John N. Williams

Citigroup Global Markets Ltd. (CGML) is an international broker-dealer firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded in 1983 and is a subsidiary of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Bahamas Ltd., ultimately held by Citigroup, Inc. (NYSE: C) in the US. CGML has a major presence in the international financial markets as a dealer, market-maker and underwriter in equity and fixed income securities and offers risk-based solutions to producers and investors in commodity markets. They also provide corporate finance services to a wide range of corporate, institutional and government clients. Their trading activities encompass cash, exchange traded and OTC derivative markets.

Nomura International Plc provides a variety of financial services including advisement, investment banking and asset management. It trades in and sells fixed income and equity products, including related derivatives; and provides investment banking services, and corporate finance and private equity services. The company is also involved in asset and principal finance business. It offers investment advisory and management, custody, and employment services. Nomura International was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

HSBC Bank Plc (Broker) (HSBC Bank-Broker) is the broker/dealer division of HSBC Bank Plc, which is owned by HSBC Holdings Plc (LON: HSBA; NYSE: HSBC) in Great Britain. Headquartered in London, HSBC Bank-Broker was founded in 1880 and offers bespoke brokerage services across every major asset class for their corporate and institutional clients.

Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd. is a securities brokerage firm headquartered in London, UK. They are a subsidiary of Alliancebernstein Corp. of Delaware, ultimately held by Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH) in the US. Founded in 1999, the firm provides fundamental research and full service execution services to institutional clients globally. They offer bottom-up coverage and portfolio strategies supported by sophisticated quantitative tools.

JPMorgan Securities Plc is a brokerage firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded in 1992 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JP Morgan Capital Holdings Ltd., ultimately owned by JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) in the US. JPMorgan Securities provides market research, proprietary pricing data and analytics, and trade execution across multiple asset classes such as credit, equities and FX. They help institutional investors, traditional and alternative asset and fund managers, broker dealers and equity issuers meet the demands of changing markets.

BNP Paribas (London Branch) is the Great Britain-based brokerage division of BNP Paribas SA (EPA: BNP) in France. The firm is headquartered in London and was founded in 1986. BNP Paribas (London Branch) offers a wide range of products and services to corporate, institutional, commodities, market making and broking clients.

Merrill Lynch International (MLI-UK) is a brokerage firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded in 1988 and is a subsidiary of ML UK Capital Holdings Ltd., ultimately owned by Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) in the US. MLI-UK provides brokerage services to individual and retail clients.

Macquarie Capital (Europe) Ltd. (MCEL) is the London-based subsidiary of Macquarie Group Ltd. (SY: MQG), a global provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and fund management services. Operating as part of the Macquarie Capital Advisers division, MCEL provides investment advisory services in the UK and in continental Europe. In relation with Macquarie Securities Group, they provide access to Asia Pacific markets for European clients. In terms of research, MCEL supplies macro-economic, markets and stock level analysis to a diverse range of clients. Their capabilities cover equity, debt, ForEx, futures, metals and mining worldwide, economics and strategy. In 2009 Macquarie Group acquired the international brokerage firm Fox-Pitt Kelton Cochran Caronia Waller LLC. The London branch Fox-Pitt, Kelton Ltd. was absorbed into MCEL.

RBC Europe Ltd. is the Great Britain-based broker/dealer subsidiary of RBC Europe Ltd., itself a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada (TSE: RY) in Canada. Headquartered in London, the firm was founded in 1970 and provides a full spectrum of brokerage services specifically tailored for both retail and institutional investors. The firm is active in several markets, exchanges, and electronic trading platforms.

Energy Aspects Ltd. is a research consultancy holding firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded in 2012 by Amrita Sen, Fredrik Fosse and Richard Bronze to meet the need for timely, independent research on international oil markets. Energy Aspects offers deep, sector-specific insights and analysis of the macro developments that guide market players. Clients include various organizations, such as oil majors, producers, refiners, trading houses, governments, hedge funds and utilities.

