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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