Strategy for subsidiaries and equity investments
Asset management and investment: Robeco, Sarasin and Schretlen Co
Leasing: De Lage Landen
Real estate: Rabo Bouwfonds
Synergy between Group entities
Rabobank Group's subsidiaries and equity investments play an important role in the
realisation of its market leadership ambitions. Such market leadership would serve as a
means to achieve high customer value. The target for the subsidiaries is to obtain leading
market positions within the timeline set out in the Strategic Framework and to increase net
profit by 10% to 15% annually. Rabobank Group has a 39% interest in Eureko. Rabobank is
the largest distributor of insurance products in the Netherlands, Eureko being the largest
insurer in the Netherlands. Rabobank aims to intensify its collaboration with Eureko.
The asset management activities are performed by Robeco, Schretlen Co and the Swiss
bank Sarasin. Robeco intends to invest in Europe, to grow in the United States and to expand
its activities selectively in emerging countries. In doing so, Robeco provides its investment
skills and aims to expand its fund distribution through third parties further. With Sarasin,
Rabobank Group serves both private and institutional clients. Sarasin intends to expand its
international activities outside its Swiss home market.
Schretlen Co focuses on high net-worth individuals and medium-sized institutional
investors in the Netherlands, in close cooperation with the local Rabobanks. Here too, further
strengthening of the collaboration with other Group entities is the goal for the years ahead.
De Lage Landen offers financing solutions world-wide aimed at enhancing vendor sales
- manufacturers or distributors - around the world, ranging from local alliances to global
joint ventures. The acquisition of Athlon in 2006 resulted in a significant expansion of the car
leasing activities, including in countries abroad. It is De Lage Landen's ambition to be the
most client oriented car lease business in every country where it chooses to operate.
Since it was decided, in 2006, that De Lage Landen will be the centre of competence in
consumer credit in the Netherlands, this has become an integral part of De Lage Landen's
strategy. In addition, De Lage Landen aims for a more prominent role as Rabobank's
factoring specialist in the Netherlands.
With its real estate development, Rabo Bouwfonds expresses in concrete terms its
motivation to be 'near-by and committed' in all levels of Dutch society. Rabo Bouwfonds is
a powerful instrument for Rabobank Group to literally shape the Netherlands' outward
appearance. With the merger of FGH Bank, Rabo Vastgoed and parts of Bouwfonds, which
were acquired in 2006, the real estate division acquired a stronger profile. Rabo Bouwfonds
intends to maintain and where possible to further strengthen its leading position in the
Dutch market for the development of owner-occupied houses and commercial real estate.
Abroad, Rabo Bouwfonds has several housing and commercial real estate development
projects in its portfolio. Further, the real estate division intends to obtain a dominant
position in commercial real estate financing in the Netherlands.
Good cooperation between the Group entities is of great importance. The local Rabobanks
offer a broad range of Robeco's investment products to their clients and they work closely
with Schretlen Co for optimum service provision to high net-worth clients. In the
Netherlands, many of De Lage Landen's products are sold via the local Rabobanks and
Rabobank International. Rabo Bouwfonds works closely with the local Rabobanks.
Because the local Rabobanks are firmly rooted in the local communities, they know their
clients' housing wishes. The good cooperation enables Rabo Bouwfonds to respond to these
wishes in housing developments. In addition, Rabo Bouwfonds finances commercial real
estate and sells real estate funds to clients of the local Rabobanks. The ambition is to
strengthen the cooperation between the Group entities further.
