Q&A with Ben Davies
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RABO AGRIFINANCE
SPONSORS NEW CENTURY
FARMER PROGRAM
Americas
RABOBANK FINANCES
FIRST DUTCH WIND FARM
UNDERSDESCHEME
Netherlands
RIIN
Senior Banker
Europe
Q
Q
Q
Rabobank?
Over the past two years, Ben Davies and his team have developed a strong
relationship with Sainsbury's, a top-three UK supermarket chain. He explains
how the two organisations have connected not only through Rabobank's
financial solutions but also through shared business values.
A "In terms of products, we started the relationship with a syndicated lending
position, but with a clear and mutually agreed vision of what we wanted
to achieve together going forward. We've had a lot of GFM success but the
commercial highlight so far has been a EUR 50 million structured finance deal
which we closed earlier this year."
A 'Two reasons. Firstly, we offered the right products at the right time
and in the right way. We presented a partnership proposal with very clear
business goals and benefits to both parties. Secondly, I think we under-
stand the values of the company and their brand. Increasingly we are able
to show practical examples of how Rabobank's own business model and
capabilities can serve that position.
A "No other bank works with them in this way. Aligning corporate values,
with good financial solutions, industry knowledge and meaningfully
sustainable products brings us closer to their brand values and is good
business. They have a brand identity that says 'Our values make us
different', because that is what consumers expect. This is a value-led
company, and what we're seeing in the UK food market is that retailers
like Sainsbury's are all starting to move strongly in a sustainable direction
and pulling the rest of the supply chain with them. Rabobank, uniquely
among their financial partners, is able feed and support that trend and
this helps to carry us into the boardroom."
Rabo AgriFinance's continued sponsorship of the FFA New
Century Farmer Program, which it has supported since 2004,
helps prepare college students aged 19 to 22 for successful
careers in production agriculture. During this exclusive, five-day
leadership programme, which is composed of young leaders
who have been chosen after a highly competitive selection
process, Rabo AgriFinance employees share best practices in
agricultural finance, business planning, and global agriculture,
and help attendees develop their vision for the future.
Rabo AgriFinance's sponsorship of the FFA New Century
Program helps shape the future of US agriculture as well as to-
day's students of agricultural production - who will become US
agricultural leaders,
farmers of the future,
and ideally Rabobank
customers.
The five-day leadership
programme in action
Century
In March, Rabobank Netherlands completed funding of the first
large scale wind farm transaction under the new Dutch renewable
energy subsidy scheme (SDE). The wind farm, which will be built in
Tholen, in the south of the country, will be completed in Decem
ber 2010 and will provide approximately 8,700 households with
green energy.
The transaction includes a project financing facility, a working
capital facility and a VAT facility, whereas funding was provided
by Rabo Groen Bank. Through a treasury product, the project can
take advantage of current low variable interest rates but will still
be protected against any interest rate increases in the future. The
transaction was structured by Rabobank's Corporate Finance in
cooperation with Rabobank Flevoland and the Regioteam Noord-
West Nederland (Treasury and International Services). It illustrates
the bank's efforts to be innovative in financing renewable energy
projects and strengthens Rabobank's position as one of the leading
banks in this sector.
ISSUE 24
RI WORLD
