Latest News

Penta Is Extending Offer for A-Tec

The Czech-Slovak investment group has affirmed its interest in a takeover of the Austrian conglomerate and extended the validity of its offer.

July 28, 2011

Vienna Stock Exchange: Winners and Losers (2011-07-28)

Daily News-Flash from the Vienna Stock Exchange: Upgrades & Downgrades, Winners & Losers.

July 28, 2011

Warimpex Sells Hotel in Warsaw

The Austrian real estate company sells the Sobieski Hotel in Warsaw, together with an adjacent 6,000 square meter office building to Wenaasgruppen, headquartered in Norway.

July 28, 2011

Banks Expect Tightening of Credit Guidelines in 2012

Austrian banks’ lending policies did not change in the second quarter of 2011. For two years already, no tightening of lending conditions has been observed.

July 28, 2011

Erste Bank Fixed the Takeover of Intermarket Bank

Erste Bank took over 56% in Austria’s largest factoring bank from the Polish subsidiary of Commerzbank and will acquire another 10% from Coface.

July 28, 2011

IHS: Keuschnigg in Pole Position for Succession of Felderer

The institute’s board of trustees has voted for the Tyrolean Keuschnigg as successor of retiring boss Felderer. Contracts still have to be signed.

July 28, 2011

“Austria Was Boosted by EU Accession, Euro and Opening to Eastern Europe”

Bank Austria analyzed the development of Austria since the EU accession in 1995. It concluded that the economy has taken full advantage of the opportunities offered by the changes.

July 28, 2011

KTM Achieves Strong Growth

The Austrian motorcycle manufacturer reported a positive development in the first half of 2011. Turnover increased by 24%; EBIT went up 18%.

July 28, 2011

AUA: Loss of € 63m in the First Half of 2011

Austrian Airlines is still clearly in the red. The company was not able to improve significantly on last year’s result in the first six months of 2011.

July 28, 2011

Retail Trade: No Improvement Expected

After weak first six months, the Austrian retail sector hopes for increasing demand in the second half of 2011. Weak development of incomes reduces consumers’ willingness to spend.

July 27, 2011

Austrians Still Prefer Building Society Savings

Erste Group’s s Bausparkasse benefits from the continuing trend. The amount of new lending increased by almost 25% year-on-year.

July 27, 2011

Vienna Stock Exchange: Winners and Losers (2011-07-27)

Daily News-Flash from the Vienna Stock Exchange: Upgrades & Downgrades, Winners & Losers.

July 27, 2011

VIG: Trouble at Romanian Subsidiary

The Austrian insurance group has reportedly lost millions due to illegal actions at one of its Romanian subsidiaries. Company representatives denied any misconduct.

July 27, 2011

Austrians’ Holiday Patterns Are Changing

Traditional summer vacation is getting less important; every third main holiday trip takes place in winter.

July 27, 2011

FlyNiki with Passenger Increase from Vienna Airport

The number of passengers departing from Vienna with Niki Lauda’s airline grew by 29% in the first half of 2011.

July 27, 2011

Verbund Reports Drop in Group Result and Sale of French Poweo

The Austrian electricity group suffered from extraordinarily weak water supply in the first six months of the year. The stake in French Poweo will be sold to competitor Direct Energie.

July 27, 2011

Pankl Acquires US-Based Superior Crankshaft

The Austrian component supplier takes over 100% of the American crankshaft producer which was also founded by Gerold Pankl.

July 27, 2011

Vienna Stock Exchange: Winners and Losers (2011-07-26)

Daily News-Flash from the Vienna Stock Exchange: Upgrades & Downgrades, Winners & Losers.

July 26, 2011

Lack of Reforms as a Threat for Start-Ups

The organization of young entrepreneurs demands improvement of framework conditions for start-up enterprises.

July 26, 2011

Kärntner Sparkasse Starts Withdrawal from Italy

The Carinthian regional bank is closing down two branches as a consequence of the economic crisis and new capital requirements.

July 26, 2011

“Keep Cool and Look Forward”

Alois Wögerbauer, Executive of 3 Banken-Generali Investment-Gesellschaft m.b.H., gives his view on the current situation at the Vienna Stock Exchange.

July 26, 2011

Austrian FDI Recovered Slightly in 2009

The value of Austrian investments abroad grew by 6% in 2009 and amounted to € 113bn. Companies still felt the impact of the crisis on their profits.

July 26, 2011

Kapsch TrafficCom Wins Order in Portugal

The Austrian technology company takes over installation, technical operation and maintenance of an electronic toll collection system.

July 26, 2011

Verbund’s Sorgenia Starts Eco-Subsidiary in Italy

Sorgenia Green is planning to invest € 500m in geothermal energy and hydro power projects in the next five years.

July 26, 2011

Austrian Companies Looking for Acquisition Targets in Greece

Greece’s debt crisis offers opportunities for Austrian companies. They are especially interested in acquisitions of Greek subsidiaries in the Balkans.

