Walter Bamert

Zürcher Kantonalbank (Broker) (ZKB-Broker) is the brokerage business unit of Zürcher Kantonalbank, a state-owned full-service bank founded in 1870, which is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. They conduct all investment activities in-house including financial advisory services, research, trading, and asset management. ZKB-Broker is an active trader in securities, foreign currencies, banknotes, precious metals, commodity contracts and financial derivatives on their own account and on behalf of third-party customers. The bank provides underwriting services in domestic debt and equity markets, sales and trading of listed domestic warrants and structured derivatives, and Swiss Franc foreign exchange trading. The firm offers round-the-clock market-making in credit default swaps from Swiss issuers. Their research covers a broad international investment universe and maintains a successful equity, bonds and sustainability research capability, together with independent investment fund research.

NZB Neue Zürcher Bank AG is a majority-owned subsidiary of MainFirst Schweiz AG, itself a subsidiary of MainFirst Holding AG in Switzerland. Founded in 2000 and based in Zurich, NZB absorbed the brokerage business of Bank Sarasin & Cie AG in 2007, which led Bank Sarasin to hold a 40% stake in NZB. In 2009 they increased their shareholding to a majority interest. NZB Neue Zürcher Bank AG provides primarily brokerage services. Up until 2009 they also had an asset management and investment advisory department. Their clients include Swiss and international institutional investors as well as private individuals.