Ann Louise Kohler

Founded in 2004, Cowen Securities is an investment banking firm and broker/dealer headquartered in New York City. The firm is a subsidiary of the Cowen Group. They were formerly known as Dahlman Rose & Co. Cowen Securities provides value-added research, trading and advisory services to clients in the US and abroad. The firm focuses on growth industries that are the direct beneficiaries of global trade, infrastructure development and urbanization. Their research focuses on various distinct verticals within the global natural resources supply chain including: metals/mining, agriculture, chemicals, oil & gas exploration and production, electric utilities and surface transportation. Cowen Securities follows a variety of companies across geographies, market-caps and strategies. The firm employs a top-down approach that focuses on global themes and macro trends within these sectors. They look for drivers that create opportunities for well-positioned companies.

Founded by Darren Caris in 2002, Caris & Co., Inc. is a broker/dealer headquartered in Del Mar, California. The firm is a subsidiary of B. Riley & Co. They offer research that is independent of their investment banking activities, as well as a full array of trading and execution services. Caris & Co.'s coverage includes large-, mid- and small-cap companies in the healthcare, technology, energy and consumer sectors. Their research is written for the longer-term investor with an investment horizon of at least 12 months. Caris & Co., Inc. is a member of the NASD and the SIPC.

Kidder, Peabody & Co., Inc. provides security brokerage services. The private company is based in Buffalo, NY and has subsidiaries in Switzerland. The company was founded by Thomas W. Ostrander.

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 1979 by Ralph Worthington and several other senior officers of Blyth Eastman Dillon, Gilford Securities, Inc. is an investment banking firm and registered broker/dealer located in New York City. The firm provides a variety of services to corporations, individuals and institutions. Their research approach is based on fundamental analysis and seeks to remain attentive to market sentiment. Gilford Securities seeks to provide sound financial advice that translates into superior returns for their clients. The firm's research efforts focus concentrates on small/mid-cap growth ideas, specifically, niche/international leaders that stand to benefit from long-term secular trends. Gilford Securities' research coverage includes spans multiple industries, with primary emphasis on the following sectors: (1) information technology and e-Commerce (2) energy (3) retail, consumer and specialty (4) chemicals and pharmaceuticals (5) clean technology and alternative energy and (6) consumer and business services.

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.