W^FPT SPEARHEADS GLOBAL
SPECIALIZATION
ECU IN THE BANK
WHAT'S NewS Nummer 4 August 1995
in brief
The strategie importance of the
Agri-Project Finance Team
(APTF) for Rabobank's inter
national operations in the food
and agribusiness sectors was
emphasized by senior manage
ment at the team's recent an-
nual meeting. Rik van Slinge-
landt, Bert Steketee and Hans
Megens agreed that the APFT
forms a 'strategie spearhead' in
penetrating foreign markets,
generating cross-selling of
other prodnets and services
and positioning Rabobank as a
specialized global bank for
^Btese sectors.
I hey also stressed that APFT's
strong support of Rabobank's
foreign offices over the last
two years has not only been
financially attractive but has
also made a significant contri-
bution to developing Rabo
bank's foreign network into a
more closely integrated
banking operation for these
sectors.
The annual meeting was an ex
cellent opportunity for team
members to get to know each
The bank has expanded the in-
formation provided on Inter-
^Bnet.The Rabobank pages now
include a profile in English as
well as all addresses, phone and
fax numbers of the interna
tional network.
other, particularly essential in
view of the geographic dis-
tance between various APFT
units and the newly formed
operations set up earlier this
year in Mexico, Australia,
Poland and Hungary.
The international division
wants to see further expansion,
in particular because, with
Agribusiness Research, APFT
is seen as a frontrunner in the
area of research-based bank
ing, which is vital for future
viability. APFT will also have
to develop an effective and
efficiënt arrangement with
Rabobank's syndication de-
partments, in order to struc-
F.l.t.r. standing: Ad Gerritsen,
Kees Beijer, Lilian Middelkoop,
Issac Chan, Mare van Strij-
donck, Edwin de Buck, Tony
O'Connor, Gerard Mulder,
Roger Bradshaw, Helmus Brons,
Patrick Guyver, Martine Boon,
Peck Leng Lee, Tomasz
Sandormierski, Ben Huiskamp.
Seated: Niek Streefkerk,
Cordon Butland, Esther van
Aken, Hans Bogaard, Twan
Geurts.
ture larger transactions and to
syndicate major parts of such
deals to other financial insti-
tutions.
With its considerable ex-
perience in 'repressed economy
economics', APFT is seen as an
important 'emerging markets
group' outside the usual eap-
ital markets sphere. It will also
play a prime role in building a
cliënt orientated organization
to correspond with the changes
in international competitive
positions and the emergence of
commercially interesting con-
sumer markets.
The fact that APFT has devel-
oped from the envisaged
peripheral unit into an impor
tant support unit for foreign
offices puts it in an ideal pos-
ition for the current trend
towards smaller, more flexible
units, ring-fencing sponsor
risks in an increasingly more
volatile food and agribusiness
world, and engaging in joint
ventures with local partners.
looking ahead
August 19-25
Flenk Visser visits Indonesia as
part of an official trade mission,
headed by Dutch Trade Minister
Hans Wijers.
August 28
The new Rabobank office opens in
Bangkok.
September 14
Official opening of theTurnhout
private banking operation in
Belgium.
September 20 and 21
The Investor Relations roadshow
takes to the autobahns of
Germany.
September 27
FINEM members gather at Rabo
bank Utrecht for discussions on
EMU/ECU.
RABOBANK
ON TE WORLD WIDE WEB
Those of you who have access to
the World Wide Web, should take a
look at Rabobank's home page
(http://ra boba n k.i nfo.n I/). You'l I
find all sorts of information.There's
fun (the Rabo sponsoredTop-40),
product information (ordering
RabobankTelebanking ora
student account), economie infor
mation (e.g. Bi-weekly Survey on
the Dutch Economy), a list of all
Press Releases and even a list of all
the foreign branches.
If you have any suggestions as to
how Rabobank can further pro-
mote itself on the web, please
contact Maarten Giezeman of the
Marketing Services department
(e-ma i l:g ieze_rn@eu ronet. nl
Masthead
Editorial Staff Sue Baker (Editor), Anne
Lavelle (Editor), Stan Polman (Editor in
Chief),NoorTania (Final Editor/Marketing
Services).
Editorial Address Rabobank Nederland,
Eva van Teeseling, Editorial
assistant, UC-R 519, P.O. Box 17100,3500
HG UTRECHT.
Telephone:+31 (0)30 90 2807
Telefax:+31 (0)30 90 1904
E-Mail address (for internat use only);
Teeseling, E.W. van @1c0_uc@comm
Designed and printed by
Hoonte-Holland, Utrecht.
Please send change of address cards to:
A. de Keijzer, BC 102 A.
Following a request from FINEM, the organization of
CFOs and treasurers from top Dutch companies, the
bank had already agreed to host its bi-annual meeting
when we were approached by Brussels to organize a
high-level conference on EMU and the ECU. 'As soon
as the request came in,' says Maarten van den Bergh
of Marketing Services, 'we informed the EU of the
FINEM meeting and suggested combining the two
events.' European Commissioner for economie, finan
cial and monetary affairs, Yves-Thibault de Silguy,
will speak at the conference, outlining proposals for
the introduction of the ECU as common European
currency. The FINEM meetings are always well-
attended, but now Marketing Services is expecting
between 300 and 400 participants at the joint con
ference. Bank chairman Herman Wijffels is also one
of the guest speakers - he will address EMU and the
ECU from a banker's perspective.