Dutch Flower Group
Butter
SECTOR SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
Change in attitude
Cross-selling
"Dutch Flower Group is a major trader in
flowers and plants and is the Dutch market
leader with a turnover of EUR 800 million and
1,400 employees located in 15 countries. We
are building new premises for our operations in
England and I want to arrange the financing in
the Netherlands, with a local point of contact.
easily. Rabobank has been our house bank
for years. I contacted our account manager,
submitted the application and made the
deal. It's at such moments that Rabobank
really proves its added value. No complicated
processes and the ability to arrange
international matters locally."
The strength of the Netherlands is international Harry Brockhoff,
trade, so a Dutch bank has to be in a position CFO Dutch Flower Group
to arrange international financing, simply and
international desks in 10 countries, with more on
the way. With this servicing channel we stay close to
Rabobank's cooperative values. We offer international
banking services in a way that is nearby for our clients
by making use of their local bank. We know the client's
business and now extend this knowledge across the
Dutch border, further deepening our long-standing
cliënt relationship."
Since July 2008, International Services has already
completed over 220 transactions, valued at around
EUR 1 billion. The average transaction is EUR 2 million
to EUR 3 million, but can run as high as EUR 40 million,
Chris Abbenhuis: "Of course, we are being affected
by the current turmoil and transaction numbers are
falling. But we're certainly not worried. We're in this for
the long term and if we can work successfully with the
member banks, the potential is enormous. Meanwhile,
our job is to make it as easy as possible to use our
products and services."
Thanks to the large number of successful transactions,
the member banks are becoming much more confident
that International Services can deliveron its promises.
And very importantly, member banks can now finance
credit directly from their own balance sheets into other
countries, using the International Services servicing
model. International Services also guides their credit
applications through the credit committees.
Mare Oostdijk: "What this boils down to is that the
member banks own these transactions. They make
the profit and we simply charge them - at cost - for
servicing the deals. We make it as easy as possible for
them to offer their clients the package of products and
services they need in any given country."
Of course, the products member banks can offer
their clients will be another key to the success of the
cooperation, and International Services is quickly
expanding its range of cross-border services. Another
important addition is cash management, an anchor
manager.That's why I also approached them
with the request to arrange the financing for
our new locations in Poland. Doing business
internationally means depending heavily on
the partners around you. In Rabobank we have
a reliable partner with a strong international
network."
Cees Butter,
Director Butter Groep
"Butter is an international transport company.
From a range of locations, we transport some
2.5 million tonnes of cargo a year. Rabobank
has been our house bank for many years. I'm
very pleased
that I can also
arrange all our
international
business via our
own account
THE WORD
