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Vienna International Community - People in the News - Latest Headlines
Read updated news about key players in Vienna's international community, such as expats, executives, politicians, diplomats, investors, artists and others.
Austria: Hypo Group Looking for New CRO
Deputy CEO and chief risk officer of Hypo Group Wolfgang Edelmüller will resign as of the end of February.
January 10, 2014
Czech President Announces Appointment of Government
After months of disputes between the election winner and Czech President Milos Zeman, the date of the appointment of the new government was announced.
January 10, 2014
Austria: Wifo Expert Calls for Structural Tax Reform
According to Wifo-expert Schratzenstaller, the planned tax burdens on tobacco and automobiles are “largely useful”.
January 10, 2014
RBI: Change in Shareholdings Expected
The announcement to increase capital by Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) did not come as a surprise. However, experts and investors did not expect such a high volume (up to € 2.5bn) and fear a dilution in shareholdings.
January 10, 2014
Slovenia: 2014 Credit Line of € 7.7bn
On Thursday the Slovenian government adopted a budget financing plan which includes this year’s credit line of up to € 7.7bn.
January 10, 2014
Austria: VIG to Sell Stakes in Porr
Listed Vienna Insurance Grop (VIG) downsizes its stake in Austrian construction company Porr, which is also listed at the Vienna Stock Exchange.
January 9, 2014
Poland: Key Interest Rate to Remain Unchanged
As expected, the key interest rate will not be changed. According to Marek Belka, governor of the Polish National Bank (NBP), there was no need in monetary interventions.
January 9, 2014
Eurozone: Further Capital Injections at Banks Expected
The Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) is holding a summit today. The low inflation rate in the Eurozone is still a dilemma for the monetary authorities.
January 9, 2014
Hungary: Austrian Farmers Still Left in the Dark
There is still no clarification in the controversial Hungarian land law for Austrian farmers and land owners.
January 9, 2014
Slovenia: Growth through Diplomatic Network
Slovenian Finance Minister Karl Erjavec assured that throught diplomatic network the country’s economy will still be supported.
January 9, 2014
Orco Property Group: Cut in Number of Board Members
Shareholders of Luxembourger real estate company Orco Property Group voted to cut the number of board members from nine to five on Monday.
January 8, 2014
Austria: First Tax Package to Be Presented
The Austrian government intends to present the first tax package tomorrow.
January 8, 2014
Sobotka Presses for Appointment of Czech Government
As reported by Czech news agency CTK, party leader of the Czech Social Democrats (CSSD) Bohuslav Sobotka will get together with President Milos Zeman to request a fast appointing of the new government.
January 8, 2014
Slovenia: Calls for Reforms Become Louder
The Slovenian Chamber of Commerce (GZS) calls upon the government to accelerate the realization of reforms to boost economic growth.
January 8, 2014
Hungary: SZKB to Take over Hungarian RBI?
Hungarian Economy Minister Mihaly Varga considers it unlikely for Szecheny Commercial Bank (SZKB) to take over the Hungarian affiliate of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI).
January 8, 2014
Serbia: One of Fastest Growing Economies
Last year Serbia was among the ten fastest growing economies in Europe, as pointed out by Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.
January 8, 2014
Hungary Amending Figures of Budget Deficit
Hungarian Finance and Economy Minister Mihaly Varga announced that the budget deficit of 2013 will be below the target after it was lowered dramatically.
January 8, 2014
Meinl Bank: Plans of Growth in Czech Republic and UK
Meinl Bank has opened a new subsidiary in Prague. Growth plans for the core business in Central and Eastern Europe is well on its way, according to the bank’s officials.
January 7, 2014
Growing Evidence for RBI’s Withdrawal from Hungary
According to media reports, Hungarian partly nationalized Szechenyi Commercial Bank has placed an offer for the take-over of RBI’s Hungarian affiliate.
January 7, 2014
Poland: On Path of Recovery and Growth
The Polish economy has been growing steadily since the beginning of 2013. However, budget deficit slightly exceeded forecasts.
January 7, 2014
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: „Bad Bank Will Come“
Klaus Liebscher, chairman of Hypo Group´s supervisory board, underlines that a bad bank will be established for the nationalized lender. Nevertheless, the bank remains the biggest financial disaster in Austria´s history.
January 4, 2014
Austria: „El Dorado for Borrowers“
According to Bank Austria´s management board member Dieter Hengl, Austria is an oasis for borrowers. Interest rates have reached an all-time low.
January 4, 2014
Slovenia: More Resistance Against Real Estate Tax
On Friday a second petition was filed at the Constitutional Court against the property tax.
January 4, 2014
Czech Governor Awarded Banker of the Year 2014
Miroslav Singer, governor of the Czech National Bank (CNB) was given the Central Banker of the Year 2014 award for Europe by The Banker.
