Vienna International Company News

Read the latest headlines about developments in international organizations, companies and institutions operating in Vienna, Austria

Hypo-Disaster: Harsh Criticism from Opposition

The opposition parties have expressed their unanimous criticism about the government failing to come to a joint decision with the Austrian banks and consequently forwarding all costs to the taxpayers.

February 11, 2014

Ukraine: Tough Market for Foreign Banks

The coming two years will be challenging for foreign banks operating in Ukraine.

February 11, 2014

Poland: Sharp Decline in Insurance Prices

Insurance policy prices dropped almost 30 percent last year.

February 11, 2014

Vienna Insurance Group Shines in the Czech Republic

VIG continues to expand its market leadership in its largest CEE market.

February 11, 2014

RBI: Capital Increase Successfully Completed

RBI capital increase confirms excellent environment for raising capital on the Vienna Stock Exchange.

February 11, 2014

Austria: Hypo Group Becomes Fiasco for Taxpayers

The most expensive solution for the winding up of troubled Hypo Group becomes imminent.

February 11, 2014

Bawag: Losses for Cerberus Running into Billions

There are persistent rumors that the U.S. investor may leave the Austrian bank. For Cerberus, Bawag is a disaster.

February 11, 2014

Austria: Bank Participation for Hypo Off

A participation model with Austrian banks can be ruled out for ailing Hypo Group. Instead, a more expensive version will be applied.

February 10, 2014

CEE: Still Growth Market in Real Estate Sector

The region is still a growth market in the real estate sector even after the crisis. However, the legal situation in some CEE countries can be a pitfall to real estate companies.

February 10, 2014

FMA: Hypo Group Bankruptcy Incalculable Risk

The government does not dismiss the idea of a bankruptcy of ailing Hypo Alpe Adria. However, the Financial Market Authority (FMA) has expressly warned of this form of downsizing of the state bank.

February 10, 2014

Poland: Economic Growth to Speed Up

According to the Economy Ministry’s forecast, economic growth is supposed to come at 3 percent of GDP year-on-year this year. Inflation, on the other, is expected to come at 2 percent.

February 10, 2014

Ukraine: RBI Examines Offers

Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) has received a total of twelve offers for its Ukranian affiliate.

February 10, 2014

Serbia: Inflation Requires New IMF Agreement

In the light of a devaluation of the Dinar Serbia needs a new agreement with the IMF to improve funding and accelerate the realization of reforms.

February 10, 2014

Poland: Slight Drop in 2013 Banks’ Profits

Polish banks displayed a total net profit of PLN 15.43 billion in the financial year 2013, which is a slight decrease of 0.3 percent on an annual comparison basis.

February 10, 2014

Spindelegger Insists on Austrian Bank Secret

On Friday the Finance Ministry confirmed to the Austrian Press Agency (APA) that there is “momentum in the field” in regard to disclosure of information about bank accounts of foreigners.

February 10, 2014

Hypo Group Alpe Adria: The War of Nerves Has Begun

The Austrian government puts enormous pressure on the Austrian banking sector and does not exclude Hypo Group´s orderly bankruptcy anymore. The Austrian banking sector insistently warns of this option.

February 9, 2014 · Updated: February 9, 2014; 23:41

Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Sevelda Rejects „Joint Bad Bank“

Karl Sevelda, CEO of Vienna-listed RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International), does not want to become shareholder of the common bad bank for the nationalized lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria.

February 9, 2014

ECB Wants to Supervise All Banks

For the European Central Bank, the current authority does not go far enough. The ECB wants to control all 6,600 banks in the Eurozone.

February 8, 2014

Sale of Bad Assets: UniCredit Under Pressure

The parent company of Bank Austria, the Italian lender UniCredit, wants to sell its risky assets as soon as possible. Insiders report that UniCredit wants to sell its “bad bank”.

February 8, 2014 · Updated: February 8, 2014; 14:12

Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Extreme Burden for Austrian State Budget Ahead

The bad news about the nationalized Balkan lender do not break up. In 2014, the Austrian problem bank may cause costs in the amount of € 9bn.

February 7, 2014

Hungary: Why Orban Faces Another Victory

At the beginning of April, Hungary will hold elections. Despite a high level of dissatisfaction and political frustration, there will be no government change.

February 7, 2014 · Updated: February 7, 2014; 17:59

FHB Bank Acquires Stake in Takarek Bank

The largest Hungarian mortgage bank becomes a core shareholder of the Hungarian savings bank Takarek Bank. Takarekbank is an umbrella bank for the Hungarian savings bank sector.

February 7, 2014

Hyp Group Alpe Adria: “No Unnecessary Bankruptcy”

Klaus Liebscher, president of Hypo Group´s supervisory board, points out that Hypo Group´s bankruptcy would involve enormous risks. The Austrian government remains conspicuously calm.

February 7, 2014

Austrian Bad Bank Received Further State Aid

The Austrian Ministry of Finance injected € 150m into KA Finanz, the bad bank of the publicly held Kommunalkredit.

