Jeremiah B. Shepard

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. (MLPFS) is the SEC-registered broker/dealer subsidiary of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., ultimately held by Charlotte-based Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC). The firm was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in New York City. In 2010, Banc of America Securities LLC merged with MLPFS and the firm uses the trade name Bank of America Merrill Lynch. MLPFS's global strategy and economics team serves institutional and individual investors using a wide range of macroeconomic disciplines. Their analysis of global issues provides clients with investment ideas, market forecasts, macro overviews and specific sector recommendations across asset classes, regions and disciplines. Their equity research team conducts fundamental analysis on companies globally and provides institutional and retail clients with industry-specific and in-depth research and analysis on numerous industries. The firm's global fixed-income and equity-linked research focuses on fixed-income and equity derivatives, fixed-income strategy, convertibles, commodities, high-yield, mortgages, municipals and global foreign exchange.

Wedbush Securities, Inc. is a full-service investment bank and brokerage firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The firm was founded in 1955 as Wedbush Morgan Securities, Inc. They are a subsidiary of Wedbush Financial Services LLC, which is owned by Wedbush, Inc. Wedbush Securities provides a wide range of securities brokerage, wealth management, and investment banking services to private and institutional clients. Their research focuses on providing coverage of small and mid-sized companies in the following industries: (1) consumer products and services (2) technology (3) entertainment and media (4) life sciences and (5) industrial growth and clean technology.

Roche Diagnostics Corp. develops and manufactures diagnostic products. It offers anticoagulation management, blood gas and electrolytes, cholesterol and urinalysis products. The firm provides a broad portfolio of tools that help healthcare providers in the prevention, diagnosis and management of diseases like HPV, HIV, heart failure and diabetes, as well as other medical conditions, such as fertility and blood coagulation. Its products and services uses by researchers, physicians, patients, hospitals and laboratories worldwide. The company was founded in 1964 by Willard Eason and is headquartered in Indianapolis, IN.

Pacific Growth Equities, Inc. is a research-driven investment bank located headquartered in San Francisco with an additional office in Boston. The firm specializes in technology-based emerging growth companies. They offer investment banking and brokerage services including public equity offerings, private equity offerings and mergers and acquisitions. Pacific Growth focuses on the life sciences, technology, healthcare and consumer growth companies.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (Credit Suisse Securities USA) is the broker/dealer division of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, an investment banking company headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded in 1998 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Credit Suisse (USA), Inc., ultimately owned by Credit Suisse Group AG (SWX: CSGN) in Switzerland. Credit Suisse Securities USA offers a suite of equities, solutions and credit products and services which includes global securities sales, trading and execution, prime brokerage and comprehensive investment research. Their clients include financial institutions, corporations, governments, institutional investors, such as pension funds and hedge funds, and private individuals around the world.

ThinkEquity LLC, formerly ThinkPanmure LLC, is a broker/dealer located in San Francisco with additional offices in New York City, Minneapolis and Chicago. The firm was formed as a result of the merger between Panmure Gordon & Co. and ThinkEquity Partners LLC. They are a member of FINRA and the SIPC. ThinkEquity focuses exclusively on the growth sectors of the economy. The firm offers targeted research, investment banking, institutional sales and trading, wealth management and asset management services for private clients, institutional investors, corporate and private clients, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and financial sponsors. They specialize in identifying, analyzing and understanding the technological, macroeconomic and cultural trends that impact key growth verticals. ThinkEquity focuses on the following sectors: software, communications, Internet/media, semiconductors, green technology and healthcare. The firm provides advisory services including raising capital for public and private companies, institutional brokerage and trading, asset management, wealth management and mergers & acquisitions.