Vienna International Professional Services Industry News

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

Critics for FMA and Central Bank

Michael Ikrath, general secretary from Austrian Sparkassen, criticizes the Financial Market Authority and the Central Bank for equity requirements imposed on domestic banks.

December 28, 2011

Bank Austria Expects Positive Results

In spite of high losses in the third quarter, the subsidiary of the Italian UniCredit forecasts slight, but positive results.

December 28, 2011

Erste Group: Core Shareholder Endangered to Reduce Stake

Erste Group´s main stockholder, the Erste Stiftung, needs 2012 dividend to avoid stake sale.

December 28, 2011

Raiffeisen to Strengthen Equity Base

RZB shareholders' general meeting resolves the issuance of participation capital worth € 600m.

December 28, 2011

Hypo Tirol: Cut in Lending Prevented

Without the capital increase by the province of Tyrol, the bank would have been forced to cut its lending activities drastically.

December 27, 2011

Erste Group: Capital Shortfall to be Covered by Profits

The new equity requirements will be fulfilled, Erste Group´s CEO Treichl says. The capital shortfall amounts to € 743m.

December 27, 2011

Polbank: RBI wants to Lower Price

The Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International delays the closing of the acquisition. RBI negotiates over a reduction of the acquisition price.

December 27, 2011

CA Immo, Warimpex and UBM Open Airport City St. Petersburg

The Austrian real estate companies concluded the first phase of the office building and hotel project in direct vicinity of St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo 2 international airport.

December 23, 2011

Capital Increase for Raiffeisen Hungary

In light of massive loss expectations the Hungarian subsidiary will reduce its headcount and close down several branches.

December 23, 2011

UniCredit Plans to Abolish “Bank Austria” Brand

The Italian group will rename several subsidiaries in order to standardize its brand presence.

December 22, 2011

OeNB Sees No Signs for Credit Crunch

The Austrian Central Bank reports a stable development of new lending. The volume of new corporate and private loans is growing at 2% each.

December 21, 2011

Fitch Calls for Higher Capitalization of VBAG, Raiffeisen, Erste

The Austrian banks’ viability ratings are under pressure due to low capitalization and the banks’ exposure to CEE.

December 21, 2011

VBAG Sells Insurance Segment

The Austrian Volksbanken AG sells its stake in Victoria Volksbanken to Ergo Austria.

December 20, 2011

Immofinanz Reports Outstanding Results

The Austrian real estate group going strong in the first half of 2011/12: Group result has more than doubled compared to the previous year. Net Profits are up by 145%.

December 20, 2011

Resistance Against VBAG´s Structural Plans

The Austrian VBAB recently announced to restructure their group. However, the idea of a “bad bank” is seen as disadvantageous.

December 20, 2011

Benko Relieved from Money Laundering Accusations

Investigations against the Austrian real estate investor will end soon, German newspapers report. Benko bids for Metro´s subsidiary Kaufhof.

December 20, 2011

Rise in Profits Expected for Immofinanz

Tomorrow, on Tuesday, the Austrian real estate company presents its results for the second quarter. EBIT should rise significantly.

December 19, 2011

Hypo Group to Sell Interests in SEE Earlier

Due to the equity regulations, the Austrian bank prefers to sell its business in South Eastern Europe instead of the Italian and Austrian subsidiary.

December 19, 2011

Oberösterreichische Versicherung Raises Premium Income

The Upper Austrian regional insurance company expects to record results slightly below the previous year´s level.

December 19, 2011

Rumors Say Raiffeisen Looking for New Investors

According to newspaper reports, the Austrian Raiffeisen Zentralbank (RZB) has talks with banks in Sweden and Norway. RZB denies such information.

December 19, 2011

Foreign Currency Loans: Austrian Banks Appreciate Hungarian Decision

Austrian banks reacted positively to the announcement of the Hungarian government to participate in costs for the conversion of foreign currency loans.

December 19, 2011

Kaufhof-Deal Not Closed Before 2012

The two main competitors for the German retail chain are the Austrian real estate investor René Benko and the U.S. investor Nicolas Berggruen.

December 17, 2011

Bank Austria Reviews Strategy for CEE

In its expansion strategy, the bank focuses on four countries. Plans for Hungary and Romania are stopped, up to 450 jobs will be cut.

December 17, 2011

Uniqa Grows Quickly in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The insurance company’s premium volume increased by 14% in the first three quarters of the year.

December 16, 2011

OeNB: Developments in the Sovereign Debt Crisis Will Be Crucial for Financial Stability

The Austrian National Bank (OeNB) presented the 22nd Financial Stability Report.

December 16, 2011

VBAG Supervisory Board Resolves New Divisional Structure

The Austrian bank will sell its subsidiaries that are not part of the core business. The headcount will be reduced by 20% by the end of 2013.

