Sponsored Content
Vienna International Banking Industry News
Read the latest headlines about developments in the international banking industry in Vienna and Austria
Erste Group Moves to New Headquarters at Erste Campus
At the beginning of this year Erste Group started moving into its new headquarters at Erste Campus located in the new district of Quartier Belvedere, built on the former site of the Südbahnhof train station.
February 11, 2016
Unicredit Bank Austria Preliminary Results: Net Profit of About EUR 1.3 Billion for 2015
Unicredit Bank Austria has published its preliminary results for the 2015 financial year. Unicredit's Austrian subsidiary posts a net profit of about EUR 1.3 billion for 2015. Systemic charges including bank levies are up by EUR 89 million to EUR 326 million.
February 10, 2016
RBI: Preliminary 2015 Consolidated Profit of EUR 383 Million
Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) announces a preliminary 2015 consolidated profit of EUR 383 million. This is above the guidance previously given, primarily due to lower than expected net provisioning for impairment losses of EUR 1,266 million, 28 percent below 2014. This development was spread across a number of markets. General administrative expenses were EUR 2,915 million, 4 per cent below the prior year. Transformation program costs in 2015 were approximately EUR 90 million, in line with guidance. FY 2015 guidance had also included goodwill impairment charges and risk costs amounting to EUR 124.1 million, which were reallocated to FY 2014 in the course of a restatement.
February 2, 2016
UniCredit Bank Austria Named Best Trade Finance Bank in Austria
US financial magazine Global Finance selected Bank Austria for the eighth time in a row "Best Trade Finance Bank" in Austria.
January 21, 2016
Robert Zadrazil Takes Over the Helm of Bank Austria from Willibald Cernko
After having been board member of Bank Austria for ten years, Robert Zadrazil (45) will now step it up and replace Willibald Cernko (59) who will step down as of 1 March 2016. The bank speaks of a generation change.
January 18, 2016
Central and Eastern European Forum in Vienna next Week
The Central and Eastern European Forum - organized by Euromoney - is taking place in Vienna next week. 1,000 top level policymakers, issuers, and commentators from the region will join local and international investors to help plan, debate and analyze the economic agenda for the region for the year ahead.
January 13, 2016
Biggest Viennese Real Estate Deal Ever - Sale of The Mall Closed
Bank Austria - via its subsidiary BAI - closed the sale of "The Mall", the largest and most modern shopping mall in the heart of Vienna. The buyer is a consortium led by Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing (MSREI). UniCredit Bank Austria did not disclose the price, but claims that the transaction is Vienna's largest real estate deal ever.
December 16, 2015
UniCredit Final Restructuring Program on Bank Austria's Retail Business
UniCredit announced a major step in its strategic plan execution, by launching a profound restructuring program on its Austrian retail business that will enable Bank Austria to develop its business in a sustainable way, while bringing down significantly its cost income ratio. The restructuring plan will allow to reduce by 2018 Bank Austria's overall costs by € 150mn per year on an ongoing basis on top of the Strategic Plan and with main focus on personnel expenses, leading to an overall cost decrease by almost € 300mn versus 2014 in order to ensure the business sustainability in the long-run.
December 15, 2015
RBI Sells Slovenian Subsidiary to US Private Equity Firm Apollo
Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) has reached an agreement to sell its Slovenian bank, Raiffeisen Banka d.d., to Biser Bidco, which is managed by an affiliate of Apollo Global Management, LLC. The purchase price has not been disclosed. The expected deconsolidation effect on RBI’s consolidated result will amount to minus EUR 49 million.
December 10, 2015
EBRD to Become 30 Per Cent Shareholder in Raiffeisen Bank Aval
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is about to become a 30 per cent shareholder in Raiffeisen Bank Aval JSC (RBA), a leading universal bank in Ukraine and a subsidiary of Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI), under an agreement signed in Kiev today.
November 25, 2015
Large Securitisation Deal between EIB and UniCredit Leasing Austria
EIB participates in securitisation transaction of UniCredit Leasing Austria with EUR 230.9 mil. The European Investment Bank (EIB) will make available EUR 230.9 million to UniCredit Leasing Austria through the purchase of asset-backed securities (ABS).
November 24, 2015
VTB Bank Austria has Passed the European Central Bank’s Stress Tests
To meet these requirements, VTB Bank (Austria) AG boosted the capital, raising its consolidated capital ratio from 9.3% as of the end of 2014 to 13.7% as of the end of September 2015.
November 16, 2015
Bank Austria Posts Net Profit of EUR 660 Million for the First Nine Months
UniCredit Bank Austria announced that net profit in the three months to end-September dropped to 172 million euros from 291 million in the previous three months. As reported, the bank plans to terminate up to 14,000 jobs and restructure or exit its retail business in Austria and leasing operations in Italy as it seeks to strengthen its equity.
