Chris D. Hitchings

Columbia Threadneedle Asset Managers Ltd. (CTAM) is an asset management firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded in 1990 as F&C Asset Managers Ltd. and renamed BMO Asset Managers Ltd. in 2018. They changed their name to Columbia Threadneedle Asset Managers Ltd. when BMO rebranded to Columbia Threadneedle Investments in 2022. The firm is a subsidiary of Columbia Threadneedle AM (Holdings) Plc, ultimately held by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP) in the US. CTAM manages a range of in-house and multi-manager funds for private individuals and institutional clients.

Nomura International Plc provides a variety of financial services including advisement, investment banking and asset management. It trades in and sells fixed income and equity products, including related derivatives; and provides investment banking services, and corporate finance and private equity services. The company is also involved in asset and principal finance business. It offers investment advisory and management, custody, and employment services. Nomura International was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

KBW LLC provides investment banking and financial services. It offers mergers, acquisitions, strategic advisory services, equity and fixed income securities offerings, structured finance and mutual thrift conversions, asset management, securities underwriting, and related investment advisory services. The firm focuses on banking and insurance companies, real estate companies and real estate investment trust, broker-dealers, mortgage banks, asset management companies, and specialty finance companies. Its business is organized into three general service offerings: Investment banking, including mergers and acquisitions and other strategic advisory services, equity and fixed income securities offerings, and mutual thrift conversions, Equity and Fixed Income sales and trading; and Research that provides fundamental, objective analysis that identifies investment opportunities and helps its investor customers make investment decisions. The company was founded by Harry Keefe Jr., Gene Bruyette, and Norbert Woods on June 11, 1962 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Merrill Lynch International (MLI-UK) is a brokerage firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded in 1988 and is a subsidiary of ML UK Capital Holdings Ltd., ultimately owned by Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) in the US. MLI-UK provides brokerage services to individual and retail clients.

Citigroup Global Markets Ltd. (CGML) is an international broker-dealer firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded in 1983 and is a subsidiary of Citigroup Global Markets Holdings Bahamas Ltd., ultimately held by Citigroup, Inc. (NYSE: C) in the US. CGML has a major presence in the international financial markets as a dealer, market-maker and underwriter in equity and fixed income securities and offers risk-based solutions to producers and investors in commodity markets. They also provide corporate finance services to a wide range of corporate, institutional and government clients. Their trading activities encompass cash, exchange traded and OTC derivative markets.

Numis Securities Ltd. is an institutional brokerage firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded in 1988 and is a subsidiary of Numis Corp. Plc in (LON: NUM). Numis Securities serves as a corporate broker to several clients across all their sectors, ranging from FTSE 100 to FTSE small-cap companies and AIM-listed companies.

Société Générale SA (UK) (Société Générale UK) is the Great Britain-based brokerage division of Societe Generale SA (XP: GLE, ADR: SCGLY) in France. Headquartered in London, Société Générale UK was founded in 1993 and provides broking services.

BlackRock International Ltd. (BIL) is the Great Britain-based subsidiary of BlackRock Group Ltd., itself a subsidiary of BlackRock Inc. (NYSE: BLK) in the US. Founded in 1995, the firm is headquartered in Edinburgh and manages assets for institutional clients, separate accounts, pooled investment vehicles and US registered investment companies, including ETFs. Mandates include equity, fixed income and multi-asset strategies. BIL is socially responsible investors which has mandates that explicitly address social, ethical, or environmental considerations.

Intermonte Sim SpA operates as an independent broker and investment bank. The firm offers equity, bonds, derivatives, market making and ETF trading services. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Milan, Italy.

UBS O'Connor Ltd. is an independent alternative investment firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded in 1987 and is a subsidiary of UBS Asset Management AG, ultimately owned by UBS Group AG (SWX: UBSG) in Switzerland. UBS O'Connor is a distinct investment area within UBS Asset Management, with complete independence in regard to investment decision-making. Their capabilities cover a wide range of investment programs, which seek to achieve attractive risk-adjusted absolute returns with low correlation to most major asset classes and traditional investment benchmarks.

