USA
VBAG to be Acquired by BAWAG?
According to market rumors, the financially stricken VBAG could be taken over by the U.S. investment fund owned Bawag.
March 2, 2012
Record for McDonald´s Austria
In 2011, McDonald´s Austria registered a rise in guests by 4.4% and sales of € 515m.
February 28, 2012
Austria: Low Attractiveness as Research Location
According to a study among European scientists, Austria loses its reputation. The most attractive destination is the U.S.
February 27, 2012
Significant Increase in Austrian Steel Exports to U.S.
U.S. Steel Imports are rising substantially, prices are on the fall. Austrian suppliers could raise their share.
February 27, 2012
Frauenthal Considers Short Time Work
The Austrian component supplier experiences the first signs of the economic crisis. As orders are going down by 10% to 15%, short time work becomes an issue again.
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
Moody's Takes Actions on Austrian Banks
The U.S. rating agency has a closer look on Austrian banks, which are related to the creditworthiness of public institutions.
February 22, 2012
All-Clear for Opel Site in Vienna
Although the German automobile producer faces serious troubles, the Viennese factory is not endangered to cut jobs.
February 21, 2012
Stepic Criticizes Rating Agencies Sharply
For Herbert Stepic, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), statements given by the U.S. rating agencies are “undifferentiated”.
February 20, 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
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
Major Order for voestalpine
The automotive division of the Austrian steel group received orders worth € 700m.
February 14, 2012
Moody's Put Austria on Warning
The Austrian “AAA” rating has been confirmed by the U.S. rating agency. However, credit-watch is put on “negative”.
February 14, 2012
SLR Group Plans Major Increase in Sales
The Austrian foundry company expects to realize sales of 60m in 2011/12. In the first half year, sales were up by 24%.
February 9, 2012
Merger of Glencore and Xstrata: voestalpine Not Concerned
The Austrian steel company does not feel affected by the merger between the two major commodity corporations Glencore and Xstrata.
February 8, 2012
Innovation Index: Austria Falls Behind
Austria again loses in competitiveness: among the EU member countries, Austria occupies the eighth rank.
February 7, 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
Privatization of Kommunalkredit Starts
The sale of the nationalized bank will start in the second half of 2012. For 2011, losses could reach up to € 150m.
February 4, 2012
AMAG to Become New Owners?
About one third of Austrian aluminum producer´s shares are for sale. Raiffeisen and B&C are potential buyers.
February 4, 2012
Coca Cola Closes Viennese Site
For cost reasons, the U.S. soft drink producer shifts production from Vienna to Burgenland. 80 employees will be laid off.
February 2, 2012
BDI Receives Major Order from USA
Austrian BioEnergy obtained order for retrofitting a U.S.-based biodiesel plant.
February 2, 2012
Kommunalkredit Downgraded by Moody´s
The U.S. rating agency downgraded Kommunalkredit Austria to Baa3.
February 2, 2012
After Downgrade of Vienna: No Consequences Expected
The Viennese financial senator Renate Brauner does not fear negative impacts on Vienna´s finance. This week, the city was downgraded by S&P.
January 27, 2012
voestalpine Concluded Largest Single Contract to Date
The Automotive Division of the voestalpine Group has concluded its largest single contract to date, with a leading European car manufacturer. The order volume amounts to around € 700m.
January 27, 2012
S&P Downgrades Austrian Provinces
The U.S. rating agencies lowers ratings for Upper Austria, Vienna and Tyrol from “AAA” to “AA+”.
January 26, 2012
S&P Keeps Rating for Erste Group and RZB
After the downgrade of Austrian sovereign bonds two weeks ago, the U.S. rating agency remains its ratings for the two largest domestic banks.
January 25, 2012
Scharinger: „Rating Agencies Are Instruments of Torture“
The leaving CEO of RLB Upper Austria, Ludwig Scharinger, is convinced that Europe needs must make itself more competitive against the U.S. financial industry.
January 24, 2012
“Europe, quo vadis?”
Today, the 9th Vienna Congress com•sult takes place in Vienna. The central issue “Challenges of Leadership in Europe” is discussed, among others, by Lech Walesa, Hans-Dietrich Genscher and Avigdor Liberman.
January 24, 2012
New Records for Viennese Tourism
In 2011, the Austrian capital registered 11.4 million guest nights, which is a new record.
January 24, 2012
New Record in Agricultural Exports
In 2011, Austrian food exports exceeded € 9.0bn for the first time.
January 21, 2012
Moody´s Downgrades Telekom Austria
The U.S. rating agency lowered Telekom Austria´s rating from A3 to Baa1, which is due to the weak business development.
January 19, 2012
AT&S Launches Strategic Alliance with U.S. MFLEX
Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc. and AT&S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft, today announced a Strategic Alliance Agreement.
January 19, 2012
Signs for Economic Stabilization
The Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) sees signs that the economic downturn trend can be stopped. A small growth in 2012 could be possible.
January 17, 2012
Metro Cancels Kaufhof Sale
The Austrian real estate investor René Benko has to abandon the plan to take over the German retail chain Kaufhof.
January 17, 2012
Binder Creates New Technology Company
Binder+Co AG has started the 2012 financial year with the foundation of a new subsidiary in the shape of Bublon GmbH. Binder+Co Group now consists of a total of four companies.
January 16, 2012
New Management for Microsoft Austria
With Georg Obermeier, the Austrian subsidiary of the U.S. software group has a new executive.
January 14, 2012
Downgrade: Government Surprised and Criticized
For the Austrian government, the downgrade by the U.S. rating agency is „not comprehensible”. The domestic industry urgently claims structural reforms.
January 14, 2012
Austria to Lose its AAA
According to partially confirmed market rumors, S&P will downgrade France and Austria.
January 13, 2012
Bank Austria Lost Madoff Case
Bank Austria distributed Primeo Funds, issued by the U.S. former investment banker Bernard Madoff. The prospectus did not contain sufficient information, a Viennese court decided.
January 13, 2012
Lenzing Continues Supply to U.S. Army
U.S. President Obama signs permanent import approval allowing the Austrian Lenzing AG to supply flame-resistant fibers to the U.S. Army.
January 12, 2012
Fitch: Austria´s AAA-Rating Not Endangered
According to the U.S. rating agency, the financial stability in Austria is still excellent. The bond auction today went well.
January 10, 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
Substantial Decrease in Stock Market Turnover
The Vienna Stock Exchange recorded a decline in stock market turnover by 18% in 2011. This is also due to new taxes.
January 2, 2012
New Record for Austrian Wine Exports
Although the quantity of wine exports is shrinking steadily, the export volume worth € 126m reached a new record.
December 28, 2011
Emco With Growth Plans
The new owner of the former A-Tec subsidiary, now can begin to realize its expansion plans.
December 27, 2011
Kaufhof-Deal Not Closed Before 2012
The two main competitors for the German retail chain are the Austrian real estate investor René Benko and the U.S. investor Nicolas Berggruen.
December 17, 2011
Difficult Search for Investors at Wall Street
Austrian companies try to find new investors in the U.S. The relatively small size of Vienna Stock Exchange and the euro-crisis make this difficult.
December 8, 2011
Rating Agencies Are Seen As Threat
The governor of the Austrian Central Bank, Ewald Nowotny, attacks S&P. For the head of the economic research institute IHS, Bernhard Felderer, the negative outlook must be seen as a warning signal.
December 7, 2011
Austrian Foreign Trade Deficit on the Rise
From January to September 2011: imports rose by 17%, exports increased by 14%. The deficit amounts to € 6.0bn.
December 7, 2011
