Austrian economic news in a flash - December 22

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Oil and gas group OMV has completed the takeover of 54.14% in Turkish retail group Petrol Ofisi. The transaction boosts OMV's stake in Petrol Ofisi to 95.72%. Dogan Holding got EUR 499.7m and USD 694.6m for its shares in Petrol Ofisi, OMV said in a statement.
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German asset manager AmpegaGerling has reduced its stake in Austrian sector company C-Quadrat to 29%, by selling a shareholding of 3.59% in it.
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BWT will invest EUR 75m in the launch of new table water and coffee machine filters and in expansion of its capacities in 2011/2012, the company said in a statement. BWT projects its profit to decrease to EUR 18m in 2011 from the expected EUR 23m this year. Sales are to grow to EUR 500m from EUR 450m.
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Siemens Austria has received a train construction order worth EUR 180m from Norway, WirtschaftsBlatt reported. Another deal, at the same magnitude, is expected soon, the daily added.
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Utility Verbund said it has completely taken over French energy producer Poweo Production for EUR120m. The company has owned 40% in Poweo so far. Thus Verbund will focus on power generation and wholesale in France.

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A1 Telekom Austria will raise the salaries of its employees by 1.9% on average in 2011. The increase stands at 3% for those with the lowest payment, the company said.
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Verbund managed to considerably reduce its net gearing to below 100% due to the recent capital increase, CEO Wolfgang Anzengruber told WirtschaftsBlatt. Half of the proceeds from the capital increase were used for reduction of debt, he added. Verbund plans a dividend payment ratio of between 45% and 50% for 2010.
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Raiffeisen Bank International will not need a capital increase if it is selected as the best bidder for Polish Polbank, the bank said. Polbank is currently owned by Greek EFG Eurobank Ergasias.
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US Congressman Frank Pallone has said that Austrian oil and gas group OMV may face sanctions if it continues to supply Iran with aviation gasoline, Die Presse reported.