CAPITAL INCREASE
IN FINTERRA
Foundations of Balanced
Banking site launched
Global
with Joost Verbeek
Global
Americas
RI IN THE NEWS
F&A Private Equity Fund
Q What is the fund's target marketi
Joost Verbeek is responsible for the private equity activities within
Rabobank. He and his team recently launched a private equity fund
that will invest in unlisted mid-cap companies active in the F&A sector
in Poland.
Q What is the FÓ*A Private Equity Fund and why create iti
A The recently launched F&A private equity fund in Poland - called the
Resource Eastern European Equity Partners LP I and launched in colla-
boration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development -
has been established to seek out private equity opportunities in suitable
international markets. The private equity fund essentially acquires stakes
in unlisted F&A companies in Poland, with the aim of growing those
companies and thereby increasing the value of the investment."
Q Why was Poland chosen as the location for the fundi
A "Firstly, we believe we can achieve very interesting returns within
Poland's F&A sector, where we have a great deal of expertise. Because
private equity is all about taking stakes in companies that you believe
have potential, it's vital that you work with people who really understand
the market. This is where our daughter organisation BGZ and Rabobank
Poland provide real value. Our colleagues in Poland helped enormously in
researching the market and providing us with resources and data. Secondly,
because the fund will hold stakes in dynamic and growing companies, we
will open up cross-selling opportunities with BGZ, in areas such as leveraged
fïnance or M&A products."
A 'The majority of the fund's capital will be invested in the Polish F&A
market, where we are looking at mid-market investment opportunities.
We believe that given the current economie climate there are many
interesting opportunities for a focus fund. When that's combined with the
strength of the fund's management team and the buoyancy of the Polish
economy, we believe now is a great time to step in as an investor."
In December, Rabobank increased its participation in FinTerra
through a capital increase from 25 percent to 37.5 percent, with
an option to acquire control in the future. FinTerra is a leading
non-bankfinancial institution in Mexico dedicated tothe agri
sector.
'Tm very pleased with this investment because it is aligned
with Rabobank's strategy to be the world's leading F&A bank.
Mexico is a country with significant agricultural production
volume and is well connected to the world's food and agri-
business markets," says Berry Marttin, member of the Executive
Board of Rabobank Nederland. Manuel Gonzalez, Managing
Director and General Manager of Rabobank's Mexico
Representative Office, says, "Over the last two years, through
Rabobank's participation in FinTerra, we have become more
and more convinced of the promise of rural lending in Mexico
and of FinTerra's role as a key player in the sector. Rabobank
looks forward to continuing to work with FinTerra to provide
financing to an even broader clientele across Mexico's food
and agricultural sector."
Rabobank has launched
a 'Foundations of Balanced
Banking'site, which
offers support in making
the right choices when
implementing Rabobank
International's strategy.
The platform contains
relevant information on the key
value drivers, which are the foundations of Rabobank's balanced
banking ideas. The value drivers are: stable income growth; cost
reduction and cost consciousness; efficiënt allocation of existing
and freed-up capital; managing dient and operational risks better
to minimise provisions and expected losses; and optimising
liquidity via deposit taking and appropriate pricing.
For more information, visit the site at:
http://sharepoint2007.eu.rabonet.com/sites/fbb.
If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to:
fm.global.balancedbanking@rabobank.com.
4 ISSUE 22 jANUARY 2010 THE WORD