Vienna International Media Industry News

Read the latest headlines about developments in the international media industry in Vienna and Austria

Telekom Austrian Interested in Bulgarian Vivacom

The second-largest Bulgarian telecommunication enterprise is for sale. Telekom Austria has good prospects to become the buyer.

January 16, 2012

Hutchinson Acquired Orange

The Chinese telecommunication operator takes over Frenche Orange. The acquisition price totals € 1.0bn.

January 14, 2012

Telekom Austria Faces New Taxes in Croatia

Croatia re-introduces extraordinary taxes for telecommunication operators. The local government is criticized by Telekom Austria and the EU.

January 13, 2012

Supervisory Board of Telekom Austria Calls For Dividend Suspension

The supervisory board member Alexander Sollak claims that not dividends should be paid out for 2011. Instead, the equity base should be strengthened.

January 9, 2012

T-Mobile and Hutchinson 3G Become Partners

The Austrian subsidiary of the German T-Mobile and the Chinese Hutchinson 3G closed an agreement over a long-term grid partnership.

January 5, 2012

Tele2 Finalizes Acquisition of Silver Server

The Austrian Internet service provider is taken over for € 12.3m after the competition authority has approved the deal.

December 23, 2011

SPÖ Wants to Defend State’s Stake in Telekom Austria

According to State Secretary Andreas Schieder, the ÖIAG should defend its shareholding of 28%.

December 22, 2011

Pecik Extends Stake in Telekom Austria

The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik is told to become the largest shareholder in Telekom Austria. Up to 29% are possible.

December 20, 2011

Serbia Tries Privatization Again

After the privatization of Telekom Srbija has failed in spring 2011, the Serbian government tries again. Telekom Austria could still show interest.

December 19, 2011

Norwegian Telenor to Enter Telekom Austria

The core shareholder at Telekom Austria, Ronny Pecik, could re-sell its recently acquired stakes. Telenor and the Russian Sistema are interested.

December 17, 2011

Telekom Austria Cuts Dividend

The Austrian telecommunication company will pay a dividend of € 0.38 per share in the years 2011 and 2012.

December 16, 2011

Pecik to Enlarge Activities in Telekom

The new core shareholder of Telekom Austria, Ronny Pecik, plans to acquire further shares. He will enter the supervisory board.

December 14, 2011

Orange-Sale to Chinese Hutchinson Uncertain

The sale of the Austrian subsidiary of France Télécom is not fixed yet. Negotiations already run for four months.

December 12, 2011

Troubles at State Holding ÖIAG

The dividend policy at Telekom Austria is criticized fiercely. Moreover, the new core shareholders at Telekom and OMV cause fears of takeovers.

December 10, 2011

Pecik Calls For Supervisory Board Members

The new core shareholder of Telekom Austria, Ronny Pecik wants to extend his influence on the management.

December 9, 2011

Telekom Austria: Write-Offs in Belarus

Due to the hyperinflation in Belarus, Telekom Austria´s write-offs could reach up to € 400m.

December 8, 2011

Telekom Austria: “Hyperinflation Accounting” Applicable in Belarus

The Austrian telecommunication group will have to make inflation adjustments for its local subsidiary Velcom.

December 8, 2011

Bewag Sells TV Station BKF

The regional energy provider and a Viennese publishing house have agreed on the sale. Closing is expected to take place in December.

November 25, 2011

New Rumors about Takeover of Phone Service Provider Orange

“3” has reportedly offered € 1.4bn for an acquisition of its competitor. Assets worth € 300m might be sold to market leader A1.

November 25, 2011

Pecik Now Owns 15% in Telekom Austria

The Austrian investor has bought additional shares in the telecommunication group, making him the second largest shareholder.

November 25, 2011

Profit Decline for Telekom Austria

Group revenue decline and lower Group EBITDA comparable mainly driven by competition in Austria and FX devaluation in Belarus. In the third quarter, revenues and EBITDA were stable.

November 14, 2011

No Surprises Expected for Telekom Austria

UniCredit forecasts EBITDA of € 398m for the third quarter of Telekom Austria to Activities in Belarus are still seen as potential risk factor.

