Finance

At the opening summit on Thursday, companies and experts explain how tourism and leisure companies, culture and the like can open safely.

“Our companies take responsibility and take their own initiative. For the health of Austrians as well as for the economic health of our companies and their employees,” emphasizes Harald Mahrer, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, at the digital opening summit initiated by the Austrian Economic Chamber. “The experts, who consulted with the companies on Thursday and discussed the existing prevention and security concepts, confirm to us: Safe opening is possible and with access tests we have the key, together with FFP2 masks, security concepts and the increasing number of vaccinations of the hand. “

With the opening summit on Thursday, the Chamber of Commerce is supporting the tourism and event sectors with the clear goal of opening the first openings in March, emphasized the WKÖ President. Around 50 participants from the various sectors of tourism and the leisure industry – gastronomy, leisure businesses, hotel business together with the arts and culture sector – discuss how opening steps can succeed.

➤ The big opening summit: This is how Austria goes up

Around 90,000 businesses are currently affected by the Corona closures, and 675,000 full-time jobs are directly and indirectly dependent on tourism: “With a value added of almost 60 billion euros, tourism and the leisure industry are essential drivers for Austria's economy. The success story of domestic tourism must to be continued after Corona, the companies now need a clear perspective “, emphasizes Robert Seeber, chairman of the tourism and leisure industry in the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.

It is gratifying that the Austrian model of opening up with nationwide testing is attracting great interest, especially abroad: “Our companies and the population are role models here. Austria now has the unique opportunity to show that we have the tools available in the fight against use the pandemic successfully “, said the WKÖ President.

Both Mahrer and Seeber pointed to the high level of acceptance of entry tests in the population. “81 percent of the people in Austria are in favor of opening gastronomy in March with an entry test. So the people are ready to take part and see the possibilities for a return to everyday life.”

With a test capacity of currently 2.7 million, Austria is test world champion and a model country worldwide. “More tests mean more security. It is clear that this way you can find and filter out more infected people. We create more security and economic freedom at the same time. That benefits us all,” said Mahrer.

For comparison: Austria has increased the number of tests in the last few weeks by 252 percent and tests almost 9 times as many as Bavaria or Switzerland. Due to the large number of tests, asymptomatic patients in particular are recognized more quickly, the number of unreported cases is brought to light and chains of infection are interrupted more quickly.

Vienna. The step had been considered for a long time, and it is also written into the turquoise-green government program. The fact that things are now going particularly quickly is likely to have something to do with the latest investigations by the economic and corruption prosecutor's office against Finance Minister Gernot Blümel about donations for the ÖVP offered by ex-Novomatic boss Harald Neumann. Blümel rejects any allegations of a donation by Novomatic. In any case, on Wednesday the Council of Ministers made nails and decided to “unbundle competencies” for the Ministry of Finance on the subject of gambling.

So far, the Ministry of Finance has been the owner's representative of Casinos Austria (through the state investment agency Öbag) and the responsible control authority for all gaming companies. This dual function is to be broken in the future by transferring the agendas to an independent gaming authority that is not subject to instructions.

Who appoints the authority?

Specifically, this new authority is supposed to be responsible for the operational supervision of the conduct of gambling companies. In the much more sensitive issue of the award of licenses, which is usually due every ten years, a “judicial concession panel” should also be interposed. There should be strict incompatibility, transparency and compliance regulations in order to prevent companies from being influenced.

When it comes to unbundling, they want to orient themselves towards “international showcase models”, says von Blümel. And the coalition partner is also pleased. It will be an important step in the fight against gambling addiction, said Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler.

However, the details do not have to be negotiated until the draft assessment in April. For example, it is not yet clear how the important function of the authority management will be appointed in the future. A resolution by the Council of Ministers on the proposal of the Ministry of Finance is possible, but also an appointment by the Parliament or the Federal President, according to the request of the “press” in the – still – responsible ministry. The same applies to the details of the concession panel.

Less advertising

Also with regard to the content of the planned reform, some things are still not entirely clear. For example, “the general conditions for advertising games of chance should be specified in analogy to the provisions in the Tobacco Act”. In the Ministry of Finance it is said that this will probably tighten it – that is, less advertising.

The issuing of licenses is also more restricted. The three casino licenses that have not been awarded are to be completely canceled. However, the planned cancellation of the nationwide license for video lottery terminals (VLT) is even more painful for Casinos Austria. This enabled slot machine games to be offered in those federal states that have prohibited so-called small gambling (Salzburg, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Vienna). The casinos operate 13 of their 21 VLT arcades in these countries.

But tougher times should also break for the competition. According to local judicature, illegal sites are to be blocked by means of DNS blocking. If this is implemented seriously, it would affect all online gaming providers apart from the casino subsidiary Win2day.

