EU Company News

Latest European company news from EUbusiness.com, with business commentary and analysis on companies in Europe.

EU hints at insecticide ban over threat to bees — 16 January 2013, 15:48 CET

The European Commission has hinted that it could ban several insecticides, some made by German chemicals giant Bayer, after scientists found disturbing evidence of harm to bees.

Hannover Re hit by 261-million-euro loss from Sandy — 14 January 2013, 15:45 CET

German reinsurance giant Hannover Re said on Monday that it had taken a 261-million-euro ($349-million) hit due to claims from Hurricane Sandy but still expected to reach its annual targets.

UPS drops bid to create European parcel giant, TNT stock crashes — 14 January 2013, 15:51 CET

United Parcel Service has abandoned an attempt to create the biggest European group in the fight for the global parcel market, pulling out of a giant bid for Dutch TNT Express which immediately lost about half its value.

EU to force Google to change listing of search results: report — 10 January 2013, 22:06 CET

Google will have to change the way it presents search results or face anti-trust charges for favouring its own services, the EU's competition chief told the Financial Times.

South Korean Kia posts record 2012 production in Slovakia — 10 January 2013, 14:18 CET

South Korean car maker Kia Motors said on Thursday that it had raised output by 15 percent at its Slovak plant last year, assembling 292,000 cars despite a gloomy outlook for the European Union -- its key export market.

EU Investment Bank confirms EUR 10 bn capital boost — 08 January 2013, 17:42 CET

The European Investment Bank says its shareholders, the EU's 27 member states, have unanimously approved a 10 billion euro capital increase, as agreed by national leaders last year.

US Google ruling has no impact on EU probe — 04 January 2013, 20:13 CET

The decision by US authorities to close down an 18-month anti-trust investigation into Internet giant Google has no bearing on what the EU will do with its own probe, the European Commission said Friday.

Relief for Google as US ends monopoly probe — 03 January 2013, 22:43 CET

US regulators have closed a lengthy antitrust probe into Google, saying there is not enough evidence to show the Internet giant manipulated its search results to harm its competitors.

Samsung injunctions against Apple breach rules: EU — 21 December 2012, 23:42 CET

The European Commission said Friday that South Korea's Samsung Electronics was abusing its dominant market position in certain technologies when it took out injunctions against fierce rival Apple.

EU says to set out anti-trust case against Samsung soon — 20 December 2012, 21:37 CET

The EU will set out its case against Samsung Electronics "very soon" following an anti-trust probe of the smartphone and mobile tablet market, Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said Thursday.

EU decision on Microsoft probe close — 20 December 2012, 17:50 CET

The European Commission says it is close to a decision in its investigation of US giant Microsoft and its failure to provide clients with a choice of Web browser, as it had promised to do.

Greece's Eurobank posts one-billion-euro loss over nine months — 20 December 2012, 10:18 CET

Greece's third-largest lender Eurobank on Thursday reported a net loss of 1.095 billion euros over the first nine months of 2012, after writing off six billion euros to help the country reduce its sovereign debt.

EU, Google to seek anti-trust accord — 18 December 2012, 23:57 CET

The European Union will seek an accord with US Internet search giant Google as progress has been made in resolving EU anti-trust concerns, Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said Tuesday.

US eyes Google antitrust settlement: reports — 17 December 2012, 18:12 CET

US regulators are likely to conclude a lengthy antitrust probe of Google's dominance of Internet searches with a voluntary settlement, news reports said on Monday.

EU clears Li Ka-shing acquisition of Orange Austria — 12 December 2012, 17:30 CET

The European Commission cleared Wednesday the acquisition of the Orange Austria mobile business by Hutchison 3G, part of the ports-to-telecoms conglomerate owned by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing.

ThyssenKrupp posts EUR 4.7 bn annual loss — 10 December 2012, 22:56 CET

German heavy industry giant ThyssenKrupp said on Monday it would not pay any annual dividends after it posted a loss of 4.7 billion euros for the year following a writedown of two loss-making steel plants.

EU approves Bayer's new long-term contraceptive — 05 December 2012, 11:27 CET

German drug maker Bayer said on Wednesday that European Union authorities had given the go-ahead for a new contraceptive which can prevent pregnancies for up to three years.

ING says Commission agrees amended restructuring — 19 November 2012, 10:48 CET

Dutch bank ING and the European Commission said Monday they have agreed to an extension for the bank to repay bailout loans granted during the financial crisis.

Russia, Germany's Siemens sign EUR 2.5 bn train deal — 16 November 2012, 17:51 CET

Germany's Siemens on Friday signed an agreement worth 2.5 billion euros to supply Russia's state-owned railways with 675 locomotives in a joint venture with the Russian company Sinara Group.

Euro crisis hits profits at steel maker Salzgitter — 14 November 2012, 12:06 CET

Salzgitter, Germany's number-two steel maker, blamed the eurozone debt crisis on Wednesday for a disappointing set of results as it swung to a net loss in the third quarter of the year.

Siemens reveals EUR 6.0bn cost-cutting strategy — 08 November 2012, 12:48 CET

German engineering giant Siemens launched on Thursday a massive strategic effort to slash costs by 6.0 billion euros over the next two years after losing ground to competitors.

BASF to build EUR 150m catalysts plant in Poland — 06 November 2012, 13:01 CET

German chemicals giant BASF said Tuesday it plans to build a 150-million-euro emissions catalysts facility in Poland with the creation of 400 jobs.

ThyssenKrupp wins EUR 1.0 bn fertiliser plant order in US — 02 November 2012, 12:21 CET

German heavy industry giant ThyssenKrupp said on Friday it had won a contract worth more than 1.0 billion euros ($1.3 billion) to build a number of fertiliser plants in the United States.

EU warns Microsoft over new Windows 8 — 24 October 2012, 18:24 CET

The European Commission warned Microsoft on Wednesday that it risked an investigation into its new Windows 8 software if the company did not meet commitments on web browser choice.

Google faces moment of truth on monopoly probe — 21 October 2012, 10:23 CET

Google faces a moment of truth in the coming weeks over a lengthy US probe into potential abuse of its Internet search dominance, amid regulatory woes on both sides of the Atlantic.