Press Release: State aid: European Commission opens in-depth investigation into property sale by Swedish Vänersborg municipality

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation under EU State aid rules to establish whether the Municipality of Vänersborg (Sweden) sold a food production facility below its market value. Vänersborg bought the facility on 13 February 2008 for SEK 17 million (€1.7 million) and sold it on 11 August 2008 for SEK 8 million (€0.8 million) to the real estate company Hammar Nordic Plugg AB, which went on to sell it a few days later for SEK40 million (around €4 million). The Commission will investigate whether Hammar received a hidden subsidy through the low sales price. The opening of an in-depth inquiry gives interested third parties an opportunity to comment on the measure. It does not prejudge the final result of the investigation.