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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
Surprising Write-Offs at Erste Group
Due to write-offs in Hungary and Romania, Austrian Erste Group reports a net loss of about € 920 - 970m in the first three quarters of 2011.
October 10, 2011
RBI: Capital Injection for Hungarian Subsidiary Likely
The Austrian bank’s losses from the conversion of foreign currency loans will amount to approximately € 100m.
October 7, 2011
OMV’s Petrom Opens Wind Park in Romania
The subsidiary of the Austrian energy group invested a total of € 90m. The park has an installed capacity of 45 MW.
October 7, 2011
Penta Bids for A-Tec Again
The Czech-Slovak group is still interested in an acquisition of the insolvent Austrian conglomerate and has now submitted a new offer.
October 7, 2011
New Board Member for Slovak Subsidiary of VIG
Erik Nikmon was appointed to the Managing Board of Kooperativa. He will take up his position on 1 November.
October 6, 2011
New Record in Agricultural Foreign Trade
The first half of 2011 brought double-digit growth rates in all product categories. Exports to Hungary increased by 43%, making it the number three buyer country.
October 6, 2011
Personnel Changes in the Managing Board of Czech VIG Subsidiary
The Austrian Vienna Insurance Group reshuffles the board of the Czech Kooperativa.
October 5, 2011
Ukraine Guarantees Gas Supply to Austria
The Ukraine invites Austrian companies to construct liquefied gas terminal.
October 5, 2011
Vienna Insurance Group Merges Bulgarian Subsidiaries
The Austrian insurance corporation intends to strengthen its market presence via the merger of Bulstrad and Bulgarski Imoti,
October 5, 2011
Kovats Blames Creditors and Penta
Mirko Kovats, CEO of the A-Tec group, makes the Czech investment group Penta and the banks responsible for the failed restructuring plan
October 4, 2011
Czech RWE-Subsidiary Plans Pipeline Through Austria
The operators of a gas pipeline “5GL” in the Czech Republic, Austria, Bavaria and Slovenia are considering to build a new pipeline connecting the Souther Czech Republic with Italy and Slovenia.
October 4, 2011
OMV: Withdrawal from Czech Republic Possible
The Austrian energy company plans to leave the Czech petrol station market, reports the Czech Television (CT). Proceedings will be needed for the expansion of the gas business.
October 3, 2011
Upward Trend in CEE Real Estate Market
Erste Group: “CEE Real Estate stocks with upside potential of 15%, profitability lags behind”. The upward trend in CEE is driven by low vacancy, strong occupier demand and low pipeline.
October 3, 2011
Czech Railways Orders 16 Railjets from Vienna
Major Order for Siemens Austria from the Czech National Railways Ceske Drahy: the railway group exercises an option, which was reserved for the Austrian Federal Railways originally.
October 3, 2011
Nabucco Bids for Gas Field in Azerbaijan
The Asiatic country will publish its decision by the end of 2011. Three candidates submitted their offers.
October 1, 2011
Nabucco Welcomes Bayerngas’ Intent to Become New Shareholder
Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH welcomes Bayerngas’ intent on becoming one of the Nabucco shareholders. Negotiations with the six current shareholders will begin immediately to determine the future share split within the consortium.
October 1, 2011
Strabag Awarded Motorway Project in Poland
Two subsidiaries of the Austrian construction group lead the consortium which signed a contract worth € 120m. The group’s share is 55%.
September 30, 2011
Kelag to Invest € 70m in Bosnia-Herzegovina
The Carinthian energy provider signed a contract on the expansion of the hydro power infrastructure in Republika Srpska.
September 29, 2011
Spindelegger Wants New Impetus for Nabucco
The Austrian Vice-Chancellor calls for a quick realization of the pipeline project which is stalling at the moment.
September 28, 2011
VIG to Start Due Diligence on Warta in October
The Austrian insurance group intends to grow on the Polish market. An acquisition would double its premium income in the country.
September 28, 2011
Donau Chemie Builds Factory in Hungary
The Viennese chemical group builds a hydrochloric acid factory near the Hungarian capital Budapest for € 6m.
September 27, 2011
BP Plans Rival Project to OMV´s Nabucco
The British Petrol Corporation intends to open up new gas fields in the Caspian region. BP is thus a new competitor for the Austrian OMV.
September 27, 2011
Atrium Completes the € 191m Acquisition of Palac Flora in Prague
The Vienna-listed real estate group extends its-Czech portfolio, which now reaches 98 properties after Prague's largest real estate transaction in 2011.
September 27, 2011
New Subsidiary for Rabmer Bau in Poland
The Austrian construction group, which is spezialized in renovating canal systems, established a new company in Poland.
September 26, 2011
RBI Defies Hungary’s Banking Tax
The Austrian bank is not planning to pull out of Hungary. Losses from the conversion of foreign currency loans cannot be estimated yet.
