Brussels, 15/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has closed the formal examination proceedings relating to aid granted to the German company Klausner Nordic Timber GmbH (KNT) for the creation and extension of a sawmill in Wismar (Western Mecklembourg-Pomerania). The European Executive noted that the aid granted to KNT would also be to the advantageous of a company called Thüringen GmbH (KHT), owned by Fritz Klausner who also fully owns KNT. Both companies are linked through common shareholders and directors and operate on the market as one operator. On the basis of this information, the Commission considers that the aid granted in 1997 and in 1998 (for an amount of EUR 22.4 million and EUR 11.8 million respectively) was covered by the authorised aid regimes. On the other hand, two additional aid schemes paid out in 1999 were not considered conform as the company had lost its SME status in the meantime. The Commission has therefore demanded that the incompatible part of the aid should be paid back.