November 11, 2015
UniCredit - Bank Austria: CEE Operations Move from Vienna to Milan - Retail Business to be Sold or Restructured
Until the end of 2016, all CEE interests with currently 48,000 employees have to be transferred to Milan. Until now this division has been the most important earner for Bank Austria. The 13 banking subsidiaries of Bank Austria in Eastern and Southeastern Europe employ nearly 48,000 people - and thus the majority of the approximately 57,000 employees of Bank Austria. The retail banking business of in Austria with 1.6 million customers has to be sold or restructured, Unicredit announced in the afternoon.
November 11, 2015
Tensions Prior to Announcement of the UniCredit Savings Plans
It is rumored that the groupwide reduction of up to 14,000 jobs will be announced today. It is also about the future of Bank Austria. Bank Austria's parent UniCredit may withdraw the group's CEE head office from Vienna.
November 11, 2015
Meinl Bank: Stephen Coleman to Become New CEO
Stephen Coleman will replace Günter Weiss, who must vacate his seat due to a ruling from the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA).
October 23, 2015
RBI’s Russian Subsidiary Sells its Pension Fund Business
RBI’s Russian subsidiary (AO Raiffeisenbank) closed the sale of its pension fund business (ZAO NPF Raiffeisen) to the Russian BIN Group. The transaction will result in a one-off gain before tax of around EUR 87 million for RBI, which will be booked in the fourth quarter of 2015. It has been agreed that the parties will not disclose the price at which the transaction took place.
October 19, 2015
Bank of China to Open Branch in Vienna
Bank of China, one of the 5 biggest state-owned commercial banks in China intends to open its first branch in Vienna in the near future, as its Chairman Tian Guoli recently said while visiting Vienna.
October 16, 2015
Erste Group Extends Andreas Treichl’s CEO Mandate to 2020
The Supervisory Board of Erste Group Bank AG extended Andreas Treichl’s mandate as Chairman of the Management Board until mid-2020.
September 17, 2015
Erste Group Presents Net Profit of EUR 487.2 Million in H1 15
Erste Group closed the first half of 2015 with positive results, reflected in strong improvements in profitability, asset quality, lending and capital. The group reported a net profit of EUR 487.2 million in H1 2015, compared to a negative result of EUR -929.7 million in the similar period last year; all countries except Hungary made a positive contribution to this development. Total assets increased to EUR 197.5 billion, compared to EUR 196.3 billion at the end of 2014. This balance sheet growth reflects a 2.2% advance in net lending to customers compared to the end of 2014, to EUR 123.5 billion, supported by the 1.7% growth in loans to households, 2.0% to SMEs and 5.9% to large corporates.
August 7, 2015
German Creditor Pool Brings EUR 1 Bln Action Against Heta Before Frankfurt Regional Court
The lawsuit demands almost EUR 1 billion and is brought in Frankfurt/Main against asset resolution company Heta. The creditor pool consists largely of German creditors which demand immediate repayment of bonds and promissory note loans.
July 16, 2015
Erste Bank Replaces Security Trading Platform Brokerjet with George
Erste Bank's Brokerjet service - that is tailored specifically toward the needs of online trading customers - will be discontinued as of the end of November. In the future the service will be offered via securities trading services George.
July 14, 2015
Euromoney Names UniCredit-Bank Best Bank in CEE
Euromoney has presented UniCredit with nine awards for excellence, including Best Bank in Central Eastern Europe, Best Debt House in Central Eastern Europe and Best Transaction Services House in Central Eastern Europe.
July 14, 2015
Andreas Gschwenter Becomes New COO/CIO of Raiffeisen Bank International
The Supervisory Board of Raiffeisen Bank International decided that Andreas Gschwenter will become Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of RBI from 1 July 2015. Gschwenter was born in 1969, has a degree in business administration and has been Head of Operations (COO/CIO) in charge of IT, operations and cost management at Raiffeisen Bank Aval in Ukraine since 2010. His appointment is subject to approval by the Austrian Financial Market Authority.
May 20, 2015
Südtiroler Sparkasse Suffers EUR 231.1 Mln Loss in 2014
Savings association Sparkasse's South Tyrol unit suffered an EUR 231.1 million (USD 253 million) loss in 2014, CEO Gerhard Brandstätter and his deputy Carlo Costa said in a press release.
March 27, 2015
Erste Bank und Sparkassen Increase Operating Earnings by 16 Percent to EUR 947 Mln
Erste Bank und Sparkassen have concluded the year 2014 with a successful result. Operating Earnings increase from EUR 817.2 million to EUR 947.2 million.
March 6, 2015
UniCredit Private Banking Receives Euromoney Awards
UniCredit Private Banking has been recognized for its services, winning 14 awards in different regional and local categories in Euromoney magazine´s Private Banking Survey 2015.
February 10, 2015
Erste Group Seales Agreement to Sale 15 Percent of Hungarian Unit
Erste Group has invited the Government of Hungary and the EBRD to invest in Erste Bank Hungary Zrt. by acquiring a minority stake of up to 15 per cent each. Negotiations are in progress and the completion of the transaction is expected within the next six months.
February 9, 2015
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
Fast News Search
This category only
