Ian C. MacDonald

Piedmont Mining Co., Inc. engages in the exploration, evaluation, and production of gold and other precious metals in North and South Carolina. The company was founded by Robert M. Shields Jr. in 1983 and is headquartered in Reno, NV.

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre engages in establishing commodity market places and provides industry-specific market infrastructure and facilities. Its core area of trade is focused around the gold, diamond, agro, pearl, precious metals and tea industries. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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.

The New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. provides markets for the trading and clearing of crude and heating oil, gasoline, natural gas, and electricity. The company is headquartered in New York, NY.

Commerzbank AG provides banking services. It offers corporate finance, transaction services, trade services, and risk management. The company was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Part of BHP Group Ltd., BHP Billiton (UK) Ltd. functions as an investment holding British company. The company is based in London, UK.