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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
Telekom Austria Closes Acquisition of Croatian B.net
The Austrian telecommunications group has received green light from Croatia’s competition authority for the acquisition of the country’s largest cable operator.
August 8, 2011
Erste Group Strives for Full Control over Romanian BCR
The Austrian bank does not want its Romanian subsidiary to be listed at the stock exchange although it was a condition for the privatization.
August 4, 2011
Erste Group Planning New Branch Concept for Czech Republic
The Austrian bank’s Czech subsidiary is working on a modern concept which will be targeted at new customer groups.
August 3, 2011
Kapsch CarrierCom Wins Order in Czech Republic
The Austrian technology company was chosen as general contractor for the GSM-R technology in the Czech Republic. The order value is € 20m.
August 3, 2011
Immofinanz Acquires Development Site in Poland
The Austrian real estate company plans to develop a shopping center in the Polish city of Lublin. Opening is scheduled for 2013.
August 2, 2011
Erste Group Increased Net Profit from January to June
The Austrian bank’s results were burdened by bank taxes in Austria and Hungary. Net profit was up 5.2%, based on a solid operating result and lower risk costs.
July 29, 2011
Penta Is Extending Offer for A-Tec
The Czech-Slovak investment group has affirmed its interest in a takeover of the Austrian conglomerate and extended the validity of its offer.
July 28, 2011
Warimpex Sells Hotel in Warsaw
The Austrian real estate company sells the Sobieski Hotel in Warsaw, together with an adjacent 6,000 square meter office building to Wenaasgruppen, headquartered in Norway.
July 28, 2011
Erste Bank Fixed the Takeover of Intermarket Bank
Erste Bank took over 56% in Austria’s largest factoring bank from the Polish subsidiary of Commerzbank and will acquire another 10% from Coface.
July 28, 2011
VIG: Trouble at Romanian Subsidiary
The Austrian insurance group has reportedly lost millions due to illegal actions at one of its Romanian subsidiaries. Company representatives denied any misconduct.
July 27, 2011
EVN Expands in Bulgaria
The Austrian electricity company invested € 5m in the construction of a solar power station in Bulgaria and increased its stake in a joint venture project in the country.
July 21, 2011
New Attempt for Oil Pipeline Bratislava – Schwechat
New impetus for the Austro-Slovak infrastructure project: The pipeline would link OMV to the Russian network.
July 20, 2011
RBI’s Direct Bank Zuno Starts Operations in the Czech Republic
Following the launch in Slovakia at the end of 2010, Raiffeisen’s direct bank now takes up business in a second country.
July 19, 2011
Erste Group Provided Financing for Hospital in Warsaw
The € 32m acquisition financing is the first private hospital financing in CEE of that size which has been closed by Erste Group and also a first in Poland for the bank.
July 15, 2011
OMV’s Petrom Makes Significant Gas Discovery
The Austrian energy group’s subsidiary made a gas discovery in Romania. Further appraisal drilling is planned to assess what may be the most important onshore gas discovery in the country in the last six years.
July 7, 2011
OTP Bank Shows Interest in Volksbank International
The Austrian Volksbanken AG found a second potential buyer for its Eastern European subsidiary. The Hungarian OTP bank wants to expand into the markets where VBI has a presence.
July 7, 2011
S Immo Increases the Occupancy Rate of its Hungarian Portfolio
The Austrian real estate company’s Hungarian subsidiary leased out nearly 4,000 m² in the heart of Budapest. The vacancy rate was reduced to below 9%.
July 7, 2011
Contractual Penalty for Kapsch in Poland
The Austrian technology group did not manage to finish work on an electronic toll collection system in time. Thus, the company will have to pay a contractual penalty.
July 6, 2011
VIG Interested in Acquisition of Polish Warta Insurance
The Austrian insurance company might strengthen its position in the Polish market with the acquisition of a local company.
July 4, 2011
Successful Start for RBI’s Direct Bank Zuno in Slovakia
18,000 Slovak customers have deposited a total amount of € 125m in the first six months since the bank entered the market in December 2010.
June 30, 2011
RBI: Acquisition of Polbank Stake Advancing
The Austrian bank has received anti-trust approval of the deal. Closing and operational merger are expected in Q4/2011 or Q1/2012.
June 30, 2011
S&T Wins Contract in Serbia
The Austrian IT service provider will be responsible for the implementation of the largest SAP project in Serbia in the last years.
June 28, 2011
Uniqa Sold Stake in Romanian Company
The Austrian insurance group sold its 27% holding in Astra for € 25m to the Nova Group.
June 27, 2011
WIFI International Expanding into Albania
The education provider continues its internationalization strategy and is now active in nine CEE/SEE countries.
