Douglas Lane

Water Tower Research LLC is a modern investor relations platform that creates, delivers, and maintains information flow to build and preserve relationships between companies and their stakeholders and investors. The private company is based in Chicago, IL and has subsidiaries in the United States. Water Tower Research is a shareholder communication and engagement platform powered by senior industry experts with significant Wall Street experience. The company's foundation is built on Wall Street veterans using open digital distribution strategies that are accessible by everyone. The company's mission is to help companies take control of their IR program and proactively reach investors while bringing investors a consistent flow of quality information to help them understand their clients' businesses, industries, and the investment opportunities they present. Founded by Timothy Gerdeman and Shawn M. Severson, Timothy Gerdeman has been the CEO since incorporation.

Lane Research LLC provides investment research. The private company is based in Scituate, MA.

Jefferies LLC is a global investment bank and institutional securities firm headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded in 1962 and is a subsidiary of Jefferies Group LLC, ultimately held by Jefferies Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: JEF). Jefferies provides corporate clients with research and execution services in equity, fixed income, and foreign exchange markets, as well as a full range of investment banking services such as underwriting, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and recapitalization, and other advisory services, with all businesses operating in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Avondale Partners LLC is an independent broker/dealer headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee with additional offices across the US. The firm was founded by Robert Shepherd and Philip Krebs in 2001. Avondale Partners provides financial advisory services as well as equity and fixed income underwriting and private placement services to public and private companies throughout the US, Canada and Europe. They focus on middle-market companies in the healthcare sector.

In 1915 Charles Edward Merrill founded Merrill Lynch & Co. (NYSE: MER) with Edmund C. Lynch in Baltimore, Maryland. The modern Merrill Lynch was formed in 1940 through mergers with E.A. Pierce & Cassatt and, soon after, Fenner & Beane. In 1973, Merrill Lynch adopted a holding company format, with Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. as the parent and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith as the operating subsidiary. Merrill Lynch Asset Management, Inc. (MLAM) was created as an integral business unit in the Merrill Lynch family in 1976. Fund Asset Management, doing business as Mercury Asset Management, was acquired in December 1997. In 2000, MLAM and Mercury were combined under the name Merrill Lynch Investment Managers. MLAM manages the Merrill Lynch family of mutual funds, as and acts as sub-advisor to other mutual funds.