Eastern European Countries and Austria | Bilateral Relations

Austria and Eastern European countries - Latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, diplomacy, culture and tourism

Strabag Exceeds Forecasts

The Austrian construction company recorded a construction volume of € 14.3bn in 2011. For 2012, stable results are expected.

February 18, 2012

Massive Losses Expected for Telekom Austria

Loss expectations range from € 194.9m to € 238m. Sales are anticipated to decline by 4.4%.

February 17, 2012

Cernko Against „Talking Down Austrian Banks“

Bank Austria´s CEO is strictly against an undifferentiated view on CEE-countries. Austrian banks with an exposure in the CEE region shall not be talked down.

February 17, 2012

Telekom Austria: No Expansion in Bulgaria

The Austrian telecommunication group is no longer interested in Vivacom. Problems with competition authorities would have occurred.

February 17, 2012

Cernko: „Triple A Only in the Medium Term“

Bank Austria´s CEO Willibald Cernko does not think that Austria re-gains its “AAA” status within the next three years.

February 16, 2012

S Immo: PepsiCo Signs on As a Tenant in Bucharest

The Austrian real estate company gained another internationally renowned tenant for its Sun Offices building in Bucharest.

February 15, 2012

Bulgarian Vivacom: Telekom Austria Has Only Outside Chances

The second-largest Bulgarian telecommunication enterprise is for sale. Telekom Austria is still interested, in spite of dismal prospects.

February 14, 2012

AUA to Withdraw from Mumbai

Due to the increasing price pressure, Austrian Airlines has to focus on new markets. New target markets are Eastern Europe and the Middle East region.

February 13, 2012

A-Tec´s Quota to Reach 30%

In July, the insolvency quota of A-Tec will be paid to creditors. The quota will range from 30% to 35%.

February 10, 2012

Raiffeisen Builds Shopping Center in Bukarest

Raiffeisen Evolution develops “Floreasca City”, a shopping center project in the Romanian capital. Construction works began in January.

February 10, 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

Erste Group Plans Complete Takeover of BCR

The Austrian bank wants to become the sole owner of Banca Commerciala Romana.

February 9, 2012

RBI: „Capital Increase is Pure Speculation“

The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International, which is said to plan a capital increase, points out that this information is a “pure rumor”.

February 9, 2012

Russian Natural Gas Supply to Normalize

According to the Austrian oil and gas company OMV, gas deliveries from Russia are increasing slightly.

February 8, 2012

Capital Increase at RBI?

According to market rumors, Raiffeisen Bank International is said to revisit € 1.00bn sale as shares rise.

February 8, 2012

Magna Steyr Builds Mercedes Until 2020

The contract between the German Daimler Group and the Austrian automotive supplier has been extended. However, Magna had to make concessions.

February 8, 2012

CEO of PlusCity Increases Engagement in Croatian Westgate

Ernst Kirchmayr, CEO of the Upper-Austrian shopping center has raised his stake in the Zagreb-based shopping center “Westgate”.

February 8, 2012

Hungary: 160,000 Loan Takes Convert Foreign Currency Debt

According to the Hungarian Financial market authority, 142,000 Hungarian households repaid foreign currency debt. Further 19,000 are expected.

February 7, 2012

Austrian Green Building Group Acquired Stake in Slovenian Lumar

The Austrian investment company acquired the Slovenian market leader in environmentally friendly construction.

February 7, 2012

Montana Tech Components Acquires Croatian Aluminum Companies

The Austrian financial investor MTC takes over the two largest aluminum companies in Croatia. Turnover of the acquisition targets amount to € 240m.

February 6, 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

VBI Sale: Closing Expected for Mid-February

The Russian Sberbank buys VBI from Austrian VBAG. The price totals € 505m.

February 6, 2012

Black Sea: Petrom and Exxon Mobil Found Gas

Romania’s first deepwater well indicates presence of hydrocarbons. The U.S. Exxon Mobil and Petrom, a Romanian subsidiary of Austrian OMV, are searching for natural gas.

February 4, 2012

Kapsch Expands in Romania

The Austrian toll system supplier Kapsch has purchased the Romanian IT service provider Squario Management s.r.l. At the same time, Kapsch has strengthened its presence in a central CEE market.

