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Vienna International Banking Industry News
Read the latest headlines about developments in the international banking industry in Vienna and Austria
Global Finance Awards Bank Austria "Best Trade Finance Bank"
US-based finance magazine Global Finance has named Bank Austria the "Best Trade Finance Bank" in Austria for 2015 based on an annual survey of analysts, managers and technology experts in 84 countries.The main criteria used to select the winners were transaction volume, geographical reach, customer service, competitive pricing and innovative technologies.
January 22, 2015
Austria has EU-Wide Most Franc Loans
In absolute terms, Austria has the most franc foreign currency loans in the European Union.
January 19, 2015
BAWAG PSK Bank Sets-up London Branch Office
BAWAG PSK, the Cerberus and Golden Tree majority-owned Austrian bank, recently opened a branch office in London to help develop "its international business franchise", i.e. corporate finance, specialty finance and commercial real estate finance, Bawag's interim report Q3 2014 shows.
November 13, 2014
UniCredit Bank Austria Appoints Vivaldi as Head of its CEE Division
UniCredit has appointed Mr. Carlo Vivaldi as the Head of Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) Division. In this function Mr. Vivaldi will succeed Mr. Gianni Franco Papa, who has already been designated in August. In view of the appointment resolved today by UniCredit Board, the Supervisory Board of Bank Austria will be called upon to approve the appointment of Mr. Vivaldi also in the bank's Management Board.
November 11, 2014
BKS Bank Carinthia - EUR 52 Mln Capital Increase Completed
Today, some 3.3 million new shares of BKS Bank start trading in the "standard market auction" of the Vienna Stock Exchange. The exchange-listed Carinthian bank carried out a capital increase that raised the company's equity by around EUR 52 million.
November 3, 2014
Who is Private Equity Investor Advent International?
Advent International is an American global private equity firm focused on buyouts of companies in Western and Central Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia. The firm focuses on international buyouts, growth and strategic restructuring in five core sectors. In 2008 the firm raised an additional €1 billion for investments in Central and Eastern Europe. Advent has acquired a number of companies in Central and Eastern Europe through its dedicated regional funds. These include Romanian Ceramica IASI, one of Romania’s leading ceramic bricks and clay roof tiles producers, Bolix, a leading Polish producer of construction chemicals, Dufa Deutek, Romania’s largest decorative paints producer, and LaborMed Pharma, which manufactures and distributes generic pharmaceuticals primarily for cardiovascular and central nervous system aliments, and now Hypo Group Alpe Adria's Balkan assets.
October 30, 2014
Axel Hummel Appointed CEO of Sberbank Europe
Sberbank Europe AG announces the appointment of Axel Hummel as its new CEO, following the resignation of Mark Arnold. The appointment is effective 22 October 2014, subject to regulatory approval. Sberbank Europe AG is based in Vienna.
October 27, 2014
Raiffeisen Research Comments on ECB’s Asset Quality Review of Austrian Banks
With regard to the ECB’s asset quality review of Austrian banks, according to Bloomberg ECB Governor Nowotny has stated that Austrian institutes will largely pass the tests. When asked about Volksbank and that it might fail the tests, Nowotny stated that it is no secret that there will be one institution that might have gaps that need filling but there are precautions taken.
October 23, 2014
RBI Revises Expected Provisioning Requirement
Vienna based Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) has revised its outlook for the net provisioning requirement for the current financial year to between EUR 1,500 and EUR 1,700 million, primarily due to higher expected risk costs in Ukraine in light of ongoing political tensions in the region.
September 23, 2014
OVAG to Merge With Another Bank?
A merger or collaboration of some sort with another bank may be in sight for Austrian bank group Osterreichische Volksbank AG (ÖVAG), Standard daily reports in its Tuesday issue. US investment bank Lazard is on lookout for offers.
September 9, 2014
RBI Redeems Participation Capital
Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) is now also repaying the privately-placed participation capital. On 6 June 2014, RBI paid back the state-held tranche of the participation capital with a nominal value of € 1.75 billion. On 10 September, the repayment of the outstanding participation capital held by private investors with a nominal value of € 0.75 billion will follow.
