Leadership: Mark Epley, global head of financial sponsor group in New York. John Eydenberg, head of Americas. Angus Barker heads up sponsor coverage in Asia. Head of Europe is Nick Gaynor.

Size: About 50 bankers, including 9 MDs in the U.S.; 5 MDs in Europe (London) and 2 MDs in Asia (Hong Kong). Clients: All the top sponsors, including Blackstone and Apax Partners, CVC Capital, EQT Partners AB, Providence Equity and Madison Dearborn. Midmarket clients include JLL Partners Inc., Oak Hill Capital Partners and CVC Capital.

Recent deals: Deutsche says it leads the market in capital raising and initial public offerings for special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs. It led the $920 million IPO of Nelson Peltz'sTrian Partners and was lead adviser to TPG and Apollo on Harrah's Entertainment LBO. It has also backed sponsors on several private investment in public equity, or PIPE, deals and is currently working with sponsors on a number of recapitalizations of financial institutions.

Recent innovative deal: Syndicating debt financing for KKR's £12.1 billion ($24 billion) buyout of British drugstore chain and pharmaceuticals wholesaler Alliance Boots Ltd. in 2007. The deal illustrates how, with careful staging, LBO debt can be successfully distributed.