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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
UBM Improves Results
The Austrian real estate development company presented a moderate rise in earnings. Sales remained stable.
November 12, 2011
ECO Business Reports Losses
The Austrian real estate company, which is listed at Vienna Stock Exchange, announces losses for the first nine months of € 6.8m.
November 12, 2011
S&P Reviews Uniqa’s Rating
The Austrian insurance company was set to CreditWatch negative due to its weakened capital adequacy. A downgrade by one notch is possible.
November 10, 2011
OeNB and People’s Bank of China Sign Investment Agreement
The agreement enables the Austrian National Bank to Invest via PBC in Renminbi-denominated assets.
November 10, 2011
Raiffeisen Cuts Staff in Czech Republic
The Austrian banks local unit has reacted to increasing costs and the poor economic outlook.
November 9, 2011
Massive Layoffs at Volksbanken Group
Hundreds of employees of the Austrian bank will lose their job in the next years, according to media reports.
November 9, 2011
Immofinanz Completes Acquisition of Romanian Adama
The Austrian real estate group has taken full control over the southeastern European housing firm, in which it has held a stake since 2007.
November 9, 2011
CA Immo Sells Hotel Site in Berlin
The Europacity urban district, in which the Austrian real estate group owns a major part, is progressing apace. A first-class hotel will be opening in early 2014.
November 9, 2011
Bawag Sues Linz For € 418m
The U.S.-owned bank now sues the Upper-Austrian capital. Linz has terminated a swap contract based on Swiss Francs.
November 8, 2011
Good Outlook for Raiffeisen Investment
The Austrian merger advisor Raiffeisen Investment AG posts deal volume of € 3.5bn for the first three quarters 2011. Further projects are negotiated.
November 8, 2011
Growth Potential in CEE Banking Sector
The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International has a very favourable growth outlook for six CEE banking markets representing 80 per cent of the region's total banking assets
November 8, 2011
VIG Officially Bids for Polish Warta
Potential buyers of the Polish Warta insurance had to publish their offers by the end of October. Vienna Insurance Group participates.
November 7, 2011
Conwert Reorganizes its Activities
The Austrian real estate company will sell a major stake in the real estate broker Resag. Assets over € 600m should be sold this year.
November 7, 2011
C-Quadrat Announces Lower Net Profits
Net profits of the Austrian investment fund company for the period amounts to € 2.5m after 9.3m in 2010. Management fees were up by 35%.
November 7, 2011
Hungary Rejects Further Bank Charges
Contrary to its initial plans, Hungary will not resolve further aid measures for domestic loan takers. The government is seeking for cooperation with concerned banks.
November 5, 2011
Moody´s Considers Downgrade of Erste Group
The rating agency says that a downgrade of the long-term rating of Erste Group from “Baa1” to “Baa2”is probable.
November 5, 2011
Moody’s: Downgrade of Erste Group Likely
The Austrian bank will likely be downgraded from “Baa1” to “Baa2”, the rating agency says.
November 4, 2011
Capital Needs of Austrian Banks Total € 4bn
The increase is mainly a result of Erste Group’s third quarter loss, according to OeNB’s Executive Director Andreas Ittner.
November 3, 2011
Erich Hampel New Chairman of Bank Austria’s Supervisory Board
The Austrian succeeds Paolo Fiorentino who will remain on the board as deputy chairman.
November 3, 2011
Uniqa Expects Loss of € 300m
The Austrian insurance group is writing down all of its Greek government bonds at fair value in the third quarter and will therefore not break even in profit on ordinary activities as originally anticipated.
November 3, 2011
Linz Believes in Victory Over BAWAG
The capital of the province of Upper Austria filed a lawsuit against Bawag, which is held by the U.S. investment funds Cerberus.
November 2, 2011
No Nationalization of Austrian Banks
The head of the Austrian bank holding company Fimbag, Klaus Liebscher, believes that Austrian major banks do not need further capital provided by the state.
November 2, 2011
Losses for Kommunalkredit Probable
The nationalized Austrian Bank has to build major provisions. Write-offs up to € 500m are possible.
November 1, 2011
Weak Development for Austrian Private Insurers
After a substantial growth in 2010, this year shows only a slight upward trend for the insurance industry. The outlook however is rather pessimistic.
November 1, 2011
Raiffeisen: „Do Not Need State Capital“
Walter Rothensteiner, CEO of the Austrian RZB, intends not to sell shares in order to raise the equity base.
November 1, 2011
Erste Group´s CEO Wants to Avoid Further State Aid
Andreas Treichl, CEO of the Austrian major bank Erste Group, wants to prevent a further influence of the Austrian state.
October 29, 2011
Orban Attacks Austrian Banks
The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wants to release his country from the “debt slavery” and criticizes Austria´s reactions.
