Geoffrey Takacs

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Banc of America Securities (BAS) is the investment banking subsidiary of Bank of America Corp (NYSE: BAC). The firm provides both the domestic and international equity and investment banking markets, and pursues a strategy pioneered by Citigroup that combines corporate lending with investment banking advice and services. They provide high-yield debt underwriting and leveraged finance, in addition to industry coverage groups such as healthcare, media and telecom, financial institutions, real estate and gaming. BAS also does a significant amount of work for Financial Sponsors, or private equity firms, often financing leveraged transactions. Following the strategy of Goldman Sachs, the firm lacks a standalone mergers and acquisitions department, instead employing mergers and acquisitions senior bankers throughout the industry coverage groups. The firm is registered as a broker/dealer with the SEC, is a member of the NYSE, and the NASD. The use of Banc in the BAS's name is indicative of the fact that the company is not a bank, and their deposits and other holdings are not insured by the FDIC.

Barings LLC is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in 1940, the firm is direct subsidiary of MM Asset Management Holding LLC and their ultimate parent is Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual). MassMutual?s affiliated companies include financial services companies that provide investment management services and individual protection insurance to clients worldwide. Barings provides a broad range of investment advisory and management services to institutional clients, registered investment companies, and other pooled investment vehicles.