Press Archive 2003

15.12.2003
BA-CA analysis: Croatia's banking market moves closer to the EU
Four years after the banking crisis in 1999, Croatia's banking industry is in good shape. Banks have adequate capital resources, they operate profitably and their efficiency is steadily increasing.

12.12.2003
HVB Bank opens three branches in December 2003
On December 11th, 2003 HVB Bank Yugoslavia a.d (HVB Bank) has officially opened its branch in Novi Sad.

03.12.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt acquires remaining shares in BPH PBK
Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) has acquired the remaining shares, representing a 9.5 per cent interest, held by HypoVereinsbank in BPH PBK, BA-CA's Polish banking subsidiary.

02.12.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt takes legal steps against "Lex Treichl"
Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) is taking legal steps, on the basis of cartel law and banking law, in respect of the establishment of a group of credit institutions between Erste Bank and the Austrian savings banks which are members of the "s Haftungsverbund" cross-guarantee system.

28.11.2003
BA-CA Leasing opens representative office in Serbia and Montenegro
Bank Austria Creditanstalt Leasing (BA-CA Leasing) has opened a representative office in Serbia and Montenegro. With the addition of this office its network in South-East Europe has become even more close-knit.

20.11.2003
EUR 150 million for Bank Austria Creditanstalt's subsidiary in Croatia
Bank Austria Creditanstalt has successfully arranged a EUR 150 million syndicated loan for Splitska Banka, its Croatian banking subsidiary.

14.11.2003
Martin Hehemann to head Group Marketing
Martin Hehemann will head the Group Marketing division of Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) for the time being.

03.11.2003
Gerhard Reidlinger, Head of Bank Austria Creditanstalt's Group Marketing Division, died in a car accident
On 30 October, Gerhard Reidlinger (aged 37), Head of Bank Austria Creditanstalt's Group Marketing Division, died in a car accident near Vienna. In Gerhard Reidlinger, Bank Austria Creditanstalt has lost an executive of high professional qualifications and great commitment, and a very likeable colleague.

29.10.2003
Results for the first nine months of 2003: Bank Austria Creditanstalt's profits up by 57 per cent
In the first nine months of 2003, Bank Austria Creditanstalt significantly improved its results compared with the same period in the previous year. Net income after taxes and minority interests rose by 56.5 per cent to EUR 312 million (first nine months of 2002: EUR 199 million). This means that after nine months of the current year, Bank Austria Creditanstalt's results already exceed the total figure for 2002.

29.10.2003
Results for the first nine months of 2003: Bank Austria Creditanstalt's profits up by 57 per cent
In the first nine months of 2003, Bank Austria Creditanstalt significantly improved its results compared with the same period in the previous year.

22.10.2003
BA-CA: 190,000 new customers in South East Europe in 6 months
The operations of Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) in South East Europe (SEE) keep growing at a fast pace. Within the last six months, BA-CA has increased the number of its customers in SEE by 190,000 to 780,000.

15.10.2003
BA-CA sells stakes in UNION and CA Versicherung AG to Wiener Städtische
Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) has today accepted the bid of Wiener Städtische Allgemeine Versicherung AG (WSV) for buying shareholdings in CA Versicherung AG and Union Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft (UNION).

15.10.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt reduces its stakes in CA Versicherung AG and Union Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft

14.10.2003
BA-CA starts trading on the Warsaw Stock Exchange
Today, Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) starts trading on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE). As of now, the shares of BA-CA are listed in Vienna and Warsaw.

07.10.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt is new owner of Central Profit Banka
Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) has signed the closing contract with Sarajevo Privatisation Venture (SPV) and is now the majority owner of Central Profit Banka (CPB).

07.10.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt is new owner of Central Profit Banka
Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) has signed the closing contract with Sarajevo Privatisation Venture (SPV) and is now the majority owner of Central Profit Banka (CPB). SPV is a joint venture of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Federation of Bosnia Herzegovina, and B.P. Invest Consult, an international consultancy firm.

