 26 April 2006, one of BT's competitors, which requested confidentiality, lodged a complaint against a guarantee granted to BT by the Minister of the Crown (Crown guarantee). By e-mails dated 24 May 2006 and 22 June 2006, this competitor provided further information on the scheme to the Commission. On 18 May 2006, the Commission sent a request for information to the authorities of the United Kingdom, who replied by letter dated 18 July 2006. On 21 December 2006, the Commission sent a further request for information. After an extension of the deadline, the authorities of the United Kingdom responded by letter dated 27 February 2007. On 26 March 2007, a meeting was held with the lawyers representing the trustees of the BT Pension Scheme (BTPS) at the request of the United Kingdom authorities. Further information was submitted by e-mail dated 10 May 2007. On 10 May 2007, the Commission sent a request for information to the authorities of the United Kingdom. After an extension of the deadline and a meeting which took place on 11 June 2007, the authorities of the United Kingdom responded by letter dated 19 June 2007. By letter dated 3 August 2007, the Commission requested further information. After an extension of the deadline, the authorities of the United Kingdom responded by letter dated 3 October 2007.