Vienna International Professional Services Industry News

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

Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank - The new Group Press Officer

Dominic Köfner to take on the role of Group Press Officer for Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank International AG (HGAA)

September 9, 2010

Horváth & Partners Study - CEE remains attractive

A new study of the Horváth & Partners Management Consultants studied the success factors for setting up the subsidiaries of production sites in CEE.

September 8, 2010

VBAG Group result for the first half of 2010: positive development continued

In the second quarter of 2010, Österreichische Volksbanken-AG (VBAG) Group confirmed the turnaround of the first quarter.

September 3, 2010

CA Immo International completes first phase of DIY store OBI in Romania

Construction phase one of the retail development project in Sibiu has been concluded - DIY store OBI opens with 9,700 sqm of usable space.

September 2, 2010

UBM with slightly improved results

Focus on hotels and housing, regional focus remains on Poland and Germany.

August 31, 2010

Raiffeisen Centrobank AG - Interim Financial Report released

Raiffeisen Centrobank made the biggest contribution to the result of the group with a profit after tax of EUR 14.401 mn.

August 31, 2010

Kommunalkredit back in black

Kommunalkredit AG earned €7.5m ($9.5) net, in the first half of 2010. It is the first period since the split in November 2009; a comparison with the previous year is therefore limited.

August 30, 2010

TeleTrader decreases loss, raises revenues slightly

TeleTrader, a stock-listed IT service provider, posted in H1 2010 a loss on ordinary activities of EUR 62,000 (US$ 48,819), which was slightly better than the loss in H1 2009 (EUR 170,000/US$ 215,900).

August 30, 2010

Investkredit back in black

Institute earned €9.6m ($12.24) in the first 6 months.

August 30, 2010

Austrian Banks in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe

According to a recent comparative study from the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), the long-term commitment of Austrian banks in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe (CESEE) offers good prospects.

August 27, 2010

Raiffeisen Evolution shifting back

The real estate developer Raiffeisen evolution (RE) was significantly affected by the uncertainty in the property markets in 2009.

August 26, 2010

Allianz Austria registers profits

Allianz Austria has improved its half year results by around 45 per cent, which amounts to pre-crisis levels.

August 25, 2010

Eco Business back in black

The listed Eco Business Immobilien AG registers positive numbers in the first half of the year.

August 24, 2010

Meinl Bank compensates MEL-investors

The next 600 small investors may get back a third of their losses with MEL-papers. Overall Meinl Bank wants to pay out 3.2m ($4) and then retrieve the money from financial institutions.

August 20, 2010

VIG registers higher semi annual profit

The Vienna Insurance Group (VIG) earned €209.8m ($266) in the first half of 2010, which is over ten percent more than a year ago. While more premiums were taken up, paid benefits decreased.

August 20, 2010

AWD back in black

The financial services group AWD Holding AG returned to profitability and achieved a profit before interest and taxes (EBIT) of €20.4m. In the same period last year AWD had at deficit of €10.3m, the EBIT margin is at 7.8 percent.

August 18, 2010

AWS - Increasing demand for small loans

According to the Austria Economic Service (AWS) a significant increase in demand for small loans was registered in the first half of 2010.

August 17, 2010

Final result for the voluntary takeover bid for CA Immo International AG

In total CA Immobilien Anlagen AG now holds 42,217,340 shares of CA Immo International AG, this is equivalent to 97.14% of the issued share capital of CA Immo International AG.

August 17, 2010

C-QUADRAT Investment AG - Interim Financial Report as of 30 June

C-QUADRAT Investment AG concluded the first half year of 2010 with an operating income of €29.6m, an operating profit of €5.4m and a net profit of €8.5m.

August 16, 2010

New management at S&T Austria GmbH

Eduard Bugelnig, Patrick Schnebel and Robert Latka take over management of the Austrian subsidiary of S&T.

July 23, 2010

Vienna Insurance Group: increase the proportion of TBIH to 100 percent

After taking the lead in the TBIH Financial Services Group NV (TBIH), the Vienna Insurance Group agreed with Kardan Financial Services BV to acquire its minority stake of 40 percent.

July 23, 2010

Head of Erste Bank Treichl advocates stress test ranking

"Then, investors can visualize the results," said Treichl after a bankers' meeting with Trichet.

July 22, 2010

Austria attracts World Bank

Austria has concluded agreements for an official residence of the World Bank Group. It provides privileges similar to those of diplomats for employees of the international organization.

July 22, 2010

Hungary gives bank tax its blessing

The new Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will not abandon the highly controversial tax, as decided in Parliament.

July 22, 2010

Banks-Stress Test - Friday evening moment of truth

At 6pm the Association of European Banking Regulators publish the result of the test of 91 European financial institutions. In Austria, Erste Bank, RZB and Bank Austria will be tested.

