Scott Benesch

Bank of America, NA (Private Banking) (Bank of America-PB) is the private banking arm of Bank of America, NA, which is a subsidiary of Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC). Headquartered in New York City, the firm was founded in 1947 and is also known as US Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management. Bank of America-PB serves the needs of high net-worth and ultra-high net-worth individuals and families by providing comprehensive wealth management products and services that focuses on wealth structuring (wealth planning, trusts and estates, philanthropy, custody services), investment management (portfolio consulting, asset management, capital markets, specialty asset management) and credit and banking (financial management tools, liquidity services, custom credit, real estate finance).

On April 12, 1853, the New York State legislature passed a bill chartering the United States Trust Co. of New York with the mission of serving as manager, executor and trustee of personal and corporate funds. They opened for business in New York City in August of that year. US Trust has divisions in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Oregon, California, Washington, and the District of Columbia. The firm also owns Campbell Cowperthwait, which manages growth-oriented portfolios for U.S. Trust's institutional clients.

Templeton Global Advisors Ltd. (TGA) is a SEC-registered investment advisor and mutual fund manager headquartered in Nassau, Bahamas. The firm was founded in 1992 and is a direct subsidiary of Templeton Global Holdings Ltd., ultimately held by Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN). TGA provides investment advisory and portfolio management services to US Registered Funds and Non-US Registered Funds, as well as Separate Accounts.

Founded in 1996, AIG Global Investment Corp. (AIGG) is a registered investment advisor headquartered in New York City. The firm is a subsidiary of American International Group, Inc. (NYSE: AIG). The firm provides investment management services to corporations, investment companies, pooled investment vehicles, banking and thrift institutions, pension and profit sharing plans, charitable organizations, state and municipal government entities, collateralized bond obligations and collateralized loan obligations. AIGG manages separate equity, fixed-income and balanced portfolios, as well as, mutual funds, hedge funds and fund of funds.

Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. is a global investment banking, securities trading and brokerage firm located in New York City with additional offices in Dallas, Boston and San Francisco. The firm is a subsidiary Bear Sterns Cos., Inc. (NYSE: BSC). Their equity research team consists of senior analysts located throughout the world. In addition to domestic coverage, they have research teams focusing on Latin America, Asia and Europe. The analysts use a bottom-up approach to stock selection. The Bear Stearns fixed-income research department provides coverage of every sector of the fixed-income universe. The financial analytics and structured transactions group (F.A.S.T) provides investment research, fixed-income portfolio management and analytical systems, trading technology and general financial expertise. The group also provides a broad range of services to financial institutions including asset-liability management, balance sheet restructuring, receivables-based financing analysis, security and portfolio analysis, peer analysis, and historical and real-time market-based information.