Awards for excellence – Venezuela

Best bank:

Banco de Venezuela

Best debt house:

CSFB

Best M&A house:

JPMorgan

The Venezuelan banking system is not a happy place: total loans have shrunk to just 11.3% of GDP from 18.7% in the past 10 years, while system-wide return on equity has plunged to 20.8% in 2000 from 38.9% in 1997 and an astonishing 74.6% in 1996. But Banco de Venezuela, BSCH’s operation in the country, stands out. Since its acquisition of Banco Caracas, it is number one in terms of deposits ($4.2