'Ris global ambition is
to be the leading Food
Agribusiness bank
COVER STORY THE REVISED STRATEGY
Sipko SchatVice-Chairman,
Managing Board RI
RI's sweet spot
The fact that RI implements a revised strategy does not
mean a 180 degree revision of its activities. Rather, the
revised strategy re-affïrms where the strength of the
organisation lies: Food Agribusiness. There are, however,
clear focus points over the coming years. The most
important is an intensified relationship with the Dutch
member banks, Rabobank's cornerstone. Sipko Schat: 'The
local Dutch member banks are the root of the Rabobank
cooperative, and especially demonstrate their value in
the current volatile markets as a source of steady business
and stable funding. The local banks, and the Dutch cliënt
base they serve, continue to comprise the lion's share
of Rabobank Group's profitability. And these clients are
growing, with many carrying increasingly international
aspirations. For RI, meeting these international financial
needs adds value to this priority cliënt base and the Group
as a whole."
RI can service the member banks and their clients with
expertise, product development and human capital.
Furthermore, the RI products and distribution capacity
can be leveraged across the member banks' network. In
this sense, the International Services proposition is a good
example of collaboration, where RI is really faciiitating
transactions by putting together deal-teams tailor made to
each situation, business and country involved. But the global
business lines are also clearly focusing to support our Dutch
operations. Corporate Finance and Leveraged Finance will
establish 70 percent of their base from the Netherlands and
through dedicated Wholesale teams, while the Treasury
function answers the needs of smaller Dutch clients for a
complete set of smarter and moreflexible products. All in all
it is about the recognition and dedication towards the heart
of the bank: the Dutch local member banks.
RI's global ambition is to be the leading Food Agribusiness
bank. Food Agribusiness is firmly anchored in the bank's
origins, and is what we are best at. The sector offers many
opportunities. With a growing world population, the demand
for food and food-related products will only grow. And put
simply: we will never stop eating. But there is more: with the
8 ISSUE 19 APRIL 2009 THE WORD
