Kathy Lynn Schick

Daiwa Capital Markets America, Inc. (DCMA), formerly Daiwa Securities America, Inc., is an SEC-registered broker/dealer headquartered in New York City and was founded in 1964. The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daiwa Capital Markets America Holdings, Inc., itself a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daiwa Securities Capital Markets Co. Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Daiwa Securities Group, Inc. (TK: 8601), a Tokyo-based investment bank and broker/dealer. DCMA provides high quality investment data, analysis and research products to major U.S. institutional investors.

Founded in 1999, KBC Securities USA, Inc. is a broker/dealer located in New York City. The firm began as the Financial Products group of D. E. Shaw & Co. In 1999, they were purchased by KBC Bank NV. They are a subsidiary of KBC Securities USA, Inc. and their ultimate parent is of KBC Groupe SA (LSE: KBC). KBC Securities is a specialist in annuities, convertible bonds and equity derivatives with a strategic focus on technology. They serve a range of global investors including mutual funds, pension funds, insurance companies, banks, private banks and hedge funds.