Greg Smith

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. (MLPFS) is the SEC-registered broker/dealer subsidiary of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., ultimately held by Charlotte-based Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC). The firm was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in New York City. In 2010, Banc of America Securities LLC merged with MLPFS and the firm uses the trade name Bank of America Merrill Lynch. MLPFS's global strategy and economics team serves institutional and individual investors using a wide range of macroeconomic disciplines. Their analysis of global issues provides clients with investment ideas, market forecasts, macro overviews and specific sector recommendations across asset classes, regions and disciplines. Their equity research team conducts fundamental analysis on companies globally and provides institutional and retail clients with industry-specific and in-depth research and analysis on numerous industries. The firm's global fixed-income and equity-linked research focuses on fixed-income and equity derivatives, fixed-income strategy, convertibles, commodities, high-yield, mortgages, municipals and global foreign exchange.

SouthStateDuncanWilliams Securities Corp. (SouthStateDuncanWilliams) is a registered broker-dealer and financial services firm headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Formerly known as Duncan-Williams, Inc., the firm was founded in 1969 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of South State Corp. (NASDAQ: SSB). SouthStateDuncanWilliams offers sales, finance and underwriting of fixed-income securities to banks and other financial institutions. They focus on securities such as US treasury notes and bonds, federal agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, certificates of deposit and mutual funds.

JPMorgan Securities LLC (JPMS) is a securities brokerage firm headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded in 1985 and is a subsidiary of JPMorgan Broker-Dealer Holdings, Inc., ultimately held by JPMorgan Chase & Co., Inc. (NYSE: JPM). JPMS provides research on fixed income, credit, derivatives, emerging markets, foreign exchange, structured finance, technical analysis and bond indices. Their equity analysts cover equities throughout North America, EMEA, Asia/Pacific and the emerging markets. The firm's fixed income team formulates trading and portfolio recommendations for investors in global bonds and other fixed-income markets based on valuations, analytics and market dynamics.

Tekla Capital Management LLC is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Formerly known as Hambrecht & Quist Capital Management LLC, the firm serves as an investment adviser for four closed-end funds – Tekla Healthcare Investors, Tekla Life Sciences Investors, Tekla Healthcare Opportunities Fund and Tekla World Healthcare Fund.

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. provided wealth management, securities trading and sales, corporate finance and investment banking services. Merrill Lynch was a global trader and underwriter of securities and derivatives across a range of asset classes and serve as a strategic advisor to governments, institutions and individuals worldwide. The company was founded in 1913 and was headquartered in Charlotte, NC.

Founded in 1964, Sterne, Agee & Leach, Inc. is a full service investment firm and registered broker/dealer headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. The firm's expertise includes retail and institutional brokerage services, investment banking and underwriting, secondary trading of corporate, municipal, and government securities and market making in over-the-counter stocks. The firm is a member of the NYSE and FINRA.

Part of Financial Technology Partners LP, FTP Securities LLC is a brokerage firm. The company is based in San Francisco, CA. The company was founded in 2002 by Steven Joseph McLaughlin. Steven Joseph McLaughlin has been the CEO since 2002.