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Fitch Confirms Rating for VBAG
The U.S. rating agency retains the A rating for the fourth largest Austrian bank.
March 7, 2012
Uniqa Aims for Growth in CESEE Region
The Austrian insurance group wants to sell stakes by the minority shareholders of subsidiaries in Eastern Europe. The capital increase is scheduled for 2013.
March 5, 2012
High Losses for Erste Group Expected
Although Erste Group has to report high losses for its financial year 2011, analysts are optimistic for 2012. Business in Romania and Hungary is expected to improve.
February 28, 2012
Partial Nationalization of VBAG Planned
The financially stricken Austrian bank receives new capital. The Republic of Austria makes contributions of € 1.05bn. Bank taxes will increase.
February 27, 2012
Baumax Faces Stagnation
The Austrian building center chain records declining sales in real terms in Austria. Growth rates are observed in Eastern Europe.
February 24, 2012
CSC Establishes its CEE Headquarters in Vienna
The U.S. IT service supplier CSC upgrades the Viennese subsidiary as regional headquarters for ten countries.
February 22, 2012
Petrom Discovered Deep Water Gas Offshore Romania
The Romanian subsidiary of the Austrian oil and gas group OMV announces a first major success of its exploration works in the Black Sea together with Exxon Mobil.
February 22, 2012
OMV Surpasses Market Expectations
The Austrian oil and gas company today announced its results for the fourth quarter. Dividends will rise to € 1.10 per share. Clean CCS EBIT was up by 29%.
February 22, 2012
Voestalpine Amends Expansion Plans
The Austrian steel producer intends to use its technologic leadership in the automotive component business for further expansion steps.
February 18, 2012
Cernko: „Triple A Only in the Medium Term“
Bank Austria´s CEO Willibald Cernko does not think that Austria re-gains its “AAA” status within the next three years.
February 16, 2012
S Immo: PepsiCo Signs on As a Tenant in Bucharest
The Austrian real estate company gained another internationally renowned tenant for its Sun Offices building in Bucharest.
February 15, 2012
AUA to Withdraw from Mumbai
Due to the increasing price pressure, Austrian Airlines has to focus on new markets. New target markets are Eastern Europe and the Middle East region.
February 13, 2012
Raiffeisen Builds Shopping Center in Bukarest
Raiffeisen Evolution develops “Floreasca City”, a shopping center project in the Romanian capital. Construction works began in January.
February 10, 2012
Erste Group Plans Complete Takeover of BCR
The Austrian bank wants to become the sole owner of Banca Commerciala Romana.
February 9, 2012
CEE Countries with Bigger Space for Higher Bond Yields
Romania, Czech Republic and Slovakia with biggest room for manoeuvre in case yields would spike; Hungary should avoid financing at +6%, says Erste Group.
February 6, 2012
VBI Sale: Closing Expected for Mid-February
The Russian Sberbank buys VBI from Austrian VBAG. The price totals € 505m.
February 6, 2012
Black Sea: Petrom and Exxon Mobil Found Gas
Romania’s first deepwater well indicates presence of hydrocarbons. The U.S. Exxon Mobil and Petrom, a Romanian subsidiary of Austrian OMV, are searching for natural gas.
February 4, 2012
Kapsch Expands in Romania
The Austrian toll system supplier Kapsch has purchased the Romanian IT service provider Squario Management s.r.l. At the same time, Kapsch has strengthened its presence in a central CEE market.
February 3, 2012
Porr Extends Capital Increase
The Austrian construction group intends to restock its planned capital increase. The minimum volume is € 30m.
February 2, 2012
Enso Hydro Looking for Hydro Power Plants in SEE
The Austrian hydro power specialist aims for collecting € 70m of Deutsche Bank´s subsidiary DWS. Currently, enso hydro searches for new hydro power projects.
February 1, 2012
3E Group Grows in Eastern Europe
The Austrian building material company´s revenues were up by 3.2% in 2011. Total sales reached € 546m.
January 30, 2012
Romanian President Appreciates Erste Group´s Decision
Traian Basescu, President of Romania, is pleased with Erste Group´s announcement to continue its business in Romania.
January 28, 2012
New Management Board at BCR
The Supervisory Board of Erste Group´s loss-making subsidiary, Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR), took several decisions regarding the structure of BCR’s Management Board (Executive Committee).
January 27, 2012
Sberbank: € 500m for Austrian VBI
The Russian Sberbank officially bids € 500m for VBI, the subsidiary of Austrian VBAG.
January 26, 2012
Turkey Emphasizes Support for Nabucco
Besides the Russian South-Stream project, Turkey also shows support for Nabucco, where Austrian OMV is strongly engaged in.
January 21, 2012
Austrian Lending Restrictions Under Observation
The plan of the Austrian FMA and OeNB to restrict lending in CEE countries could be a violation of EU-law.
January 19, 2012
Porr: Capital Increase Flows Smoothly
According to Porr´s CEO Karl Heinz Strauss, the Austrian construction group raises ist capital within the next 60 days. Operating business is performing well, Strauss says.
January 16, 2012
Treichl Does Not Expect Hungarian National Insolvency
In spite of a large exposure in Hungary, Andreas Treichl, Erste Group´s CEO is optimistic. By 2014, Erste Group Hungary should be profitable again.
January 14, 2012
OMV: Libyan Oil Production at 60% of Pre-War Level
The Austrian OMV produces 19,000 barrels per day in Libya. Production can be improved steadily. A Romanian refinery will be sold to the Romanian state.
January 13, 2012
OMV Condemned by Antitrust Authorities
Petrom, a subsidiary of the Austrian oil and gas company has to pay a € 85.2m fine in Romania.
January 11, 2012
Slow Growth in CEE Expected
According to Raiffeisen Research, real GDP in CEE to grow by 2.0 per cent in 2012, while Austria set to post GDP decline of 0.5 per cent.
January 11, 2012
Petrom and Exxon Explore in Black Sea
Petrom, the Romanian subsidiary of the Austrian oil and gas group OMV, closed a partnership with the U.S. oil group ExxonMobil.
January 9, 2012
CEE Investments Recommended
According to Erste Group, equities to become more attractive in 2012 compared to 2011. Turkey is seen as highly interesting investment location.
January 4, 2012
Erste Group Increased Share Capital
The Austrian bank raised its capital in connection with the agreement to acquire shares in Romanian BCR.
December 30, 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
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
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
S&T Aims to Achieve Turnaround in 2012
The Austrian information technology service provider wants to return to the profit zone. In 2012, turnover should reach € 220m at least.
December 14, 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
Kapsch Group Expands in Romania
With the opening of a new, larger branch office, the Austrian toll collecting system supplier Kapsch Group is providing a signal for expansion in Romania.
December 7, 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
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
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
Strabag Wins New Orders for Environmental Technology Division
The Austrian construction group secured new business worldwide. The total volume is € 110m.
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
Drop in Revenue for SW Umwelttechnik
The Austrian technology group was particularly burdened by a decrease in quantities in Hungary. The loss on ordinary activities doubled from € -1.6m to € -3.3m.
November 23, 2011
OMV Concludes New Syndicated Loans
The Austrian oil and gas company has signed two syndicated multi-currency credit facilities totaling € 1,680m, which replaces existing facilities maturing in 2012.
November 23, 2011