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BP Plans Rival Project to OMV´s Nabucco

The British Petrol Corporation intends to open up new gas fields in the Caspian region. BP is thus a new competitor for the Austrian OMV.

September 27, 2011

Serbia as Growth Market for Denkstatt

The Vienna-based environment consulting group Denkstatt intends to gain a foothold in Serbia.

September 19, 2011

OMV Publishes New Strategy

Gerhard Roiss became CEO of the Austrian OMV six months ago. This week, Roiss will present the company´s strategy at the capital market´s day in Istanbul, Turkey.

September 19, 2011

Erste Group: BCR Needs Capital Boost

The Austrian bank’s Romanian subsidiary may need additional capital due to high risk costs and the overall economic situation.

September 16, 2011

Erste Group Increases Stake in Romanian BCR

The Austrian bank enters into agreement with four regional investment funds to acquire a further 24.12% in its Romanian subsidiary.

September 14, 2011

Hammerer Aluminium: € 8.5m Investment for Austrian Industrial Location

The aluminum company Hammerer Aluminium Industries (HAI) enlarges the headquarters location in Ranshofen, Austria.

September 13, 2011

No Common Trend for CEE-Countries

Regarding economic growth, prospects for CEE countries have worsened slightly. However, the region remains heterogeneous.

September 13, 2011

CEE-Region Remains Essential for Austrian Insurance Companies

According to a current market survey of Fitch, the CEE region plays a central role for domestic insurance companies. There is still growth potential.

September 12, 2011

OMV’s Petrom Receives Approval for License Extension

The subsidiary of the Austrian oil and gas company was allowed to continue exploration works in Romania. The licenses were due to expire on September 12.

September 8, 2011

Sale of Volksbank International Finalized

The Eastern European subsidiary will be sold for a price ranging from € 585m to € 645m depending on business performance in 2011.

September 8, 2011

CEE Economic Forum: Green Trends for Eastern Europe

In 2011, Forum Velden in Carinthia celebrates its 5th anniversary. Since its foundation in 2006, over 1.500 experts, top-managers and politicians from over 25 countries have participated in the Forum.

September 7, 2011

Slow Growth for CEE Telecom Sector Expected

Austrian Erste Group: “Seasonality and mobile data growth as key driver in H2 2011. The industry continues to struggle from slow consumer and public spending – Stabilisation to be expected in 2012.”

September 7, 2011

Joschka Fischer: „Nabucco is in time“

The former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, Joschka Fischer, is optimistic regarding the realization of the Nabucco Gas Pipeline.

September 6, 2011

Green Party: Accusations against OMV

The member of the Austrian Parliament, Peter Pilz (Greens) considers bribe payments from the oil and gas company OMV to Mensdorff-Pouilly.

September 6, 2011

Raiffeisen Centrobank Reports Increase in Profit

Net interest income declined, while trading profit and net fee and commission income increased substantially. Turbulences on financial markets might burden the bank’s business development.

September 2, 2011

VBAG: Reduced Consolidated Net Income in First Half of Year

The Austrian bank recorded net income of € 1m. The result was negatively impacted by write-downs of Greek bonds.

August 25, 2011

Significant Drop in Revenue for SW Umwelttechnik

The Austrian technology company recorded mixed results in a challenging market environment. Revenue dropped 7%, EBIT improved but remained negative at € -1.7m.

August 24, 2011

Borealis Doubles Profit and Expects Challenging Market Conditions

The Austrian chemical company delivered strong second quarter results despite a softening market environment.

August 11, 2011

Erste Group Strives for Full Control over Romanian BCR

The Austrian bank does not want its Romanian subsidiary to be listed at the stock exchange although it was a condition for the privatization.

August 4, 2011

VIG: Trouble at Romanian Subsidiary

The Austrian insurance group has reportedly lost millions due to illegal actions at one of its Romanian subsidiaries. Company representatives denied any misconduct.

July 27, 2011

OMV’s Petrom Makes Significant Gas Discovery

The Austrian energy group’s subsidiary made a gas discovery in Romania. Further appraisal drilling is planned to assess what may be the most important onshore gas discovery in the country in the last six years.

July 7, 2011

Sale of VBI to Be Signed in July

The Austrian Volksbanken Group and Sberbank have come close to an agreement on the sale of the Eastern European bank. The transaction price will be € 700m.

July 5, 2011

Volksbanken Group to Sell Stake in RZB

Österreichische Volksbanken-AG Group (VBAG) will sell its shares in Raiffeisen Zentralbank for almost € 500m. The redemption of state capital and the sale of VBI have been delayed.

June 28, 2011

Uniqa Sold Stake in Romanian Company

The Austrian insurance group sold its 27% holding in Astra for € 25m to the Nova Group.

June 27, 2011

Verbund: New Wind Farm in Romania

The Austrian electricity company will invest “several hundred million euros” in 77 new wind wheels which will go into service in 2012.

