Vienna International Professional Services Industry News

Read the latest headlines about developments in the international service industry in Vienna and Austria

Drastic Decrease in Stock Market Turnover

In February, stock market turnover was down by 28% at Vienna Stock Exchange. In January, trade decreased by 35% compared to January 2011.

March 2, 2012

VBAG to be Acquired by BAWAG?

According to market rumors, the financially stricken VBAG could be taken over by the U.S. investment fund owned Bawag.

March 2, 2012

AMAG´s CEO: “No Contact with Pecik”

The Chief Executive Officer of the Austrian metal company, Gerhard Falch, said he’s not been in contact with investor Ronny Pecik.

March 2, 2012

Nowotny: „Austrian Banking Activities in CEE Better than their Reputation”

According to the governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), Ewald Nowotny, Austrian banks engaged in Central and Eastern Europe are more stable than they are supposed to be.

March 1, 2012

Immofinanz Group Develops Office Building in Prague

The Austrian real estate group makes an investment of 24.6m in the Czech Republic. The project will be finalized in 2013.

February 29, 2012

VBAG´s Rescue Endangers Austerity Targets

In 2012, savings should reach € 576m. However, only write-offs in VBAG cost € 700m. The Austrian government seeks for additional revenues.

February 29, 2012

Banking Industry As „Cash Cow“?

For RZB´s CEO Rothensteiner, the increase in bank tax is “not fair”. The government plans to raise bank taxes by 25%.

February 29, 2012

Erste Group Returns to Profitability

In 2011, Erste Group registered losses of € 718.9m, which is less than initially expected. The fourth quarter was in the profit zone again.

February 29, 2012

„Banks are the Real Austrian Problem“

The Austrian opposition criticizes the rescue of VBAG by the government massively. Further bank aids are feared.

February 28, 2012

High Losses for Erste Group Expected

Although Erste Group has to report high losses for its financial year 2011, analysts are optimistic for 2012. Business in Romania and Hungary is expected to improve.

February 28, 2012

Austrian Insurance Market Shrinking

In 2011, premium income at Austrian insurance companies declined. Only in the health insurance segment showed growth rates.

February 28, 2012

Nationalization of VBAG: Austrian State Holds 49%

After Kommunalkredit and Hypo Group, VBAG becomes the third Austrian bank which is publicly owned.

February 28, 2012

Partial Nationalization of VBAG Planned

The financially stricken Austrian bank receives new capital. The Republic of Austria makes contributions of € 1.05bn. Bank taxes will increase.

February 27, 2012

Pessimism in Austrian Banking Industry

26% of interviewed managers in the Austrian banking industry regard the development of the operating business as “very bad”.

February 27, 2012

Immofinanz to Become a „Property Machine“

CEO Eduard Zehetner wants Immofinanz to become a full developer, operator and seller of top-real estate objects. The company should be transformed to a “property machine.”

February 25, 2012

Hungary is Optimistic to Reach Agreement with IMF

The Hungarian ambassador in Vienna, Vince Szalay-Bobrovniczky is convinced to solve the current financial crisis soon. Hungary aims for re-gaining trust of investors.

February 25, 2012

Austria Discussing Top Banks’ Capital Rules With EU Commission

Austria’s regulators are discussing rules for its top banks that will curb excessive lending in Central and Eastern Europe with the European Commission.

February 25, 2012

Pecik is Said to Enter AMAG

The Austrian investor, who holds a 20% stake in Telekom Austria, seems to be interested in the Austrian aluminum producer AMAG

February 23, 2012

Hypo Tirol Withdraws from Italy

The Tyrolean regional bank decided in favor of a downsizing strategy. The Italian market should be served through Innsbruck.

February 23, 2012

Raiffeisen Aims to Purchase Securities

In order to strengthen the capital structure, Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International wants to retain perpetual non-cumulative securities.

February 23, 2012

RBI Posts Profit of € 1.4bn in 2011

Profit before tax rises by 6.7 per cent compared with 2010 to € 1,373m. Core Tier 1 Ratio amounts to 9.3 per cent (before dividend).

February 23, 2012

Erste Group Manages Issue of Czech Republic € 2.0bn Bond

The Austrian bank observed good demand for the Czech sovereign bonds offering: total orders of approx. € 3.5bn from over 190 investors.

February 22, 2012

Moody's Takes Actions on Austrian Banks

The U.S. rating agency has a closer look on Austrian banks, which are related to the creditworthiness of public institutions.

February 22, 2012

KA Finanz Tries to Sit Out Greek Crisis

The nationalized Austrian bank has an exposure of € 980m in Greece. CEO Steinbichler hopes not to participate in the haircut.

