Benjamin Joseph

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.

Kirr, Marbach & Co. LLC (KM) is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Columbus, Indiana. The firm was founded in 1975 by David M. Kirr and Terry B. Marbach. KM manages separate accounts and is the adviser to the Kirr, Marbach Partners Value Fund (KMVAX), an open-end registered investment company.

KBW LLC provides investment banking and financial services. It offers mergers, acquisitions, strategic advisory services, equity and fixed income securities offerings, structured finance and mutual thrift conversions, asset management, securities underwriting, and related investment advisory services. The firm focuses on banking and insurance companies, real estate companies and real estate investment trust, broker-dealers, mortgage banks, asset management companies, and specialty finance companies. Its business is organized into three general service offerings: Investment banking, including mergers and acquisitions and other strategic advisory services, equity and fixed income securities offerings, and mutual thrift conversions, Equity and Fixed Income sales and trading; and Research that provides fundamental, objective analysis that identifies investment opportunities and helps its investor customers make investment decisions. The company was founded by Harry Keefe Jr., Gene Bruyette, and Norbert Woods on June 11, 1962 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

First Trust Advisors LP (FTA) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Wheaton, Illinois. The firm was founded in 1991 and is a direct subsidiary of Grace Partners of Dupage LP. Their general partner is The Charger Corp. FTA provides discretionary investment management services to institutional and individual clients who principally include open and closed-end mutual funds, collective investment funds (CIFs), exchange-traded funds, variable annuity sub-accounts and funds in countries other than the US. Investment management services are offered to individual clients through separate managed accounts (SMAs), either directly or through wrap fee programs sponsored by unaffiliated investment advisors.

Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (RJA) is a registered broker-dealer headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida. The firm was founded in 1962 and is a subsidiary of Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE: RJF), a diversified holding company. RJA offers a full array of capital markets services, strategic advice and planning for institutional investors.

Financial Counselors, Inc. (do-business-as FCI Advisors) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas. The firm was founded in 1966 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of FCI Holding Corp., which is wholly owned by MTC Holding Corp. FCI Advisors provides investment advisory services to individuals, investment companies, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm also provides sub-advisory services for their affiliates The Midwest Trust Co. and Benefit Trust Co.

UBS Securities LLC is an investment bank and registered broker/dealer headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded in 1998 as UBS Warburg LLC. They are a subsidiary of UBS Americas Holding LLC, ultimately held by UBS Group AG (SWX: UBSG, NYSE: UBS) in Switzerland. UBS Securities is a primary dealer in US Government securities and provides a full range of investment banking services which includes corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, trading and sales, fixed-income, equity research, private banking, underwriting and prime brokerage operations. The firm also provides advisory services and access to capital markets for corporate, institutional, intermediary and alternative asset management clients.

Capital One Bank (USA) NA provides banking services. It offers checking accounts; credit and debit cards; loans; insurance; payment protection; phone banking; bills payment; lending; and online banking services. It provides financial products and services to consumers, small businesses, and commercial clients. The company was founded by Richard D. Fairbank on November 1994 and is headquartered in McLean, VA.

Allspring Funds Management LLC (AFM) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The firm was founded as Wells Fargo Funds Management LLC (WFFM) in 2001 to succeed the former mutual fund advisory responsibilities of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. In November 2021, Wells Fargo & Co. sells its asset management business, which includes WFFM and certain affiliates, to a third-party purchaser. As part of the sale, WFFM has changed its name to Allspring Funds Management LLC. AFM is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC, ultimately held by Allspring Group Holdings LLC. The firm serves as investment adviser for the portfolios of the Allspring Funds. The firm also participates as an investment adviser in several managed account programs offered by other financial institutions to their respective clients.

Round Table Services LLC, do-business-as Round Table Wealth Management (RTWM), is a SEC-registered investment advisory and wealth management firm headquartered in Westfield, New Jersey. The firm was founded in 1999 by Steven Giacona. In 2022, they were acquired by Cerity Partners LLC, a subsidiary of Palladium Partners LLC. RTWM provides investment and financial advisory services to high net-worth individuals and families, trusts, estates, charitable organizations which includes family foundations, pensions and profit-sharing plans and corporations.

KPMG LLP engages in the provision of audit, tax, and advisory services. It serves the banking and capital markets, building, construction and real estate, consumer and retail, energy, natural resources and chemicals, financial services, government and public sector, healthcare and life sciences, industrial manufacturing, insurance, media and entertainment, private equity, technology, telecommunications, and venture capital industries. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Northwestern University is a private institution founded in 1851 to serve the Northwest Territory, an area that now includes the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota. Northwestern has three campuses

First Analysis Securities Corp. (FAS) is a research-driven investment organization headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and was founded in 1981. The firm is a subsidiary of First Analysis Corp. FAS serves emerging growth companies with private equity/venture capital investments, corporations with corporate finance and merger and acquisition services, and financial institutions with the public equity research and private equity limited partnerships.

Founded in 2009, Ernst & Young Capital Advisors LLC is an SEC-registered broker/dealer headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm is affiliated with Ernst & Young LLP. Ernst & Young Capital Advisors provides an array of trading and execution services for their clients. They do not provide any internal research.

Calamos Advisors LLC is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Naperville, Illinois. The firm was founded by John Calamos, Sr. in 1977 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Calamos Investments LLC, ultimately held by Calamos Family Partners, Inc. Calamos Advisors provides investment management services to institutional clients such as corporations and financial institutions, registered investment companies or mutual funds, closed-end funds, charitable institutions, foundations and endowments, corporate pensions, profit sharing and other retirement plans, municipalities, individuals, Taft-Hartley plans, and pooled investment vehicles.

Morningstar Asia Ltd. is an investment research firm headquartered in Hong Kong. The firm was founded in 2000 and is a subsidiary of Morningstar Holland BV, ultimately held by Morningstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: MORN) in the US. Morningstar Asia provides data and research insights on a wide range of investment offerings, including managed investment products, publicly listed companies, private capital markets, debt securities, and real-time global market data for individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers, retirement plan providers and sponsors, and institutional investors in the debt and private capital markets.

Alpha IR Group LLC is an investor relations and transactions/crisis advisory firm that helps to protect, enhance, and build the investment brands of leading companies. The private company is based in Chicago, IL, and has offices in New York, NY, and San Francisco, CA. The company has a small company, holistic approach and brings significant Wall Street, financial, and large agency experience to its clients. Alpha IR has deep sector expertise and senior-driven programs to manage its clients' reputations, credibility, and ultimately, their valuation. The company was founded in 2012 by Christian Hodges, who has been the CEO since 2012.

Chicago Venture Partners LP seeks investment opportunities in middle market companies located in the United States with minimum revenue of $15 million. The fund targets companies operating in the fields of software, e-commerce, telecommunications, consumer devices and information technology. It provides financing for LBOs, MBOs, buyouts, PIPEs, recapitalizations and growth capital requirements with a investment size ranging from $5,00,000 to $10,000,000 million and transaction size up to $30 million. It makes control and follow-on investments.

Waud Capital Partners LLC (Waud Capital Partners) is an Independent Private Equity firm. The firm is founded in 1993 by Reeve Byron Waud. It is headquartered in Chicago,US.

Northern Trust Investments, Inc. (Investment Management) (NTI-IM) is the asset management division of Northern Trust Investments, Inc., ultimately held by Northern Trust Corp. (NASDAQGS: NTRS), a multi-bank holding company established in 1889. The firm was founded in 1988 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. NTI-IM provides a wide range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and sub-advisory services to individual and institutional clients.