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Igor Strehl Launches Dunaj Family Office Consulting in Vienna

With the founding of Dunaj Family Office Consulting 24/7 GmbH, Igor Strehl, an experienced expert in the field of financial and real estate management, is establishing a new player in the Austrian consulting landscape. The company, which specializes in investments, relocations, and property management, is positioning itself as a comprehensive service provider and trustworthy partner for private and institutional clients in Austria.

December 2, 2024

New Institute in Vienna with Conference on Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Society

The luxury hotel SO/Vienna opened its doors for an event on the technological future: “AI & The Future: The Age of Machines” by a new think tank in Vienna, the Vienna Institute for Global Studies.

November 28, 2024

Raiffeisen Bank International: Consolidated Profit Excluding Belarus, Russia at 856 Million Euros

Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) is successfully continuing its strategy of reducing risks in challenging markets and was able to present a solid performance for the first nine months of this year despite the withdrawal from Russia and Belarus. Adjusted consolidated profit, which was calculated without contributions from these two countries, amounted to EUR 856 million. RBI thus remains stable, while at the same time implementing its withdrawal plan from the Russian business.

October 29, 2024

IAEA Holds 68th General Assembly in Vienna

The 68th General Assembly of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna has begun, providing an important platform for exchanges between member states on nuclear safety, non-proliferation, and sustainable development. In addition to discussing global issues of nuclear safety and climate change, numerous heads of state and government are taking the opportunity to hold bilateral talks.

September 17, 2024

Vienna to Become a Center for Financial Technology: AFT 2024 International Conference

Vienna will once again become the international hub for innovative financial technologies in September 2024. From September 23 to 25, 2024, the sixth edition of the Advances in Financial Technologies (AFT) conference will take place at the Austrian National Bank (OeNB).

September 11, 2024

Foreign Currency Loans in Austria Fall to New Low in Q2 2024

The market for foreign currency loans in Austria continues to decline sharply. The Financial Market Authority (FMA) published a new survey for the second quarter of 2024, which shows a further significant decline in the outstanding volume of such loans.

September 11, 2024

Finance Ministers from German-speaking Countries Adopt Lake Constance Declaration to Strengthen Competitiveness

Finance ministers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg met in picturesque Vorarlberg, Austria, to adopt the so-called "Lake Constance Declaration". This landmark declaration aims to strengthen Europe's competitiveness in a rapidly changing global economy while safeguarding the continent's prosperity and stability.

August 13, 2024

Wirecard Trial: Further Charges Against Former Management Board Members

Four years after Wirecard's spectacular bankruptcy, the Munich public prosecutor's office has brought charges against two further former members of the Management Board. The focus is on the former CFO, Alexander von Knoop, and Susanne Steidl, responsible for product development.

August 7, 2024

Austrian National Bank Examined the Spread of Crypto Assets in Austria

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin are widely known in Austria, but their actual distribution in private households remains modest. A recent study by the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) found that only 3% of the population own crypto assets. These few owners usually only hold small amounts, which rarely make up more than a third of their total financial assets.

July 16, 2024

Reorganization Proceedings of Signa Prime Selection Fail in Court for the Time Being

In a significant decision, the Vienna Higher Regional Court (OLG) upheld the appeal of the Finanzprokuratur against the trustee restructuring plan of Signa Prime Selection AG. The reorganization plan previously confirmed by the Commercial Court of Vienna was thus annulled.

July 8, 2024

Austria's Constitutional Protection Agency Warns of Chinese Economic Espionage

The Austrian Office for the Protection of the Constitution has issued an urgent warning about Chinese industrial espionage. Small and medium-sized enterprises and research centers are particularly at risk.

May 20, 2024

René Benko Business Scandal: Abu Dhabi's Ruling Family Demands Millions Back

The ruling family of Abu Dhabi, led by Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, is demanding the return of 250 million euros from René Benko via the International Court of Arbitration (ICC) in Paris.

