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Duisenberg:
Europe's Banker
Rabobank
International
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What's NewS
Monthly internal newsletter for Rabobank International
Issue 4« April 1997
Wim Duisenberg, awarded for his achievements at the Dutch
Central Bank.
Former Rabo board member and current president of the Dutch
Central Bank Wim Duisenberg was named European Banker of
the Year last month. This prestigious award is bestowed annually
by a group of eminent European financial journalists.
Rabobank Deutschland used the presentation as an ideal
opportunity to promote Rabobank International. It both hosted
the award ceremony and sponsored a VIP lunch, which was
attended by Wouter Kolff and Wim van den Goorbergh.
Duisenberg was granted the award for his achievements at the
Dutch Central Bank. He will shortly take charge of the European
Monetary Institute, forerunner of the European Central Bank,
scheduled to open at the start of European Monetary Union in
1999. He used the occasion to defend progress towards the
currency union. A firm supporter of monetary stability policies,
Duisenberg also rejected rumors of a delay in the EMU process.
While some countries might not qualify, he said, it was important
not to 'overdramatize their predicament'.
in brief
contents ")-
SWISS EXPANSION
Our private bankers in
Switzerland are growing -
again. This time it is not an
acquisition, but the opening of
a new branch in Geneva
designed to push into the
^jghly attractive
ivlediterranean and Middle-
Eastern markets. The first of a
planned five-person team -
three private bankers and two
support staff - should be in
place next month. 'Our plan is
to have the full team
operational by mid-summer,'
says Switzerland's Heinz
Zimmer. 'We call the new
office a branch because law
here requires that status. But
essentially this is a marketing
office. It will be supported
primarily through remote
access to all our systems in
Zurich.' Zurich is currently in
the process of recruiting the
rest of the team, which
^immer says will consist of
'seasoned private bankers who
will contribute specific know
how of the markets they will
be penetrating.'
Von Ungern-Sternberg joins
Managing Board
Alexandervon Ungern-
Sternberg (46) has been
appointed Member of the
Managing Board of Rabobank
International as of April 7th.
Von Ungern-Sternberg will be
based in Utrecht and London.
He will be responsible for all
Investment Banking activities.
(see also back page)
NEWCO MONITORS RISK
A joint venture between RI
and Swiss software and
research company Olsen
Associates opens up the use of
currency overlay products to a
broad cliënt group.
Unlike conventional hedge
strategies, which are usually
based on static models and
predictions, currency overlays
use an active approach, with
hedge ratios changing
dynamically in response to
signals from technical trading
models. The result is more
accurate signalling of trends
and better control of foreign
currency risks in accordance
with a client's desired exposure
profile, together with
maximized returns.
'Exchange rate variations
aren't simply random,'
explains Haijo Dijkstra, CEO
and Head of Marketing
Sales of the new company,
Rabo Olsen Global Overlay
Strategies, since 1 April. 'The
chance of a particular
exchange rate rising or falling
is not 50%, but can be
predicted with good accuracy
by the technical model we have
developed. Together with the
dynamic hedging approach
that our system makes
(continued on page 5)
THIS MONTH A FULL
16 PAGES OF NEWS
FROM RI'S MOVERS
AND SHAKERS.
ABP Future Focus - a process
of internationalization
diversification 3
Custumor Value Revisited -
a lively discussion 4
RI make over - Global ad
campaign 6
APFT-special - putting finance
into agri 7
Cotton Clubs Together-
conference great success 11
Dublin Office - consolidation
and expansion 12
New Mandate GMA 13
Kiene Deal - Rabo Securities,
does sweet deal 14
Deal of the month - Nutreco
strengthens balance sheet 15
New Board member 16