Newscape Capital Group Ltd. (Newscape Capital) is a diversified financial services boutique headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded by Stephen D. Decani in 2008 as E-Vestment Capital Ltd. Newscape Capital provides investment advice to valued clients and investment partners which include financial intermediaries, pension funds, professional families, trusts and fiduciaries, institutions and sovereign wealth funds.

Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd. is a securities brokerage firm headquartered in London, UK. They are a subsidiary of Alliancebernstein Corp. of Delaware, ultimately held by Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH) in the US. Founded in 1999, the firm provides fundamental research and full service execution services to institutional clients globally. They offer bottom-up coverage and portfolio strategies supported by sophisticated quantitative tools.

Commerzbank AG (UK) is the UK brokerage division of Commerzbank AG (FR: CBK) in Germany. Based in London, they engage in equity, debt and derivative instrument trading, investment banking, public finance and treasury, interest-rate and currency management, as well as corporate finance. In 2009 Dresdner Bank was acquired by and merged into Commerzbank and the London-based activities of Dresdner Kleinwort Securities absorbed into Commerzbank AG (UK). The firm provides capital markets services, corporate advisory, risk management, research and lending services focused on equity, corporate and emerging-market debt, derivatives and money market products. Their clients are European and international corporations, institutions and government entities. In terms of corporate finance they offer financial advisory as well as execution capabilities for a wide range of corporate finance-related transactions on a global basis. Their primary focus is on mergers and acquisitions, disposals, equity issues and initial public offerings.

Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Ltd. (Credit Suisse Europe) is the Great Britain-based brokerage subsidiary of Credit Suisse Investment Holdings (UK), itself a subsidiary of Credit Suisse Group AG (SWX: CSGN) in Switzerland. The firm was founded in 1966 and formerly known as Credit Suisse First Boston (Europe) Ltd. Headquartered in London, Credit Suisse Europe arranges financing in international capital markets, provides financial advisory services and acts as a dealer in securities, derivatives and foreign exchange on a principal and agency basis for corporate and institutional investors.

Morgan Stanley & Co. International Plc (MSCI) is a brokerage firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded in 1986 and is a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Investments (UK), ultimately held by Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) in the US. MSCI provides a range of brokerage services to corporations, governments and financial institutions.

Hardman Research Ltd. provides investment research. The private company is based in London, UK. and has subsidiaries in United Kingdom. The British company was founded in 2012 by Roger Hardman. Keith J. Hiscock has been the CEO of the company since 2012.

Ahorro Corporación Financiera Sociedad de Valores SA (Broker) (ACF-Broker) is the broker/dealer division of Spain-based Ahorro Corporación Financiera Sociedad de Valores SA, ultimately owned by StormHarbour Partners LP in the US. Headquartered in Madrid, ACF-Broker was founded in 1989 and provides stockbroking services to individual and institutional clients.

Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG (United Kingdom) (Berenberg-UK) is the Great Britain-based broker/dealer division of Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG, a multinational full-service investment bank in Germany. Headquartered in London, Berenberg-UK was founded in 2003 and provides trading and brokerage services to institutional and corporate clients.

Edison Investment Research Ltd. (Edison) is an investment research, investor relations and consulting firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded by Stephen Rogers and Fraser Thorne in 2003. They are a subsidiary of Edison Global Ltd. Edison provides investment research to international investors, advisors and stakeholders.

HSBC Bank Plc (Broker) (HSBC Bank-Broker) is the broker/dealer division of HSBC Bank Plc, which is owned by HSBC Holdings Plc (LON: HSBA; NYSE: HSBC) in Great Britain. Headquartered in London, HSBC Bank-Broker was founded in 1880 and offers bespoke brokerage services across every major asset class for their corporate and institutional clients.