February 6, 2014

Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Harsh Criticism on Austrian Government

The Austrian opposition blames the government for concealing the biggest financial disaster in Austria´s history. Governor of the Austrian National Bank Ewald Nowotny is under fire too.

February 6, 2014

Fitch Criticizes European Stress Tests

The rating agency argues that there is still a lack in technical details. Regarding the robustness of the stress tests, Fitch demonstrates skepticism.

February 6, 2014

Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Bankruptcy Would Affect Foreign Investors

In case of an unorderly insolvency of the Austrian nationalized lender, not only Austrian creditors would have to absorb losses. The majority of the bondholders are German and Swiss investors.

February 6, 2014

Austrian National Bank: Hypo Bankruptcy Would Cost € 24bn

The nationalized Balkan lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria causes major difficulties. Although the bankruptcy would be the cheapest option for Austrian taxpayers, the Austrian National Bank tries to prevent this scenario by all means.

February 5, 2014

Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Fitch Recommends “Joint Bad Bank”

According to the rating agency, the best alternative is a joint solution between the Austrian state and privately held banks. In return, the bank levy should be reduced, Fitch says.

February 5, 2014

Raiffeisen Bank International: Moody´s Downgrades Ukrainian Subsidiary

Due to the political instability, the U.S. rating agency lowers the rating of Aval Bank, the Ukrainian affiliate of Austrian RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International).

February 5, 2014

Viennese Real Estate: Roof Space Utilization is the Key

In Austria´s capital, living space is rather limited. In the next few years, shortages in the housing market will sharpen further.

February 5, 2014

“Hypo Group Bankruptcy Would Affect RBI Adversely“

According to the Vienna-based Raiffeisen Bank International, both a joint bad bank and Hypo Group´s insolvency have negative consequences on RBI´s share.

February 5, 2014

Real Estate: Outskirts of Vienna Popular Among East Europeans

More and more well situated East Europeans discover the suburban regions surrounding the Austrian capital. Unlike in Vienna, property prices are going up steadily.

February 4, 2014

Poland: Sixteen Banks to be Examined by EBA

In total, sixteen Polish banks will participate in the stress tests carried out by the European Banking Authority.

February 4, 2014

Austrian Government Does Not Rule Out Hypo Group´s Bankruptcy Anymore (2/2)

In the past few weeks, the Austrian government and the Austrian National Bank excluded this alternative categorically. Now, the bankruptcy scenario seems to be an option again.

February 4, 2014

Austrian Government Does Not Rule Out Hypo Group´s Bankruptcy Anymore (1/2)

In the past few weeks, the Austrian government and the Austrian National Bank excluded this alternative categorically. Now, the bankruptcy scenario seems to be an option again.

February 4, 2014

Santander on Circulated Sales Talks: „No Comment“

As reported by Vindobona, Spanish Banco Santander is said to be interest in taking over the fifth largest Austrian lender Bawag. Bawag´s management remains silent on this matter.

February 4, 2014

„Hungary and Austria Must not Become Enemies“

Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) wants a solution between the Hungarian government and the Austrian banking sector.

February 4, 2014

Hypo Group: Calls for Bankruptcy Become Louder

The Austrian government wants to prevent the bankruptcy of the nationalized lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria. However, there are better arguments for an orderly insolvency.

February 3, 2014

Upward Trend in Polish Property Market Continues

In Poland, the property market continues to grow significantly. There are no signs of a cool-down.

February 3, 2014

Real Estate: Why Austrians Prefer Rented Apartments

About 40% of the Austrian households are rented apartments. Most tenants cannot afford becoming homeowners.

February 3, 2014

Serbia: First License Withdrawal of Private Bank

For the first time in the Serbian history, a privately held bank loses its license.

February 3, 2014

Santander Interested in Bawag?

The Spanish Banco Santander is said to be interested in Bawag, the German daily “Handelsblatt” reports.

February 3, 2014

„We Must Watch CESEE Very Carefully“

In an interview with the Austrian daily „Standard“, board member of Österreichische Kontrollbank AG Angelika Sommer-Hemetsberger said that the economic crisis in CESEE is not over yet.

February 3, 2014

Austria: First Signs of a Credit Crunch

According to the CFO barometer, large enterprises fear that the access to bank loans will continue to worsen. Austrian SME want to become more independent of banks.

February 3, 2014

Suspicious Secrecy in the Cause of Hypo Group Alpe Adria

In the matter of Hypo Group Alpe Adria, the Austrian government acts disconcertingly. Details on the situation of the nationalized banks are still kept as a secret.

February 1, 2014

Hungary: Next Currency Crisis Ahead

The extremely loose monetary policy begins to become a problem for Hungary. The forint exchange rate is going up considerably.

February 1, 2014

Stress Tests Become Harder

Experts expect that not all banks participating in the examination will pass the stress test.

February 1, 2014

KBC Does Not Leave Hungary

The Belgian lender rejected rumors saying that the Hungarian unit may be sold. Not only KBC faces enormous difficulties in Hungary.

February 1, 2014

Croatia: Monetary Interventions to Stabilize Kuna

On Friday the Croatian national bank sold € 240.2m to commercial banks.

January 31, 2014