Tom M. Carbeau

Thomas Weisel Partners Group, Inc. is an investment banking company, which engages in the provision of investment banking, brokerage, equity research, and asset management services. Its services include brokerage services, tax and estate planning strategies, investment management consulting, alternate investments, and corporate client services. The company was founded by Thomas W. Weisel in 1999 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

Founded in 1998, Thomas Weisel Partners (TWP) is a broker/dealer headquartered in San Francisco with offices in New York City, Boston, Denver, Colorado and Palo Alto, California. The firm is a subsidiary of Thomas Weisel Partners Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWPG), a San Francisco-based investment banking firm. Their ultimate parent is Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF). TWP's investment banking, brokerage and equity research divisions serve emerging growth companies and institutional investors around the world. They are a member of the NYSE, the SIPC and FINRA. TWP specializes in the growth sectors of the economy with a particular focus on the consumer, energy, healthcare, Internet, media/telecommunications, metals/mining and technology sectors. Within the consumer sector, the firm focuses on: financial products, gaming/lodging, interactive market services, lifestyles/sports retailers, restaurants and hardlines and softlines retailing. TWP's global energy research is provided by analysts in three countries and covers the following trends: (1) fast-growing oil and natural gas producers in North America and worldwide (2) domestic and international energy service companies and (3) alternative energy technology and resource developers. Within the healthcare sector, TWP focuses on: biotechnology, diagnostics, healthcare information technology, pharmaceutical services, life science technology, medical devices and specialty pharmaceuticals. The firm's interest in the Internet, media and telecommunications sector include: Internet services, media, broadcasting and telecommunications services. Their focus within the metals and mining sector include: base metals, gold, precious metals and uranium. TWP's technology research focuses on: (1) applied technologies (2) communications components (3) core and wireless communications equipment (4) IP networking communications equipment (5) electronic supply chain (6) enterprise hardware (7) information and financial technology services (8) semiconductor capital equipment (9) broadline and specialty semiconductors (10) applications and communications software and (11) infrastructure software. TWP also provides value-added equities analysis across a variety of sectors including: industrials, financials, consumer, technology and healthcare.

CIBC World Markets is a full-service investment bank headquartered in New York City. CIBC provides an internationally integrated research product through three primary strategies. In the US, the firm provides research coverage available in areas of focus, including technology, telecommunications, healthcare, energy, power generation and technology, financial institutions, consumer growth, real estate and media. In Canada, the firm offers the full spectrum of coverage for all of the sectors that form the TSE 300 Index. Their broad investment grade analysis of return bond Indices provides daily performance of the Canadian bond market. The sectors covered are: government of Canada bonds, provincial and municipal bonds and corporate bonds rated AAA/AA, A and BBB. Also available is a monthly ABS/MBS market report that provides information on ABS market conditions, market summary data and monthly performance reports on outstanding transactions. This report includes information about the MBS market, including key statistics on MBS spreads and prepayments. Another report contains MBS trading data, cash flows and other key data. A separate monthly Portfolio Valuation Report provides month end pricing for ABS and MBS transactions. Corporate debt research produces highly targeted credit analysis and research for investment grade and high yield debt securities. The corporate bond review covers bond market action, new issues, price/yield movements, rating changes, and buy/sell recommendations. The fixed-income research group produces actionable fundamental and technical analysis, strategies, products, and runs bond indexes and quantitative models relating specifically to fixed income markets, bond portfolios, and individual securities. CIBC provides risk management solutions to corporations, investors, financial institutions, and governments across all asset classes: interest rates, equities, credit, currency, and commodities. CIBC World Markets is a subsidiary of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is a registered broker-dealer subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Domestic Holdings, Inc., ultimately owned by Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) in the US. Headquartered in New York City, the firm was founded in 1987 and provides debt and equity services including underwriting, M&A advice, securities dealing and brokerage and trade execution. Their client base ranges from large global institutional investors to hedge funds at the cutting edge of innovation in the industry.

Stifel, Nicolaus & Co., Inc. (Stifel) is a dual-registered broker-dealer and investment adviser headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1890, the firm is a subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF), a financial service holding company. Stifel provides full-service brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals and their families, institutions and businesses, and financial advisors.