Sarasin's service offering expanded
Sarasin expanded its services to private clients in 2010 to include illiquid assets in its investment
advice and solutions. Examples are real estate, intellectual property and works of art. An internal
study showed that a relatively large proportion of the possessions of high net-worth private
clients is comprised of such illiquid assets. Services include improving the returns on these
assets, minimising the risks their ownership involves and converting the assets into cash.
By expanding these services, a single party can now offer clients a full service package.
Sarasin - a tradition of sustainability in asset management
Sarasin has pioneered sustainable investments and asset management. This is reflected in
a systematic approach to assessing businesses and countries, combined with environmental
and social criteria. Since 2009, Sarasin has used sustainability as an investment decision
criterion for all portfolio management mandates from private banking clients in Switzerland.
Sarasin is always on the lookout for services it may align with the United Nations' Principles
for Responsible Investments. Over the past twenty years, Sarasin has developed solutions
of its own. A salient feature in Sarasin's approach is the fact that the eligibility threshold for
sustainable investments is linked to both the environmental and social impact of the sector in
which an enterprise operates. The more critical to sustainable development a sector's impact
is, the further an enterprise's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) score must exceed
that of its benchmark group. At year-end 2010, Sarasin's sustainable assets under management
and held in custody stood at EUR 10.7 billion (+34%), which accounts for about 30% of total
assets under management for which Sarasin has a discretionary mandate (including the
Sarasin investment funds).
Sarasin: leading private bank for socially responsible investing
Sarasin received the 'Best private bank for socially responsible investing' award from The
Banker and Professional Wealth Management, two premier industry magazines published
by the Financial Times Group. Also, Sarasin came first as the best sustainable asset manager,
according to the recent report entitled 'Wealth management on test - Who is sustainable?'
by the Fuchs financial research company. Sarasin-Alpen won the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum Business Award, which spotlights enterprises that have contributed to the economic
development of the United Arab Emirates.
Intensified collaboration between Schretlen Co and Rabobank Private Banking
In 2010, Schretlen Co and Rabobank Private Banking intensified their collaboration, with a
single investment policy and plans for a physical merger of their back offices. The strength of
the collaboration between the two parties lies in the opportunity to serve clients through the
network of local Rabobanks, supported by the knowledge and expertise of a specialised party.
Many high net-worth investors are clients at the local Rabobanks. For complex asset issues,
such as advice on Dutch tax-exempt investment institutions, but also for asset management,
clients can be served, through their nearby local Rabobank, by specialists from Schretlen Co.
Incompany 100's latest survey shows that both parties' services are highly appreciated.
Rabobank Private Banking has been the only party to rank among the top three for the
past six consecutive years and Schretlen Co has ranked first three times since 2005.
Revised investment framework for Rabobank Private Banking and Schretlen Co
The investment framework for Rabobank Private Banking and Schretlen Co was adjusted
based on the lessons learned from the financial crisis. More attention will be paid to a more
transparent product range, with greater emphasis on the long term and on asset allocation
than in the past.This is also the basis for the investment service concepts to be introduced
as from 2011.
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Asset management
