Official Journal of the European Union

C 379/10

(Case C-371/11) (<span class="super">1</span>)

(Reference for a preliminary ruling - Admissibility - Reference by domestic law to European Union law - Directive 90/435/EEC - Directive 90/434/EEC - Prevention of economic double taxation - Exception - Liquidation of a subsidiary upon a merger - Distribution of profits - Concept of ‘liquidation’)

2012/C 379/16

Language of the case: Dutch

Referring court

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Punch Graphix Prepress Belgium NV

Defendant: Belgische Staat

Re:

Reference for a preliminary ruling — Hof van Beroep te Gent — Interpretation of Article 4(1) of Council Directive 90/435/EEC of 23 July 1990 on the common system of taxation applicable in the case of parent companies and subsidiaries of different Member States (OJ 1990 L 225, p. 6) — Prevention of economic double taxation — Exception in respect of profits distributed when a subsidiary is liquidated — Concept of liquidation — Merger by acquisition whereby the subsidiary companies acquired are wound up without going into liquidation — Possibility, for the national tax authorities, of considering that such an operation entails liquidation, pursuant to national tax legislation which treats identically that operation and a merger which actually entails a liquidation

Operative part of the judgment

The concept of ‘liquidation’ in Article 4(1) of Council Directive 90/435/EEC of 23 July 1990 on the common system of taxation applicable in the case of parent companies and subsidiaries of different Member States, as amended by Council Directive 2006/98/EC of 20 November 2006, must be interpreted as meaning that the dissolution of a company in the context of a merger by acquisition cannot be considered to be such a liquidation.

(<span class="super">1</span>) OJ C 282, 24.9.2011.