Alistair George Toward

Ventum Financial Corp. is a full-service Investment Dealer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The firm was founded by Max Meier and John Eymann in 1982 as Pacific International Securities, Inc. They became PI Financial Corp. (PI) in 2007 and changed their name to Ventum Financial Corp. in 2024 as part of the process of amalgamation between PI and Echelon Wealth Partners, Inc., previously announced in March 2023. Ventum Financial provides expertise across a variety of growth sectors and delivers a full range of capital markets services, which include equity research, investment banking, advisory, and institutional sales and trading to mid-market corporate clients in Canada. They prioritize minimal market impact during superior trade execution.

Founded in 2002, Thomas Weisel Partners Canada, Inc., formerly Westwind Partners, Inc., is an institutional investment bank, investment advisor and broker/dealer headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. The firm is a subsidiary of Thomas Weisel Partners Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWPG), a San Francisco-based investment banking firm. Their ultimate parent is Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF). Thomas Weisel Partners Canada specializes in the growth sectors of the economy with a particular focus on the consumer, energy, healthcare, Internet, media, telecommunications, metals/mining and technology sectors. They provide equity research on US, Canadian and UK-listed companies, equity trading capabilities and advice to corporations on M&A, financing and restructuring transactions. Thomas Weisel Partners Canada is a member of the CIPF/FCPE and the IIROC.

Westwind Partners, Inc. is a research and investment banking firm. The firm is privately held by a group of entrepreneurial partners who are experienced and have proven track records. The services that they offer include insightful equity research on Canadian and US companies, equity trading capability, and independent advice to corporations on M&A, financing and restructuring transactions. Westwind is based in Toronto with additional offices in Montreal, Calgary and London. They are a member of the Investment Dealers Association and a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.

UTS Energy Corp. engages in the exploration, production and upgrading of bitumen from oil sands depositions. It operates in the Alberta region. It is also engaged in exploration, delineation and development of other oil sands leases. The company was founded on January 26, 1977 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Founded in 1989, Research Capital Corp. is a broker/dealer located in Toronto with additional offices in Calgary and Vancouver. The firm focuses on small- to mid-cap growth companies and growth investors. They provide services to private clients, institutional investors and corporations. Their research coverage ranges from technology to natural resources. Research Capital Corp is a member of the CIPF.

HSBC Securities (Canada), Inc. is a full service broker/dealer located in Toronto, Ontario. The firm is a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings Plc (NYSE: HCS, NasdaqGS: HSBA). They are a member of the TMX Group, the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). The firm offers their clients advisory and execution products and services in the following areas: M&A advisory, equity and debt capital markets, leveraged and acquisition financing, foreign exchange, fixed-income, derivatives and structured products. HSBC Securities specializes in 4 global sectors: financial institutions, consumer/retail Resources, energy and diversified Industries.

Clarus Securities, Inc. is a broker/dealer located in Toronto, Ontario. Their research team covers a wide range of sectors and companies. The theme to all their efforts is the drive to find good investment ideas among the small- to medium-sized issuers in Canada. Clarus Securities' research focuses on growth opportunities in both traditional equities and the business trust sector. They cover a variety of sectors including: alternative energy, clean tech/power infrastructure, energy services, geothermal energy, industrial products, mining, oil and gas, solar energy, special situations and technology.