Michael Salm

Putnam Investment Management LLC (PIM) is a SEC-registered investment advisor and mutual fund manager headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The firm was founded in 1971 and is a subsidiary of Putnam US Holdings I LLC, ultimately held by Power Corp. of Canada (TSX: POW). PIM provides investment advice across all asset classes to individuals and institutions worldwide through separately managed accounts and pooled investment funds.

Part of The Hearst Family Trust, Fitch Investor Service LP is an American company that provides credit ratings. Fitch Investor Service was acquired by F. Marc de Lacharrière (Fimalac) SE from Van Kampen Group on October 16, 1997 for $175 million.

Nomura Securities International, Inc. (NSI) is a registered broker/dealer headquartered in New York City and was founded in 1969. The firm is a division of Nomura Holding America, Inc. and their ultimate parent is Nomura Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NMR, TYO: 8604, AMS: 8604). NSI provides securities brokerage services, as well as asset management, domestic retail, global markets, global investment banking and global merchant banking services. The firm's fixed-income business consists of bond sales and trading, origination and product supply for securitization deals and real estate-focused asset finance operations (in cooperation with Investment Banking). In the equity markets, NSI offers sales and trading of domestic and foreign stocks on a global basis, primarily for institutional investors.

Putnam Premier Income Trust is a closed-end management investment company. Its investment objective is to seek high current income consistent with the preservation of capital. The company was founded on February 29, 1988 and is headquartered in Boston, MA.