December 15, 2011

Changes to the Management Board of Erste Group

The Supervisory Board of the Austrian bank took several personnel decisions that concern the holding company as well as the subsidiaries in Hungary and Romania.

December 15, 2011

Real Estate Boom in Austria

Property prices rose by 5.0% over the last two years. An end of the boom is currently “not in sight”, says the real estate industry.

December 14, 2011

Building Saving: Financing Becomes more Difficult

In Austria, 45,000 new apartments are needed, causing finance requirements of € 8.8bn. Meeting this demand becomes harder.

December 14, 2011

VIG and Zurich Fight for Polish Warta

According to the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita, the Swiss Zurich and the Austrian Vienna Insurance Group are the favorites for the acquisition of Warta.

December 14, 2011

Kaufhof: Investigations Cause Delay in Sale Process

Suspicions of money laundering against the Austrian real estate investor René Benko prevent the take-over for the time being.

December 13, 2011

S&P Cuts Uniqa´s Rating

Standard & Poors today lowered the long-term financial rating of the Austrian insurance group Uniqa from “A-“ to “BBB+”.

December 13, 2011

€ 230m Capital Increase at Hypo Tirol

The province of Tyrol, the owner of Hypo Tirol, decided to strengthen the bank´s capital base. From where the funds will be provided, is not clear yet.

December 12, 2011

Immofinanz Sells Project in Germany

The Austrian real estate group sells its stake in a project in Düsseldorf in order to grow in Russia and Poland.

December 12, 2011

Atrium Completes Acquisition of Shopping Centre in Poland

The Vienna-listed real estate company Atrium finished the acquisition of a € 55m project in the seventh largest city in Poland.

December 12, 2011

Erste Group Increases Stake in BCR to 82%

In connection with the implementation of agreements with the Romanian SIFs, Erste Group has acquired a further approx. 7% stake in BCR against cash and issuance of new shares.

December 12, 2011

Austrian Investor Interested in Croatian Aluminum Company

The Austrian financial investor Michael Tojner is a potential buyer of the Croatian aluminum manufacturer TLM-TVP, which is owned by Hypo Group.

December 10, 2011

Treichl: „9% Quota Is Adequate“

The CEO of Erste Group, Andreas Treichl, is optimistic to achieve the prescribed 9% tier 1 capital quota by mid-2012.

December 10, 2011

Nowotny Attacks EBA

The Governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), Ewald Nowotny, criticizes the high speed which EBA requires from banks to build up equity capital.

December 9, 2011

Erste Group: Drastic Cut in Hungary

The Austrian bank cuts 450 jobs in Hungary. However, Erste Group emphasizes to stay in Central and Eastern Europe.

December 9, 2011

Reduced, But Still High Shortfall at Austrian Banks

EBA shortfall for RZB Group set at approximately € 2.1bn, for Erste Group at € 0.74bn. However, the initial shortfalls were reduced for RZB.

December 8, 2011

Kaufhof: Benko Offering € 2bn?

The Austrian investor decisively rejected reports that suggested this acquisition price. Metro’s CEO wants to obtain € 2-3bn.

December 8, 2011

Hypo Tirol Needs Capital Increase

The Tyrolean bank suffers from a low equity capital quota. After major write-offs in Italy, the core capital amounts to 5.8%.

December 7, 2011

Rising Finance Requirements Due to Increase in Investments

According to the Erste Bank’s forecast on savings and loans, the average financing amount in Austria amounts to € 81,800.

December 7, 2011

Benko Confirms Binding Offer

Both Metro Group and René Benko´s Signa Holding confirmed that a binding offer for Metro´s subsidiary Kaufhof has been put.

December 6, 2011

Immofinanz-CEO Zehetner Expects Reduced Finance Costs

Due to lower interest rates and depreciations of foreign currencies in the CEE region, the Austrian real estate company will have low refinance costs, Zehenter says.

December 5, 2011

Major Job Cut at Hypo Group

A spokesman from the Austrian Hypo Alpe Adria confirmed plans for further layoffs. In the medium run, the bank wants to reduce staff by 500 posts at least.

December 5, 2011

Kaufhof: Benko Is Preferred

According to the seller, the German Metro Group, the Austrian real estate investor has good odds. Benko will submit a binding offer soon.

December 5, 2011

Further Write-Offs at Hypo Tirol Possible

The Tyrolean bank could make further write-offs in 2012. Non-performing loans of € 30m in Italy are still in the books.

December 5, 2011

Hypo Group: € 3.0bn Debts at BayernLB

The nationalized Hypo Group is still massively indebted at its former holding company, the German BayernLB. The loan will be due by the end of 2013.

December 3, 2011