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        Vienna International Community - Other Top Players - Latest Headlines
Read updated news about other key people in Vienna's international community
          
    
        Government: Dispute Over Pensions
      
      The Austrian government parties SPÖ and ÖVP disagree over contributions by retirees. The austerity package is far from being resolved.
                                  February 6, 2012                                        
    
    
        Mitterlehner: „Shortages in Russian Gas Supply Not Dangerous“
      
      For The Austrian Minister of Economics, Reinhold Mitterlehner, the sudden cut in Russian natural gas supply is “no dangerous scenario”.
                                  February 6, 2012                                        
    
    
        Pecik Aims for Reaching Blocking Minority
      
      The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik intends to re-organize the supervisory board. Nevertheless, operating functions are not targeted.
                                  February 4, 2012                                        
    
    
        Sorger „Focusing on Business Location“
      
      The President of the Federation of Austrian Industries, Veit Sorger, reaffirmed the strengthen Austria´s economic competitiveness.
                                  February 4, 2012                                        
    
    
        Support for AUA´s Management
      
      Christoph Leitl, President of Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ), shows support for the management of Austrian Airlines.
                                  January 31, 2012                                        
    
    
        Austerity: ÖVP Becomes Impatient
      
      Negotiations between the coalition partners SPÖ and ÖVP are going on. ÖVP´s chairman Spindelegger locates an “incredibly big need of consolidation”.
                                  January 31, 2012                                        
    
    
        FPÖ Wants Cuts in Spendings
      
      The biggest Austrian opposition party suggests reducing public expenditures in order to reduce the budget deficit. Chairman Strache calls for a “subsidy brake”.
                                  January 30, 2012                                        
    
    
        Felderer Attacks Austrian Government
      
      The head of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies fiercely criticizes Austrian politicians. Felderer claims to put effort in the restructuring of public finance.
                                  January 30, 2012                                        
    
    
        New Management Board Member at RBI
      
      Raiffeisen Bank International: Klemens Breuer starts in mid-April. Patrick Butler chooses to resign his mandate.
                                  January 30, 2012                                        
    
    
        Hypo Group´s Result „Close to Zero“
      
      CEO Gottwald Kranebitter announced that Hypo Group Alpe Adria could reduce its losses significantly in 2011.
                                  January 30, 2012                                        
    
    
        Al Jaber Owns Kneissl Again
      
      The insolvent ski manufacturer Kneissl will be owned by the Arab investor Al Jaber again. Creditors approved to a 20% quota.
                                  January 28, 2012                                        
    
    
        VKB Records Rise in Results
      
      The regional bank VKB´s operating result improved by 9.0%.
                                  January 28, 2012                                        
    
    
        Romanian President Appreciates Erste Group´s Decision
      
      Traian Basescu, President of Romania, is pleased with Erste Group´s announcement to continue its business in Romania.
                                  January 28, 2012                                        
    
    
        Stepic: „Reaching AAA Again Is Possible“
      
      RBI´s CEO Herbert Stepic thinks that due to the strength of Austria´s real economy, re-gaining the triple A is possible within the next years.
                                  January 28, 2012                                        
    
    
        Austerity: Leitl and Sorger Call for More Effort
      
      The Presidents of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) and the Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ) aim for re-gaining the “AAA” for Austria. The government should cut expenses instead of rising taxes.
                                  January 27, 2012                                        
    
    
        RBI´s CEO Expects € 60m Losses in Hungary
      
      Herbert Stepic, CEO of Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International, emphasizes to stay in Hungary. The foreign currency debt conversion causes severe losses.
                                  January 26, 2012                                        
    
    
        Austrian Economy: Slowdown, But No Recession
      
      The Federation of Austrian Industries (IV) says that Austria will not face a recession in 2012. Nevertheless, the economic slowdown is significant.
                                  January 26, 2012                                        
    
    
        S&P Downgrades Austrian Provinces
      
      The U.S. rating agencies lowers ratings for Upper Austria, Vienna and Tyrol from “AAA” to “AA+”.
                                  January 26, 2012                                        
    
    
        Treichl: „S&P Errs Sometimes“
      
      Erste Bank is ‘not guilty’ of Austria’s downgrade, CEO Andreas Treichl says.
                                  January 25, 2012                                        
    
    
        Scharinger: „Rating Agencies Are Instruments of Torture“
      
      The leaving CEO of RLB Upper Austria, Ludwig Scharinger, is convinced that Europe needs must make itself more competitive against the U.S. financial industry.
                                  January 24, 2012                                        
    
    
        “Europe, quo vadis?”
      
      Today, the 9th Vienna Congress com•sult takes place in Vienna. The central issue “Challenges of Leadership in Europe” is discussed, among others, by Lech Walesa, Hans-Dietrich Genscher and Avigdor Liberman.
                                  January 24, 2012                                        
    
    
        Austrian Mercedes Production Endangered to Shift to Hungary
      
      Construction of the SUV Mercedes G-class could switch from the Magna factory in Graz to Hungary.
                                  January 24, 2012                                        
    
    
        Strache Claims Cut in Subsidies
      
      The chairman of the Austrian opposition party FPÖ criticized the government fiercely for its fiscal policy.
                                  January 23, 2012                                        
    
    
        Leitl: „Croatians are Most Welcome“
      
      The President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce is looking forward to Croatia´s EU accession in 2013.
                                  January 23, 2012                                        
    
