CORPORATE FINANCE
Looking forward
Knowledgeshare
Market shift
4'
ing at around 30% each year on a global basis,' says Jansen
Schoonhoven. 'Coupled with the fact that the organization has
built-up significant experience in this area over the years, it's
an attraetive niche as there are not too many competitors for
us. It enables us to live up to our "green" image, increase our
presence in this area as well as enabling local member banks
to participate.'
As 2004 gathers momentum, what's in store for Corporate
Finance? Increased transparency is something that Jansen
Schoonhoven and his team are working on. 'Corporate Finance
is all about co-operation, applying our expert skills to the right
cliënt base, working together with other deparrments and entities
to ensure a cliënt gets what it needs in a way that is profitable for
Rabobank,' he says. 'It's about explaining exactly what we do,
how we do it, why we do it and who we can do it for. We need to
be certain that everyone knows what kind of products we offer
and that Relationship Managers are fully clued-up as to what we
can deliver to the cliënt.'
In order to ensure that the wider Rabobank network understands
what kind of business Corporate Finance does, the teams take
part in joint cliënt calls. The teams in the local offices around the
world are also in regular contact with local Relationship
Managers so that everyone knows what is going on. Together
with Corporate Clients (RNCC), Corporate
Finance has been active in contributing to Relationship
Development plans. Within Corporate Finance more emphasis
is given to working as a global team in order to benefit front
exchanging technology know-how and identifying cross-border
business opportunities.
And the challenges? In the last few years, Corporate Finance has
been shifting its focus more and more towards corporate clients,
in line with the Group strategy, while maintaining its strong posi-
tion in the professional markets. Jansen Schoonhoven says:
'However, changes in the market have had an impact on the way
Corporate Finance operates - and this goes for all financial insti-
tutions. After various accounting scandals in the US and F.urope,
stakeholders have become more critica! about Structured
Finance-type transactions, both in the kind of products offered
and the clients to whom it is offered. Rabobank has always been
extremely careful with its structured financing, requiring both
internal and external legal and tax departments to sign-off on
every transaction. We are confident that we can continue to oper-
ate effectively in this changed market. From a global viewpoint,
Rabobank Corporate Finance is very successful, contributing a
lot to the bottom line and creating value for our clients. One of
the biggest challenges for this year is to maintain that.'
For more Information about Corporate Finance and its products
sec http://www.rabobank.com/content/services/corporates/cor-
porate_financeHndex.html. See also deals on meeting point.
The Word I 9