Latest News

OMV Sells Croatian and Bosnian Subsidiaries

In line with the strategy of the Austrian oil and gas company, the sale of the retail and commercial business in Croatia (OMV Hrvatska d.o.o) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (OMV BH d.o.o) is under consideration.

December 6, 2011

Magna Powertrain Expands in Styria

The Canadian automotive supplier again invests in the Austrian plan Lannach. Investments of € 30m are planned.

December 6, 2011

Increasing Gap in Incomes

Although Austria´s Gini coefficient is relatively low, the gap between high and low incomes becomes larger.

December 6, 2011

S&P: Negative Outlook for Austria

The rating agency Standard & Poor´s gives a negative outlook to all triple-A countries in the EU.

December 6, 2011

Only Small Increase in Exports in 2012

After a substantial growth in 2011, OECD expects only a slight rise in Austrian exports.

December 6, 2011

Zumtobel Registers Profits Decrease

The Austrian light technology company reports an increase in revenues by 8.4% in the first half year. EBIT was down by 10.1%

December 6, 2011

Immofinanz-CEO Zehetner Expects Reduced Finance Costs

Due to lower interest rates and depreciations of foreign currencies in the CEE region, the Austrian real estate company will have low refinance costs, Zehenter says.

December 5, 2011

Opposition Not Convinced: „Debt Brake“ Fails

The Austrian government´s plans to introduce a “debt brake” in the constitution has failed. The three opposition parties are against the idea.

December 5, 2011

Major Job Cut at Hypo Group

A spokesman from the Austrian Hypo Alpe Adria confirmed plans for further layoffs. In the medium run, the bank wants to reduce staff by 500 posts at least.

December 5, 2011

Trade and Service Sectors Report Loss in Dynamics

Turnover development of Austrian trade and service enterprises slows down.

December 5, 2011

Kaufhof: Benko Is Preferred

According to the seller, the German Metro Group, the Austrian real estate investor has good odds. Benko will submit a binding offer soon.

December 5, 2011

KapschTrafficCom to Gain Order from Russia

The Austrian toll collect system supplier expects final announcement on the award of a Russian contract in two weeks.

December 5, 2011

Ambitious Restructuring Plans for S&T

After serious troubles in 2010 and 2011, the Viennese software consulter should leave the red zone next year. The new CEO, Hannes Niederhauser, is cautiously optimistic.

December 5, 2011

Further Write-Offs at Hypo Tirol Possible

The Tyrolean bank could make further write-offs in 2012. Non-performing loans of € 30m in Italy are still in the books.

December 5, 2011

Up to 3.36% Salary Increase for Civil Servants

Salaries for Austrian civil servants will increase by 2.68% to 3.36%. The government and the union came to an agreement on Sunday.

December 5, 2011

Austrian Industry Supports Audit Court

For the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), the administration has to be reformed immediately. Future investments are needed instead of administrative expenses.

December 5, 2011

Hypo Group: € 3.0bn Debts at BayernLB

The nationalized Hypo Group is still massively indebted at its former holding company, the German BayernLB. The loan will be due by the end of 2013.

December 3, 2011

UK Court Freezes Assets of Kohn

A British judge froze funds of 27m pounds (€ 31.4m) of the Austrian former investment banker Sonja Kohn, who is accused to have participated in Bernard Madoff´s frauds.

December 3, 2011

OMV Raises Oil Production in Libya

The Austrian oil and gas company OMV receives already about 50% of the pre-war volume. However, a full recovery will need another twelve months.

December 3, 2011

Rising Finance Requirements for Austria

In 2012, the Austrian state has to take on significantly more debt than this year. The issued bond volume will grow by 30%.

December 3, 2011

Polish Financial Market Authority Claims RBI´s Quotation

The Vice-President of the Polish financial market authority, Wojciech Kwasniak, asks the Austrian Raiffeisen Bank International to quote in Warsaw, besides the listing in Vienna.

December 3, 2011

Vienna Stock Exchange: Winners and Losers (2011-12-03)

Daily News-Flash from the Vienna Stock Exchange: Upgrades & Downgrades, Winners & Losers.

December 3, 2011

Porr Considers Capital Increase

In order to realize further growth, the owners of the second-largest Austrian construction company plan to raise the equity base.

December 3, 2011

S Immo Announces Changes in Shareholding Structure

The Austrian real estate company S Immo clarifies that the two core shareholders still remain in S Immo and hold a threshold beyond 9% each.

