Chuck F. Millington

PPM America, Inc. (PPM) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm was founded in 1990 and is a subsidiary of PPM Holdings, Inc., ultimately held by Jackson Financial, Inc. (JFI) (NYSE: JXN). PPM is the primary investment manager for the general account assets of JFI’s insurance subsidiaries and serves as sub-adviser to US mutual funds sponsored by Jackson National Asset Management LLC (JNAM), a subsidiary of Jackson National Life Insurance Co. (Jackson), and adviser to the PPM Funds, a family of institutional share class mutual funds. Additionally, PPM provides advisory services to non-US pooled investment vehicles, structured vehicles such as collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), private equity funds, and separately managed accounts for third-party institutional clients.

7-Eleven, Inc. engages in the operation and owning of convenience stores. Its products include sandwiches, salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings, and mini beef tacos. The company also offers beverages such as coffee and tea, cold pressed juices, beer and wine, energy shots and drinks, big gulp, and Slurpee. The company was founded by Joe C. Thompson Jr. in 1927 and is headquartered in Irving, TX.

Chase Investment Counsel Corp. (Chase) is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia. Chase was founded by Derwood S. Chase, Jr. in 1957 to provide investment management to individuals and families throughout Virginia.

Northwestern Mutual Investment Services LLC (NMIS) is an asset management firm headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The firm was founded in 1968 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. NMIS serves the investment planning and product needs of individuals and businesses through high-quality products, personal service and innovative solutions.

Founded in 1998, BOK Financial Securities, Inc. is an investment bank and full-service broker/dealer located in Tulsa, Oklahoma with additional offices in Oklahoma City, Dallas, Houston, Scottsdale, Arizona, Little Rock, Arkansas, Overland Park, Kansas, Albuquerque, New Mexico and Salt Lake City, Utah. The firm is a subsidiary of BOK Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: BOKF). BOSC specializes in public and municipal finance and private placements. They offer a variety of taxable and tax-free investment products including tax-exempt municipal bonds, U.S. Government securities, equity investments, mutual funds, tax-deferred annuities, self-directed IRAs, asset allocation programs, separately managed accounts (SMAs), fee-based brokerage accounts and hedging strategies. The firm's clients include individuals, corporations, government agencies, foundations, municipalities and institutions.

Fifth Third Securities, Inc. is an SEC-registered broker/dealer and municipal securities dealer located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The firm is a subsidiary of Fifth Third Bancorp (NYSE: FITB). They are affiliated with Fifth Third Asset Management, Inc. Fifth Third Securities offers a full range of brokerage products and services including stocks, bonds and mutual funds. They do not provide any internal research. Clearing services are provided by National Financial Services LLC.

Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. provides investment advice. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, MI.

Country Trust Bank (Investment Management) (Country Trust Bank-IM) is the fund management division of Country Trust Bank, which is headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois. Founded in 2008, Country Trust Bank-IM serves as the Adviser to the Funds of COUNTRY Mutual Funds Trust.

40/86 Advisors, Inc. (40/86) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Carmel, Indiana. Formerly known as Conseco Capital Management, Inc., the firm was founded in 1981 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNO Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: CNO). 40/86 provides portfolio management services primarily to affiliated and limited unaffiliated insurance companies.

Northern Trust Investments, Inc. (Investment Management) (NTI-IM) is the asset management division of Northern Trust Investments, Inc., ultimately held by Northern Trust Corp. (NASDAQGS: NTRS), a multi-bank holding company established in 1889. The firm was founded in 1988 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. NTI-IM provides a wide range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and sub-advisory services to individual and institutional clients.

William Blair & Co. LLC (William Blair) is a SEC-registered broker/dealer firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm was founded by William McCormick Blair in 1935 and is a subsidiary of WBC Holdings LP. Until 1941, they were known as Blair, Bonner & Co. William Blair provides broking services to individual, institutional and issuing clients.

Part of Clark Brands LLC, Clark Retail Enterprises, Inc. is a company that owns, operates and franchises gasoline service stations and convenience stores. The company is based in Oak Brook, IL.

Panduit Corp. develops and provides networking and electrical solutions. Its products include wire termination, copper systems, fiber optic systems and grounding and bonding. The company was founded by Jack E. Caveney Sr. in 1955 and is headquartered in Tinley Park, IL.

Savant Capital LLC, do-business-as Savant Wealth Management (Savant), is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Rockford, Illinois. The firm was founded by Thomas Muldowney in 1986 and is a subsidiary of Savant Capital Holdings LLC, owned by SCMI, Inc. (formerly known as Savant Capital Management, Inc.). Savant offers investment management, financial planning, retirement planning, and family office services to financially established individuals, families, and businesses.

Total Clarity Wealth Management, Inc. (Total Clarity) is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor and wealth management firm headquartered in St. Charles, Illinois. The firm was founded by Terrance Murphy in 2006. Total Clarity provides investment management and financial planning services to families and businesses throughout the US.

Founded in 1982 by Elliot Schlang, Great Lakes Review is an investment research firm located in Cleveland, Ohio. The firm is a division of Wellington Shields & Co. LLC and their ultimate parent is Wellington Shields Holdings LLC. Great Lakes Review provides company analysis and rating services to institutional clients including asset managers, broker/dealers, corporations, financial intermediaries, hedge funds and plan sponsors. Their products include thematics, statistics, individual company reports, company-specific news updates, weekly updates and periodic telephone updates. The firm maintains a buy list that is generally comprised of about 30 mid-cap companies located in the Midwestern region of the US. Great Lakes Review seeks to identify companies with true specialty niches, significant competitive advantages, above-average returns on both sales and equity, self-funding balance sheets with little debt, substantial inside ownership, few institutional shareholders, domestic orientations, constructive labor relations and reasonable price-to-earnings ratios.

Eilers & Krejcik Gaming LLC is a boutique research firm headquartered in Irvine, California. The firm was founded in 2012 by Todd Eilers and formerly known as Eilers Research. They focus on servicing the gaming equipment, interactive gaming, and sports betting sectors within the global gaming industry. Their products and services primarily include market research, company research, and consulting and advisory services designed specifically for land based & online casino operators, equipment & technology suppliers, social gaming operators & suppliers, gaming regulators, and institutional investors.

Big Shoulders Capital LLC(Big Shoulders Capital) is a private equity firm founded in 2013. The firm is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois.

Acies Acquisition Corp. II operates as a blank check company. The firm was formed for the purpose of effectuating a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses. The company was founded on January 18, 2021 and is headquartered in Manhattan Beach, CA.

Arctos Partners LP (Arctos Sports) is a private equity firm founded in 2019. Arctos Partners LP is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

EKG Ventures (EKG Ventures) is a venture capital subsidiary of Eilers & Krejcik Gaming LLC founded in 2021 by Adam Krejcik, Todd Eilers and Christopher Grove. The firm is headquartered in Irvine, California.

InterOcean Capital Group LLC (IOC) is a SEC-registered investment adviser and wealth management firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Focus Operating LLC, ultimately owned by Focus Financial Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: FOCS). IOC provides wealth management and portfolio management investment advisory services to individuals, family offices, and institutions.