Merrill Lynch & Co. specializes in wealth management, investment banking, capital markets and advisory services. The company trades and underwrites securities and derivatives throughout a broad range of asset classes. It features expertise in debt and equity instruments. Merrill Lynch & Co. serves as a strategic advisor to various corporations, governments, institutions and individuals worldwide. Through Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, the company manages more than $500 billion dollars of assets. John Thain was named chief executive officer of Merrill Lynch in December 2007. It has offices in nearly 40 countries and territories. Merrill Lynch & Co. was founded in 1914 and is headquartered in New York.