Painewebber

Paine Webber and Company was a U.S.-based stock brokerage and asset management firm. The company was founded in 1880 by William Alfred Paine and Wallace Webber. By a strategy of strong growth and acquisitions, the company was a significant player in the brokerage and investment banking business. This was aided with the acquisition of Kidder, Peabody & Company in 1995.     Paine Webber and Company was acquired by UBS AG in 2000. At the time of acquisition, Paine Webber and Company was the fourth largest brokerage in the U.S. with 385 offices around the country.