The Rothschild family has sold 7.5 per cent of its investment bank to Rabobank. The Dutch bank is buying into Rothschild Continuation Holdings, the parent company for the family's UK and Swiss operations.

The link heralds a joint move into the food and agriculture industries. Sipko Schat, executive board member of Rabobank and vice chairman of the managing board of Rabobank International, said in a statement: "This co-operation is an important step for the Rabobank Group and we are very pleased to have reached this agreement with such an established group as Rothschild. 

"We are impressed by the franchise that Rothschild has developed in this sector and believe that by combining our resources, we can provide a better and more integrated platform to our clients.  This co-operation will be instrumental in further developing our food and agri advisory franchise globally.”

The co-operation will be led on a day to day basis by Maarten ter Haar and Emmanuel Durand, respectively heads of Food & Agri M&A for Europe and for the Americas at Rabobank, and by Akeel Sachak, global head of consumer at Rothschild.

Mr Schat will join the board of Rothschild.