Edward P. Dowd

BlackRock Advisors LLC is a SEC-registered investment advisor and mutual fund manager headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded in 1994 and is a subsidiary of BlackRock Capital Holdings, Inc., ultimately held by BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK). BlackRock Advisors manages assets for US-registered investment companies and 529 Plans.

State Street Research & Management Company (SSR), with a history dating back to 1924, is one of the nation's first investment management organizations. The Boston-based firm is a subsidiary of MetLife (NYSE:MET), one of the world's largest financial services companies. The firm, together with its affiliate SSR Realty, actively manages stock, bond, balanced and real estate portfolios for both institutional and individual investors. SSR manages pension money for many of the largest U.S. corporate pension plans. SSR also manages money for public and union pension plans, foundations, endowments, and mutual funds.

Founded in 1982, Independence Investment LLC is a wholly owned investment management subsidiary of John Hancock Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: JHF) The firm is located in Boston.

Founded in 1969, HSBC Securities (U.S.A.) Inc. is an SEC-registered brokerage firm and registered futures commission merchant located in New York City. The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC North America Holdings, Inc. and their ultimate parent is HSBC Holdings Plc. (NYSE: HBC). HSBC Securities (U.S.A.) is a member of FINRA, the NYSE and the SIPC. Their securities and annuity products are provided by registered representatives and insurance agents of HSBC Securities (U.S.A.). In California, HSBC Securities (U.S.A.) conducts insurance business as HSBC Securities Insurance Services. Insurance products are offered through insurance agents of HSBC Insurance Agency (U.S.A.) Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC Bank U.S.A. NA and an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc. The company also engages in investment banking underwriting, dealing and brokering of debt and equity securities and futures contracts and is a primary dealer in U.S. Government and federal agency securities.