The United States of America in Austria | American Expats in Vienna

Austria and the U.S. - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, investment, diplomacy, culture and tourism

Starbucks Becomes Rival of Red Bull

The U.S. coffeehouse chain enters the energy drink market and attacks he market leader Red Bull.

March 22, 2012

CarbonLite Opens $ 58m PET Recycling Plant

The Austrian Erema supplies pelletizers for the world largest bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in Riverside, California.

March 22, 2012

Windtec: Espionage Scandal Does Not End

A former employee of the AMSC-owned Windtec alleges to be pursued by a secret service. The U.S. should have intervened at the Austrian justice.

March 21, 2012

AMAG Appreciates Changes in Shareholder Structure

With B&C Industrieholding, the Austrian aluminum producer got a new major shareholder. RLB Upper Austria widens its share up to 16.44%.

March 19, 2012

Microsoft Austria Defends First Rank at „Great Place to Work“

In 2012, the U.S. software company is again the best employer among companies beyond 250 employees.

March 17, 2012

Bawag to Refund Bank Aid in 2014 by Earliest

The U.S. owned bank was the only one in Austria which could increase its profits last year. The restructuring is successfully completed.

March 17, 2012

30% in AMAG Sold to B&C Industrial Holding

One Equity Partners (OEP), a subsidiary of JP Morgan, sold a major stake in the Austrian aluminum company to B&C Industrial Holding.

March 16, 2012

Bawag Underlines its Profitability

The Austrian bank, which is owned by the U.S. investment fund Cerberus, could report profits before taxes of € 156m. Against 2010, this is a rise by 13%.

March 16, 2012

B&C Holding Interested in 30% AMAG Stake

The industrial holding aims for entering the aluminum producer AMAG. RLB Upper Austria is interested too.

March 15, 2012

Vienna Initiative an Insurance Policy, not a Game Changer, Fitch Says

The principles adopted Tuesday in “Vienna Initiative 2.0” do not change Fitch’s base case expectation that central, eastern and south-eastern Europe (CESEE) will continue to see weak, or marginally negative, credit growth in the near-to-medium term.

March 15, 2012

Voestalpine Closes TSTG Schienentechnik

The shutdown of German TSTG is due to a “lack in efficiency”. Because of the current cartel proceedings, the Austrian steel company has to build provisions of € 205m.

March 13, 2012

Red Bull Not Interested in Monster Beverage

Monster Beverage may not be a willing target. Moreover, the Austrian energy drink producer achieves strong organic growth in the U.S.

March 12, 2012

Automotive Industry Outlook in NAFTA Markets

In October, an automotive mission to Mexico and Detroit will be held by the Austrian Trade Commissions Mexico, Toronto and Chicago.

March 12, 2012

Bawag Buys Back Hybrid Capital

The U.S. owned Austrian bank purchases € 300m in hybrid capital back in order to strengthen the equity base.

March 9, 2012

Imports Grow Stronger than Exports

January to December 2011: Austrian imports rose by 15%, exports increased by 12%.

March 9, 2012

„Going to America 2012“: AWO Supports Austrian Business in USA

Foreign Trade Austria (AWO) shows business opportunities in the U.S. to domestic companies.

March 8, 2012

Pecik Unwanted at AMAG

A major shareholding in Austrian AMAG will be sold. Ronny Pecik, who is said to be interested, is not welcome.

March 7, 2012

RHI Has Growth Plans

The Austrian producer of fireproof ceramics puts effort into growth. Major investments and acquisitions are planned.

March 7, 2012

Hammerer Aims For Growth in Italy

The Austrian aluminum company wants to acquire a site of the U.S. Alcoa in Italy.

March 7, 2012

Doppelmayr Hopes for China

The Austrian cable railway producer faces a small and stagnating market in the U.S. South America and China are seen as growth markets.

March 6, 2012

Moody's Changes Outlook on Verbund's Rating to Negative

The U.S. rating agency Moody's Investors Service has today changed to negative from stable the outlook on the A2 senior unsecured rating of the Austrian energy company Verbund .

March 6, 2012

Kapsch TrafficCom IVHS to Open New North American Head Office

Kapsch TrafficCom IVHS Inc., a subsidiary of Austrian Kapsch TrafficCom AG, announced the opening of the new corporate head office in Tysons Corner, Virginia.

March 6, 2012

Eder: „Environmental Policy Endangers Economy“

Voestalpine´s CEO criticizes environmental specifications made by EU and domestic politics. Eder sees the danger of a de-industrialization.

March 5, 2012

VBAG to be Acquired by BAWAG?

