Who is DKB?
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Who is DKB?

Is it accurate to refer to Simon Robertson as former executive chairman of DKB? Some newspapers did. However Robertson's resignation at the end of February is not the part which is inaccurate.

The bone of contention is the use of DKB, the abbreviated version of Dresdner Kleinwort Benson. It may seem logical to shorten the name, just as BZW or DMG are the shortened version of Barclays de Zoete Wedd and Deutsche Morgan Grenfell. However, it is wrong to do so.

That is because there is already a DKB, and since 1993 it has been a UK registered trademark. The DKB in question is Japan's Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, which uses the initials for its international operations.

Market sources say the confusion has been heightening, with Japan's DKB receiving faxes intended for Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, and even invitations into deals.

But a spokesman for DKB says "it's not an issue" and adds that it was under the impression that the German bank was using Dresdner KB to describe itself, not DKB.

However, the official line from Dresdner Kleinwort Benson is that Dresdner KB is never used. "We have gone to great lengths," says a spokesman, "to instruct people that we are called Dresdner Kleinwort Benson externally."

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