The Vontobel Group and Switzerland’s Raiffeisen Group are to extend their existing cooperation, which started in 2004, through to 2017, thus ensuring the successful continuation of a partnership that is unique in the Swiss financial sector. As part of this close cooperation, Raiffeisen will use Vontobel products and services to further position itself as an investment bank. Vontobel will also continue to carry out securities settlement and administration for the Group

Raiffeisen Switzerland and the Vontobel Group have been working together closely since 1994. After having worked together for some ten years in the investment funds business, in 2004 the two partners entered a more in-depth strategic cooperation. Since then, Vontobel has been developing and managing products for Raiffeisen’s investment clients, and is also responsible for securities settlement and administration as an outsourcing partner.
Raiffeisen and Vontobel have agreed to extend their existing cooperation agreement - due to run to 2011 - through to 2017. The tried-and-tested business model developed in 2004 will be retained, and will be enhanced in line with the experience gained over the past few years and with the changed needs of Raiffeisen’s clients. In addition to the established range of its own products, Raiffeisen will in future offer via Vontobel expanded advisory services as well as an extended range of new products from third-party issuers. The outsourcing of securities settlement and administration will be maintained at the existing level of integration throughout the value chain. Raiffeisen will also continue to hold a 12.5% stake in Vontobel, and will be represented on the Vontobel Board of Directors by Dr. Pierin Vincenz, CEO of Raiffeisen Group.

“The extension and further development of our cooperation underscores the success both parties have had in working together, while at the same time addressing the growing needs of the clients. Raiffeisen and Vontobel combine client proximity and proven expertise in the investment business,”

said Vontobel Group CEO Herbert J. Scheidt.

“The Vontobel Group has proven its worth for Raiffeisen, providing our clients with a recognised partner in the investment business. The extended partnership will enable us at Raiffeisen to address the needs of our clients even more effectively with a strategically developed range of our own products. In return, Raiffeisen’s distribution set-up enables Vontobel to profit from the largest branch network in Switzerland. The long-term extension of the cooperation will enable Raiffeisen to develop its investment business activities further, and concentrate on providing optimal client services,”

said Dr. Pierin Vincenz, CEO of the Raiffeisen Group.
Vontobel Group
The Vontobel Group is an internationally-oriented Swiss private bank. The family-owned bank was first established in Zurich in 1924. Vontobel specializes in wealth management for private clients and asset management for institutional investors, as well as in investment banking. As of the end of June 2009, the Group held over CHF 100 bn of assets. Around 1,400 employees worldwide provide first-rate, customized services for clients with an international focus. The registered shares of Vontobel Holding AG are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. The Vontobel families and the Vontobel Foundation hold the majority of shares and votes in the company.
Raiffeisen
The Raiffeisen Group is Switzerland’s leading retail bank. The third-largest bank in the Swiss banking sector, it has 3.3 million customers, 1.6 million of whom are cooperative members and thus co-owners of their Raiffeisen bank. The Raiffeisen Group consists of the 350 cooperatively structured Raiffeisen banks with 1,151 branches. The legally autonomous Raiffeisen banks are amalgamated into the Raiffeisen Switzerland cooperative, which is responsible for the strategic management of the entire Raiffeisen Group. As of the end of June 2009, the Raiffeisen Group had customer assets totalling CHF 130 bn and loans to clients of CHF 113 bn. It has a 14.9% market share in the mortgage business, and 19.3% in the savings business. Its total assets stand at CHF 136 bn. (с)
Useful link: Bank Vontobel A.G.

Vontobel considers charges relating to PEH capital increase to be without foundation. In autumn 2008, following an investigation lasting several years, the Public Prosecutor’s Office III of the Canton of Zurich brought charges against Dr. Joerg Fischer and Hans-Peter Bachmann - both former managers of the Vontobel Group and former officers of Private Equity Holding AG (PEH) - in relation to their involvement in the capital increase of PEH carried out in March 2000. The court hearing starts at Zurich District Court