Vienna International Professional Services Industry News

British-Indian-Austrian Anadi Bank Remains on Growth Course

The former Austrian branches of Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank International were bought by Indian Investor Sanjeev Kanoria and transferred to British-Indian-Austrian Anadi Bank in 2013. The bank continues its successful growth course in the first half of 2018, although the result from ordinary business activities declined by 37% and profit after tax by 42% compared to the same period of the previous year. The bank describes itself as a bank with the strengths of a tiger. The Anadi Tiger establishes, on the one hand, a symbolic connection to India, on the other hand, he embodies strength, speed, security and flexibility - qualities that the bank expects from itself. Also, Anadi means “eternal” in Hindi and stands for tradition, reliability, and sustainability.

September 7, 2018

Sonja Sarközi Appointed New CEO of Sberbank Europe

Sonja Sarközi, currently Chief Retail Banking Officer of Sberbank Europe, has been appointed as new CEO by the supervisory board. She will succeed Gerhard Randa as of 1 July 2018.

May 29, 2018

Iran-Deal - Austrian Oberbank Distances Itself from Framework Credit Agreement with Tehran

Only last year, the Upper Austrian Oberbank was the first European bank to sign a framework credit agreement with Iran. After the USA's withdrawal from the nuclear treaty, the bank is now under pressure and intends to wait and see. The bank says it could certainly take two weeks for a final solution to be found and officially agreed.

May 11, 2018

Vienna's Attractiveness as a Location for Business Continues to Grow

For the sixth year in a row, Vienna recorded the highest number of companies settling in the city. After Vienna had already achieved a record figure in the previous year with 178 international new additions, this was again exceeded last year with 191 new companies, which is an increase of 13%. These business establishments together are responsible for investments totalling €537 million and 1,087 new jobs. There are 344 new foreign invested businesses throughout Austria. German companies remain the number one investors in Austria.

April 30, 2018

Raiffeisen Centrobank: Yearly Financial Report 2017

Raiffeisen Centrobank AG is declaring the following financial reports below.

April 26, 2018

Austria Center Vienna Unveils Largest Modernization Concept in Its History

Austria's largest congress centre, the Austria Center Vienna, recently presented its modernisation concept until 2022. This will make completely new event formats possible and at the same time make the space around the house more attractive to the public. This is the largest construction project in the company's 30-year history.

April 20, 2018

Austrian Financial Market Authority Is Pleased With Whistle-Blowing System

In 2017 whistleblowers made 158 tip-offs regarding misconduct in the Austrian financial market. The FMA has been operating a special IT-based whistleblowing system since 1 February 2014 that allows the anonymous receipt of confidential information about possible instances of malpractice in supervised entities. FMA Executive Board: “Our whistle-blowing system is an important source of information for the FMA.”

April 20, 2018

Immigon Portfolioabbau AG: Yearly Financial Report 2017

immigon portfolioabbau ag is declaring the following financial reports below.

April 20, 2018

C-Quadrat Streamlines Corporate Group Structure

C-Quadrat plans to spin off the business operations of C-Quadrat Wealth Management GmbH (formerly: C-Quadrat Kapitalanlage AG) to ARTS Asset Management GmbH, in which the company holds a 45% stake. In return, societal profit participation rights ("sozietäre Genussrechte") will be granted to the company instead of additional company shares.

April 19, 2018

UNIQA: Yearly Financial Report 2017

UNIQA Insurance Group AG is declaring the following financial reports below.

April 12, 2018

Austria's Capital Market for SMEs on the Brink of a Renaissance

Finance Minister Hartwig Löger plans to revive the Austrian capital market for SMEs by making trading of bearer shares of Austrian companies on the Third Market possible again.

April 11, 2018

C-Quadrat: Yearly Financial Report 2017

C-Quadrat Investment AG is declaring the following financial reports below.

April 6, 2018

VIC Strengthens Presence in Hungary and Slovakia

Hungary’s central bank approved the merger of the three VIG Group companies. As a result VIG will be represented in Hungary solely by the insurance company Union Biztosító. In Slovakia, bancassurer Poisťovňa Slovenskej sporiteľne (PSLSP) will merge with Kooperativa poisťovňa.

April 3, 2018

Money Laundering: RBI Is Fined EUR 2.7 Million

The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) has imposed the highest fine ever imposed by the FMA, i.e. a fine of EUR 2.748 million against Raiffeisen Bank International AG.

April 1, 2018

Former Finance Minister Schelling Appointed Gazprom Advisor

Hans Jörg Schelling, former Austrian Minister of Finance until December 2017, has signed an advisory contract with Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline three months after his handover. OMV is also involved in the project, of which he was the owner's representative as Austrian Minister of Finance.

March 30, 2018

Expat Advise: How Does the Austrian Tax and Social Security System Work?

If you are moving to Vienna as an expat or are already living here with employment income and want to find your way around the complicated Austrian tax and social security system, Vindobona recommends attending an interesting event organised by the Vienna Business Agency and Deloitte Austria.

March 22, 2018

RBI Doubles Net Profit, Pays Dividends Again and Returns to Growth Course

RBI - Raiffeisen Bank International has doubled its profit in 2017 and rewards shareholders. They have not received any dividends since 2013. The bank had to pursue a sharp austerity course, reduce international business volumes, close branches in Eastern Europe and stop dividend payments. Russia remains the most important source of income.

March 15, 2018

LGT Group Reports Profit of CHF 283.4 Mln

LGT, the private banking and asset management group owned by the Princely House of Liechtenstein, reported strong net asset inflows and a significant increase in profits for the 2017 financial year. Group profit for the full year rose 23% to CHF 283.4 million. Net asset inflows, excluding acquired assets, amounted to CHF 17.7 billion, which corresponds to organic growth of 12%. As at the end of 2017, assets under management increased by a total of 33% to CHF 201.8 billion.

March 12, 2018

ATX: AT&S and FACC to Join, Agrana and Zumtobel to be Removed

The ATX index composition of the Vienna Stock Exchange has been reviewed on its quarterly basis. FACC AG will be joining ATX for the first time since it became exchange-listed. AT&S AG will rejoin. Agrana and Zumtobel will be removed. Decisions on additions and removals to the index are based on average daily trading volumes and the free float capitalization of companies.

March 9, 2018

Austrian Delegation Seeks to Improve Economic and Political Relations with Jordan

An official visit of President Van der Bellen to Jordan will take place from 17 April to 19 April 2018. The delegation to Amman will be accompanied by an economic mission headed by WKO Vice President Richard Schenz. The economic mission of the WKO is the response of an invitation issued some time ago by the President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Kingdom.

March 8, 2018

Bawag Pays €110M for Separation from Austrian Post

Bawag presents its preliminary figures for 2017. The net profit will amount to 466.6 million euros (-1.4 percent). Due to profits, there will be dividend payments to shareholders. The long-term distribution partnership with Austrian Post is to be terminated.

February 28, 2018

How do Russian Politicians and Oligarchs Withdraw their Money from Austria?

The Russian money nobility has begun to repatriate large amounts of its western-hoarded money back to Russia in order to deprive it of access by Western authorities. The countries of origin are above all Switzerland, but also Austria and Great Britain. Sberbank, Russia's largest and state-owned bank, speaks of an atypically high capital inflow to Russia. Within a few weeks, a tripling of such repatriation transactions took place compared to the same period of the previous year. The sum is hundreds of millions of dollars. The average transfer amount has increased within a year by 50% to 3 million dollars. This meets with the Kremlin's desire to repatriate Russian assets.

February 22, 2018

C-Quadrat: Unexpected Good Performance in December

Due to the positive performance of several investment funds managed by asset management companies of the C-Quadrat Group, which reached new price highs, in December 2017 the C-Quadrat Group realized additional revenue from performance-related remuneration.

January 5, 2018

Moody's Lifts Outlook for Austrian Banks

Moody's lifts outlook for Austrian banks on positive, because the economic recovery in Austria makes it possible to improve the outlook for domestic banks.

August 24, 2017

Erste Group Expects Q2 Net Profit of about EUR 560 Million

Erste Group expects to post net profit of approx. EUR 560 million in Q2 16, raises guidance for 2016 to ROTE >12% (up from 10-11%).

July 14, 2016

Western Balkans Countries Discussed Investment, Jobs and Integration in Vienna

The World Bank and the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) held a high-level policy dialogue on ‘Investment, Jobs and Integration’ last week. Ministers and senior officials from the Western Balkans region as well as policy experts from international organisations and the business community gathered to discuss the challenges the region is currently facing, in particular the high unemployment rate, low international competitiveness, and lack of modern infrastructure.

July 8, 2016

Vienna Insurance Group Buys AXA Subsidiaries in Serbia

Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) is acquiring AXA’s life and non-life companies in Serbia. The purchase will increase VIG’s market share in Serbia to around 11.5 percent.

July 7, 2016

RBI Closes Sale of Raiffeisen Banka in Slovenia

Following the completion of all regulatory requirements, Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) formally closed the sale of its Slovenian bank, Raiffeisen Banka d.d. The sales price will be kept confidential.

July 1, 2016

Moody’s Downgrades Long-Term Credit Rating of Austria

Moody’s has downgraded the long-term credit rating of Austria, from "Aaa” to Aa1. In January 2012 rating agency Standard & Poors had reduced Austria’s rating from AAA to AA+, whereas in February 2015, Fitch did the same.

June 27, 2016

Closing of Visa Takeover Brings EUR 97 Million Pre-Tax Profit to RBI

The expected pretax profit from the cash payment of the transaction will be EUR 97 million. It should be booked under net income from financial investments in the second quarter of 2016. Visa Inc. had announced the takeover of Visa Europe Ltd. in November of 2015. The cash payment of this one-off effect will be split between Slovakia, Romania, Czech Republic, Poland, the RBI head office, Croatia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Zuno.

June 21, 2016

VSE and CEESEG: Heimo Scheuch to Serve as New Chairman of the Supervisory Board

Changes in the supervisory board of Wiener Börse AG and CEESEG AG have taken place and a new executive committee was elected. Heimo Scheuch, CEO of Wienerberger AG, will serve as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Angelika Sommer-Hemetsberger, member of the Management Board of Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG, was elected Vice-Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board.

June 15, 2016

Tax Payers to Finance AvW Bankruptcy after all?

Tax payers may have to finance the bankruptcy of Carinthian financial company AvW after all, Presse daily reports in its online issue. The damage is estimated at EUR 148 million (USD 168.2 million).

June 8, 2016

Ex-Magna Boss Buys Former Employer's Headquarters in Oberwaltersdorf

The Styrian Car Manager of Oleg Deripaska's Russian Machines Company and former Magna CEO Siegfried Wolf has bought the former Magna headquarters in Oberwaltersdorf.

March 2, 2016

RBI Not to Sell Zuno Bank to ABH Holdings

The sale of Raiffeisen Bank International’s (RBI) direct bank Zuno to the Alfa Banking Group will not be concluded because ABH Holdings withdrew from the contract of sale.

March 1, 2016

Erste Group Posts Net Profit of EUR 968.2 Million in 2015

“A net profit of nearly 1 billion euro, a strong capital base and substantially lower risk costs for 2015 show that we have done our homework,” said Andreas Treichl, CEO of Erste Group Bank AG, about the full-year 2015 preliminary results.

February 26, 2016

Starwood Sells Hotel Imperial Vienna for EUR 71 Million

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced that it has closed on the sale of Hotel Imperial Vienna, a Luxury Collection Hotel, to Al Habtoor Investment - the investment arm of UAE conglomerate Al Habtoor Group for 71 million euros. As part of the transaction, all rooms and suites of the iconic hotel will be renovated over the next four years. Hotel Imperial will continue to operate as part of The Luxury Collection brand under a new long-term management agreement.

February 26, 2016

Erste Group Provides Blackstone with a 5-Year EUR 91 Million Facility

Erste Group provides Blackstone with a 5-year EUR 91 million facility to acquire 12 logistics assets. The 265000 sqm portfolio covers 12 standing logistics investments located in Hungary (5), Romania (4), Poland (2) and Slovakia (1), as well as land reserves.

February 22, 2016

Erste Group Moves to New Headquarters at Erste Campus

At the beginning of this year Erste Group started moving into its new headquarters at Erste Campus located in the new district of Quartier Belvedere, built on the former site of the Südbahnhof train station.

February 11, 2016

Unicredit Bank Austria Preliminary Results: Net Profit of About EUR 1.3 Billion for 2015

Unicredit Bank Austria has published its preliminary results for the 2015 financial year. Unicredit's Austrian subsidiary posts a net profit of about EUR 1.3 billion for 2015. Systemic charges including bank levies are up by EUR 89 million to EUR 326 million.

February 10, 2016

RBI: Preliminary 2015 Consolidated Profit of EUR 383 Million

Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) announces a preliminary 2015 consolidated profit of EUR 383 million. This is above the guidance previously given, primarily due to lower than expected net provisioning for impairment losses of EUR 1,266 million, 28 percent below 2014. This development was spread across a number of markets. General administrative expenses were EUR 2,915 million, 4 per cent below the prior year. Transformation program costs in 2015 were approximately EUR 90 million, in line with guidance. FY 2015 guidance had also included goodwill impairment charges and risk costs amounting to EUR 124.1 million, which were reallocated to FY 2014 in the course of a restatement.

February 2, 2016

UniCredit Bank Austria Named Best Trade Finance Bank in Austria

US financial magazine Global Finance selected Bank Austria for the eighth time in a row "Best Trade Finance Bank" in Austria.

January 21, 2016

Robert Zadrazil Takes Over the Helm of Bank Austria from Willibald Cernko

After having been board member of Bank Austria for ten years, Robert Zadrazil (45) will now step it up and replace Willibald Cernko (59) who will step down as of 1 March 2016. The bank speaks of a generation change.

January 18, 2016

Central and Eastern European Forum in Vienna next Week

The Central and Eastern European Forum - organized by Euromoney - is taking place in Vienna next week. 1,000 top level policymakers, issuers, and commentators from the region will join local and international investors to help plan, debate and analyze the economic agenda for the region for the year ahead.

January 13, 2016

VSE: US Interest Rate Decision Likely to Increase Appeal of Austrian Stocks

The Vienna Stock Exchange can look back at a year of solid developments on the stock market in 2015. The uptrend in equity trading volumes has now been sustained for more than two years: trading volumes were up by 24.3%; the ATX gained 11.20%, and innovations in bond trading were the highlights of the year. Market capitalization on the Vienna Stock Exchange reached EUR 86.28 billion in December 2015. This was a gain of 7.86% over the year-end figure of 2014.

December 18, 2015

Biggest Viennese Real Estate Deal Ever - Sale of The Mall Closed

Bank Austria - via its subsidiary BAI - closed the sale of "The Mall", the largest and most modern shopping mall in the heart of Vienna. The buyer is a consortium led by Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing (MSREI). UniCredit Bank Austria did not disclose the price, but claims that the transaction is Vienna's largest real estate deal ever.

December 16, 2015

UniCredit Final Restructuring Program on Bank Austria's Retail Business

UniCredit announced a major step in its strategic plan execution, by launching a profound restructuring program on its Austrian retail business that will enable Bank Austria to develop its business in a sustainable way, while bringing down significantly its cost income ratio. The restructuring plan will allow to reduce by 2018 Bank Austria's overall costs by € 150mn per year on an ongoing basis on top of the Strategic Plan and with main focus on personnel expenses, leading to an overall cost decrease by almost € 300mn versus 2014 in order to ensure the business sustainability in the long-run.

December 15, 2015

RBI Sells Slovenian Subsidiary to US Private Equity Firm Apollo

Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) has reached an agreement to sell its Slovenian bank, Raiffeisen Banka d.d., to Biser Bidco, which is managed by an affiliate of Apollo Global Management, LLC. The purchase price has not been disclosed. The expected deconsolidation effect on RBI’s consolidated result will amount to minus EUR 49 million.

December 10, 2015

VIG: Elisabeth Stadler to Replace Peter Hagen as CEO

Due to differences in opinion regarding the future strategic orientation and steering of the Group, Peter Hagen will be leaving his position as Chairman of the Managing Board of the Vienna Insurance Group on 31 December 2015. Elisabeth Stadler will become his successor.

December 2, 2015

EBRD to Become 30 Per Cent Shareholder in Raiffeisen Bank Aval

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is about to become a 30 per cent shareholder in Raiffeisen Bank Aval JSC (RBA), a leading universal bank in Ukraine and a subsidiary of Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI), under an agreement signed in Kiev today.

November 25, 2015

Large Securitisation Deal between EIB and UniCredit Leasing Austria

EIB participates in securitisation transaction of UniCredit Leasing Austria with EUR 230.9 mil. The European Investment Bank (EIB) will make available EUR 230.9 million to UniCredit Leasing Austria through the purchase of asset-backed securities (ABS).

November 24, 2015