Brussels, 16/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 15 October, the European Commission concluded that the Slovakian chemicals company Novácke chemické závody (NCHZ) had received state aid incompatible with the single market in the framework of its insolvency proceedings. Fortischem, which bought almost all of the activities of NCHZ, is also bound to reimburse, as it is the economic successor to NCHZ. In December 2009, Slovakia adopted a law requiring trustees to keep strategic enterprises operating during insolvency proceedings. NCHZ was the only company to benefit from this principle, as the law expired in December 2010. Under this law, NCHZ had to pay only a proportion of the normal social security and health insurance premiums. This advantage, which corresponds to the debt accumulated to public bodies, stands at around €4.8 million and must now be paid back. (EL)