Kuni Chen

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.

UBS Securities LLC is an investment bank and registered broker/dealer headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded in 1998 as UBS Warburg LLC. They are a subsidiary of UBS Americas Holding LLC, ultimately held by UBS Group AG (SWX: UBSG, NYSE: UBS) in Switzerland. UBS Securities is a primary dealer in US Government securities and provides a full range of investment banking services which includes corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, trading and sales, fixed-income, equity research, private banking, underwriting and prime brokerage operations. The firm also provides advisory services and access to capital markets for corporate, institutional, intermediary and alternative asset management clients.

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.

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Banc of America Securities (BAS) is the investment banking subsidiary of Bank of America Corp (NYSE: BAC). The firm provides both the domestic and international equity and investment banking markets, and pursues a strategy pioneered by Citigroup that combines corporate lending with investment banking advice and services. They provide high-yield debt underwriting and leveraged finance, in addition to industry coverage groups such as healthcare, media and telecom, financial institutions, real estate and gaming. BAS also does a significant amount of work for Financial Sponsors, or private equity firms, often financing leveraged transactions. Following the strategy of Goldman Sachs, the firm lacks a standalone mergers and acquisitions department, instead employing mergers and acquisitions senior bankers throughout the industry coverage groups. The firm is registered as a broker/dealer with the SEC, is a member of the NYSE, and the NASD. The use of Banc in the BAS's name is indicative of the fact that the company is not a bank, and their deposits and other holdings are not insured by the FDIC.

Founded in 1989, CRT Capital Group LLC is an institutional securities research and brokerage firm located in Stamford, Connecticut. The firm focuses on high-yield and convertible debt, capital structure arbitrage, mergers and acquisitions, special situations and distressed securities. CRT trades senior and subordinated bonds, bank debt, trade claims, convertible bonds, equities, real estate loans, tax exempt securities and private placements.

Founded in 2008, Wellington Shields & Co. LLC is a broker/dealer located in New York City. The firm is a subsidiary of Wellington Shields Holdings LLC. Wellington Shields & Co was formed as the result of a merger between Shields & Company and H.G. Wellington & Co., Inc. The firm offers a variety of products and services including equity research and equity and fixed-income investment capabilities. Wellington Shields & Co. is a member of the NYSE, NASDAQ, FINRA and the SIPC.