UniCredit has a strategic position in Austria, Germany and Italy. These three countries account for more than one-third of the GDP of all European Union economies combined and together comprise one of the continent’s wealthiest transnational regions.
In each of these countries, GDP per capita is higher than for the European Union as a whole. Germany is well positioned – in terms of GDP per capita – among the four largest EU economies: France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy.
In the wake of the unprecedented slowdown in 2009, the region’s economic growth is expected to resume and continue well into the foreseeable future. Specifically, real economic growth is forecast to expand, on average, by roughly 1.6 percent in Austria, 1.6 percent in Germany and 1.2 percent in Italy on average from 2010 to 2014, representing rates in line with, or even well above, those achieved in the previous five-year period.
Exports will increasingly drive future growth. In 2009, exports in goods and services for Austria, Germany and Italy equaled 50.1, 40.8 and 24.0 percent of GDP respectively – among the highest of any EU countries. And these three nations are particularly interconnected with the expanding economies of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
More than half of Austrian exports and one-third of German and Italian exports outside of “Old Europe” are directed to the CEE. Furthermore, more than 100,000 Austrian, German and Italian companies are active in the CEE.
The group’s presence has grown both organically and through strategic acquisitions in these countries over the years. Ranked among the top banking network in our three core Western European countries, the group provides access to roughly 330 branches in Austria, 780 branches in Germany and 4,700 branches in Italy.
Across Europe, UniCredit is refining its services by positioning its customers at the core of group’s operations. This includes the use of new client segmentation criteria designed to achieve better customer service wherever the group operates. The first three countries to implement these changes will be Austria, Germany and Italy.
1. Nominal GDP per capita as at December 31, 2009 (EU27=100)
Estimated of Nominal GDP per capita within the EU27 as at December 31, 2009 (last update March 16, 2010).
2. Market Share in terms of Total Customer Loans as at December 31, 2009.
Source: Eurostat, UniCredit Research.
