Vienna International Telecoms Industry News

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

ÖIAG Offers Resistance to Pecik

The Austrian state holding ÖIAG seems to organize resistance against the new shareholder at Telekom Austria, Ronny Pecik.

April 13, 2012

Telecommunication Industry Faces Declining Revenues

Telekom Austria´s CEO Hannes Ametsreiter forecasts declining revenues and profits at the Austrian telecommunication industry. For his own company, Ametsreiter is slightly optimistic.

April 11, 2012

Orange´s CEO: „Takeover by Telekom Austria Is Essential“

According to Michael Krammer, CEO of the third-largest telecommunication service supplier in Austria, Orange is well-financed and healthy. The acquisition of the discount subsidiary by Telekom Austria is “crucial”.

March 31, 2012

Strong Rise in Sales at Hutchison

The Austrian subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based telecommunication service supplier recorded an increase of 30% in sales.

March 30, 2012

Telekom Austria: Bond Issue Completed

The telecommunication company has successfully placed € 750m Eurobond with a coupon of 4.0% p.a. The order book´s volume surpassed the proceeds substantially.

March 27, 2012

€ 2.5bn Bond Issue at Telekom Austria

The subsidiary Telekom Finanzmanagement GmbH Plans to Issue a Benchmark-Sized Eurobond Transaction.

March 26, 2012

Orange Takeover Threatens to Fail

The takeover of Austria´s third-largest telecommunication service supplier Orange by the Hong Kong-based Hutchison Group may be postponed. Orange´s creditors are increasingly nervous.

March 22, 2012

Telekom Austria: Pecik Denies Sales Talks

The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik is said to have had sales talks with China Mobile. Pecik reaffirms to remain at Telekom Austria as “long-term investor”.

March 19, 2012

Pecik Aims to Become Telekom´s Biggest Shareholder

The second-largest shareholder of Telekom Austria, the investor Ronny Pecik, wants to enlarge his stake further in order to initiate a restructuring.

March 17, 2012

Japanese NTT to Enter Telekom?

Telekom Austria will get a new partner. Newest rumors say that NTT could buy Pecik´s stake. Norwegian Telenor is still interested.

March 16, 2012

Pecik Content to Hold Telekom Stake

The shareholder at Telekom Austria will not sell his stake in the near future. Norwegian Telenor is said to be interested in entering Telekom Austria.

March 15, 2012

Press Freedom under Threat in Austria

IPI Alarmed at Justice Ministry Attempt to Undermine Confidentiality of Sources.

March 14, 2012

New Executives for Telekom Austria

The new major shareholder at Telekom Austria, Ronny Pecik, installs a third management board member. The supervisory board will be enlarged.

March 12, 2012

Orange Takeover: Hutchison is Optimistic

The Hong Kong-based telecommunication company Hutchison 3 is sure that the takeover of Orange will be approved by the competition authorities. The competitor T-Mobile is not convinced at all.

March 9, 2012

Beyrer Aims For Strategic Investor at Telekom Austria

The head of the state holding ÖIAG and Telekom Austria´s supervisory board believes that Ronny Pecik will not remain as shareholder. A strategic partner is desired.

March 5, 2012

Plaut Improved Sales and Earnings

The Austrian Plaut Aktiengesellschaft, listed on the General Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, announced its provisional and unaudited consolidated result for fiscal 2011.

February 27, 2012

ORF Recorded Slight Profits in 2011

The Austrian public broadcaster ORF achieved profits of € 11.4m in 2011. Further cost cuts are planned.

February 25, 2012

Hutchinson-Orange Merger: T-Mobile Becomes Impatient

T-Mobile Austria, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom puts pressure on the Austrian Competition Authority. The merger must include a number of requirements.

February 25, 2012

Sawiris Aims to Stay in Telekom Austria

The Egyptian investor Naguib Sawiris, the partner of the Austrian investor Ronny Pecik, wants to maintain his engagement in Telekom Austria.

February 24, 2012

T-Mobile Austria Records Declining Results

The Austrian subsidiary of the German telecommunication group registered a decrease in EBITDA by 10.6%. Sales were down by 6.0%.

February 23, 2012

Telekom Austria: Net Loss of € 253m

Revenues were down by 4.2%. The major impact was the last quarter with losses of € 322m.

February 23, 2012

Telekom Austria Extends Contract with CFO

Hans Tschuden, Chief Financial Officer at Telekom Austria will remain until 2015 at least.

February 22, 2012

Orange-Deal: Additional Contribution Threatens

France Télécom and Mid European Partners, the sellers of the Austrian mobile phone operator Orange, may need to pay an additional contribution.

February 22, 2012

Telekom Austria Faces Severe Image Difficulties

Many details over bribery payments from Telekom Austria to politically exposed persons were revealed. Now, the company sues its former executives.

