Kevin Simpson

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.

Founded in 1982, Miller Tabak + Co. LLC is a broker/dealer headquartered in New York City. The firm offers a full array of investment services to institutional investors ranging from hedge funds to large institutions, with emphasis on executing trading and hedging strategies with an aggressive approach. They provide clients with overview and analysis of a variety of markets including stocks, bonds, options, futures and currencies. Their research covers a variety of industries and focuses on undervalued companies.

Standard & Poor's Investment Advisory Services LLC (SPIAS) is investment research firm and registered investment advisor headquartered in New York City. The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of S&P Global, Inc. (NYSE: SPGI), formerly McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. SPIAS’ advisory services are generally offered to institutions (e.g., broker-dealers, investment advisers, investment companies and other financial institutions). SPIAS does not generally provide its advisory services directly to retail clients, but its services may be used by its clients in advising their own underlying clients, which may include retail clients. SPIAS also provides advisory consulting services to institutional clients and investment managers-of-investment funds, and investment sub-advisory services for registered investment companies, including open-end mutual funds and other institutions. S&P Global's operations consist of three reportable segments: S&P Global Ratings, S&P Global Platts, and S&P Dow Jones Indices. S&P Global Ratings is an independent provider of credit ratings, research and analytics to investors, issuers and market participants. It includes the NRSRO and certain other ratings-related businesses. S&P Global Platts provides essential price data, analytics, and industry insight that enable commodities markets to perform with greater transparency and efficiency. S&P Dow Jones Indices is a global index provider that maintains a wide variety of indices to meet an array of investor needs. In 2016, CFRA acquired S&P Global Market Intelligence’s Equity and Fund Research business (formerly known as S&P Capital IQ and SNL) from S&P Global, Inc.

Headquartered in New York City, Griffin Securities, Inc. is a research-driven investment banking firm providing corporate finance, merger & acquisitions, brokerage and investment opportunities for institutional, corporate and private clients. Orders can be entered on major U.S. exchanges and most international exchanges. Positions can be held in multiple currencies. Griffin's research focuses on delivering objective, value-added research and winning ideas in several industries including healthcare/biotechnology, technology and telecommunications. They are a member of the NASD and the SIPC. Griffin Securities was founded in 1997.

Argus Research Co. (ARC) is a research firm headquartered in New York City and was founded in 1934. The firm is a subsidiary of Argus Research Group, Inc. ARC produces, distributes and markets investment and economic research.