Michael O'Brien

Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. is a global investment banking, securities trading and brokerage firm located in New York City with additional offices in Dallas, Boston and San Francisco. The firm is a subsidiary Bear Sterns Cos., Inc. (NYSE: BSC). Their equity research team consists of senior analysts located throughout the world. In addition to domestic coverage, they have research teams focusing on Latin America, Asia and Europe. The analysts use a bottom-up approach to stock selection. The Bear Stearns fixed-income research department provides coverage of every sector of the fixed-income universe. The financial analytics and structured transactions group (F.A.S.T) provides investment research, fixed-income portfolio management and analytical systems, trading technology and general financial expertise. The group also provides a broad range of services to financial institutions including asset-liability management, balance sheet restructuring, receivables-based financing analysis, security and portfolio analysis, peer analysis, and historical and real-time market-based information.

Part of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Ltd., Coopers & Lybrand International is a company based in Toronto, Canada.

The Bank of Canada provides banking and financial services. Its services include mortgage and payment processing, loan application, credit card application, accounting solutions, tax preparation, financial analysis, insurance, and payroll processing services to its clients. The company was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada.

Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants engages in the provision of accounting, auditing, tax, advisory, and professional services. The institute is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.