Privatizations

Serbia: FDI of Great Importance for Economy

According to Deputy Prime Minister Vucic, the country’s biggest problem was the rate debt rate and fiscal deficit.

February 14, 2014

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

Bosnia: Protests Go On

After a number of political step-downs, the protests in Bosnia do not come to an end. The protest movements wants to take back controversial privatizations and the state presidium to step down.

February 9, 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

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

Austrian Banks to Resist Further Burdens?

Podium discussion at Viennese law firm Binder Grösswang.

January 20, 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

Slovenia: Banking Sector Still in Turmoil

Small banks in Slovenia are reasons for concern in regard to their capital shortfalls.

January 3, 2014

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

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

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

Austria´s Government: Old Turns into New

The leaders of the old government, Chancellor Werner Faymann and Deputy Chancellor Michael Spindelegger, announced to form a new government.

December 12, 2013

Austria: Federation of Trade Unions Warns of Privatizations

The Austrian Federation of Trade Unions warns the Austrian state not to push through with further privatizations.

December 11, 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

Faymann: “No Outstanding Issues That Cannot Be Solved“

In an interview with Austrian daily “Kurier“ Chancellor Werner Faymann rejects the idea of early elections and underlines that there were no unsolvable issues.

December 4, 2013

Poland Looking for Investors for PHN

Polish real estate group PHN (Polski Holding Nieruchomości S.A.) is searching for an investor.

November 28, 2013

BayernLB Lodges Claim of Almost € 5bn

The value in dispute in the legal discussions between German BayernLB and fromer affiliate Hypo Group Alpe Adria runs up to almost € 5bn.

November 25, 2013

Romania Faces Upgrade

Next year, Romanian sovereign bonds may be upgraded by Standard & Poor´s.

November 23, 2013

Austria:Kommunalkredit Managers Accused of Breach of Trust

Four former managers of nationalized Kommunalkredit (KA) are accused of breach of trust and violating the Stock Corporation Act by the Public Prosecutor's Office against Economy and Corruption (WKStA) at the Regional Court in Vienna.

November 22, 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

BayernLB: “Hypo Not Willing to Pay“

Because of the legal dispute with Austrian problem bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria, former German parent company BayernLB announced not to increase its risk provision.

November 13, 2013

Austria: Downsizing Options for Hypo Group under Discussion

In the discussion about establishing a downsizing unit for ailing bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria, several possibilities are taken into account.

November 12, 2013

Austria: Liquidation No Option for Hypo Group

Nationalized-by force Hypo Group Alpe Adria, which is struggling under liabilities running in the billions, will not be closed. OeNB rejects rumors about establishing a bad bank

November 4, 2013

Slovenia´s Government Hopes for More FDI

In order to promote more foreign direct investments, Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek plans to hold investment conferences across Europe.

November 1, 2013

Romania Plans Next Privatization

According to the Romanian government, Romtelecom may be partly privatized via the Bucharest Stock Exchange.

October 23, 2013

Slovenia: Govenor of National Bank demands “Change of Mentality”

At a lecture planned by the Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES), Bostjan Jazbec, govenor of Banka Slovenije, pointed out that the country could only blame itself for the current state it was in.

October 23, 2013

Hypo Group Reigned by Greed and Criminal Activities

In an interview with Austrian daily “Standard“ forensic expert of nationlized Hypo Group Christian Böhler revealed that former managers of the bank enriched themselves personally.

October 21, 2013

Romanian Romgaz Starts IPO

Tomorrow, Monday, the Romanian government sells a 15% stake in Romgaz via the stock exchange. In the last months, the IMF has urged Romania to accelerate the privatization policy.

October 21, 2013

Slovenia: Massive Concerns Against Real Estate Tax

The Slovenian government plans to introduce property taxes in order to reduce the budget deficit. The opposition warns that the tax may be “highly counterproductive”.

October 18, 2013

Nowotny Demands Same Rules for All Banks

Govenor Nowotny urges for a discussion about the capital requirements (Basel III) for banks, which applies only for the major banking institutes in the US but for all banks in Europe.

October 18, 2013

RBI Considers Participation in Hypo Group’s Bad Bank

In a radio interview with “Ö1”, Karl Sevelda, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), announced that he regards a particpation of his bank as possible.

October 18, 2013

Romania: Privatization of Railroad Company Flopped

The privatization of Romanian freight railroad company CFR Marfa failed. The sale of shares is part of the conditions with IMF, the World Bank and the European Union.

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

Croatia: Not Plans of Privatizing State-Owned Companies

Croatian government denies it planned to privatize 28 large state-owned companies.

October 14, 2013

Romania Keeps Majority Stake in Romgaz

Romania´s government will privatize 15% of the country´s biggest natural gas producer. The opening of the economy to foreign investors bears potential dangers.

October 12, 2013
Fast News Search