May 14, 2024

Vienna Stock Exchange Experiences First Record Quarter Despite Global Uncertainties

The Vienna Stock Exchange closed the first quarter of 2024 with a remarkable increase in bond listings, although the economic environment continues to be characterized by high-interest rates, the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Middle East, and high inflation. Despite these challenges, the exchange recorded a record 3,000 new listings, the best start to a year in its history.

April 14, 2024

U.S. Ambassador Kennedy Will Lead Austrian Delegation to Major Investment Summit in the U.S.

In a major announcement from the US Embassy in Vienna, it has been revealed that US Ambassador Victoria Kennedy will lead a high-profile Austrian delegation to this year's SelectUSA Investment Summit. The event, which will take place from June 23-26, 2024 at the prestigious Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, is considered a key platform for promoting foreign direct investment in the United States.

March 10, 2024

Signa Group's Luxury Properties up for Sale: A Glimmer of Hope for the Redevelopment

Signa Prime Selection AG, a major player in the luxury real estate market, is currently facing financial difficulties that could now be alleviated by the planned sale of some of its most prestigious properties. Karl-Heinz Götze, the insolvency manager of the credit protection association KSV1870, sees this step as a crucial "piece of the puzzle" for an orderly resolution of Signa Prime's insolvency proceedings.

February 14, 2024

Signa-Retail Company Lamarr Declares Bankruptcy

The highly anticipated Lamarr Kaufhaus project on Mariahilfer Straße in Vienna, set to include a flagship department store and hotel, has filed for bankruptcy. This development comes as a significant blow, as the project, originally slated for completion in 2025, has faced financial turmoil. The insolvency was confirmed by the Creditors' Protection Association KSV 1870 on Friday.

February 4, 2024

Signa Prime and Development: Future Secured Despite Insolvency

The future of the two important branches of the Signa Group, Signa Prime and Signa Development, seems secure for the time being.

January 15, 2024

Vienna Stock Exchange Overcomes Challenges in 2023 with Record Bond Listings

The Vienna Stock Exchange experienced a challenging year in 2023, characterized by high interest rates, persistent inflation and geopolitical tensions affecting the European equity markets. Despite these unfavorable conditions, which impacted trading activity, the exchange achieved a record year for bond listings.

January 8, 2024

Vienna Commercial Court Establishes Creditors' Committee for Signa Holding

The Austrian Signa Holding, founded in 2000 by René Benko, is currently facing major challenges. The Commercial Court of Vienna has set up a creditors' committee for the ongoing reorganization proceedings to examine the non-transparent structures of the Signa Group and to decide on the reorganization plan offered by Signa.

December 18, 2023

The Future of a Crumbling Empire: René Benko's Signa Group in Insolvency

The insolvency of the Signa Group, an Austrian company active in various sectors, including the real estate market, has far-reaching implications. Read more about the future of the Austrian flagship company!

December 6, 2023

Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce Hosts Libyan Delegations for Industry and Digital Transformation Talks

In a series of significant events, the Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce (AACC) in Vienna, Austria, played host to high-level delegations from Libya, focusing on industrial development and digital transformation.

December 5, 2023

Vienna Stock Exchange Strengthens International Presence with Barclays as New Trading Member

The Vienna Stock Exchange announced a significant step in its international expansion with the addition of Barclays Bank Ireland PLC as a new trading member. This marks an important milestone in the history of the exchange by adding one of the world's leading banks to its trading circle.

November 21, 2023

Uncovering of Money Laundering and Real Estate Fraud in Austria and Cyprus

New leaks have uncovered a complex network of opaque asset transfers centered around Russian oligarchs and Austrian real estate. According to the investigative project "Cyprus Confidential", Austrian real estate is particularly popular with wealthy Russians. Around 40 Cypriot companies own real estate in Vienna, often penthouses in expensive locations.

November 16, 2023

Rene Benko and the Future of the Signa Group: Silence Before the Storm?

The Austrian Signa Group once celebrated as a shining star in the real estate sky and a powerful player in the retail sector, is currently facing uncertain times and financial turbulence. Company founder Rene Benko, who has led the group from a non-operational position since 2013 and holds the majority of voting rights through his family foundations, is at the center of a heated debate about the group's future.

