Kris Thompson

Ventum Financial Corp. is a full-service Investment Dealer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The firm was founded by Max Meier and John Eymann in 1982 as Pacific International Securities, Inc. They became PI Financial Corp. (PI) in 2007 and changed their name to Ventum Financial Corp. in 2024 as part of the process of amalgamation between PI and Echelon Wealth Partners, Inc., previously announced in March 2023. Ventum Financial provides expertise across a variety of growth sectors and delivers a full range of capital markets services, which include equity research, investment banking, advisory, and institutional sales and trading to mid-market corporate clients in Canada. They prioritize minimal market impact during superior trade execution.

National Bank Financial, Inc. (Broker) (NBF-Broker) is the broker/dealer division of National Bank Financial, Inc., a Canadian mutual fund manager headquartered in Montréal, Quebec. The firm was founded in 1902 and is a direct subsidiary of National Bank Acquisition Holding, Inc., ultimately owned by National Bank of Canada (TSX: NA). NBF-Broker provides retail advisory and brokerage services with institutional brokerage, investment banking, corporate finance and securities clearing services for third parties. The firm has a substantial presence in all regions of Canada, as well as operations in the US and Europe.

Desjardins Securities, Inc. is the broker/dealer arm of the Desjardins Holding Financier, Inc., ultimately held by Le Mouvement des caisses Desjardins in Canada. Founded in 1991, the firm is headquartered in Montréal and has an additional office in Toronto. Desjardins Securities offers businesses and institutions with a complete range of securities brokerage products and services through its investment advisors and its Disnat Online Brokerage division. The firm is an approved participant on the Montreal Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange, as well as a participating member of the TSX Venture Exchange. In addition, Desjardins Securities is a member of both the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF).

Founded in 2002, Thomas Weisel Partners Canada, Inc., formerly Westwind Partners, Inc., is an institutional investment bank, investment advisor and broker/dealer headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The firm is a subsidiary of Thomas Weisel Partners Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWPG), a San Francisco-based investment banking firm. Their ultimate parent is Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF). Thomas Weisel Partners Canada specializes in the growth sectors of the economy with a particular focus on the consumer, energy, healthcare, Internet, media, telecommunications, metals/mining and technology sectors. They provide equity research on US, Canadian and UK-listed companies, equity trading capabilities and advice to corporations on M&A, financing and restructuring transactions. Thomas Weisel Partners Canada is a member of the CIPF/FCPE and the IIROC.

Westwind Partners, Inc. is a research and investment banking firm. The firm is privately held by a group of entrepreneurial partners who are experienced and have proven track records. The services that they offer include insightful equity research on Canadian and US companies, equity trading capability, and independent advice to corporations on M&A, financing and restructuring transactions. Westwind is based in Toronto with additional offices in Montreal, Calgary and London. They are a member of the Investment Dealers Association and a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

Scotia Capital, Inc. (Broker) (Scotia Capital-Broker) is the broker-dealer division of Scotia Capital, Inc., a full-service financial services firm headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The firm is owned by The Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE, TSE: BNS). Scotia Capital-Broker delivers a broad range of electronic trading products such as high-touch, low-latency, market access and a broad algorithmic trading suite for a wide range of clients globally. They publish monthly indexes to help investors track the performance of Canadian Hedge Funds and Alternative Mutual Funds.