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Nationalization
Austria: National Assembley Rejects Investigation Committee
The parliamentary investigation committee for Hypo Group, demanded by the opposition parties, was rejected in a roll-call vote in the National Assembley.
February 26, 2014
Austria: Hypo Group Council to Strain Budget Even More
The Finance Ministry will appoint an international consulting team for the downsizing of nationalized problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria. However, costs are increasing dramatically by this step.
February 25, 2014
Austria: “Council of the Wise“ for Hypo Group
Instead of a parliamentary investigation committee the coalition expressed its wish to appoint a “Council of the Wise” for the the assessment of the ailing bank’s nationalization.
February 25, 2014
Hypo Group: Nowotny to Replace Liebscher
After Liebscher, head of Hypo Group’s task force, announced throwing in the towel Nowotny, Governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB), will become his successor.
February 22, 2014
Austria: Head of Hypo Group’s Task Force to Resign
Klaus Liebscher, head of Hypo Group’s task force, steps down.
February 21, 2014
Slovenia: Heading for Recovery
Slovenia seems to have circumnavigated the crisis as the small country is not a Eurozone bail-out candidate anymore, according to Prime Minister Bratusek.
February 17, 2014
Government Downplaying Effects of Hypo Group Desaster
Today, both Chancellor Werner Faymann and Finance Minister Michael Spindelegger had to explain their actions in regard to Hypo Group Alpe Adria in parliament.
February 17, 2014
Hypo Group: „Austrian Government Has Negotiated Poorly“
In the cause of the nationalized Balkan lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria, the performance of the Austrian government is miserable, according to Austrian economist Christian Keuschnigg.
February 16, 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
IHS Rejects Hypo Group’s Bankruptcy
According to Keuschnig, it is also a question about a “national bankruptcy“.
February 13, 2014
Hypo Group: Emergency Sitting in National Assembley Fixed
An extraordinary session in the National Assembley will take place next Monday in regard to Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
February 12, 2014
Hypo Group: Bad Bank Active at Least 10 Years
Austria’s rating by Standard & Poor’s (“AA+”, stable outlook) is currently not compromised. Because of the establishing of the bad bank the debt rate will rise four to six percent.
February 12, 2014
Hypo-Disaster: Harsh Criticism from Opposition
The opposition parties have expressed their unanimous criticism about the government failing to come to a joint decision with the Austrian banks and consequently forwarding all costs to the taxpayers.
February 11, 2014
FMA: Hypo Group Bankruptcy Incalculable Risk
The government does not dismiss the idea of a bankruptcy of ailing Hypo Alpe Adria. However, the Financial Market Authority (FMA) has expressly warned of this form of downsizing of the state bank.
February 10, 2014
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: The War of Nerves Has Begun
The Austrian government puts enormous pressure on the Austrian banking sector and does not exclude Hypo Group´s orderly bankruptcy anymore. The Austrian banking sector insistently warns of this option.
February 9, 2014 · Updated: February 9, 2014; 23:41
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Sevelda Rejects „Joint Bad Bank“
Karl Sevelda, CEO of Vienna-listed RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International), does not want to become shareholder of the common bad bank for the nationalized lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
February 9, 2014
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Extreme Burden for Austrian State Budget Ahead
The bad news about the nationalized Balkan lender do not break up. In 2014, the Austrian problem bank may cause costs in the amount of € 9bn.
February 7, 2014
Hyp Group Alpe Adria: “No Unnecessary Bankruptcy”
Klaus Liebscher, president of Hypo Group´s supervisory board, points out that Hypo Group´s bankruptcy would involve enormous risks. The Austrian government remains conspicuously calm.
February 7, 2014
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Harsh Criticism on Austrian Government
The Austrian opposition blames the government for concealing the biggest financial disaster in Austria´s history. Governor of the Austrian National Bank Ewald Nowotny is under fire too.
February 6, 2014
Suspicious Secrecy in the Cause of Hypo Group Alpe Adria
In the matter of Hypo Group Alpe Adria, the Austrian government acts disconcertingly. Details on the situation of the nationalized banks are still kept as a secret.
February 1, 2014
Austria: Government Makes € 1bn for Hypo Group Available in Budget
Nationalized problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria has listed a need for state subsidies in the amount between € 400m and € 900m in this year’s downsizing plan.
January 29, 2014
Austria: Opposition Presses for Information
The Austrian Greens demand information in regard to problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
January 28, 2014
Austria: Bank Particpation Still Uncertain
It is still unclear whether the Austrian banks will participate in a downsizing construction of Hypo Group. First results will be presented in February
January 28, 2014
Hypo Group Denies New Capital Shortfall
The nationalized Austrian lender Hypo Group Alpe Adria is said to require fresh founds in the amount of € 500m. The bank´s management claims the opposite.
