Merchant bank

The term merchant banking (or Merchant Bank ), a coming from the English name, describes the division of banks, which deals specifically with the financial advice to corporate clients. Other definitions state that among all Merchant Banking activities are to be understood about private equity a bank. Traditionally, investment banks take over this function, however, since these are Anglo- American origin, in Germany, this area is covered by both specialized banks and universal banks. The Merchant Banking parties include the entire range of financial advice to corporate finance / corporate finance through mergers and acquisitions and investment advice to defensive strategies in hostile takeovers.

A clear and unambiguous definition seems not to have become established across this term, however, since even experts puzzle over this.