c
F&A - LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES
Rabobank
International
What's NewS
Monthly internal newsletter for Rabobank International
Issue 2 February 1998
V '-y-Y
Arthur Arnold opened the first module of our F&A relationship
management traming program in London.
The first module of our dedicated F&A international relationship
management training program kicked off in London on 20
January with a bang. Top F&A gurus, including Flarvard
professors Ray Goldberg and David Bell along with Dutch
Nijenrode's Gerrit Broekstra and Martha Vahl will be tackling
the subject of opportunities for F&A bankers during the four-day
course. Over 30 participants from various disciplines and 18
offices around the network are taking part in the course which
has been created specially for RI. All are strong performers who
will benefit from enhanced insight into a broad range of relevant
client-related banking issues. Opening the first module, Arthur
Arnold said: 'We are in the midst of a significant change process.
The type of training program these relationship and product
managers are attending is vital to the success of that process.
By combining training exposure to corporate and investment
banking and F&A, they will be better equipped to create customer
value now and in the future.' More details in our next issue.
in brief
contents
NEW YEAR ADDRESS
The first working week of
January is traditionally the
time when chairman Herman
Wijffels gives an overview of
^hat preliminary figures for
the past year show and what
forecasts indicate for the
coming 12 months. This year
was no exception. Much of the
address was, of course,
devoted to our centenary
which kicked off at this event.
There will be numerous
celebrations around the world
(see the Teamplay insert in this
issue). But Wijffels warned
1998 will not be all fun for the
domestic organizaton.
Preliminary figures show the
organization as a whole
achieved major growth last
year; the balance-sheet total
will top the NLG 400 billion
Jjor the first time ever. 'People
PFave worked extrentely hard to
achieve these resuits,' Wijffels
said. Predicting growth in
1998 between 8 and 10
percent, he stressed the need to
control costs. 'We need a fresh
wind blowing through the
organization,' he said, 'let's
hope it picks up power during
our centenary year.'
NZ ACQUISITION
Following the highly successful
take over of Primary Industry
Bank of Australia in 1994, the
bank again intends to make a
strong acquisition in the
region. Wrightson Farmers
Finance Ltd is a full subsidiary
of the hugely reputable agri-
specialist corporate of the
same name. Rabobank has
bought the finance company
for around USD 100 million
and it will now trade under the
name Rabo Wrightson Finance
Ltd. Said Wrightson chairman,
Sir Ronald Trotter and our
own Cor Broekhuyse in a joint
statement: 'The creation of this
new company represents a
unique combination of
Rabobank's financial strength
and knowledge of agriculture
globally and Wrightson's
market leadership and long
experience in servicing New
Zealand agriculture.'
The acquisition's current
finance activities will be
pursued from 28 branches
throughout New Zealand.
The new subsidiary will
provide services to the top
segment of primary
agricultural corporates. Besides
mortage lending, Rabo
Wrightson Finance offers
New Zealand's agricultural
companies leasing, seasonal
lending, payment traffic and
life insurance. If all necessary
regulatory approvals are
obtained, then the final
contracts will be signed on
5 February.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN THE NETWORK?
WHAT'S NEWS HAS
THE SCOOP.
Working relations - unique
cliënt down under 3
Global forex - Michele di
Stefanotalks strategy 4
Operating action - spotlight
on VictorCuyckens 6
Sponsorship - hockey, cycling
and Brazil 7
The DLL factor - what they
candoforus 13
Euro on top - special tools for
better info 14
Talking heads -
RoelfHagoort 16
