ANNUAL REPORT - Raiffeisen Informatik

above average especially in the area of outsourcing aswell as applications software and services. Austria wasable to profit from its function as a gateway to CentralEastern Europe where the outsourcing processes are notas advanced as in Austria.A growing number of companies turn to specialists forsecurity, process optimization and cost reasons such asRaiffeisen Informatik that offer general solutions for theoperation of IT infrastructure and services. Apart fromdata centre services under which customers are offered100% security and availability at all times for the dataentrusted to Raiffeisen Informatik, the broad range ofservices also include output services, software licencemanagement and client management. This broadrange of services is the foundation for the sustainablebusiness success of the Raiffeisen Informatik Group.DEVELOPMENT OF GROUP REVENUES(in EUR million):1,6001,5501,5001,4501,4001,3501,3001,2501,2001,1501,1001,0501,0001,5771,3761,3022010 2011 2012DEVELOPMENT OF GROUP PROFIT ON ORDINARYBUSINESS ACTIVITIES (EBIT)(in EUR million):232221201918171615141312111098765432122.619.013.1EBIT 2010 EBIT 2011 EBIT 2012IV.2. RAIFFEISEN – A STRONG COMMUNITYIV.2.1. THE STRENGTH OF THE RAIFFEISENLeopoldstädter Ufer of Wiener Lände, the IBM building,COOPERATIVEUniqa tower, Nouvel tower and the former Opec building.At the latest since the outbreak of the economic andAs the rural population became impoverished in thefinancial crisis, one thing has become clear again:19th century due to the beginning industrialization andCooperative organizations and their associations havethe changes to economic structures, Friedrich Wilhelmproven especially flexible and capable of high performancein times of crisis, and through this, economicallyRaiffeisen (1818-1888) made it his goal to ease theenormous suffering of the population and laid the foundationfor today’s global organization of the Raiffeisensocial reformer Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen is just asstable. The ideal of cooperatives as envisioned by thecooperatives. The idea behind the concept was –modern today as at the time of the foundation of the firstand still is – simple: together we are strong. What anAustrian Raiffeisenkasse over 125 ago.individual cannot achieve alone becomes possiblethrough the collaboration of many like-minded people.The success of Raiffeisen in the past decades is rootedWhat Raiffeisen cooperatives have built up in the more in the principles according to which Raiffeisen Österreichthan 125 years since their foundation is very impressive. works: self-determination and autonomous responsibility,For decades, Raiffeisen had been the backbone andeconomic solidarity, sustainability and subsidiarity. Adriving force of Austria’s economy. The Raiffeisendecisive element has always been the help provided toorganization developed not only in line with generalmembers of the cooperative to help themselves. Afterprogress and adapted to changing requirementsthe business scandals of the past few years, democracyas time passed, but was also often the driving forcein the economy is today more important than ever.behind innovation and pioneered new developments.Sustainability and democracy in economic life has alwaysThe Raiffeisen organization in Austria is structuredbeen practiced by Raiffeisen, also in times during whichaccording to the principles of a cooperative to whichthe theme was looked down upon.some 1,600 independent cooperatives (with around twomillion members) with 57,000 employees belong thatThe far-reaching autonomous accountability of theserve around four million customers. The associatedRaiffeisen associations permits the associated companiescompanies come from the financial sector but also from to react dynamically to changing conditions such asmany other industries such as the media, agriculture,globalization and the liberalization of the markets or thecommerce, industry, real estate, services, energy andintensified competition and to proactively help to shapeinformation technology. Europe’s largest group of millsthe future – in many cases more effectively and efficientlyis controlled through Leipnik Lundenburger and Vonwiller, than a single large corporate conglomerate ever could.and the sugar business through Agrana. The dairy market Raiffeisen combines local know-how with internationalis also an area of lively activity of the Raiffeisen cooperatives.Nöm AG is the second-largest dairy group inneeds of the local population in the regions they coverstrength. The independent Raiffeisen banks know theAustria and a highly successful exporter. Vivatis Holding very well because they have roots in the local economyis present with brands like Landhof and Maresi. Theand society. This makes Raiffeisen not only an essentialagricultural products are distributed throughout Austriapart of economic life but also of the community. Sportsvia Raiffeisen Ware Austria and the Lagerhaus chain.associations, schools, voluntary organizations suchThe most important investments in the industrial sector as the fire brigade, mountain rescue organizations andinclude the ATX groups voestalpine and STRABAG asthe Red Cross, but also cultural initiatives or socialwell as Casinos Austria in which the Group holds 21%. organizations are often supported by the regionalRaiffeisen banks. Moreover, both the honorary and theFurthermore, Raiffeisen is also active on a large scale as professional decision-makers at the Raiffeisen banks area broker and construction developer. The real estatealmost always closely involved in the local associationsproperties include, apart from the Raiffeisen building on and initiatives, and also often play a leading role.Financial Statements Certifications and Awards Risk Management CSR Group Management Report Group Profile Corporate Bodies / Shareholders Preface40 41