Mark Edmund Pliska

PPM America, Inc. (PPM) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm was founded in 1990 and is a subsidiary of PPM Holdings, Inc., ultimately held by Jackson Financial, Inc. (JFI) (NYSE: JXN). PPM is the primary investment manager for the general account assets of JFI’s insurance subsidiaries and serves as sub-adviser to US mutual funds sponsored by Jackson National Asset Management LLC (JNAM), a subsidiary of Jackson National Life Insurance Co. (Jackson), and adviser to the PPM Funds, a family of institutional share class mutual funds. Additionally, PPM provides advisory services to non-US pooled investment vehicles, structured vehicles such as collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), private equity funds, and separately managed accounts for third-party institutional clients.

Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. (KCM) is an independent, SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. The firm was founded by John Kornitzer in 1989. KCM manages assets for institutions, mutual funds (the Buffalo Funds), and private clients.

Carnegie Mellon University is an American school that operates as a college or university. It is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. (DBSI) is a SEC-registered broker/dealer headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded in 1971 and is a wholly-owned investment banking and brokerage arm of DB U.S. Financial Markets Holding Corp., ultimately held by Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE: DB, FRA: DBK) in Germany. DBSI provides securities brokerage and investment advisory services to domestic and international private clients and institutions. They are also a primary dealer in US government securities as designated by the Federal Reserve.

Tortoise Capital Advisors LLC (Tortoise) is a SEC-registered investment advisor firm headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas. The firm was founded by Harold Birzer in 2002 and is a subsidiary of TortoiseEcofin Borrower LLC (formerly Tortoise Borrower LLC), ultimately held by TortoiseEcofin Investments LLC. Tortoise provides investment management services to individual and institutional investors and pooled investment vehicles.

Petro Capital Securities LLC is an investment banking firm and SEC-registered broker/dealer. It provides a full array of trading and execution services for their clients. The company was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Dallas, TX.

Morningstar Investment Services, Inc. (MIS) is a SEC-registered investment advisor headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm was founded in 2000 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Morningstar Investment Management LLC, ultimately held by Morningstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: MORN). MIS offers various investment advisory services that focus on their core capacities in asset allocation, investment selection, and portfolio construction to retail investors and to institutional clients.

Country Club Trust Co. NA provides investment advice services. It provides mergers and acquisitions, capital raising and other corporate finance alternatives. The company was founded on March 8, 2002 and is headquartered in Prairie Village, KS.

Part of IBG Holdings LLC, Interactive Brokers Corp. is a company based in Greenwich, CT.

Jefferies LLC is a global investment bank and institutional securities firm headquartered in New York City. The firm was founded in 1962 and is a subsidiary of Jefferies Group LLC, ultimately held by Jefferies Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: JEF). Jefferies provides corporate clients with research and execution services in equity, fixed income, and foreign exchange markets, as well as a full range of investment banking services such as underwriting, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and recapitalization, and other advisory services, with all businesses operating in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Haynes & Boone LLP provides legal services. It offers corporate, business litigation, insurance and healthcare law, labor and employment, estate planning, real estate, bankruptcy, intellectual property, white collar crime, and antitrust. The company was founded by Richard D. Haynes and Michael M. Boone in 1964 and is headquartered in Dallas, TX.

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.

Keystone Capital Management LP (Keystone Capital) is a private equity firm founded in 1994 by Kent P. Dauten and Scott L. Gwilliam. The firm is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Founded in 1958, Merrill Lynch Piece Fenner & Smith, Inc. is an SEC registered broker/dealer located in New York City. The firm is a subsidiary of BAC North America Holding Co. and their ultimate parent is Bank of America Corp. (NYSE BAC).

Ernst & Young provides accounting services. Its services include auditing, accounting, tax and transaction services, assurance and advisory business, online transaction advisory and a wide range of financial services. The company was founded by Arthur Young and Alwin C. Ernst in 1881 and is headquartered in Kansas City, MO.

Prairie Capital Management LLC (PCM) is a wealth management firm headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The firm was founded in 1995 and was acquired by UMB Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: UMBF) in 2010. PCM provides wealth management and investment consulting services to high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, family offices, foundations, endowments, and other institutions across the US through offices in the Kansas City, Chicago and Dallas metropolitan areas.

Northwestern University is a private institution founded in 1851 to serve the Northwest Territory, an area that now includes the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota. Northwestern has three campuses

U.S. Bank NA (Cincinnati Ohio Investment Management) (USB-IM) is the investment management division of U.S. Bank NA, a commercial bank headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The firm is ultimately held by the US Bancorp (NYSE: USB). USB-IM provides tailored investment management services to individuals and institutional investors.

Shore Capital Partners LLC (Shore Capital Partners) is a private equity firm founded in 2009 by Justin Ishbia. The firm is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Raani Corp. manufactures health care products. Its products include hair care, skin care, over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, household products, toiletries and bath care, baby care and cosmetics. The company was founded by Rashid A. Chaudary in 1983 and is headquartered in Bedford Park, IL.

AB Brands LLC develops, manufactures and wholesales health and beauty products. It product brands include Dr Teal’s, bodycology and cantu. The company was founded by Christian A. McClain and Cindy McClain in 2003 and is headquartered in Dallas, TX.

Part of Seaboard Flour LLC, Seaboard Energy California LLC is a company that manufactures alcohol products. The company is based in Sacramento, CA.

Renaissance Financial Corp. provides financial and investment advisory services. It offers various financial planning services to individuals and families, including current financial position estimation, life insurance and protection planning, investment planning, tax planning, retirement planning, estate planning, and wealth accumulation and preservation services. The company was founded in 1994 by J. Gregory Keller and is headquartered in St. Louis, MO.

Irradiant Partners LP (Irradiant Partners) is a private equity subsidiary of Irradiant Partners LLC founded in 2021 by John John Eanes, Jon Levinson and Michael Jeffrey Levitt. The firm is headquartered in Santa Monica, California.

State Bar of Texas provides legal educational programming services. The private company is based in Austin, TX.

The Dallas Bar Association operates as an association of attorneys. The private company is based in Dallas, TX.

Holland & Hart LLP provides legal services. It delivers integrated legal solutions to regional, national, and international clients of all sizes. The company was founded by Stephen H. Hart and Joe Holland on July 1, 1947 and is headquartered in Denver, CO.