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Banking Industry
Industry Wants to Suspend Banking Tax
The new capital requirements for banks are criticized by the Federation of Austrian Industries and the research institute WIFO.
December 29, 2011
Styrian Mining Company Causes Problems for Austrian Banks
The Austrian mining company Decometal has debts reaching € 250m. Now, the company will be restructured. Loans must be extended.
December 28, 2011
Critics for FMA and Central Bank
Michael Ikrath, general secretary from Austrian Sparkassen, criticizes the Financial Market Authority and the Central Bank for equity requirements imposed on domestic banks.
December 28, 2011
Bank Austria Expects Positive Results
In spite of high losses in the third quarter, the subsidiary of the Italian UniCredit forecasts slight, but positive results.
December 28, 2011
Erste Group: Core Shareholder Endangered to Reduce Stake
Erste Group´s main stockholder, the Erste Stiftung, needs 2012 dividend to avoid stake sale.
December 28, 2011
Hypo Tirol: Cut in Lending Prevented
Without the capital increase by the province of Tyrol, the bank would have been forced to cut its lending activities drastically.
December 27, 2011
Erste Group: Capital Shortfall to be Covered by Profits
The new equity requirements will be fulfilled, Erste Group´s CEO Treichl says. The capital shortfall amounts to € 743m.
December 27, 2011
Capital Increase for Raiffeisen Hungary
In light of massive loss expectations the Hungarian subsidiary will reduce its headcount and close down several branches.
December 23, 2011
UniCredit Plans to Abolish “Bank Austria” Brand
The Italian group will rename several subsidiaries in order to standardize its brand presence.
December 22, 2011
OeNB Sees No Signs for Credit Crunch
The Austrian Central Bank reports a stable development of new lending. The volume of new corporate and private loans is growing at 2% each.
December 21, 2011
Fitch Calls for Higher Capitalization of VBAG, Raiffeisen, Erste
The Austrian banks’ viability ratings are under pressure due to low capitalization and the banks’ exposure to CEE.
December 21, 2011
VBAG Sells Insurance Segment
The Austrian Volksbanken AG sells its stake in Victoria Volksbanken to Ergo Austria.
December 20, 2011
Resistance Against VBAG´s Structural Plans
The Austrian VBAB recently announced to restructure their group. However, the idea of a “bad bank” is seen as disadvantageous.
December 20, 2011
Hypo Group to Sell Interests in SEE Earlier
Due to the equity regulations, the Austrian bank prefers to sell its business in South Eastern Europe instead of the Italian and Austrian subsidiary.
December 19, 2011
Foreign Currency Loans: Austrian Banks Appreciate Hungarian Decision
Austrian banks reacted positively to the announcement of the Hungarian government to participate in costs for the conversion of foreign currency loans.
December 19, 2011
Bank Austria Reviews Strategy for CEE
In its expansion strategy, the bank focuses on four countries. Plans for Hungary and Romania are stopped, up to 450 jobs will be cut.
December 17, 2011
OeNB: Developments in the Sovereign Debt Crisis Will Be Crucial for Financial Stability
The Austrian National Bank (OeNB) presented the 22nd Financial Stability Report.
December 16, 2011
VBAG Supervisory Board Resolves New Divisional Structure
The Austrian bank will sell its subsidiaries that are not part of the core business. The headcount will be reduced by 20% by the end of 2013.
December 15, 2011
Changes to the Management Board of Erste Group
The Supervisory Board of the Austrian bank took several personnel decisions that concern the holding company as well as the subsidiaries in Hungary and Romania.
December 15, 2011
Building Saving: Financing Becomes more Difficult
In Austria, 45,000 new apartments are needed, causing finance requirements of € 8.8bn. Meeting this demand becomes harder.
December 14, 2011
€ 230m Capital Increase at Hypo Tirol
The province of Tyrol, the owner of Hypo Tirol, decided to strengthen the bank´s capital base. From where the funds will be provided, is not clear yet.
December 12, 2011
Erste Group Increases Stake in BCR to 82%
In connection with the implementation of agreements with the Romanian SIFs, Erste Group has acquired a further approx. 7% stake in BCR against cash and issuance of new shares.
