Scott Edric Starbird

Founded in 2008, DISCERN Investment Analytics, Inc. is an independent investment research firm located in San Francisco, California. The firm's provides technology-enabled investment research for professional fund managers. DISCERN's research is developed using external experts, information analytics tools and proprietary data streams. They seek to identify trends and investment opportunities in emerging markets just over the long-term horizon. DISCERN partners with a variety of external experts, data service companies and financial technology providers and employs a variety of fundamental and quantitative sources of proprietary global information. The firm's partners include: AlphaTheory, Altos Research, Monvia and Summit View Partners.

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.