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Bank of America Merrill Lynch is busy hiring as it looks to regain a reputation as one of the best Asia-Pacific investment banking franchises, a status that Merrill Lynch had earlier in the decade. Having been ranked fifth in 2001 on Dealogic’s league table for core investment banking revenues, with a market share of 6.7%, Merrill Lynch lost some of its focus on investment banking as more profitable activities such as principal investing gained popularity.
By 2008 the firm had slipped to 11th place on the same table. Now while competitors say the combined franchise is struggling in Asia because of integration and global leadership issues, its management says it is building a top-tier Asia investment bank that will benefit from the merger.