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Vienna International Professional Services Industry News
Read the latest headlines about developments in the international service industry in Vienna and Austria


S&P Confirms Bank Austria´s Rating

Due to the downgrade of the holding company UniCredit, the U.S. rating agency retains the negative outlook for Bank Austria.
August 8, 2012


Immofinanz to Double Sales

In three years, the Austrian property company aims to increase sales and re-investments to € 1.0bn from € 500m.
August 8, 2012


FMA Pushes for Bank Insolvency Law

The Austrian Financial Market Authority increases pressure on the government. Director Helmut Ettl says the Austria needs an insolvency law for banks as soon as possible.
August 7, 2012


Austrians Tend to Save Less

Erste Bank 2nd Quarter Savings and Credit Forecast: Half of Austrians expect an economic upswing within the next two years. The average savings amount drops further to € 4,617.
August 7, 2012


No Merger Between VBAG and Bawag

Bawag´s CEO Byron Haynes reaffirmed that U.S. owned bank is not interested in a merger with the partly nationalized VBAG.
August 6, 2012


Kommunalkredit´s KA Finanz Needs New Guarantees

Because of its exposure in Greece, the nationalized Austrian lender needs further guarantees from the Austrian state.
August 6, 2012


Again Downgrades in Slovenian Banking Sector

Last week, Moody´s downgraded big Slovenian banks. Now, S&P puts the domestic banking industry under even more pressure.
August 6, 2012


Immofinanz: Net Income Down, Earnings Up

The Austrian real estate group confirmed the positive operating trend set in recent quarters with the close of the 2011/12 financial year, which brought a slight 1.2% year-on-year increase in rental income.
August 6, 2012


Austrian Property Market Runs out of Steam

In Austria, the property market shows first tendencies of consolidation. The number of acquisitions was down in the first six months.
August 4, 2012


Bank Austria as UniCredit´s Cash Cow

Without Bank Austria, UniCredit would have been in the loss area. The CESEE region is still Bank Austria´s future market.
August 4, 2012


Kommunalkredit: Small Profit, Big Risks

In the first six months, the nationalized Austrian Kommunalkredit bank could generate a net income of € 16.2m. Further capital injections are likely.
August 4, 2012


Immofinanz: Rise in Earnings Ahead

Next Monday, the Austrian real estate company will publish results for the financial year 2011/12. Net income should remain stable
August 3, 2012


Moody´s Downgrades Slovenia

Today, the U.S. rating agency has downgraded the Western Balkan country by three notches to „Baa2“ from „A2“.
August 3, 2012


Rising Profit at Bank Austria

Bank Austria posts net profit of € 646m for the first six months. Net operating profit was up by 11.1 per cent. Lending volume rises by 3.3 per cent to € 136bn.
August 3, 2012


Investor Confidence in Austrian Issues Remains Very High

Austria’s government and corporate sectors are still able to borrow at historically low rates, the loss of the triple A sovereign rating notwithstanding.
August 3, 2012


Dispute Over Bank Taxes

In Austria, only 82 of 787 banks have to pay bank taxes. Above all, the Raiffeisen sector and the Volksbanken sector are excluded.
August 2, 2012


Erste Group: Concerns Despite Profits

Yesterday, the Austrian banking group published its results for the first half year. The business in Romania, Hungary and Ukraine causes worries.
August 1, 2012


Oberbank: Lending Business Grows

The Linz-based Oberbank has achieved strong results in the first half year of 2012. Profits remained stable.
August 1, 2012


Immofinanz: Rise in Operating Profit Expected

Analysts expect the Austrian property company to achieve a 58% increase in EBIT. EBT will be lower, Baader Bank says.
August 1, 2012


VIG Streamlines its Market Presence in Poland

Vienna Insurance Group announced that the merger of InterRisk and PZM is completed.
August 1, 2012


Slovenian Abanka Vipa Needs Fresh Capital

The third-biggest Slovenian bank needs a capital injection of € 50m. In total, Abanka Vipa has a risky assets of € 600m.
July 31, 2012


Erste Group Burdened by Losses in Eastern Europe

Despite losses in Romania, Hungary and Ukraine, Erste Group posts a net profit of € 453.6m in first half of 2012.
July 31, 2012


Banking Industry: Slower Growth Expected

Due to the weak results in Eastern Europe, the Austrian banking industry faces only decent net income figures in the second quarter of 2012.
July 30, 2012


Kommunalkredit Sale: „There are potential buyers“

Yesterday, the nationalized Kommunalkredit was put up for sale. According to Fimbag´s board chairman Klaus Liebscher, there are some interested parties.
July 27, 2012


