Looking at Brazil’s investment banking league tables over the past couple of years highlights the strong performance of a number of local players, among them Itaú BBA. Itaú’s progression is impressive. It became one of the country’s top ranking banks in a relatively short space of time, and it has retained a lead over its rivals in many markets, particularly the debt capital markets (DCM).
According to data provider Dealogic, more than $67bn was issued in DCM by Brazilian issuers in 2012 – a record high that included the largest ever volume for local bonds, or debentures, which was $15.9bn, surpassing the previous record of $15.8bn in 2006. Itaú was the top bookrunner in the country last year, as it was in 2006. In fact, the bank has been the country’s top bookrunner in five of the past seven years.
