Mark Buell

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. is a registered broker-dealer headquartered in New York City. Formerly SMBC Securities, Inc., the firm is a subsidiary of SMBC Americas Holdings, Inc. and their ultimate parent is Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (TYO: 8316) in Japan. SMBC Nikko Securities America provides investment securities and other financial services to corporate and institutional clients, focusing on North America and Latin America. The firm caters to institutional investors such as mutual funds, hedge funds, and other investment advisors.

BlackRock Fund Advisors (BFA) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in San Francisco, California. The firm was founded in 1984 and is a subsidiary of BlackRock Delaware Holdings, Inc., ultimately held by BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK). BFA manages assets for US registered investment companies, including ETFs. Mandates include cash management, equity, fixed income, multi-asset and index strategies.

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.