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        Vienna International Banking Industry News
Read the latest headlines about developments in the international banking industry in Vienna and Austria
          
    
        CEE: Raiffeisen Remains Optimistic
      
      The analysts of the Austrian Raiffeisen International Bank give Austria and the CEE good growth prospects. However, there still remain known risks.
                                  January 12, 2011                                        
    
    
        New Controversy over the Hypo Group
      
      According to the investigators, there would be no connection between the Austrian bank and Gribkowsky, the former member of the board of BayernLB
                                  January 10, 2011                                        
    
    
        Polbank: Imminent Decision
      
      The decision for the sales process of Polbank will be announced in the next few days, according to the parent company EFG Eurobank.
                                  January 10, 2011                                        
    
    
        Volksbanken Profitable Again
      
      The Austrian Volksbanken Group generated profits in 2010. The state’s money should be repaid this year.
                                  January 7, 2011                                        
    
    
        Demands for Financial Transactions Tax
      
      The Chairman of the Austrian Provincial Governors’ Conference, Josef Pühringer, demands the introduction of a pan-European financial transactions tax.
                                  January 7, 2011                                        
    
    
        Suspicion on Money-Laundering at Hypo Group
      
      Money transfers between the Carinthian Bank, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the Caribbean are currently being checked extensively by the judiciary.
                                  January 7, 2011                                        
    
    
        Former Member of the Board of BayernLB Arrested
      
      Gerhard Gribkowsky, whose foundation in Austria was concealed to the German judiciary and is now known, is in custody
                                  January 5, 2011                                        
    
    
        FMA Prohibits Speculative Elements in Savings Accounts
      
      The Austrian Financial Market Authority FMA specifies the characteristics of savings certificates. The traditional savings account is to remain non-speculative
                                  January 5, 2011                                        
    
    
        Bank Tax in Poland?
      
      The Polish government is considering levying taxes on banks already in 2011. From the Austrian perspective, Raiffeisen Bank International would be affected.
                                  January 5, 2011                                        
    
    
        CEE Stocks to Climb by 20% in 2011
      
      Erste Group analysts recommend: stock picking rather than sector allocation. 2011 to be a positive year for equity investments.
                                  January 5, 2011                                        
    
    
        MEL: Demand for Higher Quota against Meinl
      
      A lawyer representing the investors calls for an increase of the quota on the occasion of the compromise between Meinl Bank and former MEL investors from 35% to 70%.
                                  January 5, 2011                                        
    
    
        Hypo Group: Little Enlightment Expected from Grasser and Berlin
      
      The Chairman of the Inquiry Committee on the Hypo Group expects little gain of information by the summons of Karl-Heinz Grasser and Tilo Berlin.
                                  January 4, 2011                                        
    
    
        Wolf Theiss Starts Advice For Basel III
      
      In response to the challenges presented by Basel III, the Austrian consulting company has formed a special "Basel III Task Force".
                                  January 4, 2011                                        
    
    
        Secret Foundation of BayernLB in Austria
      
      In the hearings on the purchase of Austria's Hypo Group, a former Member of the Board of BayernLB concealed the existence of a foundation in Austria.
                                  January 3, 2011                                        
    
    
        RLB OÖ Records Substantial Growth
      
      Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich experiences a 11.8% increase in operating profits. Cost-Income ratio further decreases.
                                  December 31, 2010                                        
    
        VBI Romania is a Source of Worries for ÖVAG
      
      Volksbank International (VBI) is to be sold by the Austrian Volksbanken Group. The Romanian subsidiary keeps the group from doing so.
                                  December 31, 2010                                        
    
    
        Kovats also Suffers Private Plight
      
      The chairman of the insolvent A-Tec, Mirko Kovats, has to grant Raiffeisen liens on his personal properties
                                  December 31, 2010                                        
    
        ÖVAG: Sales Process of East-holding is Under Way
      
      For the coming year, the Austrian Voksbanken are planning to restructure the Group. A buyer is currently being sought for the East-holding.
                                  December 30, 2010                                        
    
        Meinl Starts New Actions against Atrium
      
      The exchange of blows between Meinl Bank and Atrium is getting more violent. Meinl Bank is presently filing a claim before the Arbitration Court of the Economic Chamber.
                                  December 29, 2010                                        
    
        Bank Austria CEO Cernko: Austrian Banks Fight Securities Tax
      
      The CEO of Bank Austria, Willibald Cernko, was interviewed by the newspaper “Kurier”. He announced that Austrian Banks will call the Constitutional Court.
                                  December 29, 2010                                        
    
    
        Profits Increase for Banks in Austria
      
      The profitability in the first three quarters of 2010 of Austrian banks shows continued strong growth.
                                  December 29, 2010                                        
    
    
        Meinl Bank Shows Losses
      
      Due to the elimination of investments, Meinl Bank slips into the red zone. The loss amounts to € 37m.
                                  December 28, 2010                                        
    
        Sanader Remains in Extradition Custody
      
      Custody prior to extradition was imposed on the former Croatian Prime Minister Sanader. He complains about the "arbitrariness of the Croatian authorities".
                                  December 28, 2010                                        
    
    
        HTI Gets New Financing Structure
      
      The stock exchange listed automobile supplier HTI ends its moratorium. Of € 140m original debts, € 104m are left.
                                  December 27, 2010                                        
    
        Higher Bank Tax for Bank Austria
      
      The UniCredit-subsidiary Bank Austria will have to pay a bigger amount of the bank tax in 2011. The contribution in the following year decreases.
                                  December 27, 2010                                        
    
