Michael S. O'Brien

Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. is a global investment banking, securities trading and brokerage firm located in New York City with additional offices in Dallas, Boston and San Francisco. The firm is a subsidiary Bear Sterns Cos., Inc. (NYSE: BSC). Their equity research team consists of senior analysts located throughout the world. In addition to domestic coverage, they have research teams focusing on Latin America, Asia and Europe. The analysts use a bottom-up approach to stock selection. The Bear Stearns fixed-income research department provides coverage of every sector of the fixed-income universe. The financial analytics and structured transactions group (F.A.S.T) provides investment research, fixed-income portfolio management and analytical systems, trading technology and general financial expertise. The group also provides a broad range of services to financial institutions including asset-liability management, balance sheet restructuring, receivables-based financing analysis, security and portfolio analysis, peer analysis, and historical and real-time market-based information.

Founded in 1947 by Oscar Gruss and Emanuel Gruss, Oscar Gruss & Son, Inc. is a full-service broker/dealer located in New York City. The firm offers focused independent research and trading and execution services focusing particularly on special situations and convertibles. They conduct business with major Israeli institutional clients who execute trades in U.S. equities and options. Oscar Gruss & Son also maintains a trading desk in New York solely dedicated to European investors. The firm is a member of the NYSE and the SIPC.

Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. provides security brokerage services. It also offers investment banking and advice to high net worth investors, individuals, businesses and institutions. The company is headquartered in New York, NY.

Balfour Investors, Inc. is a private equity firm that focuses on distressed small to middle market companies. The private company is based in New York, NY. The company's fundamental investing principles have allowed its investors to purchase assets below intrinsic value for over three decades. The founders, Harry Freund and Jay Goldsmith, established the company in 1975.