Brian Thomas Hertzog

Eaton Vance Management (EVM) is a SEC-registered mutual fund manager headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The firm was founded in 1979 when Eaton & Howard merged with Vance, Sanders & Co. Prior to March 2021, they were a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp. Their direct owner is Morgan Stanley Domestic Holdings, Inc., ultimately held by Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS). EVM offers advisory services in a variety of equity, income, mixed-asset and alternative strategies to institutional clients, mutual funds, other pooled investment vehicles, and retail separately managed accounts.

Founded in 1998, Thomas Weisel Partners (TWP) is a broker/dealer headquartered in San Francisco with offices in New York City, Boston, Denver, Colorado and Palo Alto, California. 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). TWP's investment banking, brokerage and equity research divisions serve emerging growth companies and institutional investors around the world. They are a member of the NYSE, the SIPC and FINRA. TWP 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. Within the consumer sector, the firm focuses on: financial products, gaming/lodging, interactive market services, lifestyles/sports retailers, restaurants and hardlines and softlines retailing. TWP's global energy research is provided by analysts in three countries and covers the following trends: (1) fast-growing oil and natural gas producers in North America and worldwide (2) domestic and international energy service companies and (3) alternative energy technology and resource developers. Within the healthcare sector, TWP focuses on: biotechnology, diagnostics, healthcare information technology, pharmaceutical services, life science technology, medical devices and specialty pharmaceuticals. The firm's interest in the Internet, media and telecommunications sector include: Internet services, media, broadcasting and telecommunications services. Their focus within the metals and mining sector include: base metals, gold, precious metals and uranium. TWP's technology research focuses on: (1) applied technologies (2) communications components (3) core and wireless communications equipment (4) IP networking communications equipment (5) electronic supply chain (6) enterprise hardware (7) information and financial technology services (8) semiconductor capital equipment (9) broadline and specialty semiconductors (10) applications and communications software and (11) infrastructure software. TWP also provides value-added equities analysis across a variety of sectors including: industrials, financials, consumer, technology and healthcare.

Fred Alger Management LLC (FAM) is a SEC-registered investment advisor and mutual fund manager headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1964, the firm is wholly-owned by Alger Group Holdings LLC, which is wholly-owned by Alger Associates, Inc. FAM provides both discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory services to institutional investors through separate accounts, US and foreign registered and privately offered funds, as well as through third-party sponsored funds and bank sponsored collective investment trusts; and to retail investors through wrap programs and US and foreign registered funds.

RBC Wealth Management (RBCWM) is wealth management division of RBC Capital Markets Equity Research, which is ultimately owned by Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE; TSE: RY). Formerly known as RBC Dain Rauscher, Inc., the firm was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. RBCWM provides trusted advice and wealth management solutions to individuals, families and institutions.

RBC Capital Markets LLC is a full-service brokerage and financial services firm headquartered in New York City. They are a direct subsidiary of RBC USA Holdco Corp. and a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada (TSE, NYSE: RY). Founded in 2010, the firm is comprised of 3 major business lines: the Private Client Group, the Fixed-Income Group and the Clearing and Execution Services Group. The Private Client Group serves individual investors, while the Fixed-Income Group provides services to institutions, municipalities and non-profit organizations. The Clearing and Execution Services Group is a provider of clearing and execution services to independent brokers/dealers throughout the US. RBC Capital Markets focuses on the following sectors: communications, media, consumer/retail, diversified industries, energy, financial institutions, forest products, healthcare, infrastructure finance, mining & metals, real estate, social infrastructure, technology and the US municipal markets.

Putnam Investment Management LLC (PIM) is a SEC-registered investment advisor and mutual fund manager headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1971, the firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam US Holdings I LLC and became an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE: BEN) in 2024. PIM provides investment advice across all asset classes to individuals and institutions worldwide through separately managed accounts and pooled investment funds.