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Austria and the Czech Republic - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, diplomacy and culture

Czech Republic: OMV Withdraws, MOL Expands

The Hungarian oil and gas group purchased 124 petrol stations in the Czech Republic. The Austrian OMV continues its downsizing strategy.

July 4, 2012

Boom in New Listings at Prague Stock Exchange

The CEESEG member Prague Stock Exchange is pleased about new listings despite the current economic crisis.

July 2, 2012

Energochemica Enters the Prague Stock Exchnage

Energochemcia SE officially announced its intention to enter the Prague Stock Exchange (PSE). The company wants to focus on acquisitions of key energy and chemical industry companies.

June 29, 2012

Credit Crunch in CESEE?

Anglo-Saxon banks and funds are most aggressive in deleveraging; Austrian bank are not relying on funding from countries in hotspots of deleveraging.

June 27, 2012

Schwarzenberg: „Czech Republic Should be Europe´s Hard Core“

The Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs thinks that the Czech Republic should be among the EU´s core nations. This would be the only useful alternative for the country, Schwarzenberg says.

June 26, 2012

Treichl: „Europe Does Not Need the Euro“

Andreas Treichl, CEO of Austrian Erste Group thinks that the European Union would work very well without the common currency. A common army would be more important.

June 25, 2012

CESEE Banks: Small Exposure in Southern Europe

The riskiness of assets held by CESEE banks is manageable, the U.S. rating agency Fitch says. The CESEE region has closer links to Western Europe than to Southern Europe.

June 20, 2012

„There´s no Crisis in Eastern Europe“

Austrian economists and bankers do not comprehend the downgrade by Moody´s. The risk in Eastern Europe would be more differentiated, OeNB´s governor Nowotny said.

June 8, 2012

CEE Banking Sector „Performs Well“

The Austrian Raiffeisen Centrobank sees high-growth potential in the CESEE region. Loan growth is at „healthy levels“, there are „no signs of a credit crunch“.

June 6, 2012

Massive Gap in Purchasing Power

Purchasing Power Parities 2012: Higher travel costs for overseas destinations; Austrians' purchasing power 40–70% above the level in Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary.

May 21, 2012

Improved Business Atmosphere in CESEE Region

According to a survey by OeKB (Oesterreichische Kontrollbank), expectations of investors are beyond the level of January. Austrian exports to the CESEE region may increase.

May 4, 2012

OMV´s Petrol Stations: Potential Buyers in Sight

The Austrian oil and gas company OMV plans to sell its petrol stations in Croatia and Bosnia. Local investors show interest.

April 17, 2012

Goldman Sachs: Too Small Margins at Austrian Banks in CEE

The U.S. investment bank is optimistic that the CEE region recovers in 2013. The write-offs made by Austrian banks were “correct”.

April 16, 2012

Kapsch: Critique by Czech Republic

The toll collection system in the Czech Republic is more expensive in Austria or Germany, the Czech audit authority alleges.

April 14, 2012

Lutz Continues Expansion Program

The world´s second largest furniture house intends to grow in Eastern and Southeastern Europe.

April 7, 2012

EStAG Reports Moderate Rise in Earnings

The Styrian energy supplier Energie Steiermark AG could raise revenues by 9.0% to 1.37bn. Operating profits were down, though.

March 30, 2012

“The Czech Republic Has Traditionally Been an Important Partner for Austria”

Austrian State Secretary Waldner meets Czech EU State Secretary Belling.

March 19, 2012

Ghizzoni: „Austrian Bank Tax Is Painful“

The Chief Executive Officer of UniCredit, the holding company of Bank Austria emphasizes not to sell the Austrian subsidiary. The bank tax is “unfair”.

March 10, 2012

Imports Grow Stronger than Exports

January to December 2011: Austrian imports rose by 15%, exports increased by 12%.

March 9, 2012

RBI Optimizes Its Structure of Participations

EBA decides not to recognize privately placed participation capital. RZB Group will nevertheless meet the EBA target, the bank argues.

March 8, 2012

Uniqa Aims for Growth in CESEE Region

The Austrian insurance group wants to sell stakes by the minority shareholders of subsidiaries in Eastern Europe. The capital increase is scheduled for 2013.

March 5, 2012

Eder: „Environmental Policy Endangers Economy“

Voestalpine´s CEO criticizes environmental specifications made by EU and domestic politics. Eder sees the danger of a de-industrialization.

March 5, 2012

Gigasport Withdraws from Czech Republic and Slovakia

The Austrian sports brand closes twelve branches in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. 280 workers are affected.

March 1, 2012

Immofinanz Group Develops Office Building in Prague

The Austrian real estate group makes an investment of 24.6m in the Czech Republic. The project will be finalized in 2013.

February 29, 2012

Polytec Aims For Expanding in Asia

Friedrich Huemer, CEO of the Austrian automotive supplier, wants to start investments in China and India.

