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Was he the wrong man for the job or was the task too tough? Eight months after the departure of Richard Broadbent as head of global corporate finance, Schroders is no nearer to finding its direction. With his abrasive style, Broadbent caused shockwaves at an old city firm run by consensus. But he also produced results especially in Europe. Ironically, he came unstuck when he took his individualistic approach to the US and lost a fight with long-standing American managers. The fall out from his departure is still continuing. Nick Kochan reports

Latin America has the world's fastest-growing population of internet users. Growing nearly as fast are the internet companies feeding that demand and, on the back of that, venture capital and private equity firms trying to get in on the ground floor. Mark Piper reports

During 1999 there has been a steady improvement in investor sentiment towards Asian issuers of debt and equity. For the right deal, American, European and Asian buyers have all shown themselves willing to bid for Asian paper at competitive prices. For the most part, it has been only the top quality corporate and quasi-sovereign names that need apply. At the start of the year a highly successful loan for the Hong Kong Airport Authority and a debut euro deal for Hutchison Whampoa showed leading Hong Kong names reopening markets for the region's issuers. Even then below investment grade deals could be done, as the Philippines proved. Equity markets have been open, if highly selective, with offers from Korea Electric Power Co and China Telecom notable successes. An undoubted highlight was the recapitalization of Siam Commercial Bank which showed the benefits of full transparency. Luciano Mondellini reports.

Asia 100 1999 - Cleaning the hives

Author: Pauline Loong