September 22, 2011
Immofinanz Acquires Property in Warsaw
The Austrian real estate company made its largest office property acquisition since 2008. The purchase price is € 102m.
September 22, 2011
IMF: „NPL in Eastern Europe Decreasing“
After the announcement of the Hungarian government to convert foreign currency loans at the expense of banks, the IMF has good news for Austrian banks.
September 21, 2011
A-Tec Sale: Penta Sues
The Czech-Slovak investment consortium Penta, which made a bid in the A-Tec sale, sues against the award for the competitor Contor Industries.
September 20, 2011
Serbia as Growth Market for Denkstatt
The Vienna-based environment consulting group Denkstatt intends to gain a foothold in Serbia.
September 19, 2011
Turnaround of RCA Is „Very Close“
The restructuring process of the Rail Cargo Hungaria, a subsidiary of the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) is going on. The rail cargo segment reports better results than expected.
September 19, 2011
Alpine to Build Hotel in Warsaw
The Austrian construction group will be general contractor of the project in Poland. Total contract value is € 32m.
September 16, 2011
Slovenian Blue Chips to Double List at Vienna Stock Exchange
In order to align with international capital markets the Ljubljana Stock Exchange wants to offer Slovenian companies the chance of double listing.
September 16, 2011
Erste Group: BCR Needs Capital Boost
The Austrian bank’s Romanian subsidiary may need additional capital due to high risk costs and the overall economic situation.
September 16, 2011
Erste Group Increases Stake in Romanian BCR
The Austrian bank enters into agreement with four regional investment funds to acquire a further 24.12% in its Romanian subsidiary.
September 14, 2011
Vienna Insurance Group: Market entry in Bosnia-Herzegovina
The Vienna Insurance Group AG has signed a contract to acquire a majority stake in the insurer Jahorina Osiguranje AD Pale (Jahorina) in Bosnia-Herzegovina after successfully concluding due diligence.
September 13, 2011
No Common Trend for CEE-Countries
Regarding economic growth, prospects for CEE countries have worsened slightly. However, the region remains heterogeneous.
September 13, 2011
Marzek Etiquettes Expands in Ukraine
The Austrian manufacturer of etiquettes takes over the Ukrainian subsidiary by 100%.
September 13, 2011
New Road Construction Project in Bulgaria for Alpine
Rehabilitation of 109 km of road - Contract value: € 20 m - 24-month construction period.
September 12, 2011
CEE-Region Remains Essential for Austrian Insurance Companies
According to a current market survey of Fitch, the CEE region plays a central role for domestic insurance companies. There is still growth potential.
September 12, 2011
Austria Considers Lawsuit Against Hungary
The Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Michael Spindelegger (ÖVP) threatens Hungary to file a lawsuit at the European Court of Justice. Hungary plans to stress banks massively.
September 12, 2011
Saloon Talks in Polish Ambassy: „Europe Needs New Leadership“
In the Polish Ambassy in Vienna, the former Prime Ministers of Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski and Austria, Wolfgang Schüssel, talked about their vision for the European Union.
September 8, 2011
OMV’s Petrom Receives Approval for License Extension
The subsidiary of the Austrian oil and gas company was allowed to continue exploration works in Romania. The licenses were due to expire on September 12.
September 8, 2011
CEE Economic Forum: Green Trends for Eastern Europe
In 2011, Forum Velden in Carinthia celebrates its 5th anniversary. Since its foundation in 2006, over 1.500 experts, top-managers and politicians from over 25 countries have participated in the Forum.
September 7, 2011
Slow Growth for CEE Telecom Sector Expected
Austrian Erste Group: “Seasonality and mobile data growth as key driver in H2 2011. The industry continues to struggle from slow consumer and public spending – Stabilisation to be expected in 2012.”
September 7, 2011
Joschka Fischer: „Nabucco is in time“
The former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Joschka Fischer, is optimistic regarding the realization of the Nabucco Gas Pipeline.
September 6, 2011
Hungary Bourse President Resigns
Hungary's Budapest Stock Exchange President Mihaly Patai submitted his resignation Monday, state news agency MTI reported. This step is mainly due to disputes with the majority owner, the Austrian Vienna Stock Exchange.
September 6, 2011
Cineplexx Grows Further in SEE Region
The Austrian cinema group takes over two major cinemas in Serbia and Montenegro. Thus, Cineplexx already runs five cinemas in former Yugoslavia.
September 5, 2011
Raiffeisen Centrobank Reports Increase in Profit
Net interest income declined, while trading profit and net fee and commission income increased substantially. Turbulences on financial markets might burden the bank’s business development.
September 2, 2011
VIG Merges Polish Subsidiaries
The Austrian insurance group expects increased efficiency resulting from the planned merger between InterRisk and PZM.
August 31, 2011
Vienna Insurance Group Expands Involvement in Albania
With the acquisition of a 75% stake in Intersig, the Austrian insurance company raises its market share in Albania to 30%.
August 24, 2011