This time two years ago, Citibank led the Taiwan syndicated loan rankings with just over $1 billion raised from eight deals. This was almost double its nearest rival, First Commercial Bank, which had registered $340 million from five fundraisings.
Since then the US giant has seen its dominance severely threatened as local banks, such as the previously inactive Taishin International Bank, adopt more aggressive strategies to gain greater market share. Two years on, the picture has completely changed.
Chinatrust now leads the way, having raised over $1.6 billion from 25 deals during the first half of 2004 - up from $250 million from six last year. Citibank...