September 8, 2014
S&P Downgrades Erste, RZB, UniCredit, Affirms HYPO NOE, KA Finanz, Upgrades HYPO OO
S&P is downgrading three banks, affirming the ratings on two banks, upgrading one bank, and lowering various issue ratings on the banks' hybrid capital and guaranteed grandfathered debt.
August 13, 2014
Bank Austria Posts Net Profit of EUR 776 Mln in H1 2014
Net profit rises by 34.3 per cent to EUR 776 million compared with the same period of the previous year.
August 6, 2014
VBAG Sold Private Equity Portfolio
Österreichische Volksbanken AG (VBAG) makes progress with the implementation of its restructuring program by selling a EUR 110 million portfolio of private equity fund investments and direct investments in German speaking countries and Eastern Europe.
July 31, 2014
Austrian Federal President Heinz Fischer Signs Hypo Special Act into Law
After intensive testing, together with the former President of the Constitutional Court and current adviser to the President, Prof. Dr. Ludwig Adamovich, Federal President Heinz Fischer has decided to carry out the notarization of the adopted bill and thus clear the way for review by the Constitutional Court.
July 31, 2014
Immofinanz Sells Two Logistics Properties in Poland and the Czech Republic
Immofinanz Group sold two logistics properties – the Bokserska Distribution Park in Warsaw and the Westpoint Distribution Park in Prague. Both transactions took place above book value, with the combined proceeds totalling approx. EUR 33.2 million. The Westpoint Distribution Park was sold to Central Group, a Czech investor, while the Bokserska Distribution Park was sold to “UK & European Investments“, a well-known family office from Great Britain.
July 28, 2014
Volksbank Romania Sells EUR 495 Million NPL Real Estate Portfolio
Volksbank Romania has reduced its non-performing loans portfolio (NPLs) through the sale of a NPL real estate portfolio with an aggregate volume of € 495 million. The Bank has sold the large-volume real estate financing commitments to an international investors consortium composed of Deutsche Bank, AnaCap Financial Partners LLP, H.I.G Capital International Advisers and APS Holding SE. With this transaction, Volksbank Romania has reduced its NPL portfolio to a NPL ratio of below 8%, below the average in Romania's banking system.
July 28, 2014
RBI Raiffeisen Bank International Swallows Centrobank
Raiffeisen Centrobank (RCB), which is the investment vehicle of Raiffeisen group, will be integrated into its parent RBI Raiffeisen Bank International.
June 30, 2014
Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank AG Changes Its Corporate Name to Austrian Anadi Bank AG
HYPO ALPE-ADRIA-BANK AG, former Austrian subsidiary of HYPO ALPE-ADRIA-BANK INTERNATIONAL AG, adopted a change in corporate name to Austrian Anadi Bank AG by means of an amendment to the articles of association approved at the extraordinary shareholder's meeting held on 16 June 2014.
June 27, 2014
Sevelda: "RBI to Increase the Cost Reduction Even More"
Raiffeisen Bank International must not only save 450 million euros, but about 600 million euros, says CEO Karl Sevelda.
June 16, 2014
Sevelda: “Russia Still Crucial Market”
In the light of the close ties with regard to economic and energy relations with Russia Karl Sevelda, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) warns about the tightening of penalties against Russia.
May 23, 2014
Hypo Alpe Adria Appoints New Supervisory Board
At an Extraordinary General Meeting of Hypo Alpe Adria International on Friday, a new Supervisory Board was appointed.
May 23, 2014
Erste Group Bank AG: Voting Results of the 21st AGM - New Board Members
Erste Group Bank AG increased the number of its supervisory board members to eleven.
May 22, 2014
Erste Group Bank AG: Voting Results of the 21st AGM
Erste Group Bank AG has published the voting results of the 21st Annual General Meeting, which took place on 21 May 2014 at 10 a.m., as follows.
May 22, 2014
Fischer: Room for Further Trade with Albania
Austrian President Heinz Fischer was paying a visit to Western Balkan States.
May 22, 2014
Austrian Oberbank Shines in Hungary
Austrian Oberbank bucks the trend of terminating business activity in Hungary. Instead, the financial institute plans on growing in one of the most difficult markets in Europe.