    
        Central Bank Act: Orban Gives In
      
      Hungary waives the planned merger of the Central Bank and the Financial Market Authority. Yesterday, Austria´s Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Orban in Budapest.
                                  January 21, 2012                                        
    
    
        Austrian Railways Reduced Losses
      
      The Austrian Railways (ÖBB) is still in the red. Nevertheless, losses were lower than initially expected.
                                  January 19, 2012                                        
    
    
        Treichl: „Erste Could Bear Hair Cut in Hungary“
      
      Andreas Treichl, Erste Group´s CEO, is optimistic for Hungary. A withdrawal of Erste Group is not considered.
                                  January 18, 2012                                        
    
    
        Austrian Banks Claim to Continue „Vienna Initiative“
      
      In 2009, international banks agreed on maintaining their lending operations in Eastern Europe. Now, the cooperation should be extended.
                                  January 18, 2012                                        
    
    
        New Management at Vienna Stock Exchange
      
      Birgit Kuras is the new Member of the Management Board of Wiener Börse AG.
                                  January 18, 2012                                        
    
    
        Metro Cancels Kaufhof Sale
      
      The Austrian real estate investor René Benko has to abandon the plan to take over the German retail chain Kaufhof.
                                  January 17, 2012                                        
    
    
        Pecik´s Stake in Telekom Austria Beyond 20%
      
      The Austrian investor currently holds 15.0% of Telekom Austria´s share capital. Furthermore, Pecik owns call options for another 5.1%.
                                  January 17, 2012                                        
    
    
        Government to Sharpen Austerity Measures
      
      After the downgrade of Austrian sovereign bonds from „AAA“ to „AA+“ by S&P, the Austrian government aims to reach its austerity targets earlier.
                                  January 17, 2012                                        
    
    
        Porr: Capital Increase Flows Smoothly
      
      According to Porr´s CEO Karl Heinz Strauss, the Austrian construction group raises ist capital within the next 60 days. Operating business is performing well, Strauss says.
                                  January 16, 2012                                        
    
    
        Austrian Labor Market is Stable
      
      The Minister of Social Affairs, Rudolf Hundstorfer, strikes a balance of the labor market in 2011 and refers to the lowest unemployment rate in the EU.
                                  January 15, 2012                                        
    
    
        Downgrade: „It´s Time to Take Action“
      
      The downgrade of Austria´s rating from “AAA” to “AA+” caused mixed reactions. The Austrian economy urges for structural actions.
                                  January 15, 2012                                        
    
    
        New Management for Microsoft Austria
      
      With Georg Obermeier, the Austrian subsidiary of the U.S. software group has a new executive.
                                  January 14, 2012                                        
    
    
        Treichl Does Not Expect Hungarian National Insolvency
      
      In spite of a large exposure in Hungary, Andreas Treichl, Erste Group´s CEO is optimistic. By 2014, Erste Group Hungary should be profitable again.
                                  January 14, 2012                                        
    
    
        Downgrade: Government Surprised and Criticized
      
      For the Austrian government, the downgrade by the U.S. rating agency is „not comprehensible”. The domestic industry urgently claims structural reforms.
                                  January 14, 2012                                        
    
    
        Unions Protest Against AUA´s Plans
      
      Austrian trade unions are strictly against new austerity measures at Austrian Airlines. Management wants to negotiate over new collective agreements.
                                  January 12, 2012                                        
    
    
        „Vienna Is One of the Most Undervalued Stock Exchange in the World“
      
      According to the investment funds manager Alois Wögerbauer, Vienna has a huge upside potential.
                                  January 12, 2012                                        
    
    
        Pressure on Hungary Increases
      
      The chairman of the Austrian Central Bank, Ewald Nowotny, sees no danger for Austrian banks from Hungary. EU and IMF criticize the Hungarian government.
                                  January 11, 2012                                        
    
    
        Zotter Sounds Chinese Market
      
      The Austrian chocolatier Josef Zotter wants to offer his products to Chinese customers. A market entry is considered.
                                  January 11, 2012                                        
    
    
        VIG Has „No Problems in Hungary“
      
      “We are an insurance group and not a bank.”, said the management of Vienna Insurance Group. Nevertheless, the developments are observed thoroughly.
                                  January 11, 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                                        
    
    
        ÖVP Does Not Exclude New Taxes Anymore
      
      Against previous statements, the head of the Austrian conservatives, Michael Spindelegger, considers to introduce new taxes.
                                  January 9, 2012                                        
    
    
        „Not Talking Down Austerity Policy“
      
      Bernhard Felderer, head of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies (IHS), warns daily issued ideas for new taxes. First signs of a recovery are arising.
                                  January 7, 2012                                        
    
    
        Austria Grants Highest Subsidies in Europe
      
      In 2010, subsidies amounting to 6.5% of the Austrian GDP were distributed. The EU-average is only the half.
                                  January 7, 2012                                        
    
    
        „We Are at the Tipping Point“
      
      2012 will be a crucial year for Europe and Austria, says the director of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO). The coming decade will be coined by debt reduction.
                                  January 5, 2012                                        
    
    
        Austrian Economy Pushes for Austerity
      
      In order to prevent new taxes, the Austrian Chamber of Commmerce and the Federation of Industries call for austerity measures.
                                  January 5, 2012                                        
    
    
        Austerity Package: Business Association Warns of New Taxes
      
      New taxes would be an “attack against the economy”, general secretary Peter Haubner says.
                                  January 4, 2012                                        
    
      
    