Austrian Securities Market and Stock Exchange News and Analysis

Read the latest headlines and breaking news about the Vienna International Stock Exchange and the Austrian securities market (bonds, stocks)

€ 500m Cash Capital Increase by Uniqa Completed

Upon termination of the subscription offer, Austrian UNIQA Versicherungen AG has placed all 47,619,048 new shares offered in the cash capital increase.

July 13, 2012

VBAG-Restructuring Proves Problematic

In March, the Austrian VBAG Banking Group became partly nationalized. A new CEO has not been found yet.

July 12, 2012

America Movil Checks Telekom Austria

For one month, the Mexican investor Carlos Slim is the second-biggest investor at Telekom Austria. This week, he collected information about Telekom Austria´s technology and marketing strategy.

July 12, 2012

Schuler Recommends Accepting Takeover Bid by Andritz

The Board of Management and the Supervisory Board of the German engineering company recommend that shareholders accept the takeover bid issued by Andritz. A Bid price of € 20.00 per share is deemed to be fair.

July 12, 2012

Slovenia Remains in Recession

According to estimations, the recession in Slovenia will sharpen this year. A turnaround is expected in 2013. The banking sector is an enormous burden for the Souteastern European country.

July 12, 2012

Agrana Posts Strong Results

The Austrian sugar and starch company announced its results for first quarter of 2012|13 (ended 31 May 2012): sound business performance is sustained in first three months.

July 12, 2012

Austrian M&A Activity Faces Depression

Due to the global insecurities, the M&A activities in Austria decreased substantially in the last year. Against the prior year, the number of deals was down by 27%.

July 11, 2012

Credit Line for ProCredit Georgia

In 2008, only a few month after the conflict with Russia, Austrian OeEB and German KfW signed a credit line for the ProCredit Georgia. The evaluaction confirms the path, OeEB says.

July 11, 2012

WSE Remains European Leader by Number of IPOs

Warsaw Stock Exchange is the leader by the number of IPOs and Europe’s third market by the value of IPOs in Q2 2012.

July 11, 2012

Austrian Banks Fulfilled EBA Requirements

The European Banking Authority published today an overview report on the implementation of the capital exercise. The vast majority of the banks in the sample meet the required ratio of 9% Core Tier 1 (CT1).

July 11, 2012

Big Exposure in Foreign Currency Loans

In Austria, domestic banks have outstanding foreign currency loans of € 51bn. In CESEE countries, the exposure comes at € 130bn.

July 10, 2012

bwin.party´s Earnings Under Pressure

The Austro-British entertainment company issues a pre-close trading update. Due to new taxes in Germany, the expectations are decent.

July 10, 2012

Germany Still Biggest Investor in Austria

For years, Germany leads the ranking of foreign investors in Austria. The Northern neighbour country is followed by Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands and the U.S.

July 9, 2012

Performance of Austrian Banks Remarkably Down

Austria seems to be significantly „overbanked“: Austrian banks only achieve a 0.1% yield on the capital employed.

July 9, 2012

OeNB Calls Austrian Banks to Improve Equity Base

Presentation of the 23rd Financial Stability Report of OeNB (Austrian Central Bank): Austrian Financial System Influenced by Tensions in the International Financial Markets.

July 9, 2012

Hungary: Negotiations on IMF Loan to be Concluded in Autumn

Since January, the Hungarian government tries to secure a € 15bn loan by IMF and the European Central Bank. A final solution may be found in the next months.

July 7, 2012

Massive Decrease in Turnover at Vienna Stock Exchange

In June, turnover fell by 50%. This is the lowest turnover since 2003. RCB recorded the second-highest turnover figure behind Deutsche Bank.

July 7, 2012

AT&S: Management Board Re-Elected

Andreas Gerstenmayer will keep his function as CEO oft he Austrian high tech company. A dividend of € 0.32 per share has been resolved.

July 6, 2012

Austria Remains One of the Biggest CESEE Investors

Austria is still an important net investor in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. However, the global importance of the region did not increase.

July 6, 2012

Vienna Stock Exchange: New Trading System for Gas Exchange

Trayport ETS: New trading system on CEGH Gas Exchange of the Vienna Stock Exchange.

July 6, 2012

Telekom Austria Not Interested in Telecom Kosovo

The privatization of the state-owned Kosovan PTK has begun. Telekom Austria will not participated in the sales process.

July 5, 2012

Active Direct Investments Higher than Passive Direct Investments

Austrian enterprises make more investments abroad than foreign countries do in Austria, Austrian Central Bank announced.

July 5, 2012

ÖIAG Looking for New Leader

After the resignation of Markus Beyrer, the Austrian publicly held ÖIAG (Austrian Industrial Holding) seeks for a new CEO.

July 5, 2012

Dividend at voestalpine Unchanged

CEO Wolfgang Eder: “voestalpine focuses on continuity even in terms of dividends”. Heinrich Schaller succeeds Ludwig Scharinger on the Supervisory Board.

July 5, 2012

Voestalpine to Put Effort into Growth

The Austrian steel producer intends to grow through acquisitions again in the medium term. Exports to Brazil and Asian countries should be promoted.

