Founded in 1889, Northern Trust is one of the world s largest private banking, asset management and asset servicing firms. Its global client base consists of affluent families and individuals, as well as corporations and institutions. Northern Trust is driven by its focus on business strategies, technology and expertise of its professional staff. The company s financial performance, as of December 2005, includes nearly $53 billion in banking assets, nearly $3 trillion in assets under administration and more than $615 billion in assets under investment management. Headquartered in Chicago, Northern Trust is a publicly owned company that employs nearly 7,000 people.