Capital Support
'We continue where the bank stops'
DATE
19 July 2020
TEXT
Jasper Gramsma
IMAGE
Fleur Beemster
Step by step, Peter van Duinen transformed his company Capital Support from an administrator in the background to a committed director of the assets of entrepreneurs, families and foundations.
The boardroom of Capital Support in The Statesman on Churchillplein offers a stunning view of the Statenkwartier. "Between those buildings, you can see the sea," points out former bank executive Lodewijk Siertsema.
Primal Hague
From 2020, he will be managing partner of this primal Hague 'family and charity office'. Siertsema shares his workplace with founder Peter van Duinen, who is stepping aside in day-to-day management after 15 years. But the gentlemen do not have much time to enjoy the beautiful view. With the assets of countless individuals and another eighty to a hundred foundations under their care, it is hard work.
"We once started on Kneuterdijk with a privatised administration branch of MeesPierson, but now our activities also include the administration of foundations, guardianship and execution, and asset management," Van Duinen explains.
'There are sometimes family members who are unable to dispose of their assets themselves'
This service is attracting growing interest. Siertsema: "There are sometimes family members who are unable to dispose of their assets themselves, because they are too young or - due to an ageing population - too old. In such cases, we can act as a third party and look after their interests. And also in case of death, it is nice if an independent party does the handling, free of emotions."
Zanen Verstoep's dredgers can be found throughout the office, in reference to the foundation
But the gentlemen would much rather talk about happier matters: asset management. "Those are the trajectories you get very excited about!" exclaims Van Duinen. "We support more and more young entrepreneurs with it, people in their early forties who have built up a good business in a short time and are selling it."
Classic cars
"Suddenly without a company but with assets, a different setting arises with many questions. Am I going to invest in stocks and bonds, real estate or private equity, or maybe classic cars, jewellery, wine? Do I want stakes in other people's companies or should I keep funds available to set up something new myself? And how much risk am I willing to take in the process?"
'Suddenly without a company but with assets, a different setting arises with many questions'
For help with such essential decisions, you can go to the bank, but Capital Support looks at it from various angles. "Banks are mainly interested in investing. Fine, that is after all their fee model," says Siertsema. "On the contrary, we take a step back and together make an overall plan for the future of your assets by listening carefully to where you want to place the emphasis."
'We don't invest ourselves'
Van Duinen emphasises that his firm is complementary to bank services. "We do not invest ourselves, but we do have excellent cooperation with banks, asset managers, estate planners, tax specialists and notaries so we can help you make the best trade-offs in all areas."
Digital need
Because of the long relationships, Capital Support acts as a confidant for many clients, guarding them from overconfidence or making mistakes when necessary. "Our motto is not for nothing 'Generations Grip op Vermogen'," says Van Duinen. "To that end, we also move with the digital needs of new generations in making information accessible, for example with the overviews and reports of various assets that we create here in-house. Furthermore, we actually like to go around the table. We want to know what is going on in those lives, so that we can push the right buttons to make things go even better."
From left to right: Managing partner Lodewijk Siertsema, founder Peter van Duinen and partner wealth management Jan Willem Quarles van Ufford.
Asset management regularly goes hand in hand with philanthropy, or charity. Van Duinen: "Our wealthy relations often want to give something back to society. To this end, they then set up foundations to benefit certain causes, for example from a religious conviction."
ANBI status
Whereas the focus of fund management was once on returns, it is now about impact. "ANBI status has advantages, but it also brings legal obligations," Siertsema states. "We ensure that all compliance and governance requirements are met. Think of the annual accounts, reporting, the website, board composition and so on."
'We want to know what's going on in those lives so we can push the right buttons to make it go even better'
The presence of dredgers in the Capital Support office is striking. In the corridors are two meticulously made models and behind one of the meeting tables is a wall-sized photograph of a dredger on the high seas. They symbolise the source of Zabawas' wealth, the largest foundation in Capital Support's portfolio with as many as a thousand initial applications a year.
Wassenaar
The family foundation was founded by Mr C.J. Zanen and his wife C.C. Zanen-Bakker from Wassenaar. The capital they amassed through, among other things, the sale of their family business to Royal Boskalis Westminster is used to fund good causes within the sectors of culture, nature, sports, education and medicine in the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the kingdom.
