Shannon Groff

Fitch Ratings, Inc. is a global rating agency and investment research firm headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded by John Knowles in 1913 as Fitch Publishing Co. They are a subsidiary of Fitch Group, Inc., ultimately owned by The Hearst Family Trust. Fitch Ratings seeks to provide independent and prospective credit opinions, research and data to the world's credit markets. Their approach is based on a foundation of local market experience that covers capital markets in over 150 countries. The firm's ratings analysis and rating decisions are based on established criteria, methodologies and ratings definitions which they apply in a consistent manner. Fitch Ratings provides coverage of the following markets: Economics, Banks, Insurance, Sovereigns, Corporates, Structured Finance, Public Finance – International, Public Finance – US, Infrastructure & Project, and Finance.

Standard New York Securities, Inc. is a broker/dealer headquartered in New York City. They are a subsidiary of Standard Bank Group Ltd. (JSE: SBK), a South African financial services group. The firm was founded in 1993 and facilitates trade and investment flows between the Americas and developing economies including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. .