June 17, 2011

Immofinanz Acquires Romanian Property Developer

The Austrian real estate company buys the remaining stake for € 42.43m in order to become sole shareholder of Bucharest-based Adama.

June 16, 2011

Nabucco Legal Framework Finalized

Project support agreements were signed by each transit country. They are a prerequisite for the successful financing of the pipeline.

June 8, 2011

New Motorway Order for Strabag in Romania

The Austrian construction company is going to build a motorway section between the cities of Orăştie and Sibiu. Order volume amounts to € 166m.

June 7, 2011

Nabucco Receives Further Support by Transit Countries

Five countries are going to sign an agreement on the realization of the infrastructure project. Works are scheduled to start in 2013.

June 1, 2011

AUA Give Up Their Focus on CEE

Austrian Airlines are going to improve their connections to Western Europe at the expense of their destinations in the East. The company is currently serving 46 airports in CEE.

May 30, 2011

SW Umwelttechnik Still in the Red

The Austrian technology company reported a slight increase in revenue. EBIT improved from € -2.9m to € -2.5m.

May 25, 2011

Eastern Europe Becoming Attractive Again

For two years Austrians have abstained from investing in Eastern Europe, resulting in a loss of market share in these countries. Interest starts to recover now.

May 25, 2011

Alpine to Build Motorway in Romania

The Austrian construction company is going to build a motorway section for € 91m within a period of 22 months.

May 24, 2011

OMV Considering Closer Cooperation with Azerbaijan

The Austrian oil and gas group is in talks about investments in the oil-rich country which is an important supplier for Nabucco.

May 20, 2011

Romania Offers Export Opportunities for Austria's Environment Industry

18 top Austrian companies active in the areas of environmental technology and renewable energies are present in Bucharest.

May 12, 2011

Nabucco Announces Further Delay of Pipeline Project

Nabucco Gas Pipeline International GmbH today announces a revised timeline for the Nabucco pipeline project., which is due to a lack in suppliers.

May 6, 2011

Is Nabucco Turning into a Cost Trap?

The Nabucco gas pipeline could be twice as expensive as previously planned, according to sources from Turkey.

May 6, 2011

Wolf Theiss Identifies Opportunities in CEE Electricity Markets

Significant legislative changes particularly in Bulgaria and Romania, two of the most dynamic markets for RES-Electricity in the CEE/SEE region, have resulted in a dramatic increase in investor and other stakeholder interest in such projects.

May 3, 2011

SW Umwelttechnik Reports Satisfying Rise in Sales

Sales of the Austrian technology company were up by 12%. The company completed its first major export projects in Bulgaria and Moldova.

April 28, 2011

Erste Group: Slight Increase in Profits Expected

UniCredit and RCB expect a slight rise in profits for Erste Group, despite bank taxes in Austria and Hungary.

April 27, 2011

OMV: No Increase in Share on Petrom

The Austrian energy company OMV will not participate in OMV Petrom secondary public offering.

April 27, 2011

Shipping on the Danube is Far Below its Potential

Capacities are only being utilized in modest proportions on Austria’s main waterway. Investments in expansion would be necessary.

April 23, 2011

Real Purchasing Power: The Gap Between Austria and the CEE Region is Getting Smaller

For the coming years, a steady rise in unit labor costs in the CEE countries with the corresponding impact on the competition for business locations is expected.

April 16, 2011

Hirsch Servo Opens New Plant in Romania

Expanding its eastern and southeastern European production network, the HIRSCH Servo Group is setting up another operation in Oradea/Romania. Production at the site will total some 600 tonnes of packaging material a year.

April 6, 2011

Economic Growth in CEE and Austria Remains Solid

Concerning the equity markets as well as the economic circumstances, Raiffeisen Research is quite optimistic. In 2011, a further economic recovery is expected.

April 6, 2011

Southeastern Europe as a Region of Hope for Austria

Great interest of Austrian companies at the Austria Foreign Trade Forum on Export and Investment Opportunities in Southeastern Europe

April 2, 2011

Romania's Premier: "Sale to OMV was a Huge Loss"

Prime Minister of Romania Emil Boc regrets the 2004 sale of the then government owned Petrom to Austria's OMV.

March 30, 2011

Difficult Search for a Buyer for OMV Refinery

The Austrian energy group has tried, so far unsuccessfully, to sell a refinery of its Romanian subsidiary Petrom. Now it will be closed down.

March 25, 2011 · Updated: March 26, 2011; 13:13

The Black Sea Region is Gaining in Significance for the Austrian Economy

Austria's sound foreign economic relations with the Black Sea region could be strengthened still further. The export structure of Austria is consistent to a large extent with the import demand of Ukraine and Turkey.

March 25, 2011 · Updated: March 25, 2011; 03:52

VBI: Romania Remains a Weak Point

The foreign holding of the Austrian Volksbanken group has to cope with credit risk provisions for € 160m from its Romanian subsidiary.

March 16, 2011