November 6, 2023

German Car-Sharing Company Under Suspicion in Vienna for Million Euro Fraud

In a sensational move, police authorities in Germany and Austria have launched extensive investigations into a German car-sharing company, overshadowed by a blatant suspicion of multimillion-dollar parking fee fraud. The investigations are targeting the company's directors and involve alleged offenses such as gang crime, fraud, and document forgery.

October 11, 2023

Real Estate Prices in Austria Increased: Housing Increasingly Less Affordable

The cost of residential real estate in Austria has risen dramatically in recent years, significantly affecting affordability for many households. According to a recent analysis conducted by UniCredit Bank Austria, residential property prices in the euro area have risen faster than incomes. Austria has been particularly affected by this development, where property prices have actually fallen by almost 40 percent compared with incomes.

August 31, 2023

Vienna Stock Exchange: Focus on International Investors and Sustainability

The Vienna Stock Exchange continues its course of attracting international investors while promoting sustainable investment opportunities. A recently published study on the ownership structure of institutional free float in the ATX Prime, conducted every two years by S&P Global Market Intelligence (formerly IHS Markit) on behalf of the Vienna Stock Exchange, shows that international institutional investors continue to play a major role.

August 21, 2023

Austria's Consumer Protection Ministry Mandates Action Against Banks for Low Interest Rates

According to the Consumer Protection Ministry, the practice of Austrian banks of charging high-interest rates on overdrafts while granting no interest at all on credit balances is meeting with growing resentment among consumers.

August 16, 2023

Controversy Surrounds Jan Marsalek's Letter in Wirecard Scandal Trial

In connection with the Wirecard scandal trial, a letter from Jan Marsalek, a former Wirecard board member, is causing controversy. Marsalek, who has been on the run for three years, contacted the Munich Regional Court in writing through his lawyer.

July 19, 2023

Austria's Best Tax Consultants Were Awarded

The Institute for Investment Consulting (IFA AG) and the daily newspaper "Die Presse" presented the coveted "Tax Consultant of the Year" award to the best tax consultants in Austria. The festive award ceremony took place in the Sofiensälen in Vienna and was accompanied by Federal Minister of Finance Dr. Magnus Brunner as keynote speaker. More than 16,000 nominations demonstrate appreciation for both the industry and the award.

May 25, 2023

Vienna Stock Exchange Reports High Profits for Third-Year Running

Vienna's stock exchange, Wiener Börse AG, has announced high profits for the third year in a row, despite the turbulent economic environment of 2022. Vienna's stock exchange plans to continue its focus on consistent market modeling and alignment with international standards and is calling on the government to act to take advantage of the capital market's potential as a powerful lever.

May 10, 2023

Europe Minister Edtstadler Awards Outstanding Projects and Initiatives with the 2023 Europe State Prize

Austrian Europe Minister Karoline Edtsdadler awarded the winners of the 2023 Europe State Prize at the Sofiensäle in Vienna. More than 200 guestes were present at the Europe gala.

May 9, 2023

Vienna Expands German Learning Support for EU Expats

Are you a newly arrived EU citizen in Vienna and struggling to learn German? The good news is that the city of Vienna is expanding its language learning support program, the Wiener Sprachgutschein, to include EU citizens. This means that you will now have access to the same level of funding as non-EU citizens for German language courses.

May 8, 2023

Austria Establishes a National Task Force to Combat Environmental Crime

The ministers of agriculture, justice, finance, social affairs, environment, and interior established an interagency task force on April 12, 2023.

April 12, 2023

EU Approves 2 Billion Euros in State Aid for Wien Energie

The European Commission has approved 2 Billion Euros in state aid for Austrian energy supplier Wien Energie. This was done to accelerate the energy transition and reduce fuel dependency in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war, according to the EU Commission.

April 5, 2023

Patents Issued by Austria Reached Record Levels

In 2022, Austrian companies have filed more inventions with the European Patent Office than ever before. Semiconductors increased strongly.

