John Bird

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.

Thomcorp Holdings, Inc. provided information, news, and technology solutions to the financial community. The company was founded in 1980 and was headquartered in New York City, NY.

CIBC World Markets is a full-service investment bank headquartered in New York City. CIBC provides an internationally integrated research product through three primary strategies. In the US, the firm provides research coverage available in areas of focus, including technology, telecommunications, healthcare, energy, power generation and technology, financial institutions, consumer growth, real estate and media. In Canada, the firm offers the full spectrum of coverage for all of the sectors that form the TSE 300 Index. Their broad investment grade analysis of return bond Indices provides daily performance of the Canadian bond market. The sectors covered are: government of Canada bonds, provincial and municipal bonds and corporate bonds rated AAA/AA, A and BBB. Also available is a monthly ABS/MBS market report that provides information on ABS market conditions, market summary data and monthly performance reports on outstanding transactions. This report includes information about the MBS market, including key statistics on MBS spreads and prepayments. Another report contains MBS trading data, cash flows and other key data. A separate monthly Portfolio Valuation Report provides month end pricing for ABS and MBS transactions. Corporate debt research produces highly targeted credit analysis and research for investment grade and high yield debt securities. The corporate bond review covers bond market action, new issues, price/yield movements, rating changes, and buy/sell recommendations. The fixed-income research group produces actionable fundamental and technical analysis, strategies, products, and runs bond indexes and quantitative models relating specifically to fixed income markets, bond portfolios, and individual securities. CIBC provides risk management solutions to corporations, investors, financial institutions, and governments across all asset classes: interest rates, equities, credit, currency, and commodities. CIBC World Markets is a subsidiary of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

First Interstate Bank is the investment management subsidiary of First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. (NASDAQ: FIBK), a financial holding company headquartered in Billings, Montana. Founded in 1971, the firm provides wealth management services to individuals and businesses.

First Manhattan Consulting Group LLC provides omni-channel marketing services. Its services include small business and consumer direct mail campaigns, digital marketing campaigns, and intellectual property and data assets. The company was founded by James M. McCormick and Robert M. Tetenbaum and is headquartered in New York, NY.

First Interstate Bancorp operates as a bank holding company. Its subsidiary banks provide services like savings and other deposit accounts. It also provides services like investing in securities and other interest bearing assets. The company is headquartered in Los Angels, CA