The Rabobank Group's Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) specialists work as long-term trusted advisers to the Bank's key middle-market and corporate clients, with a focus on food, beverage and agribusiness companies.

The team is highly skilled in strategy development, project management, negotiation and execution of deals, and places utmost importance on client trust and confidentiality.

Each team member has a strong track record in identifying and evaluating opportunities and providing appropriate advice to clients. Rabobank's food and agribusiness focus means we understand the issues facing clients and the criteria sought for transaction decisions by clients in the industry.

Rabobank's considerable experience and constant contact with the global food and agribusiness markets enable us to efficiently implement clients' mergers and acquisitions strategies with innovative market-oriented advice.

We work with clients to:

• understand the objectives of their acquisition or divestment strategy (or can assist with the development of the strategy)
• establish acquisition or divestment criteria and identify potential candidates
• initiate discussions and obtain information
• advise on value
• structure and negotiate terms
• co-ordinate due diligence investigations
• manage the acquisition process (including the raising of finance where required)

Through our strong links to Rabobank's M&A network throughout Europe, the Americas and Asia, our M&A specialists are experienced in identifying opportunities and executing cross-border deals for clients.

The M&A team can also provide clients with broader strategic advisory services. Our awareness of the trends and issues within the global food, beverage and agribusiness sector allow us to advise clients on a range of strategic alternatives for improving the performance and value of their company.

Strategic Advice

Drawing on our global experience and the expertise of our Food and Agribusiness Research team, we support our strategic recommendations with a review and ranking of the client's strategic alternatives. This can include case studies of comparable situations to give the client practical insights into what has, and has not, worked in the past in their own industry sector.

We can provide advice on:

• a company's strategic objectives
• equity funding and Initial Public Offerings
• corporate structure, including the corporatisation of co-operatives
• joint ventures and alliances

We work in long-term advisory relationships with co-operatives and major companies operating in the food, beverage and agribusiness sector. Our clients benefit from our specialised understanding of the specific value drivers and idiosyncrasies of their business and industry, in a local and global context.

For further information please email sydney.webmaster@rabobank.com.