February 27, 2012

CSC Establishes its CEE Headquarters in Vienna

The U.S. IT service supplier CSC upgrades the Viennese subsidiary as regional headquarters for ten countries.

February 22, 2012

Erste Group Manages Issue of Czech Republic € 2.0bn Bond

The Austrian bank observed good demand for the Czech sovereign bonds offering: total orders of approx. € 3.5bn from over 190 investors.

February 22, 2012

Prague Stock Exchange and CCP.A to Cooperate

Prague Stock Exchange (PSE) and Austrian clearing house Central Counterparty Austria (CCP.A) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the cooperation in cash markets.

February 20, 2012

Sberbank Upgrades VBI´s Headquarter in Vienna

After the acquisition of the Austrian VBI, the Russian bank wants to expand massively in Europe.

February 20, 2012

SLR Group Plans Major Increase in Sales

The Austrian foundry company expects to realize sales of 60m in 2011/12. In the first half year, sales were up by 24%.

February 9, 2012

CEE Countries with Bigger Space for Higher Bond Yields

Romania, Czech Republic and Slovakia with biggest room for manoeuvre in case yields would spike; Hungary should avoid financing at +6%, says Erste Group.

February 6, 2012

Lutz Enters Croatia

The Austrian furniture store group opens its largest center in the SEE region. Market leader Ikea follows in autumn 2012.

January 26, 2012

Oberbank Satisfied with 2011 Results

The Austrian Oberbank achieved “excellent“ results last year, CEO Gasselsberger stated. Profits were up by 5.5%.

January 17, 2012

Treichl Does Not Expect Hungarian National Insolvency

In spite of a large exposure in Hungary, Andreas Treichl, Erste Group´s CEO is optimistic. By 2014, Erste Group Hungary should be profitable again.

January 14, 2012

CEE Investments Recommended

According to Erste Group, equities to become more attractive in 2012 compared to 2011. Turkey is seen as highly interesting investment location.

January 4, 2012

Uniqa´s Czech Subsidiary Beats Market Growth

The Czech subsidiary of the Austrian insurance group achieved an 11% premium income growth, which is significantly beyond the market growth (1.8%).

January 3, 2012

RZB Issued Participation Capital

The Austrian banking group optimizes its structure by acquiring shareholdings in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

December 30, 2011

Emco With Growth Plans

The new owner of the former A-Tec subsidiary, now can begin to realize its expansion plans.

December 27, 2011

Record-Breaking Start of Tourism Winter Season

Austria’s tourism industry registered 3.98 million overnights in November. Arrivals rose by 3.5%.

December 23, 2011

Bank Austria Reviews Strategy for CEE

In its expansion strategy, the bank focuses on four countries. Plans for Hungary and Romania are stopped, up to 450 jobs will be cut.

December 17, 2011

Gebrüder Weiss Builds New Branch in Czech Republic

In Jeneč, near Prague, the Austrian logistics supplier builds a new terminal with an office complex and cross-docking facilities. Investments amount to € 15m.

December 17, 2011

Austrian Foreign Trade Deficit on the Rise

From January to September 2011: imports rose by 17%, exports increased by 14%. The deficit amounts to € 6.0bn.

December 7, 2011

OMV to Sell Petrol Stations to Slovak Slovnaft

The Austrian oil and gas group OMV has already announced its downsizing strategy in the petrol station business. Slovnaft, a Slovak subsidiary of the Hungarian MOL, shows interest.

November 22, 2011

Vienna Insurance Group Reports Moderate Rise in Profits

Profit (before taxes) went up by about 10 percent to € 414.1m. Group premiums rose by 4.0 percent to € 6.8bn.

November 15, 2011

Raiffeisen Cuts Staff in Czech Republic

The Austrian banks local unit has reacted to increasing costs and the poor economic outlook.

November 9, 2011

Growth Potential in CEE Banking Sector

The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International has a very favourable growth outlook for six CEE banking markets representing 80 per cent of the region's total banking assets

November 8, 2011

PKN Orlen Interested in OMV´s Petrol Stations

The Austrian oil corporation OMV downsizes its operations in the Czech Republic. 220 Petrol stations are for sale.

October 31, 2011

Germans Are Savings Champions Followed by Austrians

Erste Group Savings Study: Germans save most (€ 180 per month), followed by Austrians (€ 168) and Britons (€ 160). In CEE, the Czechs and Slovaks (€ 90) are the tireless savers.

October 27, 2011

Rabmer Building Opens a New Subsidiary in Poland

Rabmer Building has established a Polish subsidiary. Already since last year the Polish market has been managed by eleven employees from Bydgoszcz.

October 24, 2011

Austria Ranked 32nd in the “Doing Business 2012” Ranking

Doing Business 2012: Doing Business in a More Transparent World assesses regulations affecting domestic firms in 183 economies.

October 20, 2011