Austrian Economic Legal Issues and Insolvencies

Read the latest headlines about laws, jurisdictions and court decisions in Vienna and Austria with reference to the international interest

Strong Decline in Company Insolvencies

The number of private insolvencies rose rapidly from January to September, while the number of companies filing for bankruptcy dropped significantly.

September 28, 2011

A-Tec: Kovats Cancels Sale to Contor

The Austrian conglomerate needs another € 90m in order to fulfill the restructuring plan. A new general meeting will be held.

September 28, 2011

Kneissl to Be Taken Over by Foreign Investor

Negotiations about the sale of the bankrupt Tyrolean ski producer are about to be concluded. Three investors from Europe and overseas are still interested in an acquisition.

September 23, 2011

Sale of A-Tec on the Brink of Failure

The Supervisory Board of the insolvent technology group wants to take up negotiations with Penta Investments again after a Pakistani investor pulled out of the deal.

September 22, 2011

FPÖ Claims New Currency Area

The chairman of the Austrian Freedom Party, Heinz-Christian Strache, calls for the creation of a “core Europe” with a new currency.

September 19, 2011

Increasing Equity Quotas of Austrian SME

The average equity quota of Austrian SME in 2009/2010 was 28%. This is an improvement against the previous years. However, 30% of SMEs are overindebted.

September 19, 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

Asfinag Pays First Dividend Since 2008

A pending lawsuit might cost the Austrian motorway financing company up to € 37m. Full-year profit is still expected to rise.

September 8, 2011

A-Tec Accepts Offer of Contor Industries

After several months of negotiations a decision has been made: The group will be split up, ATB and Montanwerke Brixlegg will be sold to foreign investors.

September 5, 2011

A-Tec: Kovats to Step Back by Year-End

The CEO of the insolvent Austrian group wants to finalize the deal with an investor before resigning from his position. Negotiations with Penta have been suspended.

September 1, 2011

Kneissl: Decision about Sale to Be Taken in September

Four international investors are interested in taking over the insolvent Austrian ski manufacturer. A purchase price of € 4m is expected.

August 29, 2011

A-Tec: Supervisory Board Postpones Decision to September

A decision on the sale of the insolvent conglomerate will not be taken before 2 September. Penta Investments is irritated by the offer of a competing bidder.

August 26, 2011

Kovats with New Plans for A-Tec

According to a new proposal, Penta Investments should only take over part of the Austrian conglomerate. CEO Kovats has submitted an own offer with financial support from a Pakistani billionaire.

August 24, 2011

Further Delay in Sale of A-Tec

The group’s supervisory board has asked for expert advice on the sales process. A decision might be taken at the end of August.

August 18, 2011

Sale of A-Tec Imminent – Mirko Kovats Attacks Politicians and Banks

The Austrian conglomerate’s negotiations with investors are about to be concluded. CEO Kovats criticized banks for being “no help in securing jobs”.

August 11, 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

Blue Chip Energy Filed for Insolvency

The solar cell producer has abandoned production today. Asian investors are said to be interested in an acquisition of the Burgenland-based company.

July 21, 2011

voestalpine Sues EU Over Plans for Carbon Emissions

The Austrian steel company and four German competitors filed a lawsuit against the EU. They argue that CO2 emission targets are unrealistic and unachievable.

July 21, 2011

House Searches at A-Tec’s Management

Serious allegations have been made against Board Members of the Austrian conglomerate which is currently negotiating with potential investors. Eight houses have been searched.

July 20, 2011

A-Tec: Kovats Wants to Stay on Board

CEO Mirko Kovats does not want to give up control over the Austrian conglomerate. He is trying to push through a sale to his favorite bidder which would give him a role in the group.

July 15, 2011

Bankruptcy Judge Stops Production at Kneissl

The Austrian ski manufacturer continues the search for an investor. Production has been stopped by the judge in the bankruptcy proceedings.

July 14, 2011

A-Tec Received Binding Offers from Investors

Investors will need at least € 210m in order to fulfill the payout plan. Up to five potential buyers were still interested in an acquisition.

July 1, 2011

Slight Decline in Company Insolvencies

Private insolvencies are on the rise, while the number of companies filing for bankruptcy is falling moderately.

June 28, 2011

Five Investors Still Interested in A-Tec

A-Tec boss Mirko Kovats has to find a buyer for his insolvent group by June 30. Investors will need at least € 225m in order to fulfill the payout plan.

June 24, 2011

Constitutional Court Cancels Starting Date of New Capital Gains Tax

The Court has no objections to the new capital gains tax itself. Only the starting date for automatic collection by the banks was declared unconstitutional.

