James Peter Veers

MacKay Shields LLC is a registered investment advisor headquartered in New York City. The original predecessor to the firm, MacKay-Shields Economics, was founded in 1938 as an economic consulting firm and it became MacKay Shields Financial Corp. (MSFC) in 1969. In 1984, MSFC was purchased by New York Life Insurance Co. (NYLIC). NYLIC established New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC (NYLIM Holdings) in 1999 and transferred ownership of MSFC to NYLIM Holdings. In 1999, MSFC was converted to MacKay Shields LLC. The ownership, control and management of MacKay Shields did not change as a result of this conversion. The firm is wholly owned by NYLIM Holdings, which is wholly-owned by NYLIC. MacKay Shields provides discretionary investment management services primarily to institutional clients. The firm is a signatory of the United Nation Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI).

American Century Investment Management, Inc. (ACIM) is a SEC-registered investment advisor and mutual fund manager headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The firm was founded by James E. Stowers, Jr. in 1958 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Century Cos., Inc. ACIM provides portfolio management services to financial advisors, individual investors and institutional clients.

Wedbush Securities, Inc. is a full-service investment bank and brokerage firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The firm was founded in 1955 as Wedbush Morgan Securities, Inc. They are a subsidiary of Wedbush Financial Services LLC, which is owned by Wedbush, Inc. Wedbush Securities provides a wide range of securities brokerage, wealth management, and investment banking services to private and institutional clients. Their research focuses on providing coverage of small and mid-sized companies in the following industries: (1) consumer products and services (2) technology (3) entertainment and media (4) life sciences and (5) industrial growth and clean technology.

Wilshire Advisors LLC (Wilshire) is a privately-held investment technology and advisory firm headquartered in Santa Monica, California. The firm was founded by Dennis Tito in 1972 as Wilshire Associates, Inc. Wilshire provides innovative investment solutions, consulting services and multi-asset analytics to institutional and intermediary clients worldwide.

MUFG Union Bank, NA (dba Union Bank) is a private banking firm headquartered in San Francisco, California. The firm was founded in 1953 and in 2021 they became a subsidiary of MUFG Americas Holdings Corp., ultimately held by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (TYO: 8306) in Japan. Union Bank provides an array of financial services to wealthy individuals & families, executives, professional service firms, and mission-driven organizations.

First Interstate Bank is the investment management subsidiary of First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. (NASDAQ: FIBK), a financial holding company headquartered in Billings, Montana. Founded in 1971, the firm provides wealth management services to individuals and businesses.

Greentree Brokerage Services, Inc. is a private company based in Philadelphia, PA.

Cove Street Capital LLC (CSC) is a registered independent investment advisor headquartered in El Segundo, California and was founded in 2011. CSC provides advisory services to charitable organization; high-net worth individuals; insurance companies; investment companies; pension and profit sharing plans; pooled investment vehicle; individuals; corporations or other businesses; and state or municipal government.

Southern Methodist University is a private university near the center of Dallas, SMU offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs through seven schools in the humanities and sciences, business, the performing, visual, and communication arts, engineering, education and human development, law, and theology.

Dalton Investments LLC (Dalton) is a hedge fund manager headquartered in El Segundo, California. The firm was founded by James Rosenwald and Steven Persky in 1999. They are a subsidiary of Rosenwald Capital Management, Inc., ultimately owned by the Rosenwald Family Trust. Dalton actively manages long-only and long/short strategies for pensions, endowments, foundations, financial institutions, and family offices.

University of Southern California is a private research university that mainly offers undergraduate, graduate & other higher education. The university was founded in 1880 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA.

Baker & McKenzie LLP provides legal services. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.

The California Endowment Fund operates health funds and provides health care services. The Endowment has regional offices in San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno and San Diego, with program staff working throughout the state. The Endowment makes grants to organizations and institutions that directly benefit the health and well-being of the people of California. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA

Analysis Group, Inc. provides economic, financial, health care analytics, and business strategy consulting services to law firms. It offers antitrust and competition, class certification, commercial disputes, damages, energy and environment and communications, securities and financial products. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Menlo Park, CA.

Palisades Investment Partners LLC (Palisades) is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in El Segundo, California. The firm was founded by Quinn Stills and Peter Lopez in 2003. Palisades provides discretionary investment supervisory services to separately managed accounts for institutional clients.

Morningstar, Inc. (Research) is the investment research arm of Morningstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: MORN), an American financial services firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm was founded by Joseph Mansueto in 1984 and provides independent portfolio information offering star ratings and analysis of managed funds. They also provide economic commentary and asset allocation information based on qualitative research.

Prospanica works to prepare Hispanics for leadership positions throughout the U.S. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Dallas, TX.