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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


World Bank: Serbia Has Nine Month to Implement Reforms

According to Tony Verheijen, the World Bank’s Country Manager of Serbia, Serbia has nine month to implement the reforms necessary.
March 25, 2014


Poland: Number of Real Estate Loans Drops

The portfolio of real estate loans of Polish households declined in February, according to a report by the National Bank of Poland (NBP).
March 25, 2014


Spindelegger: Investigation Committee “Counterproductive“

According to the Finance Minister, an investigation committee would only worsen the negotiation position with BayernLB.
March 25, 2014


Poland: Pension Reform Not to Affect Rating

According to rating agency Fitch, Poland’s country rating will not be affected by the pension reform.
March 25, 2014


Hypo Group: Spindelegger Still Rejects Investigation Committee

Today the opposition will call for a joint request for a parliamentary investigation committee with regard to ailing bank Hypo Group.
March 25, 2014


Austria: Hypo Petition to be Continued

The online petition for the establishing of a parliamentary investigation committee will not be stopped by the Austrian government, consisting of SPÖ (Social Democrats) and ÖVP (Austrian People’s Party).
March 24, 2014


Poland: PKO BP Considers Expanding Worldwide

The biggest lender in Poland PKO BP is weighing up international expansion
March 24, 2014


Hypo Group: New Supervisory Board President

Herbert Walter becomes head of the nationalized Austrian Balkan lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria. According to Austrian Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger, Hypo Group needs even more capital injections.
March 24, 2014


Moody´s Downgrades Bank Austria

The U.S. rating agency Moody´s takes a closer look at European banks. Due to the worsening asset quality of Bank Austria´s parent company UniCredit, Bank Austria´s rating was cut to “Baa2”.
March 22, 2014


Austria: Petition Around Hypo Group to be Stopped

The stop of the online petition for a parliamentary investigation committee seems to be unavoidable. The opposition claims the government is trying to “choke off” democracy.
March 21, 2014


Hypo Group: € 1.43bn Required This Year

A total capital need of € 1.43bn is forecast by the ailing bank.
March 21, 2014


Slovenia: Considerably Fewer Building Permits Issued

Almost a quarter fewer building permits were issued in January in Slovenia.
March 21, 2014


Hypo Group: More than One Billion Required?

As reported by Austrian radio station Ö1, part of the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation ORF, ailing Hypo Group Alpe Adria will require € 1.1bn this year from the state.
March 21, 2014


Final Time-Out for Austrian Bank Secret

During the EU Summit the final time-out for the Austrian bank secret for foreigners was decided. Both Austria and Luxembourg agreed to give up their banking secrets.
March 21, 2014


Hypo Group: “Acutely Gaping Capital Hole“

In a compulsory notification published on Friday morning, Hypo Group Alpe Adria has reported about an “acutely gaping capital hole” which has to be covered by the Austrian Federation.
March 21, 2014


Austria: Still No Disclosure about Hypo’s Capital Gap

Detailed figures about how much the Austrian state will have to inject for the balance sheet total of 2013 will be published on Friday at the earliest.
March 21, 2014


Fitch: Elections Command Fiscal Consolidation and Reforms

Vucic appears to acknowledge the need for reforms in Serbia.
March 20, 2014


Austria: Opposition Criticizes Nationalization

On Thursday Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger expects a binding statement by ailing bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria about how much state aid will be required. The opposition heavily criticizes the nationalization by the Austrian state in 2009.
March 20, 2014


Austria: Reform Steps Very Modest

Austria, along with Germany and Switzerland, hardly put any economic reforms into realization. This is the conclusion of the annual “reform barometer” for the three countries.
March 20, 2014


Slovenia: Government Confirms Tax for Residential Property

The government has confirmed the changes adopted for the introduction of the real estate tax.
March 20, 2014


Sanctions Against Russia: Massive Threat for Austrian Banks

Brussels plans to impose economic sanctions on Russia. The Austrian financial sector would suffer enormously an escalating conflict with Moscow.
March 19, 2014


Conwert Achieves Turnaround

The Austrian real estate group returns to the profit zone. Last year, net income totaled € 49m.
March 19, 2014


Immofinanz: Substantial Increase in Profits

In the first nine months of 2013/14, the Vienna-listed group registered an increase in net income by 7.1%. For the time being, Immofinanz is not affected by the Crimea crisis.
March 19, 2014


Hypo Group Expected to Publish Figures This Week

On Thursday the Austrian taxpayers are supposed to officially get to know the financial requirements for nationalized problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
March 19, 2014


Austria: Freedom Party Admits Complicity

The Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) admits that it was also to blame for the disaster around Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
March 19, 2014