1.10.2003
Fortis Lease Group acquires BA/CA Asset Finance Ltd., a UK subsidiary of Bank Austria Creditanstalt AG

Fortis strengthens its position on the European leasing market.
Today, Fortis and Bank Austria Creditanstalt AG (BA/CA) have reached an agreement under which BA/CA has sold its UK leasing activities, BA/CA Asset Finance Ltd, to Fortis Lease, in a cash transaction valued at EUR 37.7 million (GBP 26 million).

30.09.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt shares registered in public trading
Today, the Polish Securities and Exchange Commission registered Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) shares in public trading. The decision clears the way to the first public trading of an international company on the Polish stock exchange.

30.09.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt Shares Registered in Public Trading
Today, the Polish Securities and Exchange Commission registered Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) shares in public trading. The decision clears the way to the first public trading of an international company on the Polish stock exchange.

17.09.2003
HeidelbergCement Closes Successful Public Tender in Bosnia
HeidelbergCement, one of the world's leading companies in the construction and building materials industry, has increased its shareholding in the Kakanj cement plant, the largest cement producer in Bosnia and Herzegovina, via a public tender offer.

10.09.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt is "Bank of the Year" in Central and Eastern Europe
As in the previous year, the British financial magazine "The Banker" has again named
Bank Austria Creditanstalt "Bank of the Year in Central and Eastern Europe

04.09.2003
CEE banking market will continue to grow substantially
The forthcoming EU enlargement will give a further boost to the banking market in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). EU accession will enhance the stability of the banking system. CEE markets will become even more attractive to international investors.

11.08.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt seeks listing on the Warsaw Stock
The over-allotment option (greenshoe) over 4,954,760 additional shares which was granted to the consortium of banks in connection with the initial public offering of shares of Bank Austria Creditanstalt AG (BA-CA) has not been exercised in view of the current market situation.

04.08.2003
Sole mandate from Romgaz goes to Bank Austria Creditanstalt
Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) has been mandated by the Societatea Nationala de Gaze Naturale “Romgaz” S.A. to arrange a 3-year amortising USD 60,000,000 Syndicated Term Loan Facility. BA-CA has been appointed as “Mandated Lead Arranger”.

04.08.2003
Successful first six months for Bank Austria Creditanstalt's banking subsidiary in Poland
BPH PBK, the Polish banking subsidiary of Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA), significantly improved its results in the first six months of 2003.

01.08.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt strongly expands its Croatian branch network
Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) expands its Croatian branch network by 32 branches,
bringing the total number to 110.

01.08.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt strongly expands its Croatian branch network
Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) expands its Croatian branch network by 32 branches, bringing the total number to 110. This is an increase of 40 percent.

31.07.2003
BA-CA Investor Relations Release:
Bank Austria Creditanstalt's results significantly exceed the previous year's level
In the first half of 2003, Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) significantly improved its results compared with the previous year, despite a persistently difficult environment.

31.07.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt's results for the first six months of 2003

23.07.2003
Slovakia successfully on course for the EU
In the EU referendum held last May 92.5 percent of the votes cast were in favour of Slovakia joining the European Union. It its thus certain that Slovakia will become a member of the EU in May 2004.

11.07.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt again "Best Bank in CEE"
Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) has again been named "Best Bank in CEE" by Euromoney, the British financial magazine. The bank has won this award for the fourth time in succession. BA-CA has also received the award for "Best Custody in CEE".

04.07.2003
Acquisition of CAC Leasing in Czech Republic and Slovakia completed
Bank Austria Creditanstalt Leasing, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank Austria Creditanstalt AG (BA-CA), has completed the acquisition of two leasing companies: CAC Leasing a.s. in the Czech Republic and CAC Leasing Slovakia a.s. in Slovakia.

27.06.2003
Thomas Kofler joins the Managing Board of CA IB
Thomas Kofler, one of the most prominent investment bankers in South-East Europe, has been promoted to the Managing Board of CA IB Corporate Finance Ges.m.b.H.