According to market rumors, the financially stricken VBAG could be taken over by the U.S. investment fund owned Bawag.

March 2, 2012

Record for McDonald´s Austria

In 2011, McDonald´s Austria registered a rise in guests by 4.4% and sales of € 515m.

February 28, 2012

Austria: Low Attractiveness as Research Location

According to a study among European scientists, Austria loses its reputation. The most attractive destination is the U.S.

February 27, 2012

Significant Increase in Austrian Steel Exports to U.S.

U.S. Steel Imports are rising substantially, prices are on the fall. Austrian suppliers could raise their share.

February 27, 2012

Frauenthal Considers Short Time Work

The Austrian component supplier experiences the first signs of the economic crisis. As orders are going down by 10% to 15%, short time work becomes an issue again.

February 24, 2012

CSC Establishes its CEE Headquarters in Vienna

The U.S. IT service supplier CSC upgrades the Viennese subsidiary as regional headquarters for ten countries.

February 22, 2012

Petrom Discovered Deep Water Gas Offshore Romania

The Romanian subsidiary of the Austrian oil and gas group OMV announces a first major success of its exploration works in the Black Sea together with Exxon Mobil.

February 22, 2012

Moody's Takes Actions on Austrian Banks

The U.S. rating agency has a closer look on Austrian banks, which are related to the creditworthiness of public institutions.

February 22, 2012

All-Clear for Opel Site in Vienna

Although the German automobile producer faces serious troubles, the Viennese factory is not endangered to cut jobs.

February 21, 2012

Stepic Criticizes Rating Agencies Sharply

For Herbert Stepic, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), statements given by the U.S. rating agencies are “undifferentiated”.

February 20, 2012

Voestalpine Amends Expansion Plans

The Austrian steel producer intends to use its technologic leadership in the automotive component business for further expansion steps.

February 18, 2012

Moody's Considers to Downgrade Wienerberger

The U.S. rating agency placed all ratings of Wienerberger under review for possible downgrade.

February 17, 2012

S Immo: PepsiCo Signs on As a Tenant in Bucharest

The Austrian real estate company gained another internationally renowned tenant for its Sun Offices building in Bucharest.

February 15, 2012

Major Order for voestalpine

The automotive division of the Austrian steel group received orders worth € 700m.

February 14, 2012

Moody's Put Austria on Warning

The Austrian “AAA” rating has been confirmed by the U.S. rating agency. However, credit-watch is put on “negative”.

February 14, 2012

SLR Group Plans Major Increase in Sales

The Austrian foundry company expects to realize sales of 60m in 2011/12. In the first half year, sales were up by 24%.

February 9, 2012

Merger of Glencore and Xstrata: voestalpine Not Concerned

The Austrian steel company does not feel affected by the merger between the two major commodity corporations Glencore and Xstrata.

February 8, 2012

Innovation Index: Austria Falls Behind

Austria again loses in competitiveness: among the EU member countries, Austria occupies the eighth rank.

February 7, 2012

Black Sea: Petrom and Exxon Mobil Found Gas

Romania’s first deepwater well indicates presence of hydrocarbons. The U.S. Exxon Mobil and Petrom, a Romanian subsidiary of Austrian OMV, are searching for natural gas.

February 4, 2012

Privatization of Kommunalkredit Starts

The sale of the nationalized bank will start in the second half of 2012. For 2011, losses could reach up to € 150m.

February 4, 2012

AMAG to Become New Owners?

About one third of Austrian aluminum producer´s shares are for sale. Raiffeisen and B&C are potential buyers.

February 4, 2012

Coca Cola Closes Viennese Site

For cost reasons, the U.S. soft drink producer shifts production from Vienna to Burgenland. 80 employees will be laid off.

February 2, 2012

BDI Receives Major Order from USA

Austrian BioEnergy obtained order for retrofitting a U.S.-based biodiesel plant.

February 2, 2012

Kommunalkredit Downgraded by Moody´s

The U.S. rating agency downgraded Kommunalkredit Austria to Baa3.

February 2, 2012

After Downgrade of Vienna: No Consequences Expected

The Viennese financial senator Renate Brauner does not fear negative impacts on Vienna´s finance. This week, the city was downgraded by S&P.

January 27, 2012

voestalpine Concluded Largest Single Contract to Date

The Automotive Division of the voestalpine Group has concluded its largest single contract to date, with a leading European car manufacturer. The order volume amounts to around € 700m.

January 27, 2012

S&P Downgrades Austrian Provinces

The U.S. rating agencies lowers ratings for Upper Austria, Vienna and Tyrol from “AAA” to “AA+”.

January 26, 2012