March 29, 2023

Austrian Airlines Is Threatened With a Strike from its Personnel

In a work meeting on Tuesday, Austrian Airlines' (AUA) onboard staff rejected the proposed new collective agreement. There is now a deadline of April 6 for the negotiations to continue. A strike is imminent if no agreement is reached.

March 28, 2023

Unrestricted Access to the Austrian Labor Market for Displaced Ukrainians

Displaced Ukrainians in Austria will gain unrestricted access to the labor market, according to an amendment by the social committee in the National Council.

March 23, 2023

Minister Polaschek Has Awarded a State Prize for Promoting Alternatives to Animal Experiments.

Prof. Dr. Michael J. Ausserlechner, a professor at the Medical University of Innsbruck, receives the State Prize for Alternative Methods to Animal Experiments in 2022.

March 22, 2023

OPEC Fund Approves New Financing to Fulfill its Climate Action Plan

The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) approved more than $300 million in new funding in the first quarter of 2023, reflecting the institution's commitment to fulfilling its Climate Action Plan. Three of the four projects approved by the OPEC Fund's Governing Board directly support climate finance.

March 15, 2023

Technology Start-ups from Israel and Vienna Meet at a Conference

The consulting and tech company weXelerate will organize a conference to bring together the technological fields of Israel and Vienna. The conference will expect mostly Jewish young professionals and give them a platform.

February 20, 2023

Markus Braun Denies Any Acknowledgment in the Wirecard Trial

The Austrian businessman Markus Braun is the main defendant in the whole Wirecard-Scandal. Now he testified for the first time in court. He denied any acknowledgment of alleged crime in the company, which contradicted the testimonials of key witness Oliver Bellenhaus.

February 13, 2023

EU Is Planning the Withdrawal From the Energy Charter Treaty

The European Union wants to exit from the Energy Charter Treaty since the contract is not compatible with the energy transition. Austria is examining its exit from the treaty since November.

February 9, 2023

Education Minister Polaschek Visited Sweden

Education Minister Martin Polaschek emphasized the importance of science on his visit to Sweden. He especially praised Swedish society for having such a high trust in science and is seeking some Swedish strategies to take them to Austria.

February 7, 2023

Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International Gets Under Pressure Due to Russo-Ukrainian War

Its involvement in Russia keeps Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) and its managers, led by Johann Strobl, very busy. The subsidiary institution in Moscow is RBI's biggest profit earner and almost the entire RBI board is on the Ukrainians' "awaiting sanctions" list. Whether RBI will stay in Russia and how to proceed is still unclear, as the banking group is in a tricky situation.

January 9, 2023

Wirecard Scandal: Trial of Marsalek and other Austrian Entrepreneurs to Begin

The Wirecard criminal trial in what is believed to be the biggest fraud case in Germany since 1945 begins in Munich. The public prosecutor's office accuses the former Wirecard CEO, Austrian Markus Braun, and his two co-defendants of forming a criminal gang, falsifying the group's balance sheets and cheating lenders of 3.1 billion euros

December 7, 2022

Wirecard Scandal: New Indications for Marsalek's Stay in Moscow

Former Wirecard board member Jan Marsalek, who has been in hiding for two years, could be living in Moscow under the protection of Russian intelligence services.

July 26, 2022

Moody's Declares Russia in Default

The U.S. company Moody’s announced in New York that it was concerned with interest payments on two government bonds that had not been received by creditors even after a default period of 30 days had expired.

June 28, 2022

Vienna Stock Exchange Prize 2022 Back on Stage Again

This year, for the first time, the Vienna Stock Exchange Award went to the Styrian printed circuit board manufacturer AT&S. Second and third place went to the oil and gas group OMV and the building materials manufacturer Wienerberger. The prize was awarded for the 15th time.

June 15, 2022

Construction Giant Strabag Removes Russian Voice on Supervisory Board

At the recently held Extraordinary General Meeting of STRABAG SE, Thomas Bull, a member delegated by the major shareholder Rasperia, was dismissed. His company is owned by the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, who must therefore completely relinquish his control over Strabag.

May 5, 2022