De Lage Landen withstands the crisis
De Lage Landen took a number of steps in late 2008 to address the crisis and to emerge a
stronger organisation. These steps were further implemented in 2009.There was more active
focus on margin improvement and risk management was fine-tuned where possible. Also a
stricter acceptance policy was implemented and more people were dedicated to Collection
Recovery. The increase in expenses was curbed by a range of measures, including a reduction
in travel movements, a raise in overall cost awareness and staff outflow. In 2009, De Lage
Landen continued to invest in its systems for service quality improvements.The infrastructure
and the process environment saw further improvements thanks to a new ERP system coming
online in Wayne, De Lage Landen's largest operation in the United States.The same system
will also be implemented in Eindhoven in 2010.
Leasing: stronger focus on the Netherlands and on international food and agri
In line with Rabobank Group's strategy, De Lage Landen focuses on growth in the
Netherlands and in the international food and agri market. With a market share of more than
30%, De Lage Landen is the market leader in the Dutch lease market. To offer an integrated
products and services proposition, the collaboration between various business entities has
been strengthened further. New partnerships with enterprises including Kuhn, a producer of
agricultural machines, and DeLaval, a milking equipment supplier, resulted in further growth
in the international food and agri market. De Lage Landen and Rabobank International like
wise pursued opportunities for collaboration in order to generate additional customer value.
De Lage Landen offers services to food and agri clients of Rabobank International in countries
including North America, Australia, Poland and the Netherlands. The joint venture formed in
2008 between De Lage Landen and Bank BGZ, Rabobank International's retail bank in Poland,
showed a healthy development in 2009. BGZ Leasing offers lease products to clients of Bank
BGZ and to Dutch clients of Rabobank.
De Lage Landen: a customer-focused organisation
De Lage Landen is a customer-focused organisation that aims for high customer satisfaction.
It received several awards in 2009, including the'European Vendor Partnership of the Year'
award. Independer awarded Freo the title of the Netherlands'most highly valued lender.
Under the Freo label, De Lage Landen provides online consumer loans. Fleliview's annual
survey among car lease clients showed an increase in general satisfaction with Athlon Car
Lease to 7.5 (7.2). Moreover, loyalty in the customer base is above average.
Further integration of CSR
De Lage Landen has four spearheads in the ongoing integration of CRS in its core business:
responsible business practices, sustainable innovations, community involvement, and
sustainable and energy-efficient operations. De Lage Landen is in the process of revising its
code of conduct. Since March 2009, De Lage Landen has its own Business Principles Committee,
which advises management on the application of the ethical and CSR principles that are in
force at Rabobank and De Lage Landen. De Lage Landen has included CSR criteria for vendors
and end users in its vendor finance cliënt acceptance policy at the end of 2009. In addition,
CSR was actively promoted to staff and the organisation started to speak with vendors about
a joint CSR vision and potential partnerships in CSR. Besides being a partner in finance,
De Lage Landen expressly aspires to be partner in sustainable solutions. In 2009, major steps
were taken in new business development to promote sustainable food and agri business and
clean technology. De Lage Landen concluded a vendor agreement, for instance, for the use of
LED lighting with a global producer in the United States.
Athlon Car Lease broadened its five-step plan for sustainable mobility for corporate clients
by introducing the Green Car Plan. It allows clients to offer their employees energy-efficient,
low-carbon cars from EUR 150 per month. The Green Car Plan was also opened up for Athlon
Car Lease's own employees in the Netherlands. Athlon Car Lease entered into a partnership
agreement with Renault for the purchase of electric cars in 2011
To promote lower housing costs and higher energy savings, De Lage Landen developed the
Freo Eco Loan.
Preparatory work has started on the establishment, in 2010, of a 'De Lage Landen Foundation'
for the community projects supported by De Lage Landen. Initiatives are underway for the
development of microleasing for agricultural equipment and other capital goods.
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Leasing
