18. 6. 96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 144/39 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 21 February 1996 relating to aid granted by the French Government to Cellulose du Rhone et de IAquitaine (CDRA) (Only the French text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (96/364/EC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 93 (2) thereof, Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 62 (1) (a) thereof, Having given the interested parties, in accordance with the said Articles, notice to submit their comments, and having regard to those comments, Whereas: Cellulose du Rhéne et de I'’Aquitaine (CDRA) is a 99,9 %-owned subsidiary of the La Rochette group, which is chiefly engaged in the wood and pulp industry on the one hand and packaging on the other. The group, which employs some 3 000 persons, achieved before/tax profits of FF 783 million in 1989 and FF 345 million in 1990. It incurred losses of FF 45 million in 1991, FF 431 million in 1992, FF 634 million in 1993 and FF 144 million in 1994. The losses were entirely attributable to its wood and pulp division, of which CDRA is a part. CDRA comprises two plants which manufacture commer- cial-quality bleached kraft pulp in the south of France: — the Saint-Gaudens (Haute-Garonne) plant with a production capacity of 320 000 tonnes a year and 350 employees, — the Tarascon (Bouches-du-Rhéne) plant with a production capacity of 280 000 tonnes a year and 300 employees. Despite an extensive modernization plan, the poor market situation meant that CDRA achieved a turnover in 1992 of FF 1 181 million, corresponding to a limited output of 456 000 tonnes (76 % of capacity). In 1993, production fell again to 408 100 tonnes, corresponding to a turnover of FF 1105 million; CDRA itself incurred losses of FF 600 million in 1993. In October 1993 it was decided to undertake financial restructuring, with major contributions from shareholders, the principal creditor banks and the French Government. II In October 1993 the Commission learnt from the press that aid was to be granted to CDRA and, by letter of 20 October 1993, requested information on these measures in order to assess them under Articles 92 and 93 of the Treaty.