CA Immo: Considerable Drop in Net Income

Financial results 2013: CA Immo achieves record operating result. Balance sheet strengthened, Net Asset Value up 6%.
March 19, 2014


Poland: Key Rates to Remain Unchanged until 2015

In an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek magazine, Marek Belka, Governor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), announced that interest rates will remain unchanced until the end of this year.
March 18, 2014


Hungary: Jurisdiction Affects FX Loans and Banks

Hungary’s constitutional court will exert influence on FX loans.
March 18, 2014


Slovenia: SID Bank With Declining Profits

The public export and development bank of Slovenia, SID, sees shrinking profits.
March 18, 2014


Poland: PZU to Takeover Healthcare Companies

Polish insurance group PZU is considering the acquisition of two healthcare enterprises.
March 18, 2014


BayernLB: “We Were Brazenly Betrayed by Austria"

CEO of BayernLB Gerd Häusler claims the German bank and former parent company of nationalized Hypo Group Alpe Adria accuses Austria of having taken the law into its own hands.
March 18, 2014


VBAG: Romanian Affiliate Sells Bad Loan Portfolio

The ailing affiliate of Austrian partly nationalized VBAG will sell its non-performing loans on a large scale.
March 18, 2014


Poland: PKO BP Cuts Down on Business in Ukraine

The Polish top lender PKO BP’s Ukrainian affiliate Kredobank closed four of its six branches in Crimea in the past two weeks.
March 18, 2014


Hypo Group: Government Explains Downsizing Solution

On Tuesday the Austrian government will explain the decided downsizing solution for the ailing bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria. Carinthia only wants to pay € 300m in downsizing costs.
March 18, 2014


Hypo Group Redeems Loan

Even though the Austrian nationalized Hypo Group urgently needs state aids to get by bondholders will be compensated for their investments.
March 17, 2014


Austria: Carinthia Forced to Pay for Hypo Group

Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger announced wanting to include the federal province of Carinthia to participate in the downsizing costs for ailing bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria. Austerity measures are “inevitable”.
March 17, 2014


Belka: Poland Should Not Haste into Eurozone

Marek Belka, Governor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), said that the country did not have to haste to become a member of the European single currency union.
March 17, 2014


Austria: Spindelegger Puts Pressure on BayernLB

In the dispute with BayernLB, former parent company of problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria, Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger calls for a tougher approach.
March 17, 2014


Austria: Spindelegger Demands Valid Figures by Hypo Group

Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger demands valid figures from Hypo Group Alpe Adria before any further capital injections will be made by the Austrian state.
March 15, 2014


Austria: Delay in RBI Paying Back State Capital

Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) will take longer than planned to pay back state capital.
March 15, 2014


Immofinanz: Buwog’s Spin-Off Approved

In an extraordinary shareholder meeting, the spin-off of residential real estate affiliate of Immofinanz was approved by the shareholders.
March 14, 2014


DiTech: Insolvency Postponed

Heavily affected computer equipement trader DiTech has to postpone filing for insolvency proceedings, which was planned today at the Commercial Court in Vienna.
March 14, 2014


Slovenia: Banking Sector Still Prone to Risks

The Slovenian banking sector is still prone to risks as the number of non-performing loans was not reduced substantially.
March 14, 2014


Austria: IV Welcomes Government‘s Decision on Hypo

According to Kapsch, president of IV, Hypo Group’s insolvency would have meant uncertainty and damages to the reputation of the business location Austria.
March 14, 2014


Hypo Group: Decision Has Finally Been Made

The government has finally made a decision. Ailing Hypo Group Alpe Adria will be downsized through a private bad bank.
March 14, 2014


Austria/SEE: Crucial Days for Hypo Group’s Future

Today the supervisory board of ailing Hypo Group is gathering to determine the financial gap of Hypo Group and the amount required to complete the balance sheets for 2013. Moreover, a decision about the SEE network will have to be made.
March 14, 2014


CEE: Investments to Boost Economic Growth

In the coming two years economic growth in Eastern Europe is expected to accelerate to an average of two to three percent of GDP triggered by a boost in investments.
March 13, 2014


Poland: “Time for Belt-Tightening”

Poland is required to cut the deficit in the public finance sector.
March 13, 2014


Austria: Bawag to Pay Back State Capital

Bawag is expected to pay back the entire public participation captial tomorrow. The assets are urgently required for recapitalizing Austrian problem bank Hypo Group.
March 13, 2014


Poland: PZU Below Profit Expectations

Polish insurer PZU missed the profit expectations in the last quarter in 2013.
March 13, 2014