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| Identifying with our way of doing business has attracted medium size companies that are ready now to adopt the standards of tomorrow |
Neubert Cecchetti,
Regional Manager in Rio de Janeiro,
works in the Bank’s Middle Market area |
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The opening statement from Neubert Cecchetti, the Bank’s Regional Manager in Rio de Janeiro, illustrates the change afoot in our area that works with medium size companies. In this segment, which handles well-established companies with annual earnings of up to R$150 million, our business has been growing in excess of 40% a year, and sustainability has been an important factor behind this growth. Many of these firms, which now represent 12% of our income from commercial clients, have sought out the Bank because of shared values.
This is the case with Gráfica Minister, a leader in the state’s printing market for 18 years and which has always maintained close ties with socio-environmental and cultural projects. It was also the first company in Rio de Janeiro to treat 100% of its waste and since the beginning has been one of the few firms to take steps to limit its environmental impact by treating its gas emissions. After watching a presentation by the Bank about sustainability, Adolpho Aragão, President of the Rygy bikini factory, realised that we shared the same values as Minister. Mr. Aragão referred us to Felipe Calil, the owner of Minister, and his firm subsequently became a client. In addition to being the company’s banker, we have also helped it in the Graphic Arts and Design Cultural Centre project by bringing partners to help make the project happen, which will get underway this year. The programme, designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer, offers professional training for young people and prepares them for the job market in culture, recreation and technology.
Shared values
“In this segment there are plenty of business people interested in developing sustainable practices, but who don’t do it because they can’t get the financing or expertise to support them”, says Altair Assumpção, Superintendent of our Middle Market area. “We really bought into the idea of funding these companies. When we see that they share our values, we back them all the way.” Many of these companies face larger, better capitalised competitors, and so are going through a crucial period in their history: how can they hold onto the ground they’ve gained? Many of the people who run these companies already know that a vision of sustainable business is the way forward. Another contributing factor for success is that in this segment our managers have direct access to company presidents and owners, which greatly helps the implementation of the commercial relationship and adoption of sustainable practices.
Another company that chose ABN AMRO REAL because of shared values was Synthesis, which is active in the construction and environmental consultancy sectors, among others. Its project to build the head offices of BR Distribuidora in downtown Rio de 65 Janeiro involved more than just erecting another gleaming tower. The company adopted labour training and employee literacy programmes for the site workers. In addition, it contacted RealMicrocrédito to offer loans to small businesses nearby, as Synthesis wanted to ensure that the 3,000 employees of the new facility - which is planned to open in 2008 - can rely on the services of the 40 registered professionals (sales attendants, mechanics, bar owners) in the immediate area. “Bonds between us and the Bank will certainly become stronger while we carry out this project”, says Mario Cezar Fernandes Alves, Financial Director of Synthesis. |
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| Millennium Goal |
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| A Setin building site. Setin was the first construction company in South America to be ISO 14001 certified, thanks to its procedures to control environmental impacts and continual improvements to optimise the use of natural resources. |
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