...east Germany's formerly state-controlled companies.是什么意思？

...east Germany's formerly state-controlled companies.

东德原来的国有公司

east

n. 东，东方，东方国家，〈诗〉东风；adj. 东方的，向东方的，从东方来的；adv. 向东方（地）；

例句
Finzer is not just any East Coast businessman...
芬泽不是个普通的东海岸生意人。

formerly

adv. 原来，原先，以前，从前，刚才，先头；

例句
He had formerly been in the Navy.
他从前在海军服役。

companies

n. 公司( company的名词复数 )，[军事]连，连队，客人；

例句
The workforce have recently been calling for their working hours to be reduced. Many companies have accordingly switched to a five-day week.
工人们最近一直在呼吁缩短工作时间。许多公司于是转成了一周五天工作制。