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Maria Fekter
Austria: Hypo Group’s Investigation Committee Ready for Action
The group of foreign experts at the investigation commission for Hypo Group Alpe Adria is supposed to guarantee the required objectivity. The first results are expected to be published at the end of the year.
April 10, 2014
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Nowotny Attacks Fekter
Governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) Ewald Nowotny criticizes former Minister of Finance Maria Fekter sharply and blames her for inactivity.
February 15, 2014 · Updated: February 15, 2014; 18:19
Austrian Minister of Finance Under Fire
Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Economics, criticizes the Austrian government sharply. Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger is put on the defensive.
February 5, 2014
Hypo Group: Austrian Government Seems Aimless
Although the restructuring of the nationalized Austrian lender is one of the most pressing issues, the Austrian government could not present a sound concept yet.
December 27, 2013
Austrian Banks: “Less than No Interest” in Bad Bank Participation
According to Felderer, Austrian major banks have “less than no interest” in a participation of a Hypo Group’s bad bank.
December 17, 2013
Austria: Opening Balance Reveals Massive Mountain of Debt
Public debts exceed the federal assets by more than double the amount, as revealed by the opening balance published by outgoing Finance Minister Maria Fekter last weekend.
December 16, 2013
Austria: Spindelegger Replaces Fekter
The designated cabinet members were presented to the public today. Maria Fekter will not be a cabinet member anymore.
December 13, 2013
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Liebscher Against Haircut
Klaus Liebscher, chairman of Hypo Group’s supervisory board, is strictly against a debt cut at the nationalized bank. He expects a decision about a bad bank only in the first quarter next year.
December 10, 2013
Austria: Tax Increases Contemplated by Government
During the coalition negotiations increases of taxes on tobacco and alcohol is currently considered by the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the People’s Party (ÖVP).
December 9, 2013
Faymann: Austrian State Finances are Stable
Chancellor Werner Faymann rejects the opposition’s claim that Austria is on its path to national bankruptcy.
December 3, 2013
EU Financial Transaction Tax to Become a Flop?
Experts do not expect the financial transaction tax to become effective next year.
November 27, 2013
Austria: Budget Contradiction Causes Irritation
Opposition demands immediate resignation of Finance Minister Fekter.
November 20, 2013
Fekter: Austrian Budget Gap Based on Unfavorable Economic Forecast
Yesterday afternoon current Finance Minister Maria Fekter and State Secretary of Finances Andreas Schieder met with the parliamentary budget committee. The opposition parties demanded answers and clarification in regard to the budget gap.
November 19, 2013
EU Commission Criticizes Austria Once More
The EU Commission has again criticized Austria and Luxembourg and demands the countries to stop blocking the extensive exchange of tax data.
November 15, 2013
Hypo Bad Bank Not to be Established Before 2014
Insiders do not expect the downsizing unit for state-owned Hypo Group Alpe Adria to be established before 2014.
November 15, 2013
Austria: Fekter Indicates Resignation
Even before the general elections in September rumors were circling around about Finance Minister Maria Fekter’s withdawal from her position.
November 14, 2013
Hypo Group to Create Bad Bank
After months of considerations, the Austrian government will decide for the bad bank. The nationalized banking group will be a major burden for the state.
October 26, 2013
Austria: New Fiscal Difficulties
Austria´s state budget 2014 is not resolved yet. Moreover, a number of assumptions are highly uncertain.
October 17, 2013
Austria: Decisions about Hypo Group Expected This Year
Decisions about the future of problem bank Hypo Alpe Adria will in all likelihood be delayed.
October 16, 2013
Fekter Presses for Provisional Budget Financing
Finance Minister Maria Fekter (ÖVP) does not count on the government to present a budget draft in time, which was scheduled October 22 and involves the Finance Act until the end of the year.
October 8, 2013
Austria: Downsizing Models for Hypo
Currently, everything revolves around the establishing of a bad bank despite of Finance Minister Maria Fekter’s objection. However, now, after the elections, this issue needs to be resolved.
October 4, 2013
Moody’s Honors Austrian Banks in CESEE
Only a year ago, the rating agency downgraded Austria because of its banks’ engagement in Eastern Europe. However, the situation has changed to the better.
October 3, 2013
Hypo Group: Sale of Assets in SEE to Take Forms
The nationalized Austrian bank Hypo Group sells its assets in Southeastern Europe. The SEE-holding company will be established until the beginning of October.
September 29, 2013
"European bank supervision sends a strong signal to financial markets"
Austrian Federal Minister of Finance Maria Fekter welcomes favourable European Parliament decision on bank supervision.
September 28, 2013
Austria: Fitch Confirms Triple A
Austria´s main weak point is the banking sector, the rating agency criticizes.
September 28, 2013
Does Austria Need Further Privatizations?
Voestalpine´s CEO Wolfgang Eder wants to support the Vienna Stock Exchange. Without further privatizations, the stock market in Vienna could be history soon.
