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Austria and Germany - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, investment, diplomacy, culture and tourism

Board Member Bierwirth Leaves AUA

Andreas Bierwirth, member auf Austrian Airline´s management board, will exit. It is supposed that the austerity package caused controversies within AUA´s management.

March 2, 2012

Schlecker Closes Branches

The insolvent German chemist chain shuts down the half of its branches in Germany. In Austria, inprofitable shops will be closed.

March 1, 2012

AUA Delays Extraordinary Supervisory Board Meeting

AUA´s management has not reached a compromise with its staff yet. As a new collective agreement is still missing, the supervisory board meeting has been postponed by March 13.

March 1, 2012

Banking Industry As „Cash Cow“?

For RZB´s CEO Rothensteiner, the increase in bank tax is “not fair”. The government plans to raise bank taxes by 25%.

February 29, 2012

Rewe Suspected of Price Arrangements

The Austrian Federal Competition Authority (BWB) suspects Rewe Group for having made price arrangements with competitors and suppliers.

February 28, 2012

Merger of Nabucco-TANAP Discussed

Members of the gas pipeline projects Nabucco and TANAP talk about a merger in Vienna. The Turkish Minister of Energy participates therein.

February 28, 2012

Nationalization of VBAG: Austrian State Holds 49%

After Kommunalkredit and Hypo Group, VBAG becomes the third Austrian bank which is publicly owned.

February 28, 2012

Tyrol Equity Takes over Rim Producer BBS

The Austrian industrial hold, owned by Raiffeisen, Hypo Tyrol and Swarovski, acquired the insolvent German rim producer BBS.

February 27, 2012

Atos Keeps Vienna as CEE Headquarters

After the takeover of Siemens IT solutions (SIS), the French IT service provider keeps Vienna as headquarters for Central and Eastern Europe.

February 27, 2012

Austria: Low Attractiveness as Research Location

According to a study among European scientists, Austria loses its reputation. The most attractive destination is the U.S.

February 27, 2012

Plaut Improved Sales and Earnings

The Austrian Plaut Aktiengesellschaft, listed on the General Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, announced its provisional and unaudited consolidated result for fiscal 2011.

February 27, 2012

Significant Increase in Austrian Steel Exports to U.S.

U.S. Steel Imports are rising substantially, prices are on the fall. Austrian suppliers could raise their share.

February 27, 2012

Hutchinson-Orange Merger: T-Mobile Becomes Impatient

T-Mobile Austria, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom puts pressure on the Austrian Competition Authority. The merger must include a number of requirements.

February 25, 2012

Decision on Nabucco Again Postponed

The natural gas consortium „Shah Deniz II“ postpones its decision by one year. OMV´s CEO Gerhard Roiss underlines the importance of a pipeline to the Austrian hub Baumgarten.

February 24, 2012

Siemens Austria Has Growth Targets

The Austrian subsidiary of the German Siemens Group builds a new factory at the Viennese sub-headquarters.

February 24, 2012

T-Mobile Austria Records Declining Results

The Austrian subsidiary of the German telecommunication group registered a decrease in EBITDA by 10.6%. Sales were down by 6.0%.

February 23, 2012

Austria Will Not Get „AAA“ Back in Near Future

The economist at the German Deka bank, Ulrich Kater, does not think that Austria will be upgraded within the next years.

February 22, 2012

Orange-Deal: Additional Contribution Threatens

France Télécom and Mid European Partners, the sellers of the Austrian mobile phone operator Orange, may need to pay an additional contribution.

February 22, 2012

Lower Sales at Rosenbauer

The Austrian producer of fire fighting vehicles registered a 9% decrease in revenues. EBIT was down by 17%, order intake was up by 66%. Basic capacity utilization secured until 2014.

February 22, 2012

All-Clear for Opel Site in Vienna

Although the German automobile producer faces serious troubles, the Viennese factory is not endangered to cut jobs.

February 21, 2012

Nabucco Still Competes For Gas in Azerbaijan

The gas pipeline project, in which the Austrian oil company OMV is engaged, now enters the critical phase.

February 21, 2012

AUA: Time Pressure Grows

Only eight days are left for the management of Austrian Airlines to agree on a new collective agreement with the employees. An acceptable solution for both sides may be barely found.

