Minoru Tayama

Barings LLC is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in 1940, the firm is direct subsidiary of MM Asset Management Holding LLC and their ultimate parent is Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual). MassMutual?s affiliated companies include financial services companies that provide investment management services and individual protection insurance to clients worldwide. Barings provides a broad range of investment advisory and management services to institutional clients, registered investment companies, and other pooled investment vehicles.

Part of BNP Paribas SA, BNP Paribas Securities Japan Ltd. is a security brokers, dealers, and Japanese flotation company. The company is based in Tokyo, Japan. The company was founded in 1987. The CEO is Philippe Avril.

Macquarie Capital Securities (Japan) Ltd. (MCS-J) is a securities brokerage firm and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Macquarie International Investments, which in turn is a subsidiary of Macquarie Bank Ltd. (SY: MBL), based in Australia. Established in 2004 following the acquisition of the Asian equity division of ING Groep NV (NYSE: ING) by Macquarie, MCS-J provides trading and financial analysis services to Japanese and overseas institutions as well as hedge funds. The firm specializes in Japanese equity, economic research, fundamental research at the company level, quantitative analysis, information on infrastructure funds and other funds, equity derivatives and structured products. They also act as intermediary for Macquarie Bank in the equity-linked notes private placement market. The firm's analysts research themes including Japanese reflation, global industries and Asian technologies. MCS-J is located in Tokyo, and operates in close cooperation with Macquarie sales teams in London, Geneva, Frankfurt, New York and Boston.

Zhong Ou Asset Management Co., Ltd. (Zhong Ou AM) is a fund management firm headquartered in Shanghai, China. Formerly known as Lombarda China Fund Management Co., Ltd., the firm was founded in 2006 as a joint venture between UBI, Guodu Securities Co., Ltd., China Private Ventures (Beijing) Ltd. and WinnerKey Investment Co., Ltd. Zhong Ou AM manages mutual funds and provides financial advisory services to both Chinese and global institutional, as well as retail investors.

CLSA Securities Japan Co., Ltd. (CLSA Japan) is the Japan-based brokerage subsidiary of CLSA Ltd., itself a subsidiary of CITIC Securities Co., Ltd. (SH: 600030; HK: 6030; PK: CIIHY) in China. The firm was established in 2004 as Calyon Securites Ltd. They subsequently became Credit Agricole Securities Asia B.V., Tokyo Branch and changed their name to CLSA Securities Japan Co., Ltd. in 2013 when they merged with CLSA Japan Co. Headquartered in Hong Kong, CLSA Japan provides brokerage services including Japanese & Asian research and European equities. The CLSA Japan team works closely with the global sales teams in London, NY, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Royal Bank of Scotland Asia Securities (Singapore) Pte Ltd., previously known as ABN AMRO Asia Securities Singapore Pte Ltd., is the Singapore-based securities subsidiary of the Government of the United Kingdom's The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc. (LSE: RBS) in Great Britain. The firm provides primarily securities brokerage and research services to large corporate and institutional clients as well as to intermediaries and high-net worth individuals.

Advanced Research Japan Co., Ltd. provides investment research. The private company is based in Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese company was founded in 2006 by Tetsuro Ito. Tetsuro Ito has been the CEO since 2006.

Pelham Smithers Associates Ltd. is a leading independent research provider that covers the Japanese stock market. The private company is based in London, UK. The British company focuses on Japanese manufacturing, including TMT, autos, pharma, and machinery. Pelham Smithers Associates was founded by James M. Ford and Pelham M. W. Smithers, with Pelham M. W. Smithers serving as the CEO since incorporation.