Garrett Bekker

Founded in 2000 by John Abbott, 451 Research LLC is a technology-industry syndicated research and data firm focused on the business of enterprise IT innovation. The firm is headquartered in New York City. 451 Research is a division of The 451 Group, a leading global analyst and data company. 451 Research's market-segment coverage is focused, organized and delivered through comprehensive Practice Areas available via subscription. These areas include: CloudScape (CS), Eco-Efficient IT (ECO-IT), Eco-Efficient IT (ECO-IT), Enterprise Security (ESP), Internet Infrastructure Services (IIS), Infrastructure Computing for Enterprise (ICE), Information Management (IM) and Multi-Tenant Datacenter (MTDC).

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. (MLPFS) is the SEC-registered broker/dealer subsidiary of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., ultimately held by Charlotte-based Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC). The firm was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in New York City. In 2010, Banc of America Securities LLC merged with MLPFS and the firm uses the trade name Bank of America Merrill Lynch. MLPFS's global strategy and economics team serves institutional and individual investors using a wide range of macroeconomic disciplines. Their analysis of global issues provides clients with investment ideas, market forecasts, macro overviews and specific sector recommendations across asset classes, regions and disciplines. Their equity research team conducts fundamental analysis on companies globally and provides institutional and retail clients with industry-specific and in-depth research and analysis on numerous industries. The firm's global fixed-income and equity-linked research focuses on fixed-income and equity derivatives, fixed-income strategy, convertibles, commodities, high-yield, mortgages, municipals and global foreign exchange.