UBS AG (London Branch) is the Great Britain-based brokerage subsidiary of UBS AG, ultimately held by UBS Group AG (SWX: UBSG) in Switzerland. Headquartered in London, the firm was founded in 1998 and provides nimble, innovative and bespoke access to solutions, from market and insight tools, to trading strategies and execution for private, institutional and corporate clients worldwide, as well as private clients in Switzerland. They distribute, trade, finance and clear cash equity and equity-linked products. The firm also structures, originates and distributes new equity and equity-linked issues.

Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Ltd. (Credit Suisse Europe) is the Great Britain-based brokerage subsidiary of Credit Suisse Investment Holdings (UK), itself a subsidiary of Credit Suisse Group AG (SWX: CSGN) in Switzerland. The firm was founded in 1966 and formerly known as Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Ltd. Headquartered in London, Credit Suisse Europe arranges financing in international capital markets, provides financial advisory services and acts as a dealer in securities, derivatives and foreign exchange on a principal and agency basis for corporate and institutional investors.

Barclays Bank Plc (Investment Management) (Barclays Bank-IM) is the investment management division of Barclays Bank Plc, the international and investment banking unit of Barclays PLC (LON: BARC; NYSE: BCS) in Great Britain. Headquartered in London, Barclays Bank-IM was founded in 1971 and provides corporate, government and institutional clients with a full spectrum of strategic advisory, financing and risk management solutions.

Jefferies International Ltd. (JIL) is a brokerage firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded in 1986 and is a subsidiary of Jefferies Holdings II Ltd., ultimately held by Jefferies Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: JEF) in the US. JIL provides broking services to various investors.

UniCredit Bank AG (Italy) (UniCredit-Italy) is the brokerage arm of Germany-based UniCredit Bank AG, which is owned by UniCredit SpA (MIL: UCG; OTCMKTS: UNCRY) in Italy. Formerly HVB AG, the firm is headquartered in Milan, UniCredit-Italy offers a range of brokerage services to corporate clients.

Merrill Lynch Far East Ltd. is the stockbroking subsidiary of Merrill Lynch HK Services Ltd., ultimately owned by Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) in the US. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the firm was founded in 2003 and offers a broad range of brokerage services to institutional investors.

Part of RF Capital Group, Inc., GMP Securities Europe LLP is a brokerage firm founded in 2006. The company provides brokerage services and is based in London, UK.

Edison Investment Research Ltd. (Edison) is an investment research, investor relations and consulting firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded by Stephen Rogers and Fraser Thorne in 2003. They are a subsidiary of Edison Global Ltd. Edison provides investment research to international investors, advisors and stakeholders.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP engages in the provision of accounting services. Its services include audit and assurance, accounting advisory, risk assurance, tax management, corporate insolvency, life cycle assessment, forensic services, private equity advisory, and financial reporting valuations. The company is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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.

Diamond Lifestyle Ltd. (Dubai) provides food and beverage services. It operates casual dining restaurants, quick service restaurant, and fast casual eateries. The company was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

Société Générale SA (Spain) (Société Générale Spain) is the Spanish broker/dealer division of Société Générale SA (EPA: GLE) in France. Headquartered in Madrid, Société Générale Spain provides brokerage services to financial and corporate entities.

Merrill Lynch (Asia Pacific) Ltd. (Merrill Lynch-Asia Pacific) is the financial management subsidiary of Merrill Lynch HK Services, Ltd., ultimately owned by Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) in the US. Based in Hong Kong, the firm provides financial management and advisory services.

Cognis Capital LLP is an independent, alternative asset management firm headquartered in London, UK. Formerly known as Cognis Capital Partners LLP, the firm was founded by Myra Tabor as a partnership in 2003 through a spin-off from the SIG-Special Investments Group of The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (LSE: RBS), with the support of JP Morgan Partners. Cognis Capital offers a range of alternative investment strategies for European and US institutional clients.

Barclays Capital, Inc. is a registered broker/dealer headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded in 1997 and is a subsidiary of Barclays Group US, Inc., ultimately owned by Barclays plc (LON: BARC) in Great Britain. Barclays Capital provides large corporate, government and institutional clients a full spectrum of prime brokerage services which includes equities and fixed income financing, OTC Clearing, Futures and Foreign Exchange Prime Brokerage and access to industry insights and analytics from their Strategic Consulting team.