June 24, 2011
WKÖ: Economic Talks with the Macedonian President
80 Austrian enterprises are already active in Macedonia. Exports to the country increased by 17% in the first quarter of the year.
June 21, 2011
Erste Group Manages Bond Issue of Czech Railways
The order book grew in only one hour to € 400m from 60 institutional investors. Approximately 75% have been subscribed by investors from Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria.
June 21, 2011
Bilfinger Berger to Acquire Subsidiary of AE&E
The Czech subsidiary of the insolvent plant manufacturer will become part of the German construction group Bilfinger Berger.
June 20, 2011
Verbund: New Wind Farm in Romania
The Austrian electricity company will invest “several hundred million euros” in 77 new wind wheels which will go into service in 2012.
June 17, 2011
Immofinanz Acquires Romanian Property Developer
The Austrian real estate company buys the remaining stake for € 42.43m in order to become sole shareholder of Bucharest-based Adama.
June 16, 2011
Telekom Austria Refrains from an Acquisition of Telekom Srbija
For the time being, the Austrian telecommunications group has no intention to pursue a deal with the Serbian government after negotiations had failed in May.
June 16, 2011
Hungary Considering Buyback of ÖBB’s Rail Cargo Hungaria
The Hungarian state is interested in acquiring a stake in the Austrian Federal Railways’ cargo subsidiary which it privatized in 2008.
June 14, 2011
Austria Still Biggest Investor in Serbia
Since 2000, Austrian companies have invested more than € 3bn in the Balkan country.
June 14, 2011
Immofinanz Acquires Office Property in Warsaw
The Austrian real estate company already held 51% of the property and is now becoming the sole shareholder. The transaction includes the sale of another object to a project partner.
June 10, 2011
Trade with the Czech Republic Is Booming
Austrian companies increased their exports to the country by 32% in the first quarter of the year. In 2010, Austria was the biggest foreign investor.
June 9, 2011
Nabucco Legal Framework Finalized
Project support agreements were signed by each transit country. They are a prerequisite for the successful financing of the pipeline.
June 8, 2011
Telekom Austria Acquires B.net Hrvatska
The telecommunications group purchases Croatia’s largest cable operator from Bewag, an Austrian regional electricity supplier.
June 8, 2011
New Motorway Order for Strabag in Romania
The Austrian construction company is going to build a motorway section between the cities of Orăştie and Sibiu. Order volume amounts to € 166m.
June 7, 2011
Immofinanz Considering Listing in Warsaw
The Austrian real estate group would be interested in a listing if red tape were reduced. It is currently looking for acquisition opportunities in Poland and Russia.
June 7, 2011
Telekom Austria Bidding for Kosovo Telecom
The Austrian telecommunications group and a Croatian competitor have been shortlisted in the privatization process of Kosovo’s most profitable company.
June 7, 2011
Raiffeisen Not Interested in Hypo
The Austrian bank group is currently expanding in Poland but it is not going to bid for Hypo Alpe Adria as an acquisition “would not make sense”.
June 6, 2011
UniCredit and Raiffeisen Seek to Broker Bulgaria's EVN Stake Sale
Bulgaria is going to sell its minority stake in an electricity distributor operated by the Austrian energy company.
June 3, 2011
Nabucco Receives Further Support by Transit Countries
Five countries are going to sign an agreement on the realization of the infrastructure project. Works are scheduled to start in 2013.
June 1, 2011
AUA Give Up Their Focus on CEE
Austrian Airlines are going to improve their connections to Western Europe at the expense of their destinations in the East. The company is currently serving 46 airports in CEE.
May 30, 2011
Sberbank Targeting RBI
The Russian bank intends to expand its business to Kazakhstan and the Baltic countries. Both companies denied speculations about a potential capital injection.
May 30, 2011
Purchasing Power Parities 2011 from the Austrian Perspective
US travelling is cheap due to the strong euro. Austrians have high purchasing power advantages of around 50% in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
May 27, 2011
ÖBB: No Sale of Loss-Making Rail Cargo Hungaria
The Austrian Federal Railways want to become market leader in rail cargo in Central and Southeastern Europe. € 30m will be invested in Hungary.
May 27, 2011
Alpine Lands Pipeline Project in Czech Republic
The Austrian construction company is going to build 105.8 km of a new gas pipeline. The contract value is € 76.7m.
May 26, 2011
Eastern Europe Becoming Attractive Again
For two years Austrians have abstained from investing in Eastern Europe, resulting in a loss of market share in these countries. Interest starts to recover now.
May 25, 2011
Alpine to Build Motorway in Romania
The Austrian construction company is going to build a motorway section for € 91m within a period of 22 months.
May 24, 2011
CA Immo Sold Two Shopping Centers in the Czech Republic
The Austrian real estate group and a Czech investor agreed on the sale of two malls for an amount of € 96m.
May 24, 2011