Volksbank AG (ÖVAG) bosses and Sberbank chiefs will sign contracts about the planned takeover of Volksbank International (VBI) later this week, according to Austrian business papers. Reports from today (Mon) have it that the struggling Austrian bank eventually agreed with the Moscow-based finance sector giant about a takeover price for VBI. Sberbank declared interest in […]
Jean-Claude Trichet visited a museum in Vienna, it has been revealed. Albertina director Klaus Albrecht Schröder told the magazine News that the banker spent two hours at the museum some days ago. “We did not want to make a big fuss about it,” Schröder said about the visit of Trichet. The Frenchman retires as head […]
Rumours that Volksbank AG (ÖVAG) may be nationalised are increasing after the bank warned of immense losses. ÖVAG boss Gerald Wenzel said yesterday (Thurs) the finance institute could suffer a loss of 900 million Euros this year. He added that the losses may also be higher. ÖVAG received one billion Euros of so-called state participation […]
The number of people tuning in for national broadcaster ORF’s programmes keeps declining. The company announced yesterday (Mon) that ORF 1 achieved a market share of 12 per cent last month, up by 0.5 per cent compared to September 2010. ORF 2 suffered a decline of 1.3 per cent at the same time, the broadcaster […]
Jürgen Melzer has revealed plans to set up a tennis training centre for youngsters after retiring. Austria’s number one in world tennis told magazine News: “I think those who intensively think about what to do after playing on a professional level kind of have given up the sport already. Nevertheless, I can say that I […]
A young crane operator was seriously injured in a work accident yesterday (Thurs). The 25-year-old man sustained severe injuries to his face when liquid metal spilled as colleagues tried to pour the substance from one container into another at a construction site near Lilienfeld, Lower Austria. The liquid metal had a temperature of 1,500 degrees […]
Conservative decision-makers are expected to raise the pressure on Alexander Wrabetz after his re-election as head of national broadcaster ORF. Twenty-nine delegates of ORF’s 35-member foundation council confirmed Wrabetz in office after a two-hour hearing yesterday afternoon (Tues). The other members of the council abstained from voting. Wrabetz started his first term in 2006 thanks […]
Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott have said they want to open a restaurant. The opera stars told magazine News today (Thurs) that their endeavour will probably take place in the Austrian capital Vienna. “We are of the opinion that other things apart from opera must not be neglected. We will do this out of passion. […]
Ringo Starr has revealed he still suffers from stage fright after 50 years in the business. The Beatles legend said: “I’m nervous ahead of every gig. I feel like running away three seconds before I’m due to hit the stage. That’s why I always run – I’d love to coolly stroll on stage but I […]
New figures debunk myths that businesspeople in Vienna are in midlife crises.The citys Economy Chamber (WKW) said today (Weds) that, with 21 per cent, more than one out of five people were aged 45 and older when they decided to set up their own companies last year. The organisation explained that the share of those […]