February 21, 2012

Erste Group Acts as Bookrunner for Miba

The majority of € 75m bond was placed with retail investors in Austria. The offering was 3.5 times over-subscribed.

February 21, 2012

Company Pension Schemes Show Negative Performance

In 2011, Austrian company pension funds showed losses of 3.3%.

February 20, 2012

Erste Group: Profitable Hybrid Buyback

Erste Group expected to book pre-tax gain of up to € 300m on hybrid buyback.

February 20, 2012

Stepic Criticizes Rating Agencies Sharply

For Herbert Stepic, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), statements given by the U.S. rating agencies are “undifferentiated”.

February 20, 2012

Prague Stock Exchange and CCP.A to Cooperate

Prague Stock Exchange (PSE) and Austrian clearing house Central Counterparty Austria (CCP.A) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the cooperation in cash markets.

February 20, 2012

Sberbank Upgrades VBI´s Headquarter in Vienna

After the acquisition of the Austrian VBI, the Russian bank wants to expand massively in Europe.

February 20, 2012

German Justice Puts Pressure on Former Hypo Group Executives

In order to get damage compensation, the German justice opens legal proceedings against the former CEO´s of Austrian Hypo Group, Tilo Berlin and Wolfgang Kulterer.

February 18, 2012

„Bank Austria´s Brand Will Remain“

Last year, it was said that Bank Austria´s brand will be abandoned. According to Helmut Bernkopf, board member at UniCredit, Bank Austria´s private banking business will be strengthened.

February 18, 2012

VBAG´s CEO: „Bank Aid Only Last Exit“

Gerald Wenzel, chairman of VBAG´s executive board, continues the downsizing strategy. A new bank aid would be the “ultima ratio”.

February 17, 2012

Austrian Outlet Center Market is Saturated

The Eastern European factory outlet center market still has growth potential. Up to 100 new outlet centers are possible.

February 17, 2012

Cernko Against „Talking Down Austrian Banks“

Bank Austria´s CEO is strictly against an undifferentiated view on CEE-countries. Austrian banks with an exposure in the CEE region shall not be talked down.

February 17, 2012

Moody's Considers to Downgrade Wienerberger

The U.S. rating agency placed all ratings of Wienerberger under review for possible downgrade.

February 17, 2012

Erste Group to Strenghten its Capital Structure

The Austrian banking group offers to buy back Tier1 and Tier2 securities .

February 17, 2012

Siegfried Wolf Enters Sberbank

The Austrian national and executive at Magna in Russia becomes President of VBI´s supervisory board.

February 16, 2012

Cernko: „Triple A Only in the Medium Term“

Bank Austria´s CEO Willibald Cernko does not think that Austria re-gains its “AAA” status within the next three years.

February 16, 2012

Vienna Stock Exchange Cooperates With Eurex

With Eurex derivatives exchange, Vienna Stock Exchange wins a new customer.

February 16, 2012

CA Immo: PwC Leased Additional Space in Frankfurt's Tower 185

Space leased of Frankfurt´s tower 185 increased to 75%. The consulting company leased another 2,800m2.

February 16, 2012

VBI Sale to Sberbank Finalized

With the sale of the CEE segment of the Austrian VBAG, Russian Sberbank enters Eastern Europe.

February 15, 2012

S Immo: PepsiCo Signs on As a Tenant in Bucharest

The Austrian real estate company gained another internationally renowned tenant for its Sun Offices building in Bucharest.

February 15, 2012

Moody's Put Austria on Warning

The Austrian “AAA” rating has been confirmed by the U.S. rating agency. However, credit-watch is put on “negative”.

February 14, 2012

State Aid: VBAG Redeems € 1.0bn

The Austrian VBAG repays a third of the state aid granted in 2009.

February 13, 2012

Substantial Growth for ING DiBa

The Dutch Bank Group achieved a 12% growth in customers in Austria. Deposits were up by 9.5%.

February 13, 2012

Major Sale at Immofinanz

The Austria real estate group sells an inner city palace in Vienna. The sale price reaches € 22m.

February 13, 2012

Bank Austria Writes Off Greek Bonds

The Austrian subsidiary of the Italian UniCredit Group has to write off Greek sovereign bonds by € 100m.

February 13, 2012

Austrian Central Bank Lets Eligibility Criteria Ease

OeNB: ECB governing council endorses expansion of eligibility criteria for nonmarketable assets.

February 10, 2012

Raiffeisen Builds Shopping Center in Bukarest

Raiffeisen Evolution develops “Floreasca City”, a shopping center project in the Romanian capital. Construction works began in January.

February 10, 2012