February 18, 2012

Massive Losses Expected for Telekom Austria

Loss expectations range from € 194.9m to € 238m. Sales are anticipated to decline by 4.4%.

February 17, 2012

Telekom Austria: No Expansion in Bulgaria

The Austrian telecommunication group is no longer interested in Vivacom. Problems with competition authorities would have occurred.

February 17, 2012

Rasinger: „Telekom Austria Needs New Executives“

The spokesman of Austrian retail investors, Wilhelm Rasinger, wants to change Telekom Austria´s management, which are “untroubled”.

February 14, 2012

Bulgarian Vivacom: Telekom Austria Has Only Outside Chances

The second-largest Bulgarian telecommunication enterprise is for sale. Telekom Austria is still interested, in spite of dismal prospects.

February 14, 2012

„3“ Wants to Retain „Aggressive Competition“

The Hong Kong-based Hutchinson Whampoa Group, which operates the telecommunication service supplier “3” in Austria, took over the competitor “Orange”. However, “3” keeps its “aggressive” style.

February 4, 2012

Pecik Aims for Reaching Blocking Minority

The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik intends to re-organize the supervisory board. Nevertheless, operating functions are not targeted.

February 4, 2012

Hutchinson Takes Over Orange

The Austrian subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based telecommunication group takes over Orange Austria, a member of France Télécom.

February 3, 2012 · Updated: February 3, 2012; 13:23

Telekom Austria Acquires Discount Brand “Yesss!”

Telekom Austria Group Agrees to Acquire Assets of Orange Austria for a maximum amount of € 390m.

February 3, 2012

Pecik Aims For Becoming Chairman of TA´s Supervisory Board

The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik is said to put effort in replacing the current chairman of Telekom Austria´s supervisory board, Markus Beyrer.

January 31, 2012

New Tax Burden for Telekom Austria

Telekom Austria has to pay tax on mobile network services in Croatia.

January 30, 2012

Telekom: Losses of € 200m Expected

For 2011, Erste Group´s analyst Maria Veronika Sutedja expects high losses for Telekom Austria.

January 25, 2012

Telekom Austria Expects Significantly Lower Profits

Application of hyperinflation accounting leads to an increase in equity of more than € 400m and an impairment of approximately € 300m in 2011.

January 24, 2012

Telekom: Pecik Beyond 20%

The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik exercised existing Telekom Austria call options.

January 20, 2012

Moody´s Downgrades Telekom Austria

The U.S. rating agency lowered Telekom Austria´s rating from A3 to Baa1, which is due to the weak business development.

January 19, 2012

Erste Group Provides Major Loan to Telekom Serbia

The Austrian bank commits € 140m to Telekom Serbia as part of a recent syndicated loan taken by the company. Erste Group acted as joint mandated lead arranger, underwriter and bookrunner.

January 18, 2012

Pecik´s Stake in Telekom Austria Beyond 20%

The Austrian investor currently holds 15.0% of Telekom Austria´s share capital. Furthermore, Pecik owns call options for another 5.1%.

January 17, 2012

Telekom Austrian Interested in Bulgarian Vivacom

The second-largest Bulgarian telecommunication enterprise is for sale. Telekom Austria has good prospects to become the buyer.

January 16, 2012

Hutchinson Acquired Orange

The Chinese telecommunication operator takes over Frenche Orange. The acquisition price totals € 1.0bn.

January 14, 2012

Telekom Austria Faces New Taxes in Croatia

Croatia re-introduces extraordinary taxes for telecommunication operators. The local government is criticized by Telekom Austria and the EU.

January 13, 2012

Supervisory Board of Telekom Austria Calls For Dividend Suspension

The supervisory board member Alexander Sollak claims that not dividends should be paid out for 2011. Instead, the equity base should be strengthened.

January 9, 2012

T-Mobile and Hutchinson 3G Become Partners

The Austrian subsidiary of the German T-Mobile and the Chinese Hutchinson 3G closed an agreement over a long-term grid partnership.

January 5, 2012

Tele2 Finalizes Acquisition of Silver Server

The Austrian Internet service provider is taken over for € 12.3m after the competition authority has approved the deal.

December 23, 2011

SPÖ Wants to Defend State’s Stake in Telekom Austria

According to State Secretary Andreas Schieder, the ÖIAG should defend its shareholding of 28%.

December 22, 2011

Pecik Extends Stake in Telekom Austria

The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik is told to become the largest shareholder in Telekom Austria. Up to 29% are possible.

December 20, 2011

Serbia Tries Privatization Again

After the privatization of Telekom Srbija has failed in spring 2011, the Serbian government tries again. Telekom Austria could still show interest.

December 19, 2011

Norwegian Telenor to Enter Telekom Austria

The core shareholder at Telekom Austria, Ronny Pecik, could re-sell its recently acquired stakes. Telenor and the Russian Sistema are interested.

December 17, 2011