Hansgeorg B. Hofmann

equinet Bank AG provides investment banking services. The firm acts as a broker, trade stocks, derivatives and fixed-income securities on behalf of German and foreign banks, investment companies, insurers and investment fund companies. The company was founded by Lutz Weiler in 1999 and is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany.

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. provided wealth management, securities trading and sales, corporate finance and investment banking services. Merrill Lynch was a global trader and underwriter of securities and derivatives across a range of asset classes and serve as a strategic advisor to governments, institutions and individuals worldwide. The company was founded in 1913 and was headquartered in Charlotte, NC.

Lehman Brothers Europe Ltd. provides financial services to corporations, governments and municipalities, institutional clients, and high net worth individuals. The company is headquartered in London, UK.

Dresdner Bank AG provides banking and financial services. Its bank products and services are sold through insurance agency locations. It has operations in many countries. The company's operating divisions are private and business clients (retail banking, private banking, asset management, lending) and corporate and investment banking (business banking, lending, investment banking, corporate finance, insurance, securities). The latter division includes subsidiary Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein. The company was founded in 1872 and is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.