[R8EBP]

Vienna. The step had been considered for a long time, and it is also written into the turquoise-green government program. The fact that things are now going particularly quickly is likely to have something to do with the latest investigations by the economic and corruption prosecutor's office against Finance Minister Gernot Blümel about donations for the ÖVP offered by ex-Novomatic boss Harald Neumann. Blümel rejects any allegations of a donation by Novomatic. In any case, on Wednesday the Council of Ministers made nails and decided to “unbundle competencies” for the Ministry of Finance on the subject of gambling.

So far, the Ministry of Finance has been the owner's representative of Casinos Austria (through the state investment agency Öbag) and the responsible control authority for all gaming companies. This dual function is to be broken in the future by transferring the agendas to an independent gaming authority that is not subject to instructions.

Who appoints the authority?

Specifically, this new authority is supposed to be responsible for the operational supervision of the conduct of gambling companies. In the much more sensitive issue of the award of licenses, which is usually due every ten years, a “judicial concession panel” should also be interposed. There should be strict incompatibility, transparency and compliance regulations in order to prevent companies from being influenced.

When it comes to unbundling, they want to orient themselves towards “international showcase models”, says von Blümel. And the coalition partner is also pleased. It will be an important step in the fight against gambling addiction, said Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler.

However, the details do not have to be negotiated until the draft assessment in April. For example, it is not yet clear how the important function of the authority management will be appointed in the future. A resolution by the Council of Ministers on the proposal of the Ministry of Finance is possible, but also an appointment by the Parliament or the Federal President, according to the request of the “press” in the – still – responsible ministry. The same applies to the details of the concession panel.

Less advertising

Also with regard to the content of the planned reform, some things are still not entirely clear. For example, “the general conditions for advertising games of chance should be specified in analogy to the provisions in the Tobacco Act”. In the Ministry of Finance it is said that this will probably tighten it – that is, less advertising.

The issuing of licenses is also more restricted. The three casino licenses that have not been awarded are to be completely canceled. However, the planned cancellation of the nationwide license for video lottery terminals (VLT) is even more painful for Casinos Austria. This enabled slot machine games to be offered in those federal states that have prohibited so-called small gambling (Salzburg, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Vienna). The casinos operate 13 of their 21 VLT arcades in these countries.

But tougher times should also break for the competition. According to local judicature, illegal sites are to be blocked by means of DNS blocking. If this is implemented seriously, it would affect all online gaming providers apart from the casino subsidiary Win2day.

[R8EBP]

The growth should be driven by the high demand in North America, Australia and China as well as by the expected market recovery in Europe.

“Pierer Mobility anticipates continued high demand in the motorized two-wheeler sector in the 2021 financial year and a further increase in sales and operating profit compared to the 2020 financial year. It is expected that the operating margin in the motorcycle sector will return to its pre-crisis level. Growth is expected Above all, it was driven by the continued high demand in North America, Australia and China as well as the expected market recovery in Europe “, it said in a broadcast.

For the 2021 financial year, sales between 1.8 billion and 1.9 billion euros, an EBIT margin between eight and nine percent and an Ebitda margin of 15 percent are expected.

“In the important and rapidly growing e-bike sector, the group will develop into a major global player in the medium term. Expansion into further European markets and the expansion of the dealer network to include motorcycle dealers are planned for 2021. To address the issue of e-mobility in the e-bike sector The GASGAS brand will be added to the portfolio to make it accessible to an even broader target audience, “it continues.

Despite virus mutants: recovery from December shock through hard lockdown

Regardless of the uncertain corona situation, consumer sentiment in Germany recovered slightly in February. In its latest consumption study, the German consumer research company GfK found improvements in both consumer confidence and expectations of future income, as GfK announced in Nuremberg on Thursday.

“Consumers are recovering somewhat from the shock that hit them after the hard lockdown in mid-December. The recent drop in the number of infections and the vaccination campaigns that have been started are fueling hopes that the measures will be relaxed soon,” said GfK consumer expert Rolf Bürkl.

However, he also warned against being overly optimistic. “There will only be a sustained recovery in the propensity to buy and thus also in the consumer climate when the hard lockdown is ended and shops, hotels and restaurants reopen,” said the expert. “If, on the other hand, the measures are even extended again, the chances of a swift recovery will diminish and the consumer climate will continue to face difficult times.”

After falling four months in a row, German income expectations rose again in February. However, expectations are still well below those of the previous year. The background is the hope for higher incomes after the end of the lockdown.

Germans are also currently optimistic about the economy. The indicator is currently even higher than the previous year – a point in time when the effects and severity of the pandemic could not even be predicted.

Sales revenues fell by 15.2 percent to 904.2 million euros. However, the order situation has improved in recent months.

The aluminum plant in Ranshofen is reaching its capacity limits. The new plant will be ready in 2017.