February 21, 2012

Resch Exceeds € 100m Sales

The Austrian bakery producer Resch & Frisch could record € 100m in sales last year. For 2012, sales of 105m are planned.

February 21, 2012

Market for Solar Power Shrinks

The Austrian renewable energy market showed a substantial slump in 2011. Subsidies were cut considerably.

February 20, 2012

AUA Attempts to Prevent FlyNiki to Approach Tel Aviv

Austrian Airlines files a complaint against FlyNiki at the Austrian

February 18, 2012

German Justice Puts Pressure on Former Hypo Group Executives

In order to get damage compensation, the German justice opens legal proceedings against the former CEO´s of Austrian Hypo Group, Tilo Berlin and Wolfgang Kulterer.

February 18, 2012

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

AUA: Atmosphere on the Brink

Austrian Airlines is endangered to face persisting disputes. The conflict between the management and the works council sharpened further.

February 17, 2012

VBAG´s CEO: „Bank Aid Only Last Exit“

Gerald Wenzel, chairman of VBAG´s executive board, continues the downsizing strategy. A new bank aid would be the “ultima ratio”.

February 17, 2012

Porr Takes over German TKDZ

The Austrian construction group takes over Trierer Kalk-, Dolomit- und Zementwerke (TKDZ) in Wellen.

February 17, 2012

Slight Sales Increase at Internorm

The Austrian window manufacturer recorded sales of € 311m in 2011, which is a rise of 2.0% against 2010. Exports to Germany grew disproportionately high.

February 16, 2012

Air France to Enlarge Operations in Austria

The loss-making airline is under enormous growth pressure and reorganizes itself. Austria is seen as growth market.

February 16, 2012

CA Immo: PwC Leased Additional Space in Frankfurt's Tower 185

Space leased of Frankfurt´s tower 185 increased to 75%. The consulting company leased another 2,800m2.

February 16, 2012

Conflict Between AUA´s Management and Staff Escalates

2,300 employees of Austrian Airlines are endangered to be forced to switch to another collective agreement. AUA hopes to reach an agreement.

February 15, 2012

Austerity Package Brings Burden of € 900m for Companies

The Austrian austerity package causes costs of € 900m for the Austrian real economy until 2016. Especially non-wage labor costs rise.

February 14, 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

Rising Profits and Sales at Fabasoft

The Austrian software producer announces preliminary figures for the first nine months of the fiscal year 2011/2012.

February 13, 2012

Illegal Income from Switzerland Should Support Government´s Plans

The Austrian government hopes that proceeds from illegal income in Switzerland reach € 1.0bn in 2013. However, an agreement with Switzerland has not been concluded so far.

February 13, 2012

Massive Increase in Energy Consumption

Austrian power plants are running at full speed. Energy supply was up by 14% last week.

February 11, 2012

AUA: Resistance of Workforce Could Be Given Up

After serious warnings of the management of Austrian Airlines, the works councils are ready to talk about new collective agreements.

February 11, 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

Schlumberger Records Rise in Earnings

In spite of difficult market conditions, the Austrian sparkling wine producer holds on its ambitious growth targets. Exports should be reinforced.

February 10, 2012

Lufthansa to Bundle Operations

In order to achieve the austerity targets, Lufthansa centralizes operations. Austrian Airlines is highly affected.

February 10, 2012

Shortage in Energy Supply: Austria Helps Germany Out

In Germany, wind power plants record a decrease in energy production. German energy suppliers called for Austrian electricity.

February 9, 2012

AUA to be Re-Sold?

Rumors on Austrian Airlines do not end. A sale by Lufhansa is discussed, even the insolvency is not excluded.

February 9, 2012

Moderate Rise in Passengers at AUA

Austrian Airlines traffic result for January 2012: 7.1 percent increase in Passenger Volume. European traffic rose slightly stronger.

February 9, 2012

Schlecker: „Austria Remains Independent“

The insolvent German chemist chain underlines that ist Austrian subsidiary is „definitively not affected“ by the insolvency proceedings.

February 9, 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

Growing Nerviness at AUA´s Workforce

The workforce at Austrian Airlines feels uncertainty. Even a bankruptcy is feared.

February 8, 2012