January 3, 2014
Austria: Personnel Changes at Immofinanz
Daniel Riedl succeeds Alexander Hoff as spokesman of the BUWOG Management Board.
January 3, 2014
Bank Austria Considers Establishing Sub-Brand
In the next years, the Austrian subsidiary of Italian UniCredit wants to put more effort into the development of the mobile and online banking segment.
December 31, 2013
Hypo Group: „The Wrong Decisions were Made“
Johannes Ditz, former chairman of the Austrian nationalized Hypo Group Alpe Adria, thinks that the Austrian government could have avoided a massive burden for the taxpayers.
December 28, 2013
Poland: Komorowski Approves Pension Reform
Poland´s President Bronislaw Komorowski has signed the nationalization act. However, he will send the law to the Constitutional Court.
December 28, 2013
Austria: „Lending Becomes More Expensive”
In an interview with the Austrian daily “Presse”, CEO of Hypo Vorarlberg Michael Grahammer talks about the future lending conditions. The corporate sector faces a drastic increase in borrowing costs.
December 27, 2013
Austria: Kapsch Delivers Warning to Policy-Makers
Georg Kapsch, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), is very cautious about economic growth in Austria and warns the policy-makers of a budget consolidation on the basis of expectations of growth.
December 27, 2013
VBAG: Further State Aids Questionable
The governing Austrian social democrats (SPÖ) are against providing further funds to the partly nationalized banking group.
December 26, 2013
Austria Bought Time for Examining Hypo Deal
Austria was granted more time for a possible appeal of the purchase of problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria from former parent company BayernLB.
December 23, 2013
Serbia to Receive Pre-Accession Assistance from EU
Today the European Commission adopted the 2013 national programme for Serbia under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA).
December 23, 2013
Slovakia: Date for Presidential Election Fixed
The first round for the presidential elections in Slovakia will take place on March 15, 2014.
December 23, 2013
Czech Republic: Zeman Rejects Proposed Ministers
The Czech Republic is facing new obstacles in the forming of a new government as President Zeman is not satisfied with the choice of some ministers.
December 23, 2013
„CESEE No Driver Yet“
Birgit Kuras, CEO of Vienna Stock Exchange, thinks that the Vienna Stock Exchange is highly influenced by the CESEE operations of listed companies.
December 23, 2013
Austria: Industrial Output Shrinks
In October the industrial production in Austria declined.
December 23, 2013
Slovenia: PM Bratusek Confident About Tackling State Debts
Even though the country is expected to issue new state bonds next year to tackle state debts Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek suggested that Slovenia does not require loans immediately.
December 23, 2013
CA Immo Sells Office Building in Warsaw
CA Immobilien Anlagen AG sells Lipowy office building in Warsaw.
December 23, 2013
Austria: New Government Already Disappoints in the First Week
In 2014, Austria will not achieve its fiscal objectives, new Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger admitted. Austria´s fiscal situation is observed critically. The country faces a new austerity package.
December 23, 2013
New CEO at BCR Asigurari de Viata
Sorin Mititelu was appointed as new CEO of Romanian BCR Asigurari de Viata.
December 21, 2013
Rothensteiner: Austrian Sovereign Debt Rating Includes Bank Bail-Out
Unlike the rating agency Moody´s, head of RZB (Raiffeisen Zentralbank) Walter Rothensteiner thinks that the Austrian sovereign debt rating is not endangered by the nationalized banking sector.
December 20, 2013
Austria: Rules for Bank Tax to Be Changed
The governing parties call for changes in the bank tax which would increase the burden of some Austrian banks.
December 20, 2013
Austria: New CEO for Hypo Group Alpe Adria
The search for a new CEO for Hypo Group has ended. On Friday the bank has found a new head of the management board since the position was vacant after Gottwald Kranebitter’s resignation this summer.
December 20, 2013
Bulgaria: Economic Upturn Not Sooner Than 2015
As reported by Bulgarian daily Standart, an economist at World Bank pointed out that the country has not yet reached the economic situation of before the start of the financial crisis in 2008.
December 20, 2013
Austria: Options of Bad Bank for Hypo under Examination
Finance Minister Spindelegger intends to meet with experts to discuss options of a bad bank for Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
December 20, 2013
Buwog's Spin Off More Likely than IPO
Immofinanz plans on increasing the portfolio of its affiliate Buwog, which focuses on residential real estate, by acquiring a volume of 18,000 apartments in Northern Germany.
December 19, 2013
Slovenia: EU Commission Approves Bank Aid
On Wednesday the European Commission has approved state aid for five Slovenian banks.
December 19, 2013
Immofinanz Increases Net Profit by More than 50 Percent
Immofinanz Group increases net profit by more than 50% – five-year sales programme nearly completed.
December 18, 2013
Macedonian Banks Should Support Private Sector
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Stavreski calls upon Macedonian banks to support the private sector.
December 18, 2013