Brad Hill

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.

Countrywide Financial Services, Inc. provides asset management services to institutional clients and net-worth individuals. It offers brokerage and investment advisory services. The company is headquartered in Cincinnati, OH.

Ares Management LLC is a SEC-registered investment advisor and global alternative investment manager headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The firm was founded in 1997 by Merritt Hooper, John Kissick and Antony Ressler. They are a subsidiary of Ares Management Holdings LP and their ultimate parent is Ares Management Corp. (NYSE: ARES). Ares Management provides investment advice to various pooled investment vehicles, other separately managed accounts and other institutional clients.