February 3, 2012

Rising Production at OMV

Due to the resumption of works in Libya, the Austrian oil and gas group announces rising production volumes and slightly improving refining margins.

February 3, 2012

Porr Extends Capital Increase

The Austrian construction group intends to restock its planned capital increase. The minimum volume is € 30m.

February 2, 2012

Enso Hydro Looking for Hydro Power Plants in SEE

The Austrian hydro power specialist aims for collecting € 70m of Deutsche Bank´s subsidiary DWS. Currently, enso hydro searches for new hydro power projects.

February 1, 2012

Losses in Hungary Keep Within a Limit

The deadline for the conversion of Hungarian foreign currency loans expired. Austrian banks think that their provisions are sufficient.

February 1, 2012

Hypo Group to Cut Jobs

The Austrian Hypo Group Alpe Adria continues its downsizing program. 800 employees will be laid-off.

February 1, 2012

New Tax Burden for Telekom Austria

Telekom Austria has to pay tax on mobile network services in Croatia.

January 30, 2012

3E Group Grows in Eastern Europe

The Austrian building material company´s revenues were up by 3.2% in 2011. Total sales reached € 546m.

January 30, 2012

Hypo Group´s Result „Close to Zero“

CEO Gottwald Kranebitter announced that Hypo Group Alpe Adria could reduce its losses significantly in 2011.

January 30, 2012

Good Export Chances in SEE Region

The Austrian Chamber of Commerce regards South-Eastern Europe as growth region. Importance for the Austrian export industry is seen to increase.

January 28, 2012

Romanian President Appreciates Erste Group´s Decision

Traian Basescu, President of Romania, is pleased with Erste Group´s announcement to continue its business in Romania.

January 28, 2012

New Management Board at BCR

The Supervisory Board of Erste Group´s loss-making subsidiary, Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR), took several decisions regarding the structure of BCR’s Management Board (Executive Committee).

January 27, 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

Sberbank: € 500m for Austrian VBI

The Russian Sberbank officially bids € 500m for VBI, the subsidiary of Austrian VBAG.

January 26, 2012

RBI´s CEO Expects € 60m Losses in Hungary

Herbert Stepic, CEO of Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International, emphasizes to stay in Hungary. The foreign currency debt conversion causes severe losses.

January 26, 2012

Austrian Mercedes Production Endangered to Shift to Hungary

Construction of the SUV Mercedes G-class could switch from the Magna factory in Graz to Hungary.

January 24, 2012

Leitl: „Croatians are Most Welcome“

The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce is looking forward to Croatia´s EU accession in 2013.

January 23, 2012

Turkey Emphasizes Support for Nabucco

Besides the Russian South-Stream project, Turkey also shows support for Nabucco, where Austrian OMV is strongly engaged in.

January 21, 2012

Takeover of Ljubljana Stock Exchange Completed

The Austrian CEE Stock Exchange Group widens its stake in the Slovenian Ljubljana Stock Exchange to 99.85 %.

January 21, 2012

New Record in Agricultural Exports

In 2011, Austrian food exports exceeded € 9.0bn for the first time.

January 21, 2012

Warta Sale: VIG Unsuccessful

The sale of the Polish insurance group Warta is closed. The German Talanx takes over Warta, Vienna Insurance Group had no chance.

January 20, 2012

Austrian Banks Hold € 18bn in Foreign Sovereign Bonds

At the end of October 2011, the exposure of Austrian banks in foreign sovereign bonds was € 18.1bn. The largest volumes are invested in Poland and Italy.

January 19, 2012

Austrian Lending Restrictions Under Observation

The plan of the Austrian FMA and OeNB to restrict lending in CEE countries could be a violation of EU-law.

January 19, 2012

Treichl: „Erste Could Bear Hair Cut in Hungary“

Andreas Treichl, Erste Group´s CEO, is optimistic for Hungary. A withdrawal of Erste Group is not considered.

January 18, 2012

OMV to Sell Petrol Stations in Croatia and Bosnia

The Russian oil company Zarubezhneft is interested in OMV´s Bosnian and Croatian petrol stations.

January 18, 2012

Erste Group Provides Major Loan to Telekom Serbia

The Austrian bank commits € 140m to Telekom Serbia as part of a recent syndicated loan taken by the company. Erste Group acted as joint mandated lead arranger, underwriter and bookrunner.

January 18, 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