Significantly weaker demand due to the corona crisis caused profits at the Upper Austrian aluminum group AMAG to collapse by almost 70 percent last year. Earnings after taxes fell from 38.6 million euros in the previous year to 11.6 million euros. Sales also fell by 15.2 percent to EUR 904.2 million. 2021 will continue to be shaped by the pandemic, so an earnings forecast for the current year would be tempted, it said in the outlook.

In the past few months, however, the general economic situation and the order situation at AMAG – with the exception of the aviation sector – have increasingly improved again. Accordingly, AMAG boss Gerald Mayer expects the facilities to be well utilized again in the first few months of the current financial year.

In contrast, 2020 was characterized by a sharp drop in demand in the transport and retail sectors. Sales were also burdened by a lower aluminum price and its stronger euro-dollar exchange rate. The decline in the operating results is primarily due to the lower sales volumes in the rolling and casting segments, but also to the changes in the product mix due to the corona crisis, AMAG announced on Thursday.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) fell year-on-year from 143.0 to 108.2 million euros, while earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) fell by 58.5 percent to 25.3 million euros.

AMAG nevertheless plans to pay out a dividend for 2020. The proposal is to be EUR 0.50 per share and will be approved at the Annual General Meeting on April 13th.

For Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger (ÖVP) it is clear that opening of the catering trade will only be possible under certain conditions.

On Wednesday it became known how intensively and specifically politicians are already thinking about a possible opening of gastronomy. As reported, it is already clear that an entry test will also be mandatory in the event of a restaurant visit. An opening of the gastronomy and hotel industry without further access tests is “illusory” for Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger (ÖVP). She announced this in a press statement on Thursday morning.

The government is currently “in very intensive talks with representatives of the catering, tourism and leisure industries”. At the moment, concepts are being worked on in order to enable “safe unlocking on day X”, revealed Köstinger. When exactly this day will come depends primarily on the infection rate in Austria. It is already clear that in addition to representatives from the hotel and catering industry, country and opposition representatives should also be involved in the decision-making process.

A decision was announced by the politicians for March 1st. Then the further procedure should be determined by Easter. Köstinger agrees positively that the restaurant representatives have already sent positive signals in the direction of entry tests. This type of test would “work extremely well” for body-hugging services, says Köstinger.

A loud scream made the owners of the seven-month-old cat “Sammi” wince as they operated the mechanism of the sofa.

Ouch! We keep reporting about various sources of danger in our own four walls for our velvet paws. Whether the washing machine can turn into a deadly cuddle cave or is tasted by the poisonous orchids – making the apartment cat-proof is not that easy.

The lucky cat “Sammi”, who is only seven months old, also chose a very creative place to sleep. She was not enthroned ON the couch, no, she was sleeping peacefully IN the couch. Because the sofa was lying down, “Sammi” went unnoticed until Grandma suddenly pressed the mechanical button and the sofa automatically folded up. A loud scream made the mother of the cat owner, Susan Hurles, jump out of her skin and hysterically call the fire brigade after she tried unsuccessfully – and after several scratches and bite wounds – to free the house cat from its predicament.

Conclusion? The tail was completely separated from “Sammi” and only hung on a few tendons. The tail was then amputated at the veterinary clinic and the cat is now recovering from its shock.

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“Floating between sea and sky”: Architect Dietmar Feichtinger has created a special promenade on Corsica.

The Austrian architect Dietmar Feichtinger (59), who lives in Paris, became famous for building bridges. His latest bridge project is also causing a sensation: Feichtinger, together with local partner offices, has built a promenade five meters above sea level under the 14th-century citadel of Bastia. “Aldilonda” is the name of the breathtaking jetty, which in Corsican means something like “over the sea”. “Floating between sea and sky, Aldilonda will be a spectacular event,” advertises the architecture office.

The exposure to the sea turns the walk into an experience, they say: “The area covered with a transparent grating allows the sea to be experienced. The balcony is exposed to the surf, with high waves the water penetrates the stainless steel grate on the rock and thus reduces the massive force of the water. ”Up to now, the rocky coast under the fortress wall was only partially accessible. The building, which opened in December, will hopefully soon also delight tourist streams.

The bridges to success

The award-winning architect does not describe himself as a “bridge specialist”, but has already built well over ten bridges in Europe. These include elegant and slim footbridges such as the three-country bridge over the Rhine (one of the world's longest arched bridges at 238 meters) and the Passerelle de la Paix (2014) in Lyon, which connects the Caluire-et-Cuire district with the Cité Internationale de Lyon.

The new access structure planned by Feichtinger to Mont Saint-Michel also caused a stir. The mountain and its bay have had UNESCO World Heritage status since 1979. The “footbridge”, as Dietmar Feichtinger calls the bridge with a total length of 1841 meters, has been open to pedestrians and shuttle traffic since 2014. The native of Styria is currently working on a research project to reform the structure of the Paris metropolitan area.