July 4, 2012

Czech Republic: OMV Withdraws, MOL Expands

The Hungarian oil and gas group purchased 124 petrol stations in the Czech Republic. The Austrian OMV continues its downsizing strategy.

July 4, 2012

Strong Demand for Andritz Corporate Bond

Due to strong demand, subscription period terminated today prematurely. The volume issued amounts to € 350m. Two thirds were subscribed by Austrian private investors

July 4, 2012

CESEE: Poland and Turkey are Hot Spots

Erste Economic Sentiment Indicator CEE: stock market expectations weaker, but still ahead of Eurozone. Turkey and Poland remain the preferred investment regions.

July 4, 2012

Banking Supervision: Satisfaction and Criticism

Austrian Members of the European Parliament welcomed the decisions taken by the euro summit. By contrast, the opposition party FPÖ criticizes the result as „final step towards a debt union“.

July 3, 2012

Austrian Authorities Examine Slim´s Entry at Telekom

After the acquisition of Ronny Pecik´s stakes in Telekom Austria, the Mexican investor will hold 26%. The Austrian Federal Competition Authority (BWB) examines until the end of July.

July 3, 2012

„ECB as Only Supervisor Not Likely“

OeNB`s (Austrian Central Bank) Governor Ewald Nowotny does not think that ECB will act as only banking supervision authority.

July 2, 2012

C-Quadrat to Acquire UK Fund Management Company

The Austrian Investment Fund intends to take over the British BCM Group, which manages assets of € 800m.

July 2, 2012

Austria Ratifies ESM

The government parties SPÖ and ÖVP got support by the oppositional Green Party. The remaining opposition parties criticized the „loss of sovereignty“ massively.

July 2, 2012

Austrian Banks in CESEE „Too Ambitious“

For the IMF, Austria´s economy is „well situated“. The austerity package is „adequate“.

July 2, 2012

Massive Austerity Cuts at Porr

The third-biggest Austrian construction company examines its cost structure. First effects should be visible still in 2012.

July 2, 2012

Substantial Increase in Dividends at Agrana

Agrana´s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting approves a dividend increase and appoints members to the Supervisory Board.

July 2, 2012

Boom in New Listings at Prague Stock Exchange

The CEESEG member Prague Stock Exchange is pleased about new listings despite the current economic crisis.

July 2, 2012

Volksbanken Sector to Become Merged

After months of negotiations, the merger between VBAG and the 52 Volksbanken is resolved. The merger was the prerequisite for getting bank aids.

June 30, 2012

„Good Prospects“ For Schlecker Austria

The insolvency manager of the bankrupt German chemist chain views „promising talks with potential investors“.

June 30, 2012

Stable Development in Austrian Insurance Sector

The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) recorded a minor increase in the premium volume in the first quarter of 2012.

June 30, 2012

Orange Sale: EU Commission is Concerned too

After the Austrian Federal Competition Authority (BWB) expressed its concerns about the acquisition of Orange by Hutchison Austria, the EU Commission announces to deepen its examination.

June 29, 2012

Uniqa Completes Sale of Mannheimer Group

The Austrian insurance group Uniqa completed the sale of the Frankfurt listed company Mannheimer AG Holding to Continentale Versicherungsverbund. Growth in CESEE countries should be strengthened.

June 29, 2012

Energochemica Enters the Prague Stock Exchnage

Energochemcia SE officially announced its intention to enter the Prague Stock Exchange (PSE). The company wants to focus on acquisitions of key energy and chemical industry companies.

June 29, 2012

Euro-Crisis Continues

According to RCB, the factional dispute between Germany and France decisive for the eurozone. An easing of the situation is not expected.

June 29, 2012

Petrom Sells LPG

In order to optimize the R&M portfolio, the Romanian subsidiary of Austrian OMV sells its bottling plant to Crimbo Gas International. The price was not disclosed.

June 29, 2012

ÖIAG: No Solution in Sight

Today, the supervisory board of the Austrian Industrial Holding (ÖIAG) had a meeting. A clear strategy will not be found anyway.

June 28, 2012

WIFO Wants Unlimited Firewall

According to the Austrian Institute of Economic Research, the firewall must be big enough in order to make speculation against the euro unattractive.

June 28, 2012

Orange Deal: „Federal Competition Authority is Ignorant“

The Austrian Federal Competition Authority (BWB) has to examine the takeover of Orange by Hutchison Austria thoroughly. The patience of all parties is limited.

June 28, 2012

VIG Completed Polisa Life Acquisition in Poland

The Vienna Insurance Group AG is the new owner of the Polish life insurance company Towarzystwo Ubezpieczeń na Życie "POLISA-ŻYCIE" S.A. With this transaction, the VIG has acquired about 92 percent of the life insurer.

June 28, 2012

Austria Still Blocks Agreement on Taxation of Interest Income

The Commission of the European Union wishes Austria to give up its blockade against a reform of the direction on the taxation of interest income. Austria stands by its oppositional attitude.

June 27, 2012