October 29, 2011
OeNB Dismisses Management of Money Printing Subsidiary
Three persons were fired for suspicion of unlawful actions. € 14m have allegedly been paid as bribe to secure a deal with Syria.
October 28, 2011
Erste Group Reports Loss of € 1.49bn for the Third Quarter
The Austrian bank took extraordinary charges leading to a net loss of € 973.0m in the first nine months of 2011 and significantly reduced CDS exposure.
October 28, 2011
Immofinanz Opens New Shopping Center in Romania
Total cost of the Austrian real estate company’s project amounted to € 100m, including a co-investment by French retail chain Auchan.
October 27, 2011
Reactions of Austrian Banks to Capital Buffer Requirements
Raiffeisen Zentralbank (RZB) needs € 1.9bn, Volksbank Group (VBAG) € 972m and Erste Group € 59m in order to comply with the EBA’s new requirements.
October 27, 2011
European Banking Authority: Austrian Banks Need € 2.9bn
Banks are required to establish a buffer such that the Core Tier 1 capital ratio reaches 9%. A major part of the capital needs is attributable to Volksbank Group.
October 27, 2011
Hypo Group Plans to Sell Austrian and Italian Subsidiary
The nationalized bank continues its downsizing program. Major parts shall be privatized again now.
October 25, 2011
Schaller New CEO of RLB Upper Austria
Heinrich Schaller will succeed Ludwig Scharinger as CEO of the regional Raiffeisenlandesbank. Scharinger retires, but becomes consultant for RLB.
October 24, 2011
Immofinanz: „Difficult Office Market“
Due to the weak economic growth, the Austrian real estate company already sees difficulties in the Austrian rental market for offices.
October 22, 2011
Warimpex Hopes for Strong Year
The Austrian real estate company holds out the prospect of a dividend payment. EBIT is expected to increase by 20% this year.
October 21, 2011
Raiffeisen's Comment on Current Developments of CEE Eurobonds
Eurobond markets felt the deteriorating market sentiment in recent weeks, reported Raiffeisen Research.
October 18, 2011
Warsaw Stock Exchange, the Financial Hub of CEE
The 4th Warsaw-CEE Financial Hub conference will be held on 30th November 2011 in the Listing Room of the Warsaw Stock Exchange under the honorary patronat of the Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski.
October 18, 2011
Hypo Group: „Need Time, not Cash“
Gottwald Kranebitter, CEO of the Austrian nationalized Hypo Group emphasizes the independence from further state capital.
October 18, 2011
FMA Investigates Against Treichl
The Austrian Financial Market Authority has severe suspicions against Erste Group´s CEO Andreas Treichl.
October 18, 2011
Greek Haircut Would Cost Another € 350m
Austrian banks still have a substantial exposure in Greece. A haircut up to 60% seems possible. Then, another € 350m would have to be written off.
October 18, 2011
€ 4.0bn Capital Requirement for Austrian Banks
After the industrialist Hannes Androsch, also the Vice-President of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), Wolfgang Duchatczek, sees a need to support domestic banks.
October 17, 2011
Rents in Vienna Still on the Rise
Since the beginning of 2011, rents on the Viennese rental market increased by 2.0%. On average, the rent for one square meter is € 13.00.
October 17, 2011
The Intended VIG Acquisition of Polish Warta Faces a Tough Competition
According to the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita, analysts estimate the value of the Polish insurer Warta at € 230-340m.
October 17, 2011
Erste Bank Hungary Opens Home Savings Bank
According to Imre Szatno. the deputy head of retail division of Erste Bank in Hungary, quoted by Budapest Business Journal, the Erste Group has launched its own home saving bank.
October 17, 2011
Do Austrian Banks Need More Capital?
Recently, the prominent Austrian industrialist Hannes Androsch expressed his concerns about the equity situation of Austrian banks. Androsch sees many challenges for the domestic bank sector.
October 15, 2011
Erste Group Increases Stake in BCR
The Austrian Erste Group further expands in the difficult Romanian market. Erste Group will hold 94% in BCR then.
October 15, 2011
Still Danger of Overheating in SEE Property Markets
According to the “Bank Austria Real Estate Country Facts”, commercial property markets in Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia are gaining ground, but risks of overheating remains.
October 15, 2011
Erste Group Signs Facility Agreement with Ukrainian Energy Holding
The Austrian bank extends an existing credit facility for DTEK from € 50 to € 100m with a maturity of three years.
October 14, 2011
VBAG Expects Massive Loss
The Austrian bank has to write off € 700m on the book value of its participations in Investkredit and Volksbank Romania. The state’s participation capital will not be repaid this year.
October 14, 2011