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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


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


Slovakia Approved EFSF

After unsuccessful voting on Tuesday, Slovak lawmakers supported today the enlargement of the European Financial Stability Fund.
October 13, 2011


CA Immo Commences Hotel Construction in Berlin

The Austrian real estate company invests € 53.2m in the Europacity development project. The hotel is scheduled for completion in 2013.
October 13, 2011


OeEB Grants Credit to Azerbaijani Bank

DemirBank receives $ 25m from the Austrian Development Bank, RBI and other lenders to support entrepreneurs in Azerbaijan.
October 12, 2011


Immofinanz Opens Shopping Center Extension in Poland

The Austrian real estate company invested € 50m in the project, making it one of the top five shopping centers in Poland.
October 12, 2011


Bank Austria Rethinks Expansion in Hungary

The subsidiary of Italian UniCredit reviews its activities in the country. A withdrawal is not ruled out.
October 12, 2011


Slovakia Against the Enlargement of the Euro Zone Bailout Fund

After six hours of heated debate Slovak lawmakers failed to approved the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF).
October 12, 2011


„Austrian Banks Are Robust“

Ewald Nowotny, the head of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) as well as the Minister of Finance, Maria Fekter, appreciate the announcement of Erste Group.
October 11, 2011


Bank Austria Optimizing its Activities in Russia

Sergey Sidorov to remain CEO until year end and to support the organizational and strategic Changes. Alexander Cheporov to become Head of Equity Brokerage Operations.
October 11, 2011