December 12, 2011
Austrian Investor Interested in Croatian Aluminum Company
The Austrian financial investor Michael Tojner is a potential buyer of the Croatian aluminum manufacturer TLM-TVP, which is owned by Hypo Group.
December 10, 2011
Lack in Know-How for Investments
For 91% of the Austrians the topics investments and finance are too complex. A lack in transparency is obviously the problem.
December 9, 2011
Nowotny Attacks EBA
The Governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB), Ewald Nowotny, criticizes the high speed which EBA requires from banks to build up equity capital.
December 9, 2011
Erste Group: Drastic Cut in Hungary
The Austrian bank cuts 450 jobs in Hungary. However, Erste Group emphasizes to stay in Central and Eastern Europe.
December 9, 2011
Reduced, But Still High Shortfall at Austrian Banks
EBA shortfall for RZB Group set at approximately € 2.1bn, for Erste Group at € 0.74bn. However, the initial shortfalls were reduced for RZB.
December 8, 2011
Hypo Tirol Needs Capital Increase
The Tyrolean bank suffers from a low equity capital quota. After major write-offs in Italy, the core capital amounts to 5.8%.
December 7, 2011
Rising Finance Requirements Due to Increase in Investments
According to the Erste Bank’s forecast on savings and loans, the average financing amount in Austria amounts to € 81,800.
December 7, 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
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
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
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
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
Austria to Sell Nationalized Bank Kommunalkredit
The nationalized lender has to be sold by mid-2013. Finance Minister Fekter hopes for proceeds of € 500m.
November 29, 2011
Romania Protests Against Austria´s Banks
The Austrian Central Bank and the Financial Market Authority announced to oblige domestic banks to reduce their exposure in the CEE region. Romania fears a credit crunch.
November 28, 2011
Stock Swap at Erste Group
The Austrian bank increases its stake in the Romanian BCR by 6.23% against cash and issuance of new shares
November 28, 2011
Volksbanken Group Result Negatively Impacted by Extraordinary Write-Downs
The Austrian bank posted a consolidated loss of € 689m for the first nine months of the year. The annual result is expected to decrease even further.
November 25, 2011
Financial Market Authority Terminates Inquiry Against CEO of Erste Group
The head of the Austrian bank group had been accused of balance sheed fraud. A second investigation for alleged market manipulation is still ongoing.
November 24, 2011
Growing Capital Shortfall at Volksbanken Group
The Austrian bank will need another € 200m in order to comply with the EBA’s capital requirements. The price for the sale of VBI might be reduced to € 500m.
November 24, 2011
RBI Posts Decline in Nine-Month Profit
The Austrian bank might have to write down the goodwill on its Ukrainian subsidiary. Consolidated profit declined by 4.8% to € 745m in the first three quarters.
November 24, 2011
Austrian Minister of Economics Criticizes Hungary
On the occasion of a bilateral meeting between the Hungarian and the Austrian Minister of Economics Reinhold Mitterlehner repeated his critics regarding Hungarian foreign currency loans.
November 21, 2011
Austrian Central Bank Calls for Rise in Equity for Banks
The Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) prescribes Austrian banks to raise their equity base. By 2016, a further capital base of 3.0% is required.
November 21, 2011
AutoBank Achieves Further Growth
The Austrian specialist bank increased new business volume to € 59.6m. The operating result more than doubled and amounted to € 817,000.
November 18, 2011
BKS Posts Decline in Profits
The two sister banks Oberbank and BTV were more successful in the first nine months of the year. Consolidated net income went up by 8.2%.
November 18, 2011
Raiffeisen’s Capital Shortfall Grows to € 2.5bn
The Austrian bank said it would not require state support to ensure compliance with the new requirements set by the European Banking Authority.
November 18, 2011
Jobs to be Cut at Bank Austria
After the announcement of high write-offs yesterday, the Austrian subsidiary of UniCredit will reduce its staff from 10,800 to 10,000 by 2015.
November 15, 2011
High Losses for Bank Austria
Due to high write-offs in Ukraine and Kazakhstan, losses amount to € 600m in the third quarter. The first nine months bring profits of only € 4.5m.
November 14, 2011
UniCredit to Withdraw from CEE?
The holding company of Bank Austria, the Italian UniCredit, may close its operations in Eastern Europe. The consequences for Bank Austria are unknown.
November 14, 2011
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