Part of Haitong Securities Co., Ltd., Haitong Securities do Brasil SA CCVM is a financial services company based in São Paulo, Brazil. The Brazilian company offers capital market and financing solutions, as well as corporate governance services. The company has several locations, including headquarters, subsidiaries, and branches throughout the American continent. In recent news, the company successfully completed the issuance of obligations for a corporate sustainability-linked emission and was among the 20 best-placed funds by Morningstar. Carlos José Caetano Guzzo has been the CEO of the company since 2001.

BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Ltd. (BIM-UK) is an investment management firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm is a subsidiary of BlackRock Finance Europe Ltd., ultimately owned by BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK) in the US. BIM-UK was founded in 2006 following the merger of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers and BlackRock. In 2009, BlackRock merged with Barclays Global Investors, including the iShares exchange traded funds business. The combined firm operates under the BlackRock name and has retained the iShares brand. BIM-UK manages a family of mutual funds and acts as sub-advisor to other mutual and pension funds. They also offer alternative investments and managed accounts for individual and institutional clients.

Macquarie Capital (Europe) Ltd. (MCEL) is the London-based subsidiary of Macquarie Group Ltd. (SY: MQG), a global provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and fund management services. Operating as part of the Macquarie Capital Advisers division, MCEL provides investment advisory services in the UK and in continental Europe. In relation with Macquarie Securities Group, they provide access to Asia Pacific markets for European clients. In terms of research, MCEL supplies macro-economic, markets and stock level analysis to a diverse range of clients. Their capabilities cover equity, debt, ForEx, futures, metals and mining worldwide, economics and strategy. In 2009 Macquarie Group acquired the international brokerage firm Fox-Pitt Kelton Cochran Caronia Waller LLC. The London branch Fox-Pitt, Kelton Ltd. was absorbed into MCEL.

Part of MF Global Holdings Ltd., MF Global UK Ltd. is a company that provides brokerage services. The company is based in London, UK.

Bernstein Autonomous LLP (dba Autonomous Research) is an investment research firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded in 2009 and is a subsidiary of Sanford C. Bernstein (Autonomous UK) 1 Ltd., ultimately owned by Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EQH) in the US. Autonomous Research provides fundamental analysis and thematic work on financial companies globally. Their clients are large institutional investors along with private equity firms, regulators, financial advisors and corporations who value the firm's research for its in-depth, intellectual approach and high quality.

Stifel Nicolaus Europe Ltd. (SNEL) is a brokerage firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded in 1999 and do-business-as Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Ltd. (KBW). They are a subsidiary of Stifel Europe Holdings Ltd., ultimately owned by Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) in the US. SNEL provides Pan-European equity research and sales and trading products for their institutional clients.

Jefferies International Ltd. (JIL) is a brokerage firm headquartered in London, UK. The firm was founded in 1986 and is a subsidiary of Jefferies Holdings II Ltd., ultimately held by Jefferies Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: JEF) in the US. JIL provides broking services to various investors.

Movehut Ltd. is a privately held company. The company was founded on January 12, 2011 and is headquartered in Altrincham, the United Kingdom.

Launchpad Recruits Ltd. engages in the provision of video recruiting software for candidate screening and hiring assessment. The company was founded by Will Hamilton in 2011 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

Podium Capital Guernsey Ltd. provides real-time pricing methodology. The company is headquartered in St. Peter Port, the United Kingdom.

Exane SA (United Kingdom) is the UK-based securities brokerage division of Exane SA in France, which is owned by BNP Paribas SA (EPA: BNP). Headquartered in London, the firm was founded in 2019 and provides institutional investors with a range of services, such as research, sale and execution on European equities.

Part of Cavendish Financial Plc, Cavendish Capital Markets Ltd. is a British brokerage company. The company is based in London, UK. The company was founded in 2007 by Samantha Jane Smith. John Carlos Farrugia has been the CEO of the company since 2022.