A powerful Russian bank may acquire a majority stake in Volksbank International (VBI), the ailing affiliate of Volksbank AG (ÖVAG). VBI, which manages ÖVAG’s operations in Eastern Europe (EE), had 5,362 employees in 547 branches in Romania, Slovakia and six other countries. It sustained a loss of 22.37 million Euros in 2010. Sberbank has hinted […]
The Austrian Social Democrats’ (SPÖ) appeal to install a European credit rating agency has found prominent support. Siemens board member Brigitte Ederer said today (Weds) she had been in favour of the idea “for many years.” The former SPÖ state secretary told radio station Ö1 that the “dominance” of US American institutions “had consequences.” Ederer […]
The vast majority of Austrians have no interest in stocks, according to research. Pollster Imas found that 75 per cent of residents of the country had no intention to acquire shares. The survey also shows that just 13 per cent of Austrians hold participations in companies via shares and investment funds. The figure resembles results […]
Bank Austria (BA) has decided to abstain from taking over struggling rival Hypo Group Alpe Adria (HGAA), according to a report.The Kurier newspaper writes today (Fri) that BA decided not to acquire HGAAs Austrian department. Only in March, the BA CEO Willibald Cernko said it would be “highly ignorant” to rule out an investment due […]
Austria and Germany are enjoying an economic upturn – bouncing back following the crash in 2008 and recession of 2009.But despite the current positive economic news, companies are being warned of troubled times ahead, and the need to use the current positive situation as a chance to prepare for troubled times ahead.This was the message […]
Businessmen accused of having masterminded a multimillion-Euro financial market manipulation scheme have been arrested in Austria.The Vancouver Sun newspaper reports today (Fri) that ex-stock newsletter editor Pascal Geraths and Canadian stock promoter Aly Babu Mawji were put in custody in Salzburg and Vienna respectively.German prosecutors, who are currently investigating the potentially illegal stock market activities, […]
A top banker has been accused of “showing personal characteristics of greed and arrogance” after he branded Austrias political elite as “too stupid and cowardly.”Erste Group Bank AG (Erste Bank) boss Andreas Treichl incited an intense discussion about the decision-making of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the Peoples Party (ÖVP) when he claimed at a business […]
Decision-makers at Austrias biggest bank have been accused of acting greedily by sharply raising supervisory board members salaries.The Erste Group Bank AG (Erste Bank) board announced today (Thurs) that each member of the financial institutes supervisory board will receive 700,000 Euros for its achievements last year, up from half the amount in 2009 when the […]
A Raiffeisen manager has fuelled speculations that former Peoples Party (ÖVP) boss Josef Pröll could join the finance industry giant.Erwin Hameseder, head of Raiffeisenlandesbank Lower Austria-Vienna, said today (Weds) representatives of the bank discussed future options with the agricultural economist.Pröll retired from all his political functions vice chancellor, finance minister and party leader […]
A leading Russian bank may take over struggling Volksbank AGs (ÖVAG) international operations department.Russian business newspaper Vedomosti reports today (Weds) that Moscow-based Sberbank was in the final stage of negotiations with ÖVAG about the acquisition of a 51 per cent interest in VBI (Volksbank International). The daily cites sources close to Sberbank’s top management saying […]