BTG Pactual Is No. 1 in Institutional Investor Ranking of Brazil's Best Analysts

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Aug 8, 2012) - BTG Pactual provides the best investment research on Brazil, according to participants in Institutional Investor's annual ranking of that country's leading sell-side analysts. Money managers also say the firm provides the best sales support and trading services to clients who invest in Brazil.

Complete survey results can be found at www.institutionalinvestor.com.

The São Paulo-based bank, which spent the past two years at No. 2, increases its team-position total by more than 50 percent, from 11 to 17, and reclaims the research crown from crosstown rival Itau BBA. Despite slipping to second place, however, Itau stands strong with 13 positions -- the same number it won in 2011.

Bradesco Corretora is the real stunner this year, rocketing from eighth place to tie for third with last year's No. 5 firm, Credit Suisse. These banks take nine positions each -- for São Paulo-based Bradesco, that's a gain of five; for the Swiss, an increase of two. Santander slips from fourth place to fifth despite winning the same number of positions as last year, eight.

The All-Brazil Research Team ranking reflects the opinions of some 690 buy-side analysts and money managers at nearly 340 institutions, domestic and foreign, managing $252.5 billion in Brazilian equities and $166.5 billion in Brazilian debt.

This year, for the first time, II asked participants to weigh in on which firms field Brazil's best sales teams and to rank the brokerages they use on the quality of trading services provided. These votes were tallied separately but the results at the top were identical: BTG Pactual leads these line-ups, followed by Itau BBA in second place and Credit Suisse in third.

For more information contact Alyssa Walker at awalker@iiresearchgroup.com or (212) 224-3677.

About Institutional Investor
Now entering its fifth decade, Institutional Investor has consistently distinguished itself among the world's foremost financial publications with groundbreaking journalism and incisive writing that provides essential intelligence for a global audience. In addition, Institutional Investor offers a host of proprietary research and rankings that serve as respected industry benchmarks. For more information visit www.institutionalinvestor.com.