        Investigations Against Sanader Continue
      
      The investigation of Austrian and Croatian authorities against the former Prime Minister of Croatia in the Hypo affair are being intensified. Many questions remain unanswered.
                                  December 23, 2010                                        
    
    
        Raiffeisen Negotiates over Polbank
      
      The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) negotiates actively for the Polish Polbank.
                                  December 23, 2010                                        
    
        Hypo Group: Sanader Denies Payments of Commissions
      
      The former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, questioned in Salzburg, denies having ever received money from the Hypo Group.
                                  December 22, 2010                                        
    
        Urgent Need for Capital at Austrian Banks
      
      Walter Rothensteiner, Chairman of RZB as well as the Credit Division of the Economic Chamber, considers that domestic banks are under massive capital pressure.
                                  December 21, 2010                                        
    
        Bank Austria-Fund “Real Invest Europe” Opens as from 21 December 2010
      
      Revaluation of property portfolio complete. Commercial property in Stuttgart sold at market price.
                                  December 21, 2010                                        
    
        Meinl against Atrium: Up to 7,000 Lawsuits
      
      The Austrian bank files lawsuits against the successor company of her former real-estate funds MEL.
                                  December 20, 2010                                        
    
        Accusations Against Sanader Grow Stronger
      
      Many clues point to improper activities by former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader in connection with the Hypo Group.
                                  December 16, 2010                                        
    
        Russia Reaches for Volksbank International
      
      VBI, the holding company for the Eastern interests of the Österreichischen Volksbanken, is for sale. Russian parties are interested.
                                  December 15, 2010                                        
    
        OeNB: Recovery of the Financial System in a Persistently Uncertain Environment
      
      The OeNB considers that domestic banks benefit from the positive development in the CEE region. However, uncertainties stay on as before.
                                  December 15, 2010                                        
    
        New Head for Bank Austria´s CEE Division
      
      Gianni Franco Papa designated to head Bank Austria’s CEE operations. The experienced manager is responsible for the Group’s planned growth.
                                  December 15, 2010                                        
    
    
        Complaint of Unconstitutionality against Securities Capital Gains Tax
      
      Austria banks and investment companies file a complaint before the Constitutional Court against the as of next year introduced tax on securities capital gains.
                                  December 14, 2010                                        
    
        Madoff Affair: Accused Defend Themselves
      
      The accused Sonja Kohn and Stefan Zapotocky defend themselves vehemently against accusations and allegations. Both are, according to the accusation, part of the Madoff system.
                                  December 14, 2010                                        
    
        Demands against the Hypo Group Amount up to € 300m
      
      The investigation team appointed for the Hypo Group has determined property damages for over 300m. This amount is the basis for eventual claims.
                                  December 14, 2010                                        
    
    
        Extensive Refinancing Needs by Austrian Banks
      
      Due to the maturity of large loan volumes, Austria's banks will need at least € 20bn next year.
                                  December 14, 2010                                        
    
        Contradictions about Sanader's Connection to Carinthia
      
      The connection between the former Croatian Prime Minister Sanader and the Carinthian Hypo Group is multifaceted, but also full of contradictions.
                                  December 14, 2010                                        
    
    
        Government Support for the Hypo Group
      
      The Hypo Group is still far away the end of restructuring. Losses between € 700m and € 900m are expected for this year. The state gives a guarantee for 500m.
                                  December 13, 2010                                        
    
    
        Madoff Proceedings: Billion Lawsuit against Bank Austria
      
      The former chairman of Bank Medici, Sonja Kohn, is said to have managed the Madoff system for years. A lawsuit has been filed from the US.
                                  December 13, 2010                                        
    
        The Croatia-Connection of the Hypo Group
      
      The recent arrest of former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader casts shadows on the Carinthian Hypo Group.
                                  December 10, 2010                                        
    
    
        Is Austria a Risk Country?
      
      Due to its engagement in Eastern Europe, Austria is partially considered as a potential risk country. Lack of understanding for this assessment is shown by Austria.
                                  December 10, 2010                                        
    
    
        Economic Chamber: No More Credit Crunch for Austria’s Businesses
      
      A study by the Austrian Economic Chamber shows the high level of satisfaction of local businesses with their banks: the credit crunch has disappeared.
                                  December 10, 2010                                        
    
        Volksbanken: State Aid to be Repaid
      
      The Austrian Volksbanken (ÖVAG) will reportedly pay back more than the agreed € 300m of state aid in 2010.
                                  December 8, 2010                                        
    
        Bavaria: "Hypo-Sale was Correct"
      
      The issue Hypo Alpe Adria preoccupies not only the Austrian justice: Bavaria's Prime Minister Horst Seehofer defended the sale to Austria.
                                  December 8, 2010                                        
    
    
        Austrian National Bank: Credit Shortage Has Been Overcome
      
      The analysis of the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB, Austrian National Bank) on loan growth shows slowly recovering credit dynamics in Austria.
                                  December 8, 2010                                        
    
    
        Financing Requirements for Building Societies
      
      According to Basel-III regulations Austrian building societies will require amounts in the hundreds of millions to equip themselves with sufficient equity.
                                  December 8, 2010                                        
    
    
        Raiffeisen Bank International's direct bank Zuno launches in Slovakia
      
      Zuno, which target Internet-focused customers, launches operations in Slovakia. Additional CEE countries will follow in 2011.
                                  December 6, 2010                                        
    
      
    