Benjamin P. Kaufman

Hamlin Capital Management LLC (Hamlin) is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor and wealth management firm headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded by Mark Stitzer in 2001. Hamlin provides customized investment advisory services to separately managed accounts, pooled investment vehicles, and the Hamlin High Dividend Equity Fund, an open-end management investment company.

A subsidiary of Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC), Boston-based Bank of America Private Bank (BAPB) offers private banking and wealth management services.

Founded in 1969, HSBC Securities (U.S.A.) Inc. is an SEC-registered brokerage firm and registered futures commission merchant located in New York City. The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC North America Holdings, Inc. and their ultimate parent is HSBC Holdings Plc. (NYSE: HBC). HSBC Securities (U.S.A.) is a member of FINRA, the NYSE and the SIPC. Their securities and annuity products are provided by registered representatives and insurance agents of HSBC Securities (U.S.A.). In California, HSBC Securities (U.S.A.) conducts insurance business as HSBC Securities Insurance Services. Insurance products are offered through insurance agents of HSBC Insurance Agency (U.S.A.) Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC Bank U.S.A. NA and an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc. The company also engages in investment banking underwriting, dealing and brokering of debt and equity securities and futures contracts and is a primary dealer in U.S. Government and federal agency securities.