September 24, 2013 · Updated: September 25, 2013; 11:30
Austria: ÖVP Rejects Tax Reforms by Social Democrats
Chancellor and Leader of the Social Democrats Werner Faymann is in favor of lower taxes on wages. His model includes reliefs of up to € 1,011 annually. However, coalition partner, the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) rejects the plans.
September 18, 2013
Austria: Fekter Demands “More Intelligent Model“ for Hypo
Finance Minister Fekter plans on introducing a “more creative model“ than a bad bank.
September 17, 2013
IHS/WIFO: Austrian Hypo Group Needs Bad Bank
Christian Keuschnigg and Karl Aiginger claim that the nationalized Austrian bank should be split into a “good” and a “bad” part. Austria´s public debt would increase substantially.
September 16, 2013
Austria Must Implement Liquidation Mechanism for Banks
In order to minimize fiscal losses, Austrian problem banks should be liquidates soon, IMF claims. In this case, Austria would not reach its fiscal targets in the next years.
September 13, 2013
Austria: IMF Pushes for Tax Reform
The International Monetary Fund recommends re-considering the tax system. The Austrian wage taxes are too high, IMF criticizes.
September 13, 2013
Hypo Group Needs up to € 17bn
The scenarios for the nationalized Austrian banking group become even more pessimistic.
September 12, 2013
Another Austerity Package in Austria?
Due to the dismal situation of nationalized banks, the economist Christian Keuschnigg anticipates another austerity package after the election at the end of September.
September 6, 2013
Faymann: “Banks Should Pay for Hypo”
Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann does not consider a new austerity package necessary despite of the threatening billions of Euros for the selling and winding-up of the ailing bank.
September 5, 2013
Austria: Up to € 11.7bn for Downsizing Hypo Group
Years of discussion went by; now the EU Commission has approved the downsizing plan for nationalized Hypo Alpe Adria.
September 4, 2013
Hypo: New Risky Loan Agreements Even in 2012
According to the EU Commission, risky loans were granted by ailing Hypo Group even in 2012.
September 3, 2013
EU Approves Hypo Group´s Restructuring Plan
The re-privatization of the Austrian publicly held banking group was approved by the Commission. According to the Commission´s report, Hypo Group´s expansion strategy was highly dangerous.
September 2, 2013
Hypo Group Considers IPO
The Austrian nationalized bank takes an IPO of its Eastern subsidiaries into account.
August 31, 2013
Strache: „No New Aids for Greece“
Heinz-Christian Strache, leader of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), demands that further bail-out funds for Greece should be stopped immediately.
August 27, 2013
Austria: Fekter Does Not Publish Controversial Industrial Location Study
According to a recent study on the quality of Austria´s industrial location, the number of leaving multinational companies is growing.
August 25, 2013
Austria: Fekter Reserved About Further Aids for Greece
In the debate about a third bail-out package for Greece worth billions, Austrian Finance Minister Fekter presented herself restrained.
August 22, 2013
Leitl: “Austria Screwed Up”
If the US, as the perpetrator of the financial and economic crisis, shows two percent in economic growth, while Austria only 0.2 percent, then this was a “disgrace”, Leitl announced during the economic forum in Alpbach.
August 21, 2013
Austria: Kranebitter to Leave Hypo Group
After three and a half years, Gottwald Kranebitter steps back as CEO of nationalized Hypo Alpe Adria. Tax payers are left with a burden running in the billions in the years to come.
August 19, 2013
Commerzbank: Austria to Miss Budget Goals
Without a new austerity package, Austria will run up more debts than calculated in the bugdet plan, German Commerzbank says. The country’s AAA ratings are likely to decrease.
August 12, 2013
Hypo Group: Reason for “Budget Lie”
The situation of ailing bank Hypo Alpe Adria may be worse than assumed. The supervisory board of the bank and the taskforce are discussing about the half-yearly report.
August 7, 2013
Bad Bank for Hypo Group?
According to market rumors, Austria´s government wants domestic banks to participate in a bad bank for the nationalized Hypo Group. Finance Minister Maria Fekter denies such reports.
August 5, 2013
Fekter: Debt reduction and tax reform are our absolute priorities
"We are on the right track"
July 25, 2013
Austria: First Tax Tranche from Switzerland Transferred
The first tranche of the tax agreement between Austria and Switzerland in the amount of € 416.7m was transferred. Fekter considers it “a great success for Austria and the taxpayers”.
July 25, 2013
Hypo Group Needs Even More Money
The nationalized Austrian bank needs fresh funds of more than € 700m. For the Austrian taxpayers, the banking package becomes more and more costly.
July 21, 2013
Fekter: Horror Figures with Hypo’s Restructuring Plan.
The restructuring plan for Hypo Alpe Adria involves several scenarios, which Finance Minister Fekter does not want to mention. The “horror figures” tax payers are burded with are set up “in an apocalyptical way”, according to her.
July 15, 2013