June 24, 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

Atrium and Meinl Bank Agree to Stop All Legal Proceedings

The American-Israeli real estate fund and the Austrian bank reached a settlement agreement on the dismissal of all claims between them.

June 17, 2011

Record Loss for A-Tec in 2010

The insolvent company reported a loss of € 585m. Nonetheless, CEO Kovats sees a positive development and remains optimistic.

June 15, 2011

No Money from Al Jaber: Restructuring of Kneissl Has Failed

The last attempt to rescue the Tyrolian ski manufacturer has failed as majority owner Al Jaber has not transferred the € 2.1m necessary to continue business. The company will be liquidated.

June 15, 2011

AUA: Broken Al-Jaber-Deal Has Consequences

One former and one current board member of the airline were sentenced to penalty payments for not having provided information to the shareholders.

June 9, 2011

Swedish Investor Buys Insolvent JoWood

The Austrian computer game producer will resume business after its acquisition. A payout plan ratio for the creditors has not yet been determined.

June 6, 2011

Kneissl: Creditors Accept Restructuring Plans

Al Jaber has to pay € 2m into an escrow account before June 15. Otherwise, the Tyrolian company will be liquidated.

June 1, 2011

Penta Investments Interested in A-Tec

Time is pressing. A decision has to be made by the end of June.

May 27, 2011

Crisis Not the Cause of Most Bankruptcies

The majority of last year’s insolvencies had company-internal reasons and was not directly related to the economic crisis.

May 19, 2011

Signs of Recovery at A-Tec

The insolvent company showed a satisfactory development in all divisions in the first quarter.

May 13, 2011

A-Tec Restructuring Plan Confirmed

With a quota of 47%, the restructuring plan of the insolvent A-Tec was confirmed.

May 12, 2011

A-Tec: Coal Power Plant Will Not Be Converted

The insolvent company pulls back from its request to convert the Styrian power plant Voitsberg III. The total investment would have amounted to € 100m.

May 4, 2011

Erste Group Wins Lawsuit in Sweden

In a legal dispute over shares in a Swedish bank worth € 225m, the position of the Austrian Erste Group was able to prevail.

April 21, 2011

Bizarre Allegations of Meinl against Atrium

The ongoing conflict between the Austrian bank and the US-Israeli real estate fund shows new and unusual facets.

February 16, 2011

Accusations against Hypo Group in Slovenia

The Austrian bank is under investigation because of suspicious real estate and financial transactions.

February 15, 2011

Serious Allegations Against Former AUA CEO

Sheikh Mohamed Al Jaber, who wanted to take over Austrian Airlines in 2008, considers himself to have been seriously deceived by the former management and raises accusations.

February 10, 2011

A-Tec: Bad News from China

Because of a joint venture gone insolvent in China in 2008, there are unpaid claims for about € 15m against the Austrian A-Tec.

February 8, 2011

Atrium Terminates Trust Agreements with Meinl

The US-American/Israeli fund Atrium terminates trust agreements with the Austrian Meinl Bank AG under the 2003 and 2005 bonds due to “important reasons”.

February 3, 2011

Austria's Credit Industry Appeals to the Constitutional Court

The price gains tax introduced as of January 1, 2011 encounters legal resistance. The Banking Division of the Chamber of Commerce announced a complaint of unconstitutionality.

February 2, 2011

AvW Trial: Eight Years in Prison

An 8 years imprisonment sentence was imposed on the founder and CEO of AvW Group, Wolfgang Auer-Welsbach,

February 1, 2011

Skylink: Judicial Investigations are Presently being Conducted

The final report of the Audit Court on the Vienna International Airport Skylink project has been submitted. Criticism is devastating. Criminal investigations are starting.

February 1, 2011

Atrium: "Meinl Exploited its Position as a Trustee”

After the repayment of the convertible bond to the Austrian Meinl Bank, the real estate funds considers the calling as "blatant unlawfulness."

February 1, 2011

Meinl Bank to Cancel Previously Scheduled Bondholder Meeting

According to Atrium, a US/Israeli real estate company, circumstances causing a cross-default event do not subsist anymore.

January 29, 2011

Meinl Bank Continues to Claim Default of Atrium

Meinl Bank: „Atrium zahlt Meinl Bank states: "Contrary to their own announcement Atrium is not paying back the 10.75% convertible bond". Cross default risk remains upright

January 28, 2011

Atrium Repays Convertible Bond to Meinl

The American-Israeli real estate fund Atrium repays the 10.75% 2008 convertible bond to the Austrian Meinl Bank.

January 25, 2011