January 25, 2014
Another Emergency at Hypo Group Alpe Adria
The series of bad news does not come to an end. After enormous capital injections in 2013, the nationalized Austrian lender again needs help from the Austrian state.
January 24, 2014
Austria: Nowotny Calls for Fast Decision on Hypo Group
The Governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) presses the government to act quickly and avoid further straining the budget and burdening the taxpayers.
January 21, 2014
Spindelegger Met Almunia: „Bank Aids Were No Issue“
Today, Austrian Minister of Finance Michael Spindelegger has met Commissioner for competition Joaquin Almunia.
January 20, 2014
Austrian Banks to Resist Further Burdens?
Podium discussion at Viennese law firm Binder Grösswang.
January 20, 2014
Hypo Group Alpe Adria: Austrian Government Becomes Nervous
Although the participation of the private banking sector is unrealistic, the Austrian government does not give up. However, the time pressure grows week by week.
January 18, 2014
Hypo Group: Other Downsizing Unit than Bad Bank?
Rumors about other models than a bad bank have appeared.
January 15, 2014
Austria: Expert Paper for Hypo Group’s Bad Bank
An expert paper about possible downsizing options for state-controlled problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria is expected to be handed in to the government until the middle of the week.
January 13, 2014
Serbia Facing Testing Year
The Serbian government is currently working on a plan to improve the competitiveness of domestic enterprises.
January 13, 2014
Austria: VBAG Not to Receive Further Aids
Ailing banking institute VBAG of the Austrian Volksbanken Group will not be granted further state aids.
January 13, 2014
Austria: Hypo Group Looking for New CRO
Deputy CEO and chief risk officer of Hypo Group Wolfgang Edelmüller will resign as of the end of February.
January 10, 2014
Slovenia: Growth through Diplomatic Network
Slovenian Finance Minister Karl Erjavec assured that throught diplomatic network the country’s economy will still be supported.
January 9, 2014
Hungary Amending Figures of Budget Deficit
Hungarian Finance and Economy Minister Mihaly Varga announced that the budget deficit of 2013 will be below the target after it was lowered dramatically.
January 8, 2014
VBAG: Complete Write-Off Possible
The Austrian state may has to write down its interest completely. Further capital injections are very likely. Also VBAG´s other shareholders will be obliged to provide fresh funds for the ailing bank.
January 4, 2014
Slovenia: Banking Sector Still in Turmoil
Small banks in Slovenia are reasons for concern in regard to their capital shortfalls.
January 3, 2014
Hypo Group: Fatal Errors of Austrian National Bank
Before Hypo Group Alpe Adria was nationalized in late 2009, the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) has misjudged the situation of the problem bank completely. The Austrian government demonstrates its incompetence once again.
December 30, 2013
Hypo Group: „The Wrong Decisions were Made“
Johannes Ditz, former chairman of the Austrian nationalized Hypo Group Alpe Adria, thinks that the Austrian government could have avoided a massive burden for the taxpayers.
December 28, 2013
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
VBAG: Further State Aids Questionable
The governing Austrian social democrats (SPÖ) are against providing further funds to the partly nationalized banking group.
December 26, 2013
Austria Bought Time for Examining Hypo Deal
Austria was granted more time for a possible appeal of the purchase of problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria from former parent company BayernLB.
December 23, 2013
Austria: Rules for Bank Tax to Be Changed
The governing parties call for changes in the bank tax which would increase the burden of some Austrian banks.
December 20, 2013
Austria: VBAG May Require Further State Aid
Partially nationalized VBAG is expected to post losses of more than € 200m.
December 20, 2013
Austria: Options of Bad Bank for Hypo under Examination
Finance Minister Spindelegger intends to meet with experts to discuss options of a bad bank for Hypo Group Alpe Adria.
December 20, 2013
Hypo Group Insolvency: Total Damage of € 26bn
Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB), warns of follow-up costs in case of a bankruptcy of the Austrian nationalized lender.
December 17, 2013
Austria: Fate of Hypo Group Still Unclear
Only next year the fate of ailing bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria will be determined.
December 16, 2013
Austrian Banking Industry Has to Fear Bank Tax Increase
At the end of this week, the Austrian social democrats and the conservatives agreed on continuing their coalition. Although the fiscal strategy is not fully known yet, a bank tax increase is likely.
December 14, 2013
Croatia: Major Investments to Boost Economic Growth
The Croatian government on Thursday adopted an investment plan for 2014 which includes large-scale investments, amounting to as much as HRK 73.1 billion.
December 13, 2013