July 25, 2011

austriamicrosystems with Improved Results in the First Half of 2011

The Austrian microelectronics and semiconductor manufacturer increased revenues by 18%. EBIT went up from € 8.4m to € 15.8m.

July 25, 2011

Strong Growth for Car Leasing Companies

Booming car sales are boosting the leasing business in Austria. All major leasing banks recorded growth in the first half of 2011. The trend is expected to continue.

July 25, 2011

Vienna Stock Exchange: Winners and Losers (2011-07-25)

Daily News-Flash from the Vienna Stock Exchange: Upgrades & Downgrades, Winners & Losers.

July 25, 2011

Siemens Boss Peter Löscher to Stay until 2017

The Austrian manager will remain CEO of the German group for another five years. His contract will be extended until 2017.

July 25, 2011

Fitch Confirms Austria’s Triple-A Rating

The U.S. rating agency confirmed the Republic of Austria’s AAA credit rating. The outlook remains “stable”.

July 25, 2011

Massive Increase in Municipalities’ Foreign Currency Debt

The amount of foreign currency debt has doubled since 2009 and surpassed € 2bn in February 2011. Swiss franc denominated loans accounted for almost 100%.

July 25, 2011

Mitterlehner with Plans for Reform of ÖIAG

The Minister of Economics intends to reposition the Austrian state holding company. Markus Beyrer, the new CEO, is currently evaluating new concepts.

July 25, 2011

Growth in Production Is Slowing Down

Production index in May 2011: +6.7% compared to May 2010, +0.3% against April 2011.

July 25, 2011

Austrian Tourism: Slight Increase in Overnights

First third of summer season 2011: Rise in overnights by 3.7% in the period May to June. The number of arrivals reached a new record high.

July 25, 2011

Vienna Stock Exchange: Winners and Losers (2011-07-22)

Daily News-Flash from the Vienna Stock Exchange: Upgrades & Downgrades, Winners & Losers.

July 22, 2011

Kapsch TrafficCom Awarded Major Contract in the U.S.

The American subsidiary of the Austrian technology group won a ten-year contract for the operations of an electronic toll collection system in 14 states.

July 22, 2011

OMV: Total Production Declined by 14%

In the second quarter, the Austrian oil and gas company registered a significant drop in production. Sales volumes in the gas business increased by 43%.

July 22, 2011

UniCredit Sees ATX at 3,200 Points in 12 Months

The bank’s analysts expect the Austrian stock index to recover within the next 6 to 12 months. Close links with Germany and Eastern Europe are seen as an advantage.

July 22, 2011

Moderate Decline in One-Day Car Registrations

One-day registrations of passenger cars in the first half of 2011: -0.7%; 5.1% of new passenger cars were deregistered within one day.

July 22, 2011

Wolford Doubles Profit

The Austrian luxury clothing company achieved considerable growth in revenue and earnings in financial year 2010/11.

July 22, 2011

austriamicrosystems to Be Included in SIX Swiss Exchange’s SPI Middle Index Basket

Inclusion of the Austrian microelectronics and semiconductor manufacturer in the SPI Middle index basket becomes effective September 19, 2011.

July 21, 2011

Blue Chip Energy Filed for Insolvency

The solar cell producer has abandoned production today. Asian investors are said to be interested in an acquisition of the Burgenland-based company.

July 21, 2011

voestalpine Sues EU Over Plans for Carbon Emissions

The Austrian steel company and four German competitors filed a lawsuit against the EU. They argue that CO2 emission targets are unrealistic and unachievable.

July 21, 2011

Vienna Stock Exchange: Winners and Losers (2011-07-21)

Daily News-Flash from the Vienna Stock Exchange: Upgrades & Downgrades, Winners & Losers.

July 21, 2011

Agricultural Exports Are Booming

Foreign demand for fruits, vegetables and other products from Austria is growing. Exports went up 21% and amounted to € 2.18bn in the first quarter of 2011.

July 21, 2011

EVN Expands in Bulgaria

The Austrian electricity company invested € 5m in the construction of a solar power station in Bulgaria and increased its stake in a joint venture project in the country.

July 21, 2011

Crisis Reaches Retail Sector

Austria’s retail industry starts to feel the effects of a high inflation rate and the euro crisis. In May, revenues declined by 2.3%.

July 21, 2011

Immofinanz Generated New Funds in Russia

The Austrian real estate company reached an agreement on the refinancing of its logistics center in St. Petersburg. The new funds will be invested in further projects in Russia.

July 21, 2011

German Rail Cartel: Increasing Pressure on voestalpine

The German Federal Cartel Office made new inspections at a local subsidiary of the Austrian steel company. According to press reports, price fixing on the German rail market continued until 2011.

July 20, 2011

Credit Costs to Rise in the Wake of Basel III

The new regulatory requirements are expected to increase the cost of credits and to reduce the Austrian banks’ profitability.

July 20, 2011