July 21, 2010

Banks' equity - "Basel III costs 46 000 jobs"

The stricter rules for the equity of banks will reduce lending by up to 20 percent, says the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS) in Vienna.

July 21, 2010

Constantia Packaging - shareholders will be reconciled with €47

The new owners of Constantia Packaging make cash payment of €47 ($60.61) per share to its minority shareholders.

July 20, 2010

East-Europe Bank - "Hungary carries risks of infection"

The proposed bank tax against the wishes of the IMF is not a good sign, says the head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

July 20, 2010

OeNB stresses its commitment to reform

The Austrian National Bank (OeNB) has announced its continuation of current reform policy, in light of stringent austerity measures announcement. Simultaneously, the OeNB said in a press release that its nationalisation has no impact on its independence

July 19, 2010

Hungary rejects additional austerity measures

Hardened front between the Hungarian government on the one hand and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the EU on the other side: highly-indebted Hungary has ruled out further austerity measures.

July 19, 2010

Banks threaten with drastic job cuts

Bankers warnings on impact of the stricter financial rules, five to ten thousand jobs are threatened.

July 19, 2010

Stress tests - according to Cernko, Austrian Banks in the bottom third

Referring to speculation according to which Austrian banks with their relatively low equity ratio should not perform that well, Bank Austria CEO Willibald Cernko said "If one considers capital only, they will be at the top of the bottom third."

July 15, 2010

Vienna Stock Exchange buys 16.5 percent stake of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange

The Vienna stock exchange holding company, CEE Stock Exchange Group (CEESEG AG), has made some arrangements with minority shareholders of the Ljubljana Stock Exchange to purchase the remaining shares of its Slovenian subsidiary.

July 15, 2010

Stress tests could be price-sensitive information

At the political level it is fiercely debated how detailed the publication of the stress test should be. The FMA currently tests whether the stress test results are stock market relevant, compulsory publications.

July 14, 2010

Stress tests pose problems

Results of stress tests will be published later than expected - assumptions behind tests create uncertainty.

July 14, 2010

Local banks in stress test "within normal range"

OeNB Governor criticizes EU Commission: State aid procedure too long - debt reduction, dampening the economy Austria's banks performed within "the normal range, in midfield," the Governor of the Austrian National bank (OeNB) and Governing Council memb

July 13, 2010

UniCredit's Profumo proposes 20-billion rescue fund

Head of Bank-Austria parent UniCredit, Alessandro Profumo, has announced his ambitions for a privately financed € 20 billion heavy rescue fund for troubled European banks.

July 12, 2010

Transaction tax - OECD European solo attempt

According to Jeffrey Owens, head of the OECD's tax department, a transaction tax only makes sense if it relates to the financial centres on a global scale.

July 12, 2010

Crisis causing private bankruptcy

Unemployment and less income: more than 50,000 people last year turned to a debt counselling bodies.

July 12, 2010

Pröll on economic status quo, "thunder and lightning are over"

The EU has demonstrated that "it is able to act in one of the worst crises, even if there were some mistakes," says Austrian Finance Minister Josef Pröll.

July 12, 2010

Hungarian burden for Austro-banks

Raiffeisen International (RI) CEO Herbert Stepic expressed his concerns during a general conference.

July 9, 2010

Banks swap gold - Caused by Central banks?

European banks have tons of bunkers gold at the "Super Fed" BIS (Bank for International Settlement). But they could have acted only as intermediary.

July 8, 2010

Stress tests - Erste Bank and RZB on the list

91 European banks will have to undergo stress tests of European regulators. Two Austrian institutions will be tested as well.

July 8, 2010

AWD - Commercial Court allows class action

Consumer information association (VKI) goes to court on behalf of 1,300 investors.

July 7, 2010

Hungary rejects amendments to bank levy

At the start of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Hungarian government ruled out an amendment of the introduction of the controversial bank tax.

July 7, 2010

No share price manipulation in Immoeast, confirmed by court-appointed expert

An investor claimed that the price of Immoeast shares had been inflated manipulative trading activities of former Constantia Privatbank (now Aviso Zeta Bank)

July 6, 2010

Immofinanz - Sale of 55m shares hasn't started

The placement of the 55m Immofinanz shares from settlement with Constantia Packaging has not yet begun as reported in today’s published "Company Flash" of UniCredit.

July 6, 2010

Bank Austria’s Snowball clause illegal

The unilateral termination right of Bank Austria in its "Callable Snowball Floater " is unlawful according to the Supreme Court (OGH).

July 6, 2010

Sale of Innovest is imminent

Beside Raiffeisen there are two other interested parties.

July 5, 2010

Cross Industries AG - Changes in Management Board and Supervisory Board

Mr. Rudolf Knünz resigns from the management board, Mr. Friedrich Roithner will take over the function of CFO.

July 5, 2010