Wholesale banking in the Netherlands
The Dutch wholesale banking division contributes to our achieving all-finance market leader
ship in the Netherlands. Rabobank International provides services to large Dutch enterprises
and supports the local Rabobanks in their service provision to the large corporate market.
Central client teams and a dense nation-wide network of specialist bankers and regional
experts who are accessible via local Rabobanks provide a broad range of services.
Rabobank managed to strengthen its position in the Dutch wholesale market in this
turbulent year by continuing to support its clients and offering added value through integrated
financial solutions, often in partnership with its subsidiaries. Rabobank played a leading role
for its clients in the Dutch wholesale market, particularly with regard to refinancing and
strengthening of their financial position.
In order to better serve internationally operating Dutch corporate clients, Rabobank further
broadened its international service offering in 2009, improving service access. Rabobank
boasts an integrated global service offering that includes finance, cash management, treasury,
corporate insurance, factoring and leasing. In serving these clients, the local Rabobanks
receive support from a team of international specialists who are based in and outside the
Netherlands. Clients can rely on the network of Rabobank offices abroad, as well as being
offered the office and networks and services of strategic and reputable partners. By broadening
our service range, Rabobank is in a position to help clients achieve their growth ambitions in
an increasing number of countries.
International wholesale banking
Outside the Netherlands, the primary focus of the corporate banking activities is on food and
agri. In addition, Rabobank International is investing in specific knowledge in the area of
trade and commodity finance. Its Trade Commodity Finance department has a global reach
and mainly serves clients that operate in the international market for agricultural products.
This department also offers a broad range of export financing products to its clients.
Besides customer-focused activities, Global Financial Markets operates in the financial
markets for the day-to-day management of Rabobank Group's liquidity position, credit risk
and market risk. Besides currency and money market products, bonds and energy products,
Global Financial Markets offers capital market solutions by securitising or restructuring specific
risks or cash flows of enterprises or financial institutions.
Leveraged Finance is involved in financing acquisitions by private equity firms. On a global
level, this department is a major player in the agricultural markets, although it operates in
other sectors as well. Structured Finance offers client-tailored products aimed at both the
assets and the liabilities sides of their balance sheets. The Renewable Energy Infrastructure
Finance department operates in the sustainable sectors wind, solar, biofuels and biomass.
Rabobank International participates
In 2009, Rabobank and the Delta Lloyd Group together established Project Holland Fund, which
invests in listed Dutch enterprises. The fund made its first investment towards the end of 2009,
with a stake in Dockwise, a company listed at the Dutch stock exchange that specialises in
heavy marine transport. The fund's start-up capital amounts to EUR 200 million. Participation by
institutional investors could raise this to around EUR 1 billion.
In 2009, Rabobank International and Rabo Real Estate Group together formed Rabo FARM.
This joint venture is to set up agricultural real estate funds, initially focusing on Europe and
South America. In Europe, a 70% interest was acquired in Primary Investment Management.
This activity offers, through the Rabo FARM Europe Fund, investment opportunities in arable
land to institutional and professional investors. In the year under review, a few institutional
parties committed themselves to the fund.
Together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Rabobank set up a
private equity fund that focuses on investments in medium-sized enterprises in the food and
agri sector in Poland and other EU member states in Central and South-Eastern Europe.
Under its Rabo Capital label, Rabobank Group's investment unit Rabo Private Equity focuses
on medium-sized Dutch enterprises. Its Rabo Ventures label is focused on young enterprises
operating in the area of clean technology. A venture capital fund with international operations,
Rabo Ventures provides equity to fast-growing enterprises in the clean technology sector.
In addition, Rabobank participates in independent private-equity enterprises such as Langholm
and in a number of Gilde funds.
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Wholesale banking and international retail banking
