Vienna International Banking Industry News
Read the latest headlines about developments in the international banking industry in Vienna and Austria
Androsch „Another Three to Four Billions for Hypo Group“
The former Minister of Finance, Hannes Androsch fears a loss of Austria´s AAA-rating. “We are being observed accurately.”
October 4, 2011
UniCredit and Raiffeisen to Expand in Russia
The Italian and the Austrian banking groups will take over customers of the French BNP Paribas, which leaves the Russian market.
October 4, 2011
Erste Group´s CEO: „The Situation is Serious“
Andreas Treichl, CEO of the Austrian Erste Group considers to delay the repayment of the Bank Aid.
October 1, 2011
Sergey Monin Appointed as CEO of Raiffeisenbank in Russia
He succeeds Pavel Gurin who passed away at the start of September. The appointment is subject to approval of the Russian Central Bank.
September 30, 2011
Hypo Alpe Adria Needs More Time to Build Up Capital
The Carinthian nationalized bank will not be able to meet the prescribed capital ratios by March 2012. Management and authorities are negotiating an extension of the deadline.
September 29, 2011
VBAG: No Repayment of State Aid in 2011
The Austrian bank’s low equity capital base does not allow repayment of the first € 300m tranche of state capital.
September 28, 2011
RBI Defies Hungary’s Banking Tax
The Austrian bank is not planning to pull out of Hungary. Losses from the conversion of foreign currency loans cannot be estimated yet.
September 22, 2011
No Dividends at Austrian Volksbanken AG
Österreichische Volksbanken Aktiengesellschaft – no payments on profit-related instruments for the 2011 business year.
September 21, 2011
German and Austrian Economy Claim Improvements for Company Loans
Representatives of the German and Austrian Economy fear adverse impacts for company loans from the new Basel III rules.
September 20, 2011
S&P: „Austrian Banks Undercapitalized“
The rating agency Standard & Poor´s (S&P) sees a substantial undercapitalization for Austrian banks. The recommended rist-adjusted capital quota is 8%, Austrian banks are below.
September 19, 2011
Erste Group: BCR Needs Capital Boost
The Austrian bank’s Romanian subsidiary may need additional capital due to high risk costs and the overall economic situation.
September 16, 2011
Semper Constantia Invest Becomes Core Shareholder of German Praktiker
The Austrian investment company has increased its stake to become the second largest shareholder in the ailing German do-it-yourself store chain.
September 15, 2011
Decline in Savings Deposits Continues
Business development of Austrian banks in the first half of 2011: Balance sheet total grows; volume of demand and fixed-term deposits increases.
September 14, 2011
Erste Group Increases Stake in Romanian BCR
The Austrian bank enters into agreement with four regional investment funds to acquire a further 24.12% in its Romanian subsidiary.
September 14, 2011
Austria Considers Lawsuit Against Hungary
The Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Michael Spindelegger (ÖVP) threatens Hungary to file a lawsuit at the European Court of Justice. Hungary plans to stress banks massively.
September 12, 2011
Sale of Volksbank International Finalized
The Eastern European subsidiary will be sold for a price ranging from € 585m to € 645m depending on business performance in 2011.
September 8, 2011
Bank Aid Package is a Loss for Austria
For the Austrian Republic, the recapitalization measures for Austrian business banks is a losing deal. Losses amount to € 237m.
September 7, 2011
CEO of Raiffeisenbank Russia Dead
Pavel Gurin, CEO of Raiffeisenbank in Russia, passed away, the Austrian Bank stated.
September 5, 2011
Fekter: No Nationalization of VBAG
The Austrian Finance Minister has the right to nationalize the bank if it does not pay a dividend on the state’s € 1bn of participation capital.
September 2, 2011
Raiffeisen Centrobank Reports Increase in Profit
Net interest income declined, while trading profit and net fee and commission income increased substantially. Turbulences on financial markets might burden the bank’s business development.
September 2, 2011
Hypo Alpe Adria: FMA Sees Capital Requirement of € 1.5bn
The Austrian nationalized bank has to fill the capital gap by 31 March 2012. Management wants to continue the downsizing program.
September 2, 2011
RZB Reports Significant Increase in Profit
Profit before tax for the period up 60.5% to € 877m, with consolidated profit increasing 21.5% to € 488m. Net allocations to impairment loss provisioning were reduced by 32%.
August 30, 2011
Decline in Profit for Hypo Lower Austria
The Austrian regional bank achieved net profit of € 16.4m in the first six months of 2011. Net interest income increased to € 75.8m
August 29, 2011
New Structure and Management for Raiffeisen Leasing
The Austrian banking group is reorganizing its leasing business. Three new subsidiaries will deal with business in Austria, large customers and in-house projects.
August 26, 2011
Sberbank Reduces Offer for VBI after Drop of Share Prices
Sberbank wants to pay less for the purchase of Volksbank International after European bank shares have dropped more than 20%. Executives are going to meet on 28 August to negotiate the deal.