"We completely unburden Zabawas," Van Duinen explains as he shows off the foundation's own wing. "The applications are processed and assessed by our people, we prepare the board meetings, monitor the money flows and then report back on them. Again, as with all our other activities: everything to make sure things run smoothly."
text Jasper Gramsma / image Fleur Beemster
Step by step, Peter van Duinen transformed his company Capital Support from an administrator in the background to a committed director of the assets of entrepreneurs, families and foundations.
The boardroom of Capital Support in The Statesman on Churchillplein offers a stunning view of the Statenkwartier. "Between those buildings, you can see the sea," points out former bank executive Lodewijk Siertsema.
Primal Hague
From 2020, he will be managing partner of this primal Hague 'family and charity office'. Siertsema shares his workplace with founder Peter van Duinen, who is stepping aside in day-to-day management after 15 years. But the gentlemen do not have much time to enjoy the beautiful view. With the assets of countless individuals and another eighty to a hundred foundations under their care, it is hard work.
"We once started on Kneuterdijk with a privatised administration branch of MeesPierson, but now our activities also include the administration of foundations, guardianship and execution, and asset management," Van Duinen explains.
'There are sometimes family members who are unable to dispose of their assets themselves'
This service is attracting growing interest. Siertsema: "There are sometimes family members who are unable to dispose of their assets themselves, because they are too young or - due to an ageing population - too old. In such cases, we can act as a third party and look after their interests. And also in case of death, it is nice if an independent party does the handling, free of emotions."
Zanen Verstoep's dredgers can be found throughout the office, in reference to the foundation
But the gentlemen would much rather talk about happier matters: asset management. "Those are the trajectories you get very excited about!" exclaims Van Duinen. "We support more and more young entrepreneurs with it, people in their early forties who have built up a good business in a short time and are selling it."
Classic cars
"Suddenly without a company but with assets, a different setting arises with many questions. Am I going to invest in stocks and bonds, real estate or private equity, or maybe classic cars, jewellery, wine? Do I want stakes in other people's companies or should I keep funds available to set up something new myself? And how much risk am I willing to take in the process?"
'Suddenly without a company but with assets, a different setting arises with many questions'
For help with such essential decisions, you can go to the bank, but Capital Support looks at it from various angles. "Banks are mainly interested in investing. Fine, that is after all their fee model," says Siertsema. "On the contrary, we take a step back and together make an overall plan for the future of your assets by listening carefully to where you want to place the emphasis."
'We don't invest ourselves'
Van Duinen emphasises that his firm is complementary to bank services. "We do not invest ourselves, but we do have excellent cooperation with banks, asset managers, estate planners, tax specialists and notaries so we can help you make the best trade-offs in all areas."
Digital need
Because of the long relationships, Capital Support acts as a confidant for many clients, guarding them from overconfidence or making mistakes when necessary. "Our motto is not for nothing 'Generations Grip op Vermogen'," says Van Duinen. "To that end, we also move with the digital needs of new generations in making information accessible, for example with the overviews and reports of various assets that we create here in-house. Furthermore, we actually like to go around the table. We want to know what is going on in those lives, so that we can push the right buttons to make things go even better."
From left to right: Managing partner Lodewijk Siertsema, founder Peter van Duinen and partner wealth management Jan Willem Quarles van Ufford.
Asset management regularly goes hand in hand with philanthropy, or charity. Van Duinen: "Our wealthy relations often want to give something back to society. To this end, they then set up foundations to benefit certain causes, for example from a religious conviction."
ANBI status
Whereas the focus of fund management was once on returns, it is now about impact. "ANBI status has advantages, but it also brings legal obligations," Siertsema states. "We ensure that all compliance and governance requirements are met. Think of the annual accounts, reporting, the website, board composition and so on."
'We want to know what's going on in those lives so we can push the right buttons to make it go even better'
The presence of dredgers in the Capital Support office is striking. In the corridors are two meticulously made models and behind one of the meeting tables is a wall-sized photograph of a dredger on the high seas. They symbolise the source of Zabawas' wealth, the largest foundation in Capital Support's portfolio with as many as a thousand initial applications a year.
Wassenaar
The family foundation was founded by Mr C.J. Zanen and his wife C.C. Zanen-Bakker from Wassenaar. The capital they amassed through, among other things, the sale of their family business to Royal Boskalis Westminster is used to fund good causes within the sectors of culture, nature, sports, education and medicine in the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the kingdom.
"We completely unburden Zabawas," Van Duinen explains as he shows off the foundation's own wing. "The applications are processed and assessed by our people, we prepare the board meetings, monitor the money flows and then report back on them. Again, as with all our other activities: everything to make sure things run smoothly."
