About us
Donau-Finanz is a company with a long tradition and grown structures. Many years of experience, continuity and consistency coupled with a stably established network of personal contacts in Austria and abroad, both in the public and private sectors, form the solid basis of the company. Specialization and focus on special tasks and not growth at any price is the basis of the very conservative and customized business policy.
History
Timeline
Foundation of Donau-Finanz
Donau-Finanz was founded in 1957 by Dr. Herbert Kraus (former politician, party leader, and founder of the Austrian Liberal Party after World War II), Dr. Hans Priebsch (Austrian lawyer), and Hans v. Behr (German industrialist). At that time, Donau-Finanz specialized in the development of special investment products for the Austrian insurance industry and represented foreign corporations in state projects in the areas of transportation, energy, aviation, and infrastructure.
Financing of municipalities
The largest individual financier in highway construction (Tauern Motorway, Brenner Motorway, Pyhrn Motorway)
Representation of Hawker Siddley Aviation
Representation of Hawker Siddley Aviation and sale of short-haul aircraft to AUA. Representation of Russian Aviaexport (Yak 40).
First KG financing model
Tourism project in Katschberg (with the participation of 7 municipalities) and tank wagon leasing.
Zwentendorf
Member of the consortium for the development of Austria's first nuclear power plant.
Therme Geinberg
Co-development of a geothermal SPA exploration project in Upper Austria.
Restructuring management on behalf of the public sector
Dr. Michael Kraus was commissioned by the then Finance Minister Hannes Androsch to develop concepts for the institutionalized restructuring of companies, and after the adoption of the resulting FGG Expansion Act in 1977, he took over numerous restructuring cases.
Waste management
Restructuring management, entry into waste management, establishment of GUA Gesellschaft für umweltfreundliche Abfallbehandlung GmbH and ASA Abfall Service AG, a subsidiary with the Port of Vienna for the sale of hazardous waste incineration plants in Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Hong Kong, Hanoi, as well as numerous project companies with PORR Umwelttechnik
Shopping City Süd
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Management, center management, and marketing of formerly the largest shopping center in Europe with around 200,000 square meters of rentable space and 25 million visitors per year, planning and development of the first multifunctional center and multiplex cinemas in Austria.
Founding of ÖKO Media & Marketing Services
In 1987, the Ö.K.O. Media & Marketing Services GmbH (film production company) was founded, later with the involvement of the Vienna Holding. The company completed numerous commissioned productions for ORF (F 10 Science) of which several were awarded.
In 1989, the company partnered with Hugo Portisch in the production of "Hört die Signale".
They also produced two Russian documentary films with Marina Goldovskaja.
Landhausboulevard St. Pölten
They conducted a vulnerability analysis and created a new usage concept for the retail sector. They subsequently took over all rental spaces as the general tenant and subleased the commercial spaces according to the new usage concept. They also took over the center management and administrative tasks.
Successful Expansion
In the course of the expansion plans of a major Austrian bank, Donau-Finanz received a mandate in 2005 to provide strategic support for this project and, from the moment one of several targets was selected, to ascertain the political conditions in the target country and provide support for the project objective. As the target was under strong political influence, this political support was crucial for the project. It was the largest commercial bank in the target country. The assignment was successfully completed.
EKZ Meiselmarkt
The activities performed include center management, optimization of the tenant mix through leasing, re-leasing and new leasing activities, implementation of cost optimization measures, planning and execution of all advertising and marketing activities, search for investors, preparation of various studies and concepts to improve the retail situation at the location, execution of restructuring and comprehensive relaunch activities.
Business Park Poleczki in Warsaw
The tasks involved evaluating the conditions for the purchase of a property, preparing the financing of the property purchase for an investors' consortium, preparing the planning for the development of a multifunctional business park with approximately 80,000 m² of gross floor area (BGF) including the creation of a feasibility study, selecting additional investors and a development partner for implementation, and selling the entire project to a developer.
Grivitei in Bucharest, Romania
Preparations for the acquisition of several properties and formation of an investor consortium. Purchase of the properties with the consortium and conception of various usage scenarios. Assumption of project management for the construction of a multifunctional business center with around 40,000 sqm of gross floor area (BGF).
Donau-Finanz Award
Austrian Federal Economic Chamber to Donau-Finanz for 50 years of successful corporate management and to Dr. Michael Kraus: Silver Medal of Honor in recognition of his services to the business community.
Establishment of IWS Donau-Finanz Verwaltungs GmbH for TownTown
Takeover of representation of the interests of the City of Vienna (Vienna City Utilities Holding) in Austria's largest PPP (Public Private Partnership) office project. Appointment to a board position (chair of the board) for various operational management areas, financing, and commercial matters. In mid-2009, the acquisition of shares in the development company took place.
Winter and summer tourism resort Shahdag
From 2010 to 2012, Dr. Michael Kraus was appointed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan as a general representative for the project development of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, including necessary structuring measures and the creation of financing and investment models in the tourism sector.
Various consulting mandates in the railway industry
Establishment of Donau-Finanz Afrique
Subsidiary of Donau-Finanz established to focus on the African market, particularly West Africa.
aha. Austrian Health Academy
Various projects in the healthcare sector
As a result of several projects at AKH Vienna and project management for a new clinical facility at Hietzing Hospital, Dr. Michael Kraus founded aha. Austrian Health Academy in 2017, which works as a stakeholder-independent think tank on improving the Austrian healthcare system. Since then, several studies have been conducted for private and public organizations. Recently, the focus has been on cooperation with the Austrian Integration Fund in the field of healthcare for immigrants.
Digital First
The Ö.K.O. Media & Marketing Services, founded in the 1980s, was transformed into Digital First in 2018, an IT service provider in the areas of:
Agile Software Development
Mobile App Design & Development
Machine Learning & AI
Digital Marketing
Services
Real Estate
-Real estate development (with a focus on retail, commercial, and leisure properties)
Consulting
Leasing
Restructuring
Refurbishment
-Asset management
Property management
Shopping center management
Corporate Finance
Mergers & Acquisitions
Private Equity
Merchant Banking
Digital
Digital First, a subsidiary of Donau-Finanz, operates in the field of software development, technology investment, app design (UI/UX), machine learning & AI, and film crew rental: www.dfirst.eu
Management
We believe in a diverse range of employees bringing creative skills, thoughts, and ideas to the table.
MICHAEL KRAUS
KATHARINA KRAUS
Let's get in touch.
- Donau-Finanz GmbH
- office@donau-finanz.at
- Tel: +43 (1) 532 28 41-0
