HambrechtAndQuist
Hambrecht & Quist (H&Q) was an investment bank based in San Francisco, California noted for its focus on the technology and internet sectors. H&Q was founded by William Hambrecht and George Quist in California, 1968. H&Q was an early player in the technology sector, underwriting IPOs for Apple Computer, Genentech and Adobe Systems in the 1980s. In the 1990s, H&Q also backed the IPOs of Netscape, MP3.com, and Amazon.com.[1]
Competition in the investment banking industry in the late 1990s limited H&Q's ability to grow as an independent firm and in 1999 Hambrecht & Quist was acquired for $1.35B by Chase Manhattan Bank. H&Q was renamed Chase Securities West and is currently part of JPMorgan Chase.[2] (information provided by Wikipedia)