24.06.2003
Thomson Extel awarded CA IB best research house in CEE
In the "Thomson Extel Pan European Survey 2003", published in June, CA IB received the award for „Best Research in Central Europe", despite strong competition from ING, UBS, Merrill Lynch and Smith Barney Citigroup.

17.06.2003
OMV Eurobond with 3 ¾ % Coupon
OMV’s first euro-denominated corporate bond will feature a coupon of 3 ¾ % p.a., the issue price will be 100.97.

06.06.2003
USD 100 Million Note (“Bond”) Issue for Magna Entertainment Corp.
Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) has arranged the placement of a USD 100 million Bond issued by Magna Entertainment Corp. (MEC)

30.05.2003
BA-CA´s Splitska Banka successfully placed the first five-year kuna government bond
Croatia’s first five-year government bond has been successfully sold to international and national investors this week.

23.05.2003
South-East Europe about to become growth leader in Central and Eastern Europe
South-East Europe (SEE) has in recent years become the undisputed leader in terms of economic growth among the emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

20.05.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt named "Best Bank in CEE"
The US financial magazine "Global Finance" named Bank Austria Creditanstalt (BA-CA) "Best Bank in Central and Eastern Europe" (CEE) in its current May issue.

05.05.2003
CEE economies growing fast as EU membership nears
The economies of Central and East European (CEE) candidate countries will still be expanding rapidly when they join the EU in May 2004. The economies of the eight new EU members are forecast to grow by an average of 3 per cent this year and 3.6 per cent in 2004 - about twice the rate recorded by existing EU members states.

11.04.2003
EU referendum in Hungary: “yes” vote - the chance to boost growth
On 12 April 2003 the Hungarian people will be voting on their country’s accession to the European Union. Following Malta and Slovenia, Hungary will be the third country out of ten in the May 2004 enlargement round to hold a referendum on accession.

19.03.2003
EUR 80 million for Bank Austria Creditanstalt's subsidiary in Hungary
Bank Austria Creditanstalt has successfully arranged a EUR 80 million syndicated loan for HVB Bank Hungary, its Hungarian banking subsidiary.

18.03.2003
Changes in the Managing Board and Supervisory Board of Bank Austria Creditanstalt
A number of changes in the Managing Board and the Supervisory Board of Bank Austria Creditanstalt will become effective on 31 March 2003.

10.03.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt opens representative office in Macedonia
Bank Austria Creditanstalt starts its activities in Macedonia with the opening of a representative office in Skopje.

05.03.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt named "Best Trade Finance Bank" in CEE
The US financial magazine "Global Finance" named Bank Austria Creditanstalt "Best Trade Finance Bank in Central and Eastern Europe in 2002" in its February issue.

28.02.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt finances the Romanian oil company Rompetrol
Bank Austria Creditanstalt and its Romanian banking subsidiary HVB Bank Romania have signed an agreement with Rompetrol Rafinare for a US$ 30 million trade finance facility for the import and storage of crude oil. "Rompetrol Rafinare – Complexul Petromidia S.A." is part of the Rompetrol Group, the second-largest group of oil companies in Romania.

25.02.2003
Bank Austria Creditanstalt supports exports to Romania
Austrian exporters continue to be interested in the Romanian market. With a view to supporting export-oriented companies in their Romania-related business activities also in the future, Bank Austria Creditanstalt has signed a EUR 20 million Multisourcing Framework Agreement with Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR), the largest Romanian bank.

20.01.2003
Study: Russia stabilises Europe
As the current tensions in the Middle East (Iraq, Saudi Arabia) continue, Russia could play a more important role as an energy supplier to Europe. At present, Russia accounts for more than 10 per cent of Europe's imports of crude oil. With substantial investment in oil and gas production and infrastructure, this share could double by 2020.

15.01.2003
Manufacturing industry in CEE moving in the fast lane towards EU
The industrial sector in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is gaining importance within the European Union. Over the past few years, manufacturing industry in CEE has achieved a substantial increase in productivity, boosting its market share within the EU.