November 8, 2011

Croatian Parliament Abolishes 6% Mobile Service Tax

The local subsidiary of Telekom Austria benefits from the abolition of the special tax which caused expenses of € 15.2m in 2010.

October 28, 2011

New Co-Investor for Pecik

Ronny Pecik, who is said to have acquired a substantial stake in Telekom Austria, now has a new partner. The Egyptian Sawiris faces liquidity problems.

October 24, 2011

Pecik to Resell Stake in Telekom Austria?

The Austrian investor is reportedly planning to buy further shares and to sell the package to Russian Vimpelcom in several years.

October 21, 2011

Online Shopping is Booming in Austria

45% of the Austrian population already practiced online shopping. The share of enterprises using mobile broadband connections rose significantly against 2010.

October 18, 2011

Telekom Austria Appoints Group Compliance Manager

Telekom Austria is going to hire a renowned expert to modernize the company’s compliance management as a relevant countermeasure to guarantee clean business practices.

October 17, 2011

Pecik Acquires Minor Stake in Telekom Austria

The Austrian investor now enters the Vienna-listed Telekom Austria Group. For the time being, Pecik holds a 5.4% stake.

October 17, 2011

Hostile Takover of Telekom Austria?

According to market rumors, Telekom Austria prepares measures against a potential takeover. Currently, the corporation faces several troubles.

October 3, 2011

Springer Shows Interest for „Krone“ and „Kurier“

The German media group is willing to purchase the major stakes of the Austrian newspapers “Krone” and “Kurier” held by the German WAZ (Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung).

October 1, 2011

Red Bull Intends to Enter China

The Austrian energy drink producer has concluded the technical test phase. The market entry into China is now within splitting distance.

September 27, 2011

Layoff at UPC

The Austrian subsidiary of the U.S. group Liberty Global further reduces staff.

September 20, 2011

Austria and Azerbaijan Expand Cooperation

An Austrian delegation will hold several meetings with Azerbaijani ministries and private companies.

September 20, 2011

Austrian Telekom: Social Democrats Warn of „Unfriendly Takeover“

For the executive director of the SPÖ, Günther Kräuter, “a new major shareholder from Egypt or Russia would be problematic.”

September 12, 2011

New Major Shareholder for Telekom Austria?

After the exit of a U.S. fund, investor Ronny Pecik might acquire a substantial stake in the Austrian telecommunication group.

September 9, 2011

Emporia Hires Boris Nemsic as Advisor

The telecom expert was appointed to the advisory board of the Upper Austrian manufacturer of mobile phones for elderly people.

September 8, 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

Hans Tschuden Remains CFO of Telekom Austria

The Austrian telecommunication group re-elected Hans Tschuden as Chief Financial Officer and Vice Chairman of the Management Board.

August 17, 2011

Telekom Austria Adjusts Guidance for Devaluation of Belarus Ruble

The Austrian telecommunication group incurred a net loss of € 59.2m in the first half of the year. Revenue expectations for the full year were reduced from € 4.6bn to € 4.5bn.

August 17, 2011

Telekom Austria: Ex-Manager Applied for Leniency

Internal investigations also revealed dubious real estate transactions in the Austrian telecommunication group.

August 11, 2011

Former Board Member of Telekom Austria Admits Share Price Manipulation

Pressure is growing in the affair: Three former board members are said to have been involved in market manipulation.

August 10, 2011

Corruption Scandal at Telekom Austria

After internal inspections, the Austrian telecommunication group sent an extensive report to the public prosecutor’s office. One employee has been fired already.

August 8, 2011

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

Boris Nemsic Joins Delta Partners

The former CEO of Telekom Austria was appointed executive partner of Delta Partners' investment business.

July 6, 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

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

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

France Telecom Evaluating Its Activities in Austria

The future of Orange Austria could be decided before October. The cooperation in networks might have been the first step towards a merger with T-Mobile Austria.

May 25, 2011

EPIC Completes the Acquisition of UkrTelekom

The Austrian financial investor purchases 92.79% of the Ukrainian telecommunications company for € 921m.

May 16, 2011

Surprisingly High Losses for Telekom Austria

After profits of € 91.2m in the first quarter of 2010, Telekom Austria suffered losses of € 79.2m in Q1/2011. This is mainly due to a social restructuring plan.

May 11, 2011