Steve Thornborrow

Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc. (MFIM) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm was established in 1986 and their sole shareholder is Mesirow Financial Services, Inc., which is wholly-owned by Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc., a Chicago-based financial services firm that was founded in 1937. MFIM provides advisory services to individuals, corporations or other businesses, pension and profit-sharing plans, non-qualified plans, state or municipal government entities, and charitable organizations.

Pekin Hardy Strauss, Inc. (Pekin Hardy) is an independent, SEC-registered investment adviser headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm was founded by Rick Singer in 1990 as Pekin Singer Strauss Asset Management, Inc. Pekin Hardy serves as the investment manager to the Appleseed Fund, a mutual fund registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and provides investment management services to separately managed accounts, retirement plans, and other client accounts.

Neuberger Berman BD LLC is a SEC-registered investment advisor and mutual fund manager headquartered in New York City. It is directly owned by Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC, which is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Neuberger Berman Group LLC, which is owned by NBSH Acquisition LLC. The firm traces their origin back to the 1939 founding of Neuberger & Berman, its predecessor firm. In 1950, Neuberger Berman became one of the first firms to offer a no-load mutual fund to individual investors. Neuberger Berman BD manages a range of equity, fixed income, private equity and hedge fund strategies on behalf of institutions, advisors and individual investors worldwide.

Part of Avalon Capital Holdings Corp., Alliance Capital Group, Inc. purchases and collects delinquent credit card debt. The company is based in Dallas, TX. Alliance Capital Group was acquired by TRAC Financial Group, Inc. on July 31, 2003 for $0.08 million.