August 26, 2011
VBAG: Reduced Consolidated Net Income in First Half of Year
The Austrian bank recorded net income of € 1m. The result was negatively impacted by write-downs of Greek bonds.
August 25, 2011
RBI – Capital Increase May Be an Option
The Austrian bank posted strong results for the first six months of the year. Consolidated profit increased by almost one third year-on-year.
August 25, 2011
Significant Decline in Profits for Bawag
Net profit of the Austrian bank dropped 18.5% to € 78.5m in the first six months of the year. The bank levy totaled € 10.2m.
August 24, 2011
BKS Bank Continues Expansion Course
The Carinthian/Styrian regional bank recorded an increase in profit of 11.7%. Step-by-step expansion in international markets will be continued.
August 19, 2011
Hypo Alpe Adria with First Profit since 2007
The Austrian bank returned to black figures after four years. A half-year profit of € 90.8m was achieved despite risk provisions of € 134.9m.
August 17, 2011
Erste Group not Interested in Polish Bank Millenium
The Austrian bank continues looking for opportunities to expand into Poland after it has ruled out an acquisition of Bank Millenium.
August 16, 2011
Hypo: New Charges against Former CEO Kulterer
The Carinthian bank’s former CEO and three other persons are accused of having caused a damage of € 5.5m.
August 12, 2011
BayernLB Demands Rescission of Hypo-Deal
The German bank has taken action against the employee fund which is accused of having misled the management about Hypo’s equity base.
August 10, 2011
Hypo Upper Austria Expects Stable Results
The Austrian regional bank achieved profit before taxes of € 16.6m in the first half of the year, up 1.2% year-on-year.
August 8, 2011
Greek Bonds Burden Kommunalkredit’s Results
The state-owned Austrian bank reported a significant decline in profits due to a write-off of Greek government bonds.
August 8, 2011
Erste Group Strives for Full Control over Romanian BCR
The Austrian bank does not want its Romanian subsidiary to be listed at the stock exchange although it was a condition for the privatization.
August 4, 2011
Significant Increase in Profit for Bank Austria
The Austrian subsidiary of UniCredit achieved a plus in net profit of 52% despite a negative one-off effect of € 100m from Greek government bonds.
August 4, 2011
Hypo Alpe Adria Sells Stake in Hypo Insurance
All of the Austrian bank’s 20% stake will be taken over by majority owner Grawe insurance.
August 4, 2011
Trend towards More Bonds in Corporate Financing
Companies will increasingly rely on the capital market as bank loans are becoming more expensive due to Basel III and stricter liquidity requirements.
August 3, 2011
Erste Group Planning New Branch Concept for Czech Republic
The Austrian bank’s Czech subsidiary is working on a modern concept which will be targeted at new customer groups.
August 3, 2011
Bank Austria Finances Portfolio of Apartment Houses in Vienna
The Austrian bank generates a stimulus for Vienna’s real estate market and finances 53 apartment houses with € 110m.
August 2, 2011
Hypo Alpe Adria Sells Off German Biogas Plants
The Austrian nationalized bank pulls out of the biogas sector. Sale of its plants in Austria is planned for the second half of 2011.
August 2, 2011
AutoBank with Improved Half-Year Results
The Austrian specialist bank increased new business volume by 4.2%. Stable growth was achieved in all areas.
August 1, 2011
Martin Schwedler Appointed CEO of Raiffeisen Investment in Moscow
The previous board member of RIAG will focus on expanding the Austrian bank’s presence in Russia’s growing M&A and ECM business.
August 1, 2011
Bawag Sells Stiefelkönig to Leder & Schuh
The Austrian shoe retail chain is taken over by its strongest competitor. The deal is subject to approval by the competition Authority.
July 29, 2011
Hypo Alpe Adria Sells Schlosshotel Velden
The Austrian bank signed a purchase agreement with Amisola Immobilien AG. Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group will take over management of the hotel.
July 29, 2011
Erste Group Increased Net Profit from January to June
The Austrian bank’s results were burdened by bank taxes in Austria and Hungary. Net profit was up 5.2%, based on a solid operating result and lower risk costs.
July 29, 2011
Banks Expect Tightening of Credit Guidelines in 2012
Austrian banks’ lending policies did not change in the second quarter of 2011. For two years already, no tightening of lending conditions has been observed.
July 28, 2011
Erste Bank Fixed the Takeover of Intermarket Bank
Erste Bank took over 56% in Austria’s largest factoring bank from the Polish subsidiary of Commerzbank and will acquire another 10% from Coface.
July 28, 2011
Kärntner Sparkasse Starts Withdrawal from Italy
The Carinthian regional bank is closing down two branches as a consequence of the economic crisis and new capital requirements.
July 26, 2011