May 22, 2014
Billionaire Sheikh Al Jaber Sues Immoconsult and the Schwarzenberg Foundation
Due to a failed hotel project in Vienna real estate affiliate of Volksbank, Immoconsult, is facing a lawsuit by the Austrian/Saudi Arabian investor Mohamed Al Jaber.
May 21, 2014 · Updated: May 21, 2014; 18:51
Bank Austria's Ukrainian Subsidiary Not Yet To Be Sold
Because of the crisis in Ukraine the planned sale of Bank Austria's Ukrainian subsidiary has been halted.
May 13, 2014
Romania: Banca Transilvania Gives Shares to Employees
As part of the loyalty program, the Romania lender gave almost 10 million shares to its employees.
May 12, 2014
Czech Arca Capital to Invest in Romania
As reported by daily E15, Czech investment group Arca Capital is planning to make a huge investment in Romania.
May 12, 2014
South Korean Bank Preparing for Business in CEE
Shinhan Bank, one of the largest banks in the South Korea, will open branches in Poland.
May 12, 2014
World Bank Approves Health Loan to Croatia
The Croatian government will use the World Bank’s funds for a national health program.
May 9, 2014
Romania: Raiffeisen Bank Issues Unsecured Bonds
Raiffeisen announced plans of issuing unsecured bonds at the stock exchange in Bucharest with a nominal value of RON 500m (€ 112.8m) with a maturity of five years.
May 9, 2014
Croatia to Place New Eurobond by June
The Croatian government plans to issue a Eurobond until the beginning of June.
May 9, 2014
Poland: Banking Industry’s Profits Down
In the first quarter this year, the net profit of Polish banks came at PLN 3.97bn (€ 944m, down by 2.9 percent year-on-year, as reported by the Polish financial market regulator KNF.
May 9, 2014
Sanction Imposed on Expobank
Russian-Latvian Expobank was added to the Canada’s black list.
May 9, 2014
Verbund: Trying to Get Rid of Sorgenia
The Austrian utility Verbund announced not being willing to invest any further money into loss-making Italian energy group Sorgenia.
May 8, 2014
Hypo Group to Shut Down Subsidiaries in Italy
Until the end of this year five subsidiaries in Italy will be closed.
May 6, 2014
Agenda Austria 2020: Economy = State
The think tank Agenda Austria 2020 is currently tackling the question what the “economy expects from the state”.
May 5, 2014
Hypo Group: Shady Deals with Balkan Diplomats
The Austrian problem bank Hypo Group has troubles recovering debts.
May 3, 2014
Bulgaria: Banking Sector Getting Back on Feet Again
In the first quarter this year profits of the Bulgarian banking sector grew by 34 percent.
May 2, 2014
Bank Austria: “Russia is Still Profitable”
According to Vice CEO of Bank Austria and head of business operations in CEE Gianni Franco Papa, business in Russia is not yet affected by the political crisis in Crimea.
May 2, 2014
Slovenian Banka Celje Needs Further State Aids
Because of the failed capital increase in the amount of € 160m, Banka Celje is requiring further state capital.
May 2, 2014
Austria: Hypo Group Investigation Committee to be Established?
Will the Austrian government soon give in to establishing an investigation committee for problem bank Hypo Group?
May 2, 2014
Fitch Upgrades Rating for Slovenia
Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlook on Slovenia's Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) to Stable from Negative and affirmed the IDRs at 'BBB+'.
May 2, 2014
Austria: Hypo Reveals Profit Losses
The Austrian branch of Hypo Bank, which was privatized last December and is going to be renamed to Austrian Anadi Bank, has published the annual financial report for the year 2013.
April 30, 2014
Austria Gives up Bank Secret for United States
Austria and the US have signed an agreement for the exchange of fiscal data. However, the agreement could be renewed soon.
April 30, 2014
Poland: Bank BZ WBK Expects High Growth of Profit
The Polish affiliate of Spanish Banco Santander, Bank BZ WBK, expects net profits in 2014 to increase compared to last year’s volume.
April 30, 2014
Austria: Industrial Production with Growth Potential
Austrian industry continues to grow - but somewhat less dynamically than at the turn of the year.
April 30, 2014
Hypo Group Further Losses to Be Expected
Huge losses by the sale of the SEE banking network could be expected.
April 30, 2014