December 3, 2011

Zumtobel: Analysts Expect Decline in Results

The Austrian lighting manufacturer will record a decline in profits, but a rise in sales, analysts state.

December 3, 2011

Vienna Stock Exchange: Winners and Losers (2011-12-02)

Daily News-Flash from the Vienna Stock Exchange. Upgrades & Downgrades, Winners & Losers.

December 2, 2011

Hypo Tirol Expects Loss of € 110m

The Austrian regional bank’s result will be impacted by major write-downs of non-performing loans in Italy.

December 2, 2011

Legal Success for Bank Austria

A Swiss court granted the bank’s appeal against an obligation to pay € 245m to a German public body.

December 2, 2011

New Savings Package for Austrian Airlines

The Austrian carrier will not receive financial support from its parent company Lufthansa. Staff reductions are not ruled out any longer.

December 2, 2011

OMV’s Shale Gas Test Drilling Will Cost € 130m

The Austrian energy group sees a 20 percent chance of success for production at the Lower Austrian gas field that was discovered last month.

December 2, 2011

Corruption in Austria Is Growing

Austria has lost six positions since 2005 and now only ranks 16 in Transparency International’s corruption index.

December 2, 2011

Declining Profit for Doppelmayr

The Austrian ropeway manufacturer achieved a slight plus in turnover. The group result dropped by 11%.

December 2, 2011

Austria to Issue More Bonds in 2012

Total issue volume will be € 27-30bn. At the end of November, Austria’s bond debt stood at € 162.9bn

December 2, 2011

Austria’s Population Exceeds 8.4 Million Inhabitants

The population has grown by 400,000 persons since 2001. The positive trend was observed in all federal states except Carinthia.

December 1, 2011

Vienna Stock Exchange: Winners and Losers (2011-12-01)

Daily News-Flash from the Vienna Stock Exchange. Upgrades & Downgrades, Winners & Losers.

December 1, 2011

Austrian Industry Contracts Further

Bank Austria’s Purchasing Managers’ Index has fallen to the lowest level for two and a half years, reflecting a lack of new orders.

December 1, 2011

Volksbanken Group Takes Back Restructuring Decisions

The Austrian group cancelled the planned spin-off of its banking operations due to the deterioration of the market environment.

December 1, 2011

Quanmax Increases Share Capital

The Austrian distributor of IT products will use the proceeds for the acquisition of S&T. The management and major core shareholders guarantee 90% of the capital increase.

December 1, 2011

Strabag Finishes Largest Project in Company History

The Austrian construction company finished work on the A2 motorway in Poland ahead of schedule. The project had a total volume of € 1.3bn.

December 1, 2011

Porr Issues Profit Warning

The Austrian construction company has to write down € 90m of receivables due to problems in Eastern Europe. For next year, however, management is confident to see stable development.

December 1, 2011

Unemployment Up by 3.7% in November

More than 321,000 persons were registered with the Austrian Labor Market Service in November. The number of employed persons increased by 59,000.

December 1, 2011

Austrian Companies Return to Libya

OMV and Asamer have already resumed business, while Strabag is still evaluating damages.

November 30, 2011

Vienna Stock Exchange: Winners and Losers (2011-11-30)

Daily News-Flash from the Vienna Stock Exchange. Upgrades & Downgrades, Winners & Losers.

November 30, 2011

Wiedeking Joins Benko’s Signa Holding

The German manager becomes a member of the Austrian real estate group’s advisory board.

November 30, 2011

Austria’s Unemployment Rate Is the Lowest in the EU

The EU27 unemployment rate was 9.8% in October, compared with 9.7% in September 2011 and 9.6% in October 2010

November 30, 2011

Retail Trade: Salary Increase of 3.6%

520,000 employees are concerned by the new collective agreement. Additional cost for the companies will amount to approximately € 650m.

November 30, 2011

Erste Group Buys Remaining Shares in Romanian BCR

The Austrian bank has reached an agreement with the last one of five regional investment funds to acquire its stake of 6%.

November 30, 2011

Positive Production Trends in Industry and Construction in August

Total turnover went up by 12.7% year-on-year and reached € 20.2bn. Employment figures increased by 1.9%.

November 30, 2011

Construction Output Increased by 1.5% from January to August

Construction of buildings was up by 6.8% while output in civil engineering declined by 6.6%. Volume of orders increased by 6.9%.

November 30, 2011

Strabag Increased Revenue and Earnings after Nine Months

Revenue of the Austrian construction group was up by 9%. EBIT stood at € 208m – 8% higher than in 2010.

November 30, 2011