Austria is Liable for Hypo Group´s Major Loan

At the sale of Hypo Group by BayernLB in late 2009, BayernLB granted a loan of € 2.64bn. The Austrian state has issued a guarantee for this loan.
July 27, 2012


Slovenian Banking Crisis Aggravates

This week, the rating agency Moody´s downgrades the three biggest banks of Slovenia. Slovenia is threatened of becoming a bail-out candidate.
July 27, 2012


Decrease in Building Saving May Increase Rents

In Austria, the popularity of building saving declined in the first half year of 2012. In a few years, funds for the residential building market may be insufficient.
July 27, 2012


Austrian Banking Industry Records Higher Profits

In the first quarter of 2012, Austria´s bank achieved a consolidated net income after taxes and minorities of € 2.12bn.
July 27, 2012


Government Puts Kommunalkredit for Sale

The nationalized Austrian lender Kommunalkredit should be sold until 2013. Offers must be to submit to Morgan Stanley until August 16.
July 26, 2012


Vienna Stock Exchange: „Too Early for Investments“

VSE´s CEO Birgit Kuras explains why listings at Vienna Stock Exchange are declining. In the medium term, the conditions for the equity market would be favorable, however.
July 26, 2012


Slight Tightening of Austrian Lending Guidelines

The Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) reports that domestic banks have tightened lending guidelines for both company and household loans in the second quarter of 2012.
July 25, 2012


Insolvencies in CESEE on the Rise

In 2011, the number of business insolvencies rose by 25% in the CESEE region. Hungary ranks first.
July 25, 2012


Bawag and Generali Extend Cooperation

The Austrian bank, which is owned by the U.S. investment funds Cerberus and Generali agreed on extending the cooperation until 2023.
July 23, 2012


Bank Insolvency Law: No Austrian Solo Run

Austria´s government changed its mind. There will be no national bank insolvency law. Austria will wait for a European solution instead.
July 23, 2012


Austrian Bank Aids: Losses Total € 3.4bn

The nationalized banks are a substantial risk factor for Austria´s budget. Losses may increase further.
July 23, 2012


Slovakia: Bank Tax Should Reach € 1.0bn

The Slovakian government raised the bank tax up to 0.4% on deposits. Once the tax intake totals € 1.0bn, the tax should be abolished.
July 21, 2012


RBI: Bad Development in Hungary

Herbert Stepic, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International expects that the development of non-performing loans is stable this year.
July 21, 2012


Slovenia in Financial Distress

In order to prevent becoming a bail-out candidate, the Slovenian government aims to resolve a „debt brake“. It turns out that this goal is highly uncertain.
July 21, 2012


Hypo Group: „As Little Bank Aids as Possible“

Hypo Group Alpe Adria´s CEO Gottwald is unhappy with reports that the state-owned bank may need further bank aids.
July 20, 2012


Austerity Program at RBI

Raiffeisen Bank International´s CEO Herbert Stepic is against a capital increase. The market conditions would be unfavorable.
July 20, 2012


Vienna Insurance Group: Still Growth Potential in CESEE

VIG´s new CEO Peter Hagen aims to achieve external as well as internal growth. The process of catching up will go on.
July 20, 2012


CA Immo Continues Sales in Berlin

The planned liquidation of land reserves in Berlin by the Austrian property company CA Immo is gathering pace.
July 20, 2012


Fear of Capital Shortfall at Austrian Banks

The Austrian problem banks Hypo Group and KA Finanz may need further capital injections.
July 19, 2012


Takeover of Croatian Aluflex Failed

The Austrian Hypo Group Alpe Adria will not sell the Croatian aluminum group to the Swiss MTC (Montana Tech Components).
July 19, 2012


Slight Growth in Ukrainian Financial Industry, Uncertainty Remains

According to Austrian RCB (Raiffeisen Centrobank), the lending activity remains subdued amid looming economic uncertainty. Deposit growth resumed in June both in corporate and retail segments.
July 19, 2012


Slovenian Banking Industry „One of the most Burdened in CEE Region“

About 11.5% of total loans are non-performing. Slovenia is one of the few countries suffering a crunch, RCB states.
July 18, 2012


Erste Group Enters Bulgarian Property Market

Todor Alexandrov Offices in Sofia developed by Erste Group Immorent AG are ready for occupation.
July 18, 2012


Koren will be new CEO of VBAG

Starting from 1 september 2012, Koren becomes the new head of VBAG´s management board. New member of the board Rainer Borns should represent a „strong connecting link to regional Volksbanks“.
July 17, 2012


VBAG Buys Back € 236m Hybrid Bonds

The Buyback program generates book profits of € 130m.
July 17, 2012


Further Increase in Austrian National Debt

Due to the European debt crisis, Austria´s public debt level will increase from 72.2% to 74.7% of the country´s GDP.
July 16, 2012