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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
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
Ruttenstorfer Fine Confirmed
The fine imposed to the CEO of Austrian OMV, Wolfgang Ruttenstorfer, for market manipulation, remains standing.
January 22, 2011
Atrium Intends to Clarify Purported Event of Default
After the statement of the Austrian Meinl Bank to sue the real estate fund Atrium because of a “default of payment”, Atrium announces its point of view.
January 22, 2011
Meinl Bank: New Attacks Against Atrium
The dispute between the Austrian bank and the American-Israeli real estate fund is getting fiercer. Meinl is calling a bond.
January 21, 2011
Tax Treaty between Austria and Germany
Austria and Germany sign a revision protocol on double taxation agreements to implement the OECD standards of transparency and effective exchange of information.
January 19, 2011
Bank Taxes: „Job Cuts or Price Increase”
According to Michael Ikrath, bank representative of the “Sparkassen”, the new charges for Austrian banks are the highest in Europe.
January 17, 2011
Auer-Welsbach Pleads Not Guilty
The former CEO of the Austrian AvW stays by his actions on the first day of his trial.
January 12, 2011
AvW: Big Lawsuit because of Investment Fraud
One of the largest proceedings in